I think if you like to drive hard/sported, you'll appreciate a digressive shock like the 6112. For the price it's really difficult to beat. Is there a better valving out there with custom valving? Possibly. There's a point though where you really start splitting hairs and it's no longer a value proposition. Not to mention the trade off in life cycle. For me it was easy. I dislike a boaty squishy suspension. There's times they are better, as long as you have enough travel. I greatly prefer a tight firm setup over a tippy boaty one. That 6112 coil over setup gave me the very predictable, flat handling nature and it rally's very very well with a very acceptable level of low speed road driving comfort for me.

Ride quality is all relative. I came from a world of driving grain and farm trucks with Hendrickson walking beams and camel backs. Everything rides awesome after that. Some people state they feel that the Bilsteins are harsh rising though. I think my 4runner rides like a cloud compared to my old 97' F350, so I don't know.......

I think if a person is going to go crazy and spend $4,000-$5000 on shocks, it would be very, very hard not to want to move into the electronic valving world. Looks like SDI is getting ready to release a Tacoma setup. The already offer an electronic reservoir. Let's face it, that's where the future is. For now, I'm happy with the 6112/5160/Duro bump combo. If I ever get a chance to have an electronic set up with internal bumps though, that's probably going to be a shut up and take my money right effing now situation....lol...

Whatever shocks you get though, do add some Duro bumps. They'll change your life.

HUGE bang for the buck with these.

I think short of aired down 40s on trophy truck suspension you're always going to feel washboards, but these Kings are definitely better than the Toytecs I had before that. It had blown factory shocks when I got it, and I lifted it not long after I bought it so I don't really have much of a baseline. I will say that I have 5100s on my half ton GMC and they give a much firmer ride.

I can hit the railroad crossing behind my office at like 50, get all four tires off the pavement, and land with relative comfort with the Kings and durobumps though.

The thing is I love the boaty feel. I hate my 5100’s because then valving is digressive so it blows through travel on larger stuff and becomes really stiff on the small stuff. I’d rather have less handling and super soft in the first little bit of travel and then have it firm up over larger hits. I also have essentially no added weight so that plays a part too.

Definitely on the list. I was thinking air bumps, but the tech in this seems 80% as good for 1/2 the price

Sounds like you may need something progressively valved then. You may almost need to purchase your own gas, oil, and learn how to valve them yourself. Custom valving and budget minded tend to be mutually exclusive things.

I think tire pressure plays way more of a role in the small stutter bumps that shocks myself.

If the 5100s were blowing through for you, the question I would ask his do you have enough spring rate?

Yeah. They really are a great deal in my opinion.

I found that just airing down is a real game changer in the washboard. Everywhere really.

Trophy trucks are special though. I always love watching with those guys get the front wheels in the air and seeing how much the front suspension droops out. All 87" of it.....lol. Definitely levels of travel to be envious of, that's for sure.

That will be my goal then! j/k but it is a strong motivator to bump up from stock to 35s...it won't make washboards go away, but it sure will help.

Good points and I think that a Digressive Shocks should be paired with Progressive Springs that match your vehicle weight and intended usage.

Three steps:
1. Tire pressure
2. Tire pressure
3. Tire pressure

That's about it. 20psi or less.

-Charlie

Or, much less bang, once you spend a few bucks.

I got them after a lot of water bars running sweep at a rally... don't want do deal with that again. Also was doing 60+ on some nice wide dirt roads, but they were so smooth it was like pavement.

-Charlie

that's probably a big contributor, I usually keep it in the 22-26 range, guess I wasn't going low enough!

I mean blowing through travel on large compressions like big dips. I think the spring rate is fine because the truck is about at 2-2.5" lift on the lowest setting of the 5100's. I think something with linear-progressive valving would be the best too.

Yep. Preach it! Very much this. 18-20 psi seems to the sweet spot almost always.

Air down and some Duro bumps and your gonna have a good time.