Suspension Options Under $2k

Looking for some guidance/help on a few different options in this range for those that have ran them. Only experience I have is with the following:

• TRD Pro Tacoma with a factory 2.5" Fox suspension stock
• Later, same Tacoma with a lot of weight and a OME BP-51 setup
• Driving my Dad's Raptor from time to time with the factory Fox suspension

Loved the ride of all of these. Now I'm looking to upgrade my Tundra's suspension but really don't want to go over $2k. I already have a set of Icon RXT leaf springs on the way that I'm not factoring into this price. My leafs are flat at close to 200k miles and they needed the swap regardless. Options I'm looking at:

• Fox 2.0 front and 2.0 rear with res
  • $1,400
• Fox 2.5 front and 2.0 rear with res
  • $1,850
• Elka 2.0 front and rear (non res)
  • $1,900
• Icon VS IR 2.5 front and 2.5 rear (non res)
  • $1,900
• Falcon 2.25 sport tow/haul with adjustable rear res
  • $1,500

From my experience with the suspensions on the Tacoma and Ford, I figure I like linear compression valving, so the Icon and Falcon "scare" me since they are digressive. According to accutune they are linear digressive vs what I would consider linear progressive with the Fox shocks.

In any event, regardless of valving, this truck would be used for towing just about every weekend for half the year and used as a daily driver on some of the crappiest roads in America (Oklahoma). The road to my house has horrible washboards and large potholes that will rattle your teeth. This wouldn't be seeing the likes of Baja style desert racing or rock crawling. It will see washboard roads and large pot holes going 50 mph though. I Plan on running the leafs at whatever I have to, to keep factory rake and to go level when I tow.

Anyhow, which would work best for my intentions and pair well with the Icon RXT leafs? Thanks for any help with this.

 

Fox 2.5s with 2.0 rears love that set up mine rides awesome

 

Nice! What are you running in the rear to lift your truck?

Also, I'd be buying the non reservoir 2.5 Foxes. I don't think it would make much of a difference for my needs.

 

No on the falcons. Or anything terracrap.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I know Falcon is mainly for Jeeps and those guys/gals seem to like them and of course the price is appealing.

 

Na it won’t unless your doing some major off-roading. Using 2” pro form shackles in the rear.

 

If you’re not offroading heavy the 2.0’s will probably be fine. None of the options you listed are going to ride like the 3 comparisons you have, but thats ok you’re not looking to budget that high

 

My Falcons are outstanding!
Paired with Coachbuilder shackles they are the best suspension under $2k.
And since you will be towing the adjustable rears make a very noticeable difference between settings.

2nd Choice would be Elka or Toytec (they are the same thing)

3rd Choice Dobinsons IMS

Had Fox and Bilstein in the past won’t buy again.

These trucks are really too big for 2.0s if any sort of off-roading is done.
Sure they work but not all that well.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/fox-2-0-coilovers-complete.114337/

Save a couple bucks

 

And be super disappointed in ride quality.

 

How so

 

I had them and they ride like crap unless you like riding a buckboard.

Fox 2.0s are a joke. Need to be 2.5s with resis to have an enjoyable ride.

 

Spring to stiff?

 

It’s on his list so thought I’d throw it his way.

 

Not sure the spring or the valving but it is a rough ride. Plus I think 2.0s are a bit small for these trucks.

 

Glad the Falcons are working out. For the scenarios I listed on the heavy washboard, do it stay stable and not "float"? I feel on my stock truck, the rear end starts to kick out on me and want to slide one way or the other. And do they soak up the larger pot holes? Those are the things I would be seeing the most. Sounds like the towing part is pretty much covered. Thanks!

 

They are very stable and controllable but you feel like you are floating in regard to ride comfort compared to others. The rear was noticeably more stable over stock. Then I added Coachbuilder shackles and was amazed at how the rear was even more stable.

The ride is outstanding on washboards and pot holes are soaked up very nicely.
They have your typical exterior progressive bump stop for the compression but unlike most others they also have an internal progressive bump stop for droop that really soaks up the jolt when you hit full droop.

