Carli Suspension 2013+ Dodge Ram 3500 Dominator 3.0 3.25" Lift System

The Carli Suspension 2013+ Ram 3500 Dominator system is the most capable 3500 Ram suspension system ever made. Using completely custom spec King shocks and a host of supporting parts not available anywhere else, this system offers butter smooth on road ride along with the ability to smash through whoops like nothing. If you want a no compromise suspension system, look no further.

The Dominator is pinnacle offering in boasting front Carli Signature tuned, King 3.0” remote reservoir shocks so large, we needed to engineer mounting systems front and rear for them to cycle properly. As the old adage goes, there’s no replacement for displacement. In an effort to provide customers with the best product, we do not sell off-the-shelf King 3.0s. We designed a custom piston to determine proper base flow rates to ensure the shock works well in the heavy duty truck platform; we then tuned the shocks around the custom pistons based on seat-of-the-pants feel. We round off ALL our King shocks with shafts machined and polished from a solid piece of 17-4 Stainless. Unlike King’s standard shafts, there is no coating to wear off, weather is far less likely to hurt them and if there is a small chip, you can round the edges with emery cloth to ensure the seal housing isn’t damaged as they’re not brittle like the stock, hardened shafts. 

In the front, the shocks utilize a 3.0″ King with a large Pintop Bushing to secure them to the factory location.

The front, lower shock mount – we provide a 1/4″, boxed replacement for the weak, factory stamped, half-welded mount. The top index included in the side specific mount servers to locate the shock mount off the axle’s radius arm mount. Once the factory shock mount is removed, the Carli shock mount will be welded in place providing peace of mind and as much space as possible to cycle the 3.0″ diameter cylinders of the Dominator shocks.

Even slightly offsetting the lower shock mount, the factory brake lines that come over the top of the radius arm need to be relocated to prevent the wiper cap (blue cap on the bottom of the shock body from which the shaft extends) contacting the factory lines. We provide extended Stainless Brake Lines and routing brackets to clear the brake lines from the shocks completely.

Another weak point…. The factory coil buckets offer very little support for the isolator – and thus, the coil – beyond a small hole to index its fitment. Combine this with a lower coil seat that’s angled forward and inward creating a spring pressure that induces both forward bowing and slipping coils. It’s not uncommon to see flattened isolators and springs that look like they’re going to slide forward and out of the bucket. Compound this factory shortcoming by adding big shocks, extended travel, and a heavy right foot off the pavement and additional support for the coils becomes cheap insurance against a coil re-installation off-the-grid! Machined from a solid piece of mild steel, these supports require front suspension disassembly, cleaning of the factory coil bucket, welding, priming and painting. Once in place, they appear factory as they’re nearly completely covered by the factory isolator. With these installed, your coil spring will not budge.

In the rear, The shocks bolt into the factory location on the axle but the upper “Pin” style shock mount requires a bit more beef to hold up to the abuse of which a 3.0″ Shock is capable. Cut off the factory stud, bolt these to the the two holes that exist in the factory shock mount with the provided hardware to locate them and weld along the frame. Primer, Paint and you’re ready for the Dominator Shocks!

The Details: Your truck will sit 3”-3.5” higher in the front (cab configuration dependent) with 50% more suspension travel than the factory platform thanks to the taller, lighter rate coil springs. The rear is lifted 2” via the optional Full Progressive Leaf Pack replaces the entire factory leaf spring assembly increasing travel and drastically increasing comfort (when compared to when compared to the factory springs or add-a-pack) throughout the entire usable travel stroke. We recommend a MAX bedload of 2,000lbs with these springs – they’re a light 3/4-ton pack designed for ride quality while keeping a respectable payload but will not support the factory capacity. This System was designed and tuned with the Full Progressive Leaf Springs; thus, they’re the only listed option. Payload can be supplemented back to factory capacity with the addition of our Long Travel Airbags – these are still in the works for the 2019+ 3500.

When pairing added down-travel with the taller ride height, the position of the factory, front sway bar will need to be altered as well. For this, we offer two options; Billet Sway Bar Drop Brackets or the replacement Torsion Sway Bar. The Billet Drop Blocks shift the sway bar down and forward to ensure the factory end links cycle properly throughout the entire extended travel range. Carli’s optional Torsion sway bar removes the entire factory sway bar assembly replacing it with a torsion bar supported by fabricated drop brackets and delrin bushings. Fabricated sway bar arms and dual 5/8” FK heim end links round off the package. This is the single best bang for the buck, ride-quality upgrade offered by Carli Suspension. We HIGHLY Recommend the Torsion Sway Bar be run with the Dominator System.

When lifting the front end of a straight axle truck, the front axle is pulled off-center unless the proper linkages are addressed. Three inches of front lift equates to an axle shifted toward the driver’s side ¾” and, in the radius arm equipped Rams, lightened caster and slight rearward axle shift. This system includes an Adjustable Track Bar to push the axle back toward the passenger side and provide a stronger link with less deflection for the lifted application. We also include Radius Arm Drop Brackets to recenter your caster adjustment and shift the axle forward to its new center of travel. Everything is included to support flawless operation of all components.

Wheel and Tire: This system will fit up to a 37” tire when utilizing wheels that are no more than 9” wide with 5.75-6” of backspacing. A 12.5” wide should fit with no rubbing on the factory radius arm and only minor trimming required, while a 13.5” will require more trimming and slightly more offset to fit properly. 35” tires will fit with VERY minimal, if any trimming. We Recommend running an 18” diameter wheel for optimal ride quality (more rubber = better small bump compliance) on a 35”-37” E-rated tire running 45psi front, 40psi rear when unloaded.

This system fits Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 trucks from 2013 to current with factory rear leaf springs. 

Installation Instructions