Kings vs. icon vs. fox coilovers

I got some eibach struts at the moment, but I think it’s time to upgrade… my three big options are kings, icon, or fox complete lift kit but the problem is at the moment I do have a lot of weight in the front, I got a big ass bumper and some skids up front, thinking of later adding a winch I would think I need something a little bit more stiffer, but I’m not sure on how kings or foxes will do under that type of load I know icons are pretty stiff so maybe that will be one of my options, but ride quality does matter to me (i daily this truck and I will till it breaks down) so I do want some thing comfortable.

also, from what I see kings are 2.5 inch lift, and I was thinking about sticking with my 3 inch lift and kings. Do not have external reservoirs, but icons and fox do. but in the other hand, I heard the kings are amazing so I’m kinda in a pickle on what to choose lol

does anyone have experience and history with these coilovers ?? Could need some info pleasee

 

Any of the King, Fox, or Icon will do just fine with any load you have up front - they are all adjustable. Make sure to get 650lbs springs, and not 700lbs, or you'll be hating the rough ride. Personally, I like ADS (which is what I'm running on all four corners). Like all the higher end brands, but their build quality seems just a bit better to me.

Fronts: Bye Bye Toytec, New UCA’s and ADS Shocks in the Front

Rears: Upgrading the Rear with ADS shocks

Other details on truck, so you can see what kind of setup I've got (armor, winch, etc.). Truck weight is ~5800lbs, split pretty evenly front-to-rear.

 

Coils will make up for the added weight, shock brands will just have different valving right out of the box.

As for the brands you've mentioned, I'd go either ADS or go with whatever Accutune uses, and get some custom valving to suit your trucks needs.

This is coming from someone that's run both King 2.5 and Fox 2.5 coilovers.

 

I'm running Icons with stock weight truck and very happy with them, That being said the only thing I have to compare them to is Bilsten 6500's and Old Man Emu's.

 

I’ve never herd of ads suspension I’m guessing they are very good? Also I’ve not knowledged about what accutune is can someone explain that ?

 

I’ve herd really good thing about kings, but the thing is they don’t have a reservoir and they’re only 2.5 inch lift, I wanted to stick with the 3” and for the sake of it having a Reservoir, or should I worry about that ?

 

What are your plans with the truck? Most lifts that offer 3" will be a stiffer spring rate. I have icons and they are not truly adjustable. The ride height is adjusted by adding preload which can ruin ride quality if trying to get a big lift. Other brands may be the same though. I'd only get resivors if you plan on driving on rough roads at high speed like 25+. For just crawling around I don't think it'll matter much.

 

ADS > Fox/King

Accutune is a vendor that sells King or Fox shocks, except they offer custom valving by ordering through them.

 

I live in Arizona so washes and loose dirt is everywhere, I’ll be doing a lot of fast driving, and crawling, also very much daily driving it so I’m trying to find something in the middle and I know foxes do everything that you need them to do and the tune-ability of them are great I might go foxes up front and some kings piggy in the back, is it bad if I mix and match ?

 

@AccuTune Offroad

 

I think at 3" of lift you will have a stiff ride with any of those coilovers. That is at the upper end of their range and would require quite a bit of preload to get there with all that weight. I think you'll end up needing a higher spring rate.

I ran some sway a way 2.5's with 650lb coils, cranked to what my 882's were giving me (2.75"), it rode like crap. Extremely stiff at slower speeds. They required too much preload for that height, and that was without any additional weight up front.

 

Helpful video to explain their valving differences
https://youtu.be/vupySrzF0Lk

 

Dude, ADS is out of Arizona.

It really seems like you're chasing Fox or King for the name; again you really need to just go ADS.

 

Radflo is another top tier option. I have some 2.5s on the front of my 4runner, they ride great

 

04 Tacoma is not going to have a lot of great options from Fox or King. If budget is not an issue or concern, and ADS has remote reservoirs front and rear for your application, and will tune them, that would be a good option. Non-reservoir will not have the performance for whoop smashing in the desert, but will be better than what you had. Don't go above the recommended lift height from manufacturer, you will only decrease ride quality and potentially bring up other issues.

 

I'm chasing Fox

 

Might want to do some research on coilovers and understand how they work before you spend all that cash on them. The shock bodies of all these high end coilovers are threaded and allow for adjustment of the preload on the coil spring. More preload = more lift. You can adjust any of them to have more or less lift. The King Shocks absolutely will get to 3" (it might ride like ass) with the right coil springs (650lbs if you have a bumper and skids). I don't know why the remote resi is such a big deal for you- is it because all the second and third gen shocks have them? King does sell coilovers with remote reservoirs for long-travel setups, so it must be doable if you really want them, but I just doubt it's necessary.

 

Nothing wrong with chasing tail

 

You mean you don't just buy a truck and immediately buy full suspension soon after?

 

Depends on how much cash you have falling outta your pockets.