Bilstein 5100 or 6112/5160 or eibach

Hey guys I’ve been trying to search this for a while and it’s a lot of back and fourth. I want 2-2.5 inches of lift I think the 2.5 will make the dclb look more proportional. Any one have pics of such? What lift kit did you go with? Between Bilstein I was also looking into the Eibach, I’m just no suspension guru and want to hear first hand experience if possible. Thanks.

 

Alls I know is I’ve been on 6112s since the truck was about 8 months old. It’s been down for a little, but when it did wheel a lot, I thrashed on it with 37s. Those 6112s are not blown out yet.

 

I would suggest to continue researching until you have a full handle on your driving style and what will best match them. It took me about a year of occasional reading before I felt confident enough to purchase. Otherwise, you're going to get my opinion on what was right for me, which most likely won't be what's right for you.

My lift was for trailer towing purposes- I wanted a heavier and taller pack in the rear, and the fronts are just there to match. I wound up hating 2 inches as I could feel the shocks topping out in spots. So I'm on a 1 inch lift. As it's towing with light off-road, the 6112s had the properties that best fit my use. Again, that's my use. Yours may vary. I'm not sure if you're the type that is very persnickety about road feel, or if you're the type that wouldn't notice the handling difference between a Tacoma and a Nissan Juke. Because I don't know you, I can't tell you which one is best. That's for you to decide.

 

solid point I should have added I’m looking to do some weekend wheelin’ nothing too crazy but want to start camping with an rtt and just getting out more. In the summer I usually have me and a buddies dirt bikes back there aside from that I don’t tow unless it’s a bike trailer for a cruiser. I have a buddy with a gooseneck for anything bigger really

 

37s? Damn dude I don’t need nothing that crazy I still have to put the baby in her car seat. Bahaha

 

Oh you don’t need them but I did lol. That extra two inches works wonders… yes, she said that.

I have three of em, they all grew up in 4wd rigs, strapped in better than we were, with their car seats.

Just my experience, I’m surprised those 6112s held up so well.

 

And did you run the spring the 6112s came with? What about rear? Any pics?

 

Ooo, I’m pretty sure it is the spring it came with. Been a while.

Rear has an extended icon shock. Not sure of model/ number. I got ahold of battleborn off road and told them my plan with the truck and what I use it for.

pictures don’t really help, as my truck is not normal.

 

6112’s here no complaints. All kits you mentioned are great IMO. Have fun

 

looks awesome, are you using the springs that the kit came with? I see you’re also running the 5160 and an icon leaf does it sit level with weight in the back? I want it to sit level with an rtt and bed rack but if I can get it to sit level how you have it then just do an aal for the added weight in the future I’ll be ok with that too

 

also what size tire and what position do you have the 6112s on can I also see a better picture of the front bumper looks awesome but also looks like the bumper was cut for fit

 

Thank you appreciate it. I’m running 650 coils to compensate for weight of bumper and winch. I’m running 255/85/16 Pizza Pizza!! Love them. Also I’m running RXT leaf pack option 3. I retain rake when loaded. IMO I would run the leaf pack on option 3 as well with weight you are going to add. 6112’s are set at 2” of lift settings which on mine are 6/5. New version 11/9. Yes I did cut front bumper for new bumper

 

5100 are an amazing value for the money. if lift is all your look for and offroading once in a while thats all you need. 5100 are made to be used with the stock spring. if you go with after market spring like OME springs, the notch has to be at the bottom. in the event that you feel like you need more, 5100' are easliy resellable. eibach is okay but thats all it is.

 

Ok, so we've commented back and forth on different threads it seems like our travel styles are similar.

'19 TRD OR DCSB bone stock currently.

Primary use case: 215 lbs of camping gear in the bed (heavier stuff in the front of bed, and since I have an awesome wife, weighed everything coming in from the last camping trip), bed rack, softopper. Hiker trailer towing - probably ~150 lbs tongue.

Secondary use case, Solo trips (no camper), example: N. Rim Grand Canyon trip on AZ forum, no sliders needed, stock tires@20psi, rocky, washboardy roads, no hard wheeling - just some small lines in my TRD aluminum skid plate after the N Rim trip.

Observations - Very "wallowy" side to side telling me not enough damping. Still on TRD OR Bilsteins.

I don't want much if any lift, 1" max. Will use stock tire size in the future. Have Sumo Springs blue currently to reduce sag when towing the trailer. There is a harsh rebound when I'm unloaded. That isn't something to be solved unless it is super easy - like "oh, Fox 2.0 deals with that out of the box"

The real question: What shocks in the rear will help smooth the towing of the trailer on terrible freeway/interstate and give me decent washboard road travel? Looking at Bilstein 6112/5160 and Eibach Stage 2.0 for 0.7 to 1.0 lift. Eibach's look tiny in diameter (wash board/loaded heat rejection?) Lift is not important - other than NOT 2"

@Rock Lobster what did you end up with - 6112/5160?

I am open to changing out the front coil-overs if necessary. From reading, I think linear shocks would be best, but it is difficult to determine which brands/models are such. I'm keeping my sway bar for in town use.

Anyone have other comments, it's not Friday, so yeah, this is a real question.

 

I'm on 6112s/5160. Middle perch up front, 3-leaf AAL in rear, but after this latest trip I plan on upgrading them to the RXT pack soon. (I think my leaves are showing some age.) 1"lift all around.

I started with sway bar intact, but regretted it in Big Bend. My last 3500 mile trip had no sway bar. There was some wander at highway speeds and cross winds while pulling full water tanks, but no regrets. The bar is staying off.

As far as front+rear vs just doing rear, I recommend doing all four corners. The 6112s will help with braking and cornering when towing, and the highway miles feel wonderfully comfortable. They do amazingly well on rough gravel too. But here's the rub - they will sometimes feel harsh with the sway bar. The aggressively digressive valving will fight the bar on uneven terrain. Unlike the stock setup, they are practically designed to go without. It took me a few months to take the experiment and take it off for a weekend, and all the stiff harshness was instantly gone. Without the hobbles it's an amazingly smooth suspension.





All told, I'd say the 6112/5160 combo is a great all-rounder and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.