Pulled the trigger on the Fox TRD Pro kit for my 2018 Platinum

Depends on the dealership…some will vin check before allowing you to order TRD Pro parts, others don’t seem to do this. Didn’t have mine dealership installed…had Westcott Designs install mine when I knew I wanted their lift at the same time. But if wanting the dealership to install, best again to check first…seems to vary by location

 

Increased travel with MUCH improved dampening / rebound makes it more smooth the highway, easily absorb abrupt features like bridge joints / manholes / etc, takes out wallowing sway from corners, and much more controlled and stable ride off-road.

 

Ok, so I have the TRD Fox kit and 285/75R18 Duratracs. Love my setup. And I just had the chance to drive my neighbor’s 2020 TRD Off Road. His truck is bone stock except he put 275/70R18 Duratracs on it. That means he’s on the factory TRD Off Road kit with Bilstein 4600 shocks. It rides much firmer than my truck and feels more planted in turns. The trade off is that you feel every little bump and pothole more, especially at speed.

My truck, on the other hand, seems to float more. The softer suspension means it soaks up dips and bumps like they aren’t there, especially at speed. The one thing I would not say is improved is cornering. That’s not the intention. I have a softer, more progressive suspension with longer travel.

Having driven both the TRD Off Road kit and the TRD Fox kit back to back with E load Duratracs on both trucks, I can say that his corners a bit better. It’s not much, and I vastly prefer my setup for how I use my truck. If I didn’t ever go off road and didn’t take advantage of the extended travel and softer setup of the Pro kit, I would have stuck with the TRD Off Road kit. It’s really not bad at all.

 

Was his truck lifted/leveled as well? That might impact/change perception in cornering too. He’s basically running a 33” and your just under 35”. If he’s stock height, you’re +2.5”…that might play into why his corners better.

When I went from bilstein 5100’s at max setting to the TRD Fox Pro, I felt like the Fox setup allows marginally (perceived better) corner handling…but with the added height, I would say stock suspension/ride height was a bit better in corners. Certainly agree the benefits of the TRD Fox Pro is a much better ride altogether though; incomparable improved performance off pavement over stock.

 

Yeah, hands down far superior off pavement. And it’s not like I think it’s worse on pavement; it’s just not an improvement in cornering in my experience.

His OEM TRD Off road w/ LT275/70s vs my OEM TRD Fox (+2 up front) with LT285/75s. Mine has CB+2 shackles as well. His truck is basically mine before I had the TRD Fox kit except with LT Duratracs. His Off Road just feels firmer and harsher. Mine is softer with more travel (see pic from my install when I had one of each on the front). Can’t get the TRD Fox kit without the 2” lift up front, so I don’t know how much the height difference is a factor. These are nearly identical, big heavy trucks; makes sense to me that the one with the softer, longer travel suspension is going to lean a bit more in turns. I didn’t buy the TRD Fox kit to take corners on pavement faster, so it’s not like I’m complaining. He asked if it corners better. To me, compared to the factory Off Road suspension, it does not.

 

Are the bodies longer? I always thought raising these trucks would result in a net loss of down travel, but that shows otherwise (as long as they compress the same amount).

 

Remember your truck will be 2 inches taller up front and about 1/2 to 3/4" in the back. The truck definitely rides smoother over all bumps and absorbs larger hits really nice. You can feel the additional suspension travel over larger hits. It's not going to be as stiff and its going to be softer in corners but unless you drive it like your racing it does not affect everyday handling or corners. I have about 600 miles on the upgrade now and love it.

 

Was going to install mine today but noticed the passenger steering rack boot has fluid seeping through it....booked an appointment at the dealership tomorrow and hopefully covered under my extended warranty if it needs to be replaced.

 

They have a larger diameter over stock and just the front is raised. They also have piggyback reservoirs that allow the piston to travel further down in the tube to allow for more travel…this article from Toyota explains it in greater detail:

https://www.toyota.com/racing/trd/news/2020/fox-shocks

 

They are substantially bigger shocks. From the size alone, installing these in the rear netted me +0.5-0.75” of added height with an empty bed. Despite the conventional wisdom (“but shocks don’t add lift!”), others have reported the same result.

 

How can that be possible? I compressed my rear shocks by hand during install to line up the bottom bolts and I know I can’t lift the rear of my truck.

 

Correct - no issue at all. I installed rears then called the dealership and they did the fronts for me the next day.

 

Mine, and others’, settled measurably higher after driving around for a week. Stayed that way. Only with an empty bed though.

 

I don't know, it may be some TRD magic. But before I purchased I measured my buddies 2020 TRD Pro, exactly 2" higher in front and 1/2 inch taller in the rear. Same rear springs and all. Somehow, don't ask me how adding the TRD Pro rear Fox's gives you some height!

 

For those who have done this install themselves or would know, do you reuse the stock nuts on top of front coils and rear shocks as well as stock rear cushions/insulators?

I know the bottom bolt and nut are reused. I have Bilstein 5160s in the rear which come with a different nut, so looks like I'll be buying new rear shock top nuts.

 

Yes all the original hardware is reused. Its probably a great idea to get new hardware anyway. Mine was not in the greatest shape after only 39k miles but it was reused anyway.

 

I just replaced the rears and bought new cushions top and bottom for about $50. Mine had 88k on them and were compressed and cracking badly

 

I ran Bilstein 6112 with CB shims to level and OEM Bilstein off roads in the rear for 2 years. I switched over to TRD Pro Fox with CB +3 Shackes and CB shims in front for a 3/1.75 total lift. I tow a ski boat.
I like returning to an OEM rake. The ride is what I was hoping for when deciding on the change. Basically I was trying to achieve a similar ride as our 2017 F-150. Overall I’m pleased with the result.

 

Sparks came through and exchanged my leaky rear with a new one. Will be installing this weekend!

 

Their customer service is great!

 

Finally got the fronts done and added JBA UCAs. Will do rears tomorrow.

 

Hey man, I'd love to see more pics of your truck. I'm considering these wheels and also have a white Tundra. Thanks

 

How are you liking the JBAs?

 

Okay

 

Truck rides great with the TRD Pro suspension! You should do it!

 

Thanks! Looks sharp.

 

I'm getting used to them. The factory UCAs feel hollow and light, and these things are solid. It made the steering a more firm/heavy because my initial caster went from 2.6 to over 4 just from the install. I dialed it back to 3.8-3.9 when I had an alignment, so it feels good. The truck feels more planted for sure. I don't live where the roads get salted all the time, so the removal of the long UCA bolt was not a big problem, and the install went pretty smooth.

 

What ever happened with your steering rack issue?

 

They took care of it! Had to pay $100 deductible for extended warranty, but that’s ok. I wasn’t covered by the recall. Because of the recall, there were plenty of new racks at the warehouse, so they only had my truck for a couple of days.