Suspension brand questions for cold climate

So first off I'm looking at going with a BDS Suspension 3" coilover kit and was quoted $4200 CAD with the Fox 2.5 shocks. Or unless you guys have personally experienced better quality with other options. I am really open to other options.

I live in Alberta where in the winter it does sometimes get to -52 degrees Celsius, and i know that any shock is going to perform like absolute garbage in that cold. Has anyone had issues with leaking seals in any cold climate with Fox shocks? (ive heard they can't handle out climates very well). I have had bilstein 5100s on my 1 ton diesel for the last 10 years and they have held up really well, I also know that the King products hold up well from buddies that have them. Just looking to see if this BDS kit would be worth doing or are there better or more reasonable shock options.

My driving consists of 80% highway and 20% forestry roads/ gravel roads.

Last question is that I would still like to keep some rake on the truck as i do tow and have a rooftop tent etc. so with the shackle drop what other combination does everyone recommend?

Thanks!

 

I would try Elka their built in the great north and I would contact them regarding cold weather.

But yeah between cold tires and the cold shock oil getting to the consistency of molasses. It will be rough till the cycle enough to get any heat into the oil.

 

Oh interesting, I have never heard of Elka. I will look them up thanks!

 

The bodies on the Elka shocks are all aluminum I believe, so should hold up well.

I ran icons in Massachusetts for 5 years. Definitely not as cold as up there, but they held up pretty well. Passenger side was pretty crusty and the preload adjustment rings seized.

Maybe ask Elka, or whichever brand you choose, if they can do a different weight shock oil for cold climate? Down here it's more the rust, than the cold, that is the issue.
Edit: they never leaked

 

You can search up the Elka brand on here, some very knowledgeable people have used them and they have tundra specific shocks.

When I upgrade I like what I see with Elka and will buy a set. They are black and red in color if that matters to you. I like that they are aluminum. Plenty of salt on the roads in Iowa and I would want to mitigate and rust issues

 

Ya i am not too worried about the cold oil as much as them rusting like you said or the seals leaking.

 

I'm considering the ToyTec Aluma series (aluminum bodies) for a little bit of road salt resistance. Still undecided though

 

I have owned Icons and Kings and they both corrode. Non CDCV icons run a higher pressure and seem to be more likely to leak. Spray the bodies down with fuid film every once in a while. The main issue is rusting coilover springs as they are steel and the powder coat can chip.
Here is a pic of my set of king shocks from my Tundra after 6 years. I just wire wheeled them and painted them. I got them used from a buddy and he never washed the road salt from them.

 

Do you really need a adjustable shock?

Thats what I asked myself, and after speaking to a lot of folks about shocks, ultimately I went with the OME nito charger with 612 springs and toytec adjustable shackles.

My driving is a lot like yours, well except for the cold, 80% pavement pounder, 20% off road. Save a lot of money that I put towards other mods.

 

I drive on a 7" BDS coilover setup, and I have no complaints. The ride is a bit firmer, but very much like stock otherwise. I ended up placing bout 250lbs of sand bags in the bed, and it rides nice. No doubt many brands give a nice ride though.

 

How did you find the ride quality with that set up? also how much of a lift did that give you?