What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

Man, that hasn't been my experience at all. I get thrown around the cab like a petite porn star. Not to mention the noise it makes. I guess I just expected more after spending nearly $2K on ICON products front and rear. Certainly better than before but any modern vehicle I ride in is substantially better.

 

Mine is made out of steel, it weighs roughly around 30-40 pounds. I haven't lifted it in awhile hahah. but yeah, its not bad, it does the job for me as a weekendlander haha.

 

Have you considered Kings up front? Part of my ICON disdain comes from their non-existent customer service. I'd like to ride in a 1st gen with King's.

 

I'm willing to try anything. My reason for Icons was primarily based on the valving and seemed to be the best for mostly pavement driving. I'm not trying to jump stuff so Kings/Fox didn't seem like the right fit. The goal of the truck is DD and Offroading. Probably at a rate of 80/20 with HOPES that this will expand as I get financially stable to do so. Are you maxed out with the coil overs or left them as they came (I think they come preset to 2"). Felt most feedback was really good about these but maybe those people aren't being honest because they dropped $1300-1500 and don't want to admit it was a bad purchase?

 

No I left them alone and you're right, it lifted the front exactly 2" from the Monroe's I had on there before.

That could be. I think sometimes when people spend a large amount of money they have to rationalize it by claiming the results were worth it. I'm certainly guilty of this as well. I'm not saying that I regret them, but if I ever build another truck I won't use ICON. I'm also in the minority on here, the 3-4 other members that have ICON's seem to love them. It's possible that I just had unrealistic expectations for them. I could probably have a smoother ride if I lowered my PSI but I'm trying to get the best possible MPG.

I also saw that 2 other members said NOT to get ICON's but wouldn't elaborate as to why. They are running Fox(which will hit your front brake line) and ADS I think. I know the 4x4 shop I visit doesn't like ICON at all. They claim that they always leak from the lower seal.

 

Those roof top tents are pretty popular

 

My wife is fighting me on that

 

Not sure if you know about progressive and digressive valving. Icon and Bilstein use digressive which means it’s more stiff at lower speeds and than a progressive shock. I think that is part of the reason so many people dislike Icon on their daily and it doesn’t help their customer service is complete crap.

Personally I would go King, ADS or Fox (although fox has Had some corrosion issues on their shocks).

Here is a good discussion on it all. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sive-piston-valving-article-and-video.506764/

 

Definitely not an expert but have read a little bit about it. Will read more and rethink my decision. Poor customer service will straight kill a company so based on that alone I think I will take my money elsewhere. Appreciate everyone's feedback.

 

@SCRunner12 had some good info. Here is a good summary which seems to be in line with what I've experienced.

"Digressive shocks are bad at small bumps and large bumps, but good at handling and g-outs. Progressive shocks are good at small bumps and big hits, but bad at handling and g-outs. Linear shocks provide the best all around performance. At AccuTune Off-Road we design the shape of the shock curve to provide the performance you want on the type of terrain you will encounter. The result is curves that are slightly digressive, linear, or slightly progressive to deliver the some of the benefits without all the drawbacks."

My ICON's do handle better around curves. We have a ton of twisty roads here in TN and it does very well in that regard. It's the pot holes and other road imperfections that they don't do well with.

 

@EDDO might have some input on Icon as he went through a good amount of their shocks on his tacoma. Can’t remember his final opinion on them.

 

Two words for you: Ritz Carlton.

Might I suggest the concierge level? The best value.

 

The answer is either I am completely lost on the definition of a comfortable ride or you just need a bastardized front end like mine and stock billys out back. The truth is as usual, probably somewhere in between. I think my spring rate up front helps a bit too. My rate is 620 or 650# and that might contribute some to riding well. I also think there's some good voodoo goin on in my gen 2 raptor coilovers.

 

You're running Fox up front. Those are progressive which apparently do better with the bumps. That's probably why you feel as though yours rides well when I get tossed around like the porn star I mentioned earlier.

ICON=digressive

 

Yes fox' built for Ford 2017-18 raptor oem internal bypass coilovers. I think they did the bypass valving at slower shaft speeds to favor a decent ride quality.

 

The higher up the shock you go with the spring perch the stiffer they get. That’s why I’m hoping the 590 springs at the lowest setting will net lift and drive comfortably

 

The icons on my Tacoma drove great. But is also didn’t have them cranked either. Set at what they came at.


Now that they’re revalved they should be a wee bit softer too.

 

I lifted my 2002 Tundra about 2 inches with 5100s up front using the spring perch method...WAY too stiff...never again. Next time I do suspension I will buy longer coils and let the longer coils provide the lift.

 

FYI: The softest squishiest ride on my 2002 were with these which I replaced with billy bobs.

Turns felt like I was on a boat. Think wide and rounded. Bumps taken like I was in a mid-70’s Cadillac. Looks like they’ve gone up in price from 10 years ago.

 

Chopped the ugly stock tip and put on a 3” slant/rolled one then got the bed all cleaned out for the pup.

 

That is what I currently have with stock springs and a revtek spacer lift. Not sure the age on them but definitely not squishy!

 

NOW we are getting some where! hahah

 

Just bought these yesterday!

 

So, first world problems, but I can't decide on wheels. Do I use the TRD beadlocks, leave the current wheels on, or use the landcruiser wheels? What's your vote?

 

TRD but remove the fake beadlocks

 

My Tacoma on Icon 2.5s front and rear (with E load tires) rides super stiff on pavement, every pebble is felt. I like them for their performance on the higher speed desert stuff I like to do. Unlike many, I've had no leaks or other issues with Icon. Went Elka on my 3rd gen Tundra because I was looking for a better ride on the street. Haven't yet had the Tundra off road, we'll see how that goes.

 

Preload is a bitch. That’s why people with coilovers bitch about them being stiff.. longer coils to get the same lift will run smoother

 

Land cruiser wheels look good all the time

 

Depending on what brakes you have (smaller early brakes or larger 13WL) the LC wheels won't fit without spacers. Also depends on the LC year they came off of. The washer lug type wheels (95-97) have a better caliper clearance, but the 91-94 acorn lug wheels are closer to the caliper.

 

The beadlocks. Those are badass.

Fox for other vehicles may be awesome but on a first gen it isn't what I would consider a bolt on. I had to do a few mods others wouldnt like to get mine working, like ditching my windshield washer reservoir, cutting the reservoir hoses shorter and swapping the fitting for a 90, and swapping brake lines to banjo fittings. Not what you would expect from a $1600 bolt on right?

That said, they do wallow around on streets. They do lean hard around turns, enough to make some passengers nervous. They handle big and small bumps pretty well. There will never be an off road coilover that feels factory.