Suspension | Beating a dead horse

Hey everyone!

First post here. I hate to re-open a much talked about and wide topic, but I am going to. I got a 2021 TRD OR and have added a bed rack, rtt, and mounted some goodies to extend my off-road mileage and safety. I have BFG 265/75 r 16 on method 704. Really happy with tire size etc., but feeling like the constant added weight on the rear is starting to level the truck slightly.

I am not looking to get crazy with a lift tbh. I just want sturdier suspension for the rear (prevent sag), for all the washboard and multi-terrain I see in Oregon, all while feeling cozy driving 500 miles on pavement to get there at times. Looking into Icon Stage 2 kit as my choice...

Any opinions based on experience or advice?

Appreciate you all!

 

Two schools of thought. First, drive it stock until something actually doesn't perform to your liking then fix the specific item. In this case airbags or an add a leaf to the rear left pack to beef up the back slightly. Or there is the buy once cry once school of thought. Where you buy the max suspension package your budget allows(check accutune website for suspension packages). This can future proof your truck for where you think you want to be... It does risk over complicating things or introducing problems but you probably won't replace parts twice.

If the only thing bothering you is a little sag in the back, just address the back. Or let this place get to you and order a bunch of awesome parts because might as well go big once. My wallet wishes I could have been more practical. Be careful how much time you spend here, it gets expensive.

 

Icons will completely change the dynamic of how your truck handles because they are digressive shocks. On the street, they really firm up the suspension and take away most of the body roll, dive, and squat associated with the stock suspension. Even with my added weight and swaybar removed, I have better handling than my OEM TRD-OR setup. I will say they're harder on the smaller bumps at low speeds because of the nature of digressive shocks. That does not really bother me because when I'm on the trail, I am aired down to a pretty low PSI and the tires eat up a lot of the little bumps and rocks.

I would really say try to find someone that has kings, fox or ads shocks and then find someone that has icons and take a ride in both and see how you feel about them.

Personally, I am mostly street with a few legit wheeling trips a year in the PNW, so streetability was important to me and I went with Icons. I have the stage ones and am quite happy with them. No leaking or breaking top hats like others have mentioned (probably because they're doing full sends whenever they can).

 

For sure! I def get that process of thinking and have thought about just doing an aal kit to start but have been down the rabbit hole of potentially needing multiple installs and that pita process. Thanks for the input!

 

That's what happened lol. I initially only wanted bolt-ons. The more I wheeled the more I wanted larger tires to tackle bigger obstacles and wanted more droop. Now I'm here slowly collecting parts for a chevy 63 swap with 14" smoothies.

 

Totally feel like I’m in the same boat as you. I have been nervous about hearing leak issues too but also am not looking for full sends every chance possible. Literally just want something that supports my weight and added longevity of rebuildable. Stoked on your reply, cheers.

 

love it. I feel like my mentality is a bit dif than the average taco obsessed off-roader