The semi gravel road to my buddy’s place is pretty gnarly and about 1 mile long windy, rutted, and hilly at points. In my unscientific comparison. I could do it as follows:
In my wife’s stock Suburban on OEM 22s I can do up to 15 mph and that is it and don’t really like doing much over 10 mph.
In my stock Limited Tundra I could do like 25-30 mph comfortably and could maybe push it to 35 mph in some spots but it really felt like I was beating the crap out of the truck.
After the Falcons and Coachbuilders (never did it with just the Falcons prior to installing the Coachbuilders). I am easily doing 50mph and the truck feels great. I am sure it would do faster without issue but the curves won’t allow any faster.

I highly suggest watching these videos. There is not much Tundra/Falcon specific video out there but having had these for about 2 years now I have found it all holds true across the board. Having this be my 3rd suspension setup and installed many other on buddy’s trucks and ridden and driven their trucks. This is without a doubt the best suspension under $2k
https://youtu.be/AtCqYjx2JxM

https://youtu.be/0h5orP2R91E

https://youtu.be/4QODZzltjT4

https://youtu.be/f2aJUdJnmIw

https://youtu.be/AIU693t7wNM

 

Sounds about perfect for my needs. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and even a bigger thanks for the videos. Going to pour another cup of coffee and fire them up.

 

Old Man Emu lift kits. Proven and reliable.

They used to be much lower in price, but like everything else. I am sure they have gone up in price.



O.S.T.

 

Absolutely a great and proven product but the Nitrochargers are so out dated that ride comfort is non existent.

Now if you are talking the BP-51s that is a whole different ball game but also no where near $2k.

 

Love my eibach coilivers with 5160 rear and RAS. all for under 2k total if you install yourself.

 

I've only ran their BP-51's and loved them. And their customer support is second to none in my experience. They also come with a 3 year warranty. But I want to go with a cheaper setup this go around. I did do a dobinsons kit that was similar to the cheaper OME Nitrochargers kits on my wife's GX460 and it was okay. Definitely wish I would have spent a few more bucks on their IMS kit. But that vehicle is gone and she is driving a Sequoia now with the air ride. If/when the air ride fails we'll look at some options for her.

 

Did the Eibach 2.0 kit on my buddy’s Tacoma and that was a very surprising kit for $1k

 

I think for the OP's parameters that would be a good choice.

But better would be Fox 2.0s with the adjustable rear. Thinking they could be tuned for a good ride unloaded, then the rear could be stiffened up while towing.

This only issue with 2.0s "being too small" is if you are doing long washboard or something like that. The smaller shock will overheat quicker. Should be able to tune them for for plenty of damping.

 

Eibach has started offering rears with Resis.
The OP mentions doing lots of washboards and lots of towing.
The Fox 2.0s are absolutely nothing to write home about.

 

Those BP-51's are pretty badazz for sure. I wish they were around when I did my suspension upgrade.

But That's pretty typical for me. Every time I buy and install anything, like a month later the company comes out with the latest and greatest new model. It doesn't matter if it's Trucks, Harleys, tires, mobile phones, etc., etc.

I always get screwed, Story of my life...



O.S.T.

 

"Lots" being the road to his house. If he is on long stretches of washboard on a regular basis, then shocks with more cooling capacity would be a good idea. For washboard you'd typically want shocks with less damping, but it's a tricky situation.

I love the Ironman FCPs I have. On particularly rough and bumpy washboard they are much better than stock, but on better quality washboard, the stock shocks were smoother. They have high damping that's digressive. I'm a fan of digressive valving as it really improves control and handling, but it's not a luxury car ride.

 

Ya you always get high quality from Eibach. If you wait for Black Friday I had gotten 15% off an already reasonable price. I think now they have rear resis

 

They do.
Now if they would offer a 2.5 front. That would be a very nice option.

 

Would be nice even though the 2.0 works perfectly for me. I prolly would have gone 2.5 if they had it since I am a proponent of overkill.