Kings Vs. Icon, more confused now than ever

[SendInTheCavalry]

Like everyone on here I have big plans for my 4runner. We will see how it goes. Anyhow 2 things for sure, protection and ground clearance/additional weight capacity.

So like everyone Icon and Kings are very high on my list. Ive read countless threads comparing the two.. Sounds like both are great choices BUT there are outlier reviews that are completely opposite of what the bulk of people say.

I want smoothing riding, and I don't understand the difference between Digressive and progressive springs?

I love the way the TrdPro stock Bilsteins ride, I truly am sad to replace it and I feel like the bar is set very high.

I am on the East coast so I doubt ill ever do any 80mph blasts down desert roads HOWEVER I am on the road 95% of the time and the road in my area are really bad. So I think I should make my purchase decision based on the bulk of my usage. the 5% of the time I go off roading is mostly ATV/Unmaintained roads. Ruts, washouts, creek crossings... etc.

I am just worried that either the Kings or the Icon will be stiffer that the stock TrdPro stock.


Just wondering what you guys think?

 

[Xtremluck]

Both offerings are way overkill for your use case. I would look at Old Man Emu or Bilsteins. My rig is essentially a dedicated off road vehicle and even for what I use it for my Icon CDCV setup is way more than I need.

 

[SendInTheCavalry]

Both offerings are way overkill for your use case. I would look at Old Man Emu or Bilsteins. My rig is essentially a dedicated off road vehicle and even for what I use it for my Icon CDCV setup is way more than I need.

Ok, That is a interesting view. Would certainly free up more money for skids!

I love Bilstein. Ive had their shocks on other road only cars Ive owned. They are very well build and they stand behind their products.

 

[Aznwolf118]

Why is fox shocks not in the conversation

If you like the current belsteins, you should run them until you can find someone with a 19’ pro that is going to kings or icon and grab their oem Fox’s take offs, minght be a way more cost effective solution for a rig that’s on pavement 95% of the time

But that being said, having A 2.5 set up with adjustability is one thing, having King’s with adjusters or fox with dsc and correctly valved for your set it is a whole different animal.

 

[robkh1984]

Both offerings are way overkill for your use case. I would look at Old Man Emu or Bilsteins. My rig is essentially a dedicated off road vehicle and even for what I use it for my Icon CDCV setup is way more than I need.

Same situation here with the on road to off-road ratio. I have the Toytec Boss kit with the HD springs to support extra weight and upgraded UCAs. The ride is definitely stiffer than stock, but a bit stiff for the broken roads around my place. The stiffness helps keep the 4Runner more level around corners, which is nice, but my KDSS probably helps with that too.

Wondering if the OME or the Bilstein will be a good compromise, especially when ai get ready to add a hardshell RTT up top. Speaking of Bilstein, which setup?

 

[cloudrunner]

I had an Icon Stage 2 kit on my 4th gen for a year. It rode very stiff on and off road. Like others have said, it is a quality lift, but probably overkill for your needs. If you are just looking for another inch of lift you should just add a body lift and call it good. It’s $150bucks and an afternoon of your time. Sounds like you enjoy your TRD pro suspension, so why change it?

 

[jhguth]

I had an Icon Stage 2 kit on my 4th gen for a year. It rode very stiff on and off road. Like others have said, it is a quality lift, but probably overkill for your needs. If you are just looking for another inch of lift you should just add a body lift and call it good. It’s $150bucks and an afternoon of your time. Sounds like you enjoy your TRD pro suspension, so why change it?

A body lift isnt going to help the front clearance or almost any other clearance

 

[Throwback]

So you love the way your TRD suspension rides and it is already way overkill for your use case... and you want to buy race suspension?

Really you don't need skids or any of that either if you're not actually doing technical trails.

Maybe just a set of decent AT tires and call it good?

Honestly, a stock TRD Pro 4Runner is overkill for what you're describing.

However, if you're doing it for the hobby build factor that's cool too. I would personally go with Kings since they've been around for a long time and seem to be much more steeped in the "serious" race scene just from a casual viewpoint.

Plus they look cooler. One thing I always notice first on the high dollar builds I see are the full resi Kings gleaming in blue from behind the tires.

 

[cloudrunner]

A body lift isnt going to help the front clearance or almost any other clearance

Helps fit larger tires. He said he only goes on light trails, so he probably does not need the travel of the Icon suspension. Since he is on pavement 95% of the time I am guessing he is mostly looking for a little extra lift for appearances. Like 90% of the people on here.

 

[sn_85]

I'd say a Bilstein 6112/5160 combo is probably valved most like the TRD Pro shocks. Also has height adjustable perches to give you a little more clearance for larger tires.

 

[MrGainzz]

You bought a TRD Pro and you want to swap out the suspension ?


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[tacoyota]

Sounds like bilstein or OME setup would be good. All of the other coilover setups will be noticeably stiffer.

 

[SendInTheCavalry]

So you love the way your TRD suspension rides and it is already way overkill for your use case... and you want to buy race suspension?

Really you don't need skids or any of that either if you're not actually doing technical trails.

Maybe just a set of decent AT tires and call it good?

Honestly, a stock TRD Pro 4Runner is overkill for what you're describing.

However, if you're doing it for the hobby build factor that's cool too. I would personally go with Kings since they've been around for a long time and seem to be much more steeped in the "serious" race scene just from a casual viewpoint.

Plus they look cooler. One thing I always notice first on the high dollar builds I see are the full resi Kings gleaming in blue from behind the tires.

Helps fit larger tires. He said he only goes on light trails, so he probably does not need the travel of the Icon suspension. Since he is on pavement 95% of the time I am guessing he is mostly looking for a little extra lift for appearances. Like 90% of the people on here.

You bought a TRD Pro and you want to swap out the suspension ?


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Go easy gang... The Pro is VERY capable.. way more than my skill level.. I am only looking to mainly offset the weight addition of armor (likely will get aluminum if available) and gear and gain clearance for 255/80s

I am not looking to be internet famous or poser... I went off roading for my first time in a something larger than an ATV and I am hooked.. I changed my view of what I need to have a capable rig. I narrowed it down to armor. well the downside to that is weight... I certainly dont want to lower my ride height/clearance any more.

Ive thought about doing a Dobinson leveling spring in the front and calling it done. Downside to that it wont handle the weight. So... If I am taking apart the suspension I might as well do it once and be done.

 

[shrub1]

If you want a stock ride..leave it stock. Or if you really want a touch more height do the 1 inch pro front Toytec spacer deal. You can still run stock UCA and the ride will be so darn close to stock you may not even be able to tell the difference.

Based on your comments I fear if you go further than that you will be bummed with a stiffer ride. Also get C load tires.

 

[RedSled]

I have never heard anyone complain that their Kings are to stiff, or that they hate the ride, but that does not mean that one of those boneheads are out there, with all due respect. I love mine on and off road, but hey different strokes right?

 

[fordracing19]

I have adjustable Kings on my Superduty and adjustable Icons on my 4 runner. I can not tell much difference with the 24 settings on the Kings but a big difference on the Icons.

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[Rushca01]

Bumping this thread from a couple months ago because I’m in the same situation as the OP. I’m on my 3rd 5th gen (see sig) and looking to play a little bit this time around. This is more for cool factor than anything else, just being honest. I really don’t want a lift but 1” wouldn’t be bad. I can’t decide between ICON or the Kings OEM setup, leaning heavily toward the Kings right now.

I don’t mind a stiff ride at all, actually prefer it. Plan to add a set of TRD wheels with the Nitto Terra grapplers in OE size.

 

[thevanillagorilla]

Bumping this thread from a couple months ago because I’m in the same situation as the OP. I’m on my 3rd 5th gen (see sig) and looking to play a little bit this time around. This is more for cool factor than anything else, just being honest. I really don’t want a lift but 1” wouldn’t be bad. I can’t decide between ICON or the Kings OEM setup, leaning heavily toward the Kings right now.

I don’t mind a stiff ride at all, actually prefer it. Plan to add a set of TRD wheels with the Nitto Terra grapplers in OE size.

I bought my Pro in Dec of 2015, ran the OEM suspension out to about 50k miles and then swapped to the Icons. I went Icon specifically for the digressive valving as that's what I wanted for the way that I use my vehicle off-road which is rallying unmaintained forest service roads as fast as I can vs. wheeling through rocks/tech. I absolutely LOVE the way it rides on and off road, it is unbelievably smooth/plush. I can't speak to the longevity of it yet as I'm only about 7 months in, but so far, zero complaints.

Only thing I'd say to think about no matter who you choose (Fox, Icon, King, etc.) any of those race style suspension systems will have use heim joints top and bottom, which might suffer or wear prematurely if you live in a state where there's real winter and the roads are treated with NaCl or MgCl. Just something to think about, maybe someone who has a race style suspension and lives in such a state can chime in with their maintenance/longevity experience?

 

[Rushca01]

I bought my Pro in Dec of 2015, ran the OEM suspension out to about 50k miles and then swapped to the Icons. I went Icon specifically for the digressive valving as that's what I wanted for the way that I use my vehicle off-road which is rallying unmaintained forest service roads as fast as I can vs. wheeling through rocks/tech. I absolutely LOVE the way it rides on and off road, it is unbelievably smooth/plush. I can't speak to the longevity of it yet as I'm only about 7 months in, but so far, zero complaints.

Only thing I'd say to think about no matter who you choose (Fox, Icon, King, etc.) any of those race style suspension systems will have use heim joints top and bottom, which might suffer or wear prematurely if you live in a state where there's real winter and the roads are treated with NaCl or MgCl. Just something to think about, maybe someone who has a race style suspension and lives in such a state can chime in with their maintenance/longevity experience?

From customer rep at Filthy Motorsports:

We’ve sold many of these kits to Northern Canada, Alaska, Russia (Siberia), and Iceland and they hold up great with some basic maintenance that I can go over with you. keep them clean and then spray them regularly with WD-40, Steel-it, or Fluid Film to keep a protective layer of oil on them at all times.

 

[thevanillagorilla]

From customer rep at Filthy Motorsports:

We’ve sold many of these kits to Northern Canada, Alaska, Russia (Siberia), and Iceland and they hold up great with some basic maintenance that I can go over with you. keep them clean and then spray them regularly with WD-40, Steel-it, or Fluid Film to keep a protective layer of oil on them at all times.

Sounds about right...but they're also trying to sell ya something.

I'd be interested in what owners on the forum who live in those environments have experienced as well. Again, for me, not an issue because of where I live, but something I'd consider if I lived in such an environment.

All that aside...I do looooooooove my Icons so far!