Help Deciding Between Carli Commuter and Ironman 4x4

[deeve]

I am trying to decide between a Carli Commuter system (have not decided if I will get their control arms or not) and the Ironman 4x4 system. I have to be real with myself about my use case, and if I am being honest it will be mostly road, with occasional off-road fire road, high desert (Oregon) and mild trails. I want to run 35's or 34's. Possibly a rack with RTT, but I'd also like to get my dual sport in the bed or on a hitch carrier.

From advice from this group and reading some of @boogielander's blog/posts I have settled on these two lifts. I want it to be leveled, but it should also be something that will improve the ride both on and off road without going overboard. I tend to go overboard but also get analysis paralysis.

THanks!

DAVE

 

[boogielander]

I am trying to decide between a Carli Commuter system (have not decided if I will get their control arms or not) and the Ironman 4x4 system. I have to be real with myself about my use case, and if I am being honest it will be mostly road, with occasional off-road fire road, high desert (Oregon) and mild trails. I want to run 35's or 34's. Possibly a rack with RTT, but I'd also like to get my dual sport in the bed or on a hitch carrier.

From advice from this group and reading some of @boogielander's blog/posts I have settled on these two lifts. I want it to be leveled, but it should also be something that will improve the ride both on and off road without going overboard. I tend to go overboard but also get analysis paralysis.

THanks!

DAVE

hmm... it's a tough choice. With Ironman FCP (Foam Cell Pro) it does ride on the rougher side on pavement though.

both are good options. i always tell my customer: never worry about going overboard. it's better to have that capacity and not use it, than to need to use it but have no extra capacity. It's like fire extinguisher: you probably won't need it at all, but the bigger one will always be a better choice than a smaller one because you never know... and it's definitely better than no fire extinguisher. The more expensive one that leaves no residue is always better than a cheap one that makes a big mess, even though the chance of you using it is extremely low.
Building truck is the same. if something is good enough to handle hard terrains, it is more than good to handle whatever we throw at them in a controlled environment. that exact philosophy is how I got through my 50 days solo trip to Alaska and the Arctics, with no backup, no spare parts, and days from help. There was zero breakdowns, zero issues. And I was going at a speed that I shouldn't be going lol

 

[deeve]

@boogielander That wasn't helpful! You were supposed to say, clearly out of those two, this is what I would go with. JK. Of course, you are correct. I am half tempted to just get some 5110s to level while I save up and decide.

 

[boogielander]

@boogielander That wasn't helpful! You were supposed to say, clearly out of those two, this is what I would go with. JK. Of course, you are correct. I am half tempted to just get some 5110s to level while I save up and decide.

well out of those two, i'd go wiith Thuren Kings, stage 6 valving lol
good news is it takes a while for Thuren to build them so you can save up hahahaa

if you want to get 5100s as a temporary solution while you save up, then save up for 2.5 shocks from King, Fox 2.5, Carli or Thuren because there's only so much the 2.0" shocks can do and make different. I'd go Thuren though, if saving up is an option. Hell, i'd even skip the 5100s and just run stock then use that money for Thuren 2.5.

imo, the 2.0s are for people on budget and OCCASIONALLY get on dirt as an "oopsie, i accidentally stumble upon dirt so i'll take it slower than a subaru" the 2.5" with resi (King, Carli King, Fox 2.5, Thuren King) are for people who don't mind saving up for the good stuff, and want to push their trucks and themselves on and off the trail, as in, doing unimaginable speed on dirt.

Now, if you're open to 5100s then when you upgrade, you might as well just 2.5 with resi because you may not see that BIG of a difference from 5100 to the ironman or the Carli Commuter, notthat those are not way better than the basic 5100, but imo it's actually not worth it to put money down for 5100 and then spend more to go to ironman or commuter. it's better just to go from 5100 to the 2.5 or just go straight to the 2.5 and save the 5100 money if you catch what i mean lol