Still undecided - Icon vs Fox

[BeachBoy]

They are both close in price

Setup 1
Icon 2.5 coilovers front
Allpro UCA
Icon Rear Resi shocks
Allpro 3" leafs

Setup 2
Fox 2.5 coilovers front
Total Chaos UCA
Fox Rear Resi shocks
Allpro 3" leafs

I think I'll keep my front swaybar.. unless you can prove me I really won't see it on the road.

Both setup would be with U-Bolt flip, bushings, maybe timbren bump stops.

yestrday some of you mentionned getting rebuild. It might make me choose one setup over the other.

Regards,
Etienne

[freeze]

Points for option 2:

If you decide to go through National, you'll have a place locally to have your warranty work done through. The new All-Pro arms have a zerk fitting to lube your bushings which is also nice. Especially since we (CT4WD) has a good relationship with them, they can work with you on the price a bit. (remember... double doubles!)

It depends on what you're using your truck for and how much offroading you're going to do. The sway bar removed will allow for more wheel travel and more independent wheel movement which translates into a smoother ride and more travel for offroading. You will get a little more body roll, but it's not anything worse than a Crown Vic!

The one downside to coil-overs is having to rebuild them at sometime and point. (seals, fluids just like a motorbike). If you get a more regular set up like the Old Man Emu from ARB, you won't have this problem. Also depends on what your wallet can handle and what other mods you want (Bumper, sliders, skid plate, winch etc..)

If you're going to come out wheeling on a regular basis, you'll want sliders, skid plate, and a bumper. Then again, go for the whole whammy... Fox, UCA, Sliders, Skids, and bumper cause that would be siiick!

Wheelers prices on OME (http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/05upometaco.htm). You'll may want to still get an UCA to correct steering geometry though.

oriontaco can give you first hand experience with his Fox 2.0 Set up.

[oriontaco]

A few times we have quickly spoken about the Fox up front and no sway bar. I will gladly take you out for a boot and huck some corners so you can feel the difference, let me know and we can meet up. No better way to feel if you like that ride then to give it try. With the people that we have on the forum and the different set-ups you can probably test drive the majority of the set-ups that are available.

Being new to the city myself and not knowing anyone or anywhere to get things from, I went to National for my stuff because I had dealt with there Ontario store and figured it was a big enough company that if something goes wrong I have somewhere to go back to. Shane has been great to me(double doubles) and when I did have the broken sway bar endlink situation that tore my CV boot