GROUND & POUND
to fit 3.5-inch diameter shocks under the truck with minimal modification. On the newer radius-arm trucks, you’re limited to 2.5 diameter shocks unless you perform significant modifications to the truck’s frame.”
Comensky also felt that the older truck allowed for a better platform to showcase CJC’S suspension and steering products. When this truck was purchased, options for the newer models were scarce.
That truck: It’s a 2010 Ram 2500 he located in the primordial rain forests of Central Oregon. He and his wife, Lauren, flew to its location and proceeded to drive it down the winding West Coast.
Comensky and CJC have a special working relationship with Carli Suspension, and this project truck was born partially out of that partnership. “Carli was also looking for a truck to prototype their long-arm system,” Comensky says. “And this truck was the perfect candidate.” This project marks the fourth time CJC has been involved in the prototyping R&D process. The first stop was at Carli’s Corona, California, headquarters, a long freeway slog from CJC’S Bellflower HQ.
The suspension setup consists of Carli 3-inch linearrate coil springs up front sheathing custom-tuned King 3.5-inch remote reservoir shocks. The rear is suspended by Carli full progressive leaf springs (manufactured by Deaver), which are damped by custom-tuned King 3.0 quad-tube bypass shocks. These dampers are attached to the frame via Carlifabricated upper shock mounts welded directly to the chassis.
According to Comensky, the most challenging and tedious, but also the most rewarding, part of the build was dialing in the shock tuning. CJC and Carli made numerous treks south and east to Ocotillo Wells to perform the in-action parts of the R&D. Remember when we said Socal offers some of the best off-