which shocks?

so Bilstein 4600 is 46mm wide. 5100 is 51mm.
Blue/yellow vs silver,

and I hear that although shocks are usually set to match a given ride height (achieved with additional more expensive parts), that technically front 5100's have adjustable plates where they can give a slight lift by themselves. Without putting a new coil spring.

Stock (TRD Sport) is also blue/yellow Bilstein's, but with a red Toyota logo on them. Supposedly it's Toyota spec, and much thinner than 4600's, which look the same to the untrained eye.
Anyone who sees the truck usually goes "It already came with Bilstein's", even though Bilstein is a company, not a model.
The stock parts might also be worn by now, especially if ever off-roaded.

3rd-gen takeoffs might fit, but not ride as nicely as 4600's.
And Fox 2.0's may be more comparable to 5100's, but both cost more.

There's a YouTube video where a guy compares the difference of stock vs. Fox 2.0 on his Dodge Ram and says they're basically the same.

Is it worth the money to keep it simple and buy a new set of 4600's, as some have recommended here?
This by far does seem to be the cheapest option, which is definitely enticing

seems like a difference of $300 shock kit
vs. ~$500 shocks + rear leaf springs ($) + front coil springs ($) + anything else
IDK about trucks but it seems common on passenger cars to only replace shocks unless looking to lower a car, which = matching a sport shock and sport spring, or adjustable coilover, both of which can be around $500-750 minimum

 

I put 5100s on the front of my otherwise stock truck when it was 3 years old and had the coil spring support installed so it lifted the front 1". I believe they say .8"? in the paperwork, one step up from stock, but it raised my 4 cyl an inch as I measured before and after. The truck now sits level and it's a great upgrade, and ride quality didn't noticeably worsen. With the 5100s at +1" it sat level with the OE leafs and it's still level now with the recall replacement leafs installed.

So, if you only want to raise the front an inch to sit level, that's all you need to do- no more $ spent. Of course you can install them at the stock setting, but who would do that?

 

Suggest research in “Forums”, “Suspension”.

 

so far, just a daily driver and occasional off-roading, I don't know if it's called dirt roads or logging roads or what,
by off-roading I don't mean mountain goat climbing rocks because it may not be capable of that in stock form;
I mean past where the asphalt ends.

Future plans, I guess serious off-roading and overlanding would be cool. But I'll wait till later when I can finally afford that lifestyle to remodify/build the truck in a way that fits that.

The results have been just people saying their setup is the best
"4600's are the best!"
"I agree, they're good!"
"No, 5100's are the best!"
etc.

"ride quality didn't noticeable worsen"
Well I hope it improved, because my stock ride quality at 130k is Horrible

but 1" raise in the front would probably look good

 

Get Bilstein 6112's on the front w/600lb springs (650lb if your getting armor), set on the third ring. Bilstein 5160's on the rear. OME Dakar 95R (96R if you get a cap and armor), leaf springs on the rear. Add a 3 degree shim under the Dakar's. This will do everything you describe for now and in the near future.

 

On my first gen I just put 4600s rear/5100s front. They are nothing special, but much better than the blown POS Monroe fronts and rear air shocks that it came with. The target was just something for DD and I ended up with the two different models as they measured out closest to stock travel heights. As with most pickups, ride quality improves with added weight.

On the 2nd gen I did Icon coilovers and 96Rs with an extra leaf in the rear (for weight carrying), and that thing rides like magic with predictable offroad behavior. Plus the coilovers can adjust from 0-3.5"

Knowing what I know now, I'd skip an incremental upgrade in the front and do a good quality coilover. The coilovers will be ready for a lift if the time comes without added expense and you'll have already fallen in love with the ride quality.

 

this sounds like $2k in parts vs $300 for 4600's

 

ended up ordering 4600's
hopefully they fit

am not sure why it's listed as "Universal"
went that route because it was cheaper from 4wheelparts for $300 (set)

vs. $330+ for them on RockAuto
except RockAuto suggests the part number is specific to the vehicle model
whereas 4wheel parts sells them as a "set of 4600's" and claims they have universal truck fitment