Research done...another lift question

[Deputy]

Countless threads on Brand vs Brand and other threads and came up with a few options. Need help deciding best application for what I will be using the vehicle for.

Vehicle: 05 Sport v8 4x4 (XREAS)

Driving:90% will be commuting on the roadway (we don't have the smoothest roads down here in Alabama). Other 10% will be minor trails/hunting land/etc

Chosen kits:
1) OME kit ($900+UCA's)
2) Ultimate or Boss kit; not too sure whats different in the 2 (approx $1300 + UCA's)
3) Icon stage II tubular kit ($2450 total)


My dilemma: T4R was paid off recently and has 225k miles. Very well maintained. Anyways, I don't want to spend a ton of money getting a lift and tires, but I don't want to sacrifice ride for money. The only thing I'm planning on adding is front bumper.
1) The OME kit isn't going to be adjustable and for the added weight of the 4x4 v8 and bumper, I would need heavier springs making it stiffer. And getting 3" i will most likely need to get UCA's which add to the costs. So cheapest kit but will sacrifice ride.
2) Ultimate kit / Boss kit. Both look pretty good in price but the added $400-700 in UCA's will get into the costs close to the icon. These kits are adjustable and I can even upgrade the 2.0 to the 2.5 for even more comfort.
3) Icon kit is the most expensive but comes as a complete kit and the coil overs are extended travel which will help overall comfort with potholes (and help on the trail). I've heard they are the smoothest for daily driving but haven't experienced it personally. I've read these kits need to be rebuilt or checked often. I would rather have a kit that doesn't require much maintenance.

Ive tried to give as much detail as possible. Reason for wanting smooth ride is i have a new baby. I don't want pot holes or bumps to throw the vehicle all over the place. Especially the rear being stiff. I've lifted other vehicles that were very stiff and bumps were treacherous.

So, any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kevinpt]

any thought about going with 5100s?

 

[Deputy]

any thought about going with 5100s?

I've heard those are a bit harsh. Many people said they are very stiff.

 

[Dawg4Runner]

Chosen kits:
1) OME kit ($900+UCA's)
2) Ultimate or Boss kit; not too sure whats different in the 2 (approx $1300 + UCA's)
3) Icon stage II tubular kit ($2450 total)

I can't give an opinion on 1 or 2 since I've never owned them but I can definitely recommend Icon. The ride is night and day improvement over the stock XREAS setup. Although the ride is firmer than stock, the shock valving for compression and rebound makes the ride so much smoother over bumps and pot holes. I also don't have the understeer that I felt with the stock suspension. Over six years with lots of desert running miles and no issues.

 

[Deputy]

I can't give an opinion on 1 or 2 since I've never owned them but I can definitely recommend Icon. The ride is night and day improvement over the stock XREAS setup. Although the ride is firmer than stock, the shock valving for compression and rebound makes the ride so much smoother over bumps and pot holes. I also don't have the understeer that I felt with the stock suspension. Over six years with lots of desert running miles and no issues.

Whats the rebuild stuff i read about Icon? Read something about a rebuild every year???? Thats my main concern. Dont want to keep sending them off.

 

[bob3dsf]

I've heard those are a bit harsh. Many people said they are very stiff.

I have the 5100's and I wouldn't call them stiff. They're firmer than the originals, but keep in mind that my originals were worn out so with little damping left, they bounced after going over bumps. Having the damping back is part of why they feel stiffer. How fast are you trying to go over these bumps/potholes?? At some point, if you're flying over them you'll be all over the place anyway.

The 5100's are very good and I feel they are economical at the same time. I'd guess a downside is that you can't adjust the height with it installed on the truck (if that's a feature you're looking for). You have to basically disassemble them to adjust. I think the other kits you listed can adjust with a collar and spanner.

 

[Dpassmore]

I live in Moody and drive in downtown Birmingham everyday and do light off roading weekly going dirt biking.
When I got my 4th gen, I needed a quick cheap lift and went with the DayStar 2.5-1.5 kit with Xreas and it drives great. Better than stock.
I know everyone says get the good stuff and I agree it's better, but I've been very happy with mine.

 

[Deputy]

I live in Moody and drive in downtown Birmingham everyday and do light off roading weekly going dirt biking.
When I got my 4th gen, I needed a quick cheap lift and went with the DayStar 2.5-1.5 kit with Xreas and it drives great. Better than stock.
I know everyone says get the good stuff and I agree it's better, but I've been very happy with mine.

If i didn't have 225k on the suspension, I would consider going spacer lift. But I wouldn't out a spacer lift on top of this suspension. So the cost of getting all new + spacer lift will cost me just as much as coil overs.

Side note, nice rig.

 

[Dpassmore]

Thanks. I'm sitting at 222k, was 190 when I got it.

 

[NeelyJess]

I also have a 2005 V8 Sport edition. It has been through several different lift combos. It started with the Cornfed 3/2 lift. Then, we went with a Toytec ultimate with Light Racing upper control arms. It now has a Toytec Boss kit. The ride quality of the Boss kit is amazing compared to the ultimate. Well worth the money.

 

[Deputy]

I also have a 2005 V8 Sport edition. It has been through several different lift combos. It started with the Cornfed 3/2 lift. Then, we went with a Toytec ultimate with Light Racing upper control arms. It now has a Toytec Boss kit. The ride quality of the Boss kit is amazing compared to the ultimate. Well worth the money.

Did you require UCA's on any of those setups? What mileage do you have on your current setup? Also did u stay with the 2.0 coil overs or upgrade to 2.5?

 

[Dawg4Runner]

Whats the rebuild stuff i read about Icon? Read something about a rebuild every year???? Thats my main concern. Dont want to keep sending them off.

ALL shocks will fail at some point. Seals will leak, oil will break down, components can break. High end shocks such as Icon, Fox, King, Radflo are rebuildable whereas shocks such as oem, bilstein, rancho, monroe, etc. are not. When they fail, you toss them and buy new ones. "Rebuildable" just means that when the shock fails due to wear and tear, rather than tossing it, you can send it back to the manufacturer and have it rebuilt (or rebuild yourself if you have the skills and equipment). Also, with rebuildable shocks, if you don't like the rebound and compression rate, you can have it re-valved by the manufacturer to fit your needs.

Whether or not you go with rebuildable shocks is up to your needs and budget. Yes, the Icons will cost you more on the front end, your 4Runner will be down while the shocks are shipped off for rebuilding if it ever comes to that. But what you're getting is an item that is specifically designed for your 4runner. The ride is way better than oem. When you get your front bumper, the Icon's will be right at home with it. Just add some more preload on the springs and you're good to go. Which brings us to another point. Regardless of brand, consider getting getting a CO with adjustable spring preload (while mounted to vehicle). That way, you can adjust to front end height to your preference rather than being stuck with whatever the manufacturer decides for you. You'll be thankful for that when you get your bumper, or add a winch to the bumper at a later time.

 

[T4RNightHawk]

I have literally the cheapest lift possible and I regret doing it that way. I have OME and Bilsteins and would definitely recommend something else. Don't get me wrong I love the lift but it rides pretty horribly. I'm gonna switch out the 895s in the rear soon for some superflexes.

 

[robaroni]

I've heard those are a bit harsh. Many people said they are very stiff.

My only experience is going from a worn out OEM set up to 5100'S with new Moog Springs ($550.00). It feels like a brand new truck. The problem is everyone has there own preference. It might be firm to one person and just right for another.

You could drive yourself nuts going back and forth on this!

 

[Deputy]

My only experience is going from a worn out OEM set up to 5100'S with new Moog Springs ($550.00). It feels like a brand new truck. The problem is everyone has there own preference. It might be firm to one person and just right for another.

You could drive yourself nuts going back and forth on this!

I agree with going nuts. That's why I narrowed it down. At the end of the day, getting the other kits plus getting the uca's will be getting close to the price of the icon. Then you start saying to yourself, well for just a little bit more I could get the icon. And then for a little bit more I could get this. By the end of it, your getting a full blown long travel kit haha. But thanks guys. I may just bite the bullet and go with the Icons. Everyone that has them swears by them.

 

[LOBO79]

I have the Ultimate lift on my 2008, and with the tires that I had with both the stock and then the Ultimate lift, the Ultimate kit is better in every way over stock. Then I added E rated Bfg KO2's and it stiffened the ride up, but with all that said the Icon kit might feel even better than the Ultimate kit. I think the tires you choose will make big a difference with the ride.

 

[LOBO79]

Whatever you choose will make you wish you had done it along time ago. If you go with the ToyTec kit I would recommend the Boss kit over the ultimate. It is a newer kit so it would probably be a better choice

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I run the Icon stage 2 with tubular UCAs and love it. Same usage as you, mostly highway with about 10% off road to get to hunting spots. Also have a 6 month old, Icon has been installed since before she was born. Icon by design is stiff on small bumps, but really shine on larger bumps/pot holes (digressive vs progressive valving). The result is a very controlled/predictable ride. If you've got the funds, hard to go wrong with Icon.

Personally I'd cross OME off the list. I like the front setup, but IMO the rear is way too stiff unless you've got some added weight to the rear.

One more to consider would be the Bilstein 6112 /5160 combo. Seems to be a great setup, only downside is that like the 5100s, you can't adjust them while on the vehicle. If you stay at or under 3" lift, UCAs are optional.

 

[Deputy]

I run the Icon stage 2 with tubular UCAs and love it. Same usage as you, mostly highway with about 10% off road to get to hunting spots. Also have a 6 month old, Icon has been installed since before she was born. Icon by design is stiff on small bumps, but really shine on larger bumps/pot holes (digressive vs progressive valving). The result is a very controlled/predictable ride. If you've got the funds, hard to go wrong with Icon.

Personally I'd cross OME off the list. I like the front setup, but IMO the rear is way too stiff unless you've got some added weight to the rear.

One more to consider would be the Bilstein 6112 /5160 combo. Seems to be a great setup, only downside is that like the 5100s, you can't adjust them while on the vehicle. If you stay at or under 3" lift, UCAs are optional.

Sounds exactly like me. My baby is 6months old. Don't want him getting slung or bashed around over bumps. Sounds like icons will be my choice then unless something I'm persuaded to go to the boss kit. Hypothetically if I got the boss kit and just attend uppers, I would be around 1900-2000. The stage 2 has the 2.5 coils, tubular uppers and are extended. So $400 difference but get the 2.5s and the extended travel.

Maybe I'm over thinking it, but when k spend money like this I go over all choices. Hate to change my mind later and spend even more changing it.

 

[kevinpt]

could also go with the total chaos 3.5" kit and make the front end 7 inches wider