Advice/help on shocks for my driving habits - 2016 Taco Off-Road access cabl

Hi folks, my first Taco so looking for some advice on shocks for my specific driving habits.

I bought the truck just over a year ago. It is a 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road, access cab with 6 foot box. Stock Bilsteins on it now. Not even 30,000 miles on the truck and the shocks are leaking.

They take a beating on the washboard logging roads I drive. Last winter I also put 500 pounds of sand bags in the back to get around in the snow. That stayed in the truck for 3 months. That is with good snow tires. Had about 32 inches of snowfall last winter.

I am off road a lot. In the past year I have put 25,000 miles on the truck, and about 5,000 of that is off road. Terrible washboard logging roads up steep hills (3,000 foot elevation climb is normal). Those roads beat the crap out of you, non stop hammering at even 15mph. You get deafened inside the truck as it hammers so much on those roads. Can knock your chiclets out of your jaw. Hate those roads with a passion but got to get to my remote lakes.

Lots of crawling too in 1st gear low range. Rocks, stumps, old ATV trails and so on. A single day fishing trip can be 80 miles of washboard logging road, and 20 miles of 4x4 trail.

I do not want to "beef up" the truck or lift it. I have been down that road in the past with other trucks, too many headaches. Don’t want to fool around with adjustments to leaf springs, coils, or driveshaft angle. Just need a shock that will last under these conditions, and not so stiff I can’t drive those washboard logging roads. The roads are very dangerous, often 2,000 foot cliffs straight down if you bounce off the washboard road.

Any suggestions for a set of shocks for this type of driving?

 

I’d recommend something with a remote reservoir if you’re spending that much time on washboard roads. Icons are pricey but would probably give you the most comfortable ride.

 

So I installed Bilstein 5100's front and back. Best bang for buck for my type of off road driving. I will be changing shocks every couple of years so I figure why spend a ton more when I am not guaranteed any greater longevity. The 2016 TRD OR of course comes with the Bilstein 4600 on front, and those dinky smaller Bilsteins on the back which are no good for anything. Have not had a chance to try the truck off road with the new shocks yet, as all of the off road around here is still under 2 - 3 feet of snow. As for city driving, wow, what an improvement over the stock Bilsteins. The 5100's are basically same as the 4600, except for the valving which make them definitely more firm, and more suitable for off road. Before, large oversized speed bumps required almost a full stop. Now I just coast over them and no bouncing up and down like the 4600's. Granted my shocks were thrashed from about 5,000 miles of off road in the past year, but even when the truck was newer those big speed bumps required almost a full stop, and teeth gritting on the down travel.

Cornering is much better, no nose dive on braking, and overall just a nice solid "truck" ride now instead of that overly soft ride from the stock Bilsteins. So stable on the highway now too.

This is the fourth 4x4 I have owned, all used 60% pavement, 40% off road. Retired now, and all of my free time is deep off road at remote fishing lakes in BC. I installed upgraded shocks on all of my previous trucks within months of buying the trucks. I wish I had not waited so long to put them on the Tacoma.

I did not lift the truck at all. Not for me. I am offroad about 50 times per year and very bad roads, but I also carry a lot of gear in the back and boat on the roof, so I did not want any extra effort to load the back and the boat. I also do not want any increased rollover risk, and don't want the hassle and cost that come with a lift. I take my boat on an off the roof sometimes at 3 lakes per day, so any extra hoisting effort (by myself) is not good.

To anyone looking to upgrade their shocks and don't like how soft the stock Bilsteins are on the TRD Off Road, my first impressions of the 5100 are very good. I'll post some other comments once spring arrives here and I get some full time driving in the bush.

 

Get Bilstein 6112’s for the front and 5160 reservoirs for the rear next time.I ran 5100s for about 60000 miles, the 6112’s blow them out of the water on and off-road and are still fairly affordable.

 

Yes, I was going to get those first, but they are not so affordable here. In fact the cost for the shocks would have been about 2.5 times more than what I paid for the 5100's. The 5100 's will be fine. I am on my 4th 4x4 pickup now. All used 60% daily use and 40% offroad, in some severe conditions.

With my 3 previous trucks, the only mods were upgraded shocks. Nothing fancy, just more heavy duty shocks and they all held up well. I am solo remote about 40 - 50 trips per year and slow and steady wins the day. A "better" shock might find me pushing the truck a bit harder, which raises the risk of mistakes and getting stuck 150 miles off road with no cellphone access. A long walk out...

 

Do your 5160s ride pretty stiff over sharply angled ramps- like leaving the road into a higher parking lot for instance ?
My truck is 1.5” taller than recommended for the 5160s and i was wondering if thats why it’s rough back there compared to stock or if thats just how they are