Any Good Off-Raod Shock and Strut combos in $300-$500 range?

I blew the original shocks and struts on my 2001 Toyota Tacoma late last year while driving hard on bumpy bouncy desert roads out in the Antelope Valley, California and bought some replacements just to get back to smooth driving. They were lower shelf from O'Reilly's.

By New Years I want to have my Truck off-road worthy again, shock and strut-wise. Does anyone recommend average/good shocks that I can buy in the 300/500 range. Anyone have any experience with this. I am going to try and put them on myself with help from a more experienced mechanic/friend

 

It's been said a million times but here is a million & one! Bilstein and either an OME or Eibach coil.

 

x 1,000,002. I bought my Billie 5100's for $100 each, and swapped the front coils myself with a free (deposit required) loaned spring compressor kit from Autozone. Couldn't be happier with the ride, a little more stiff than stock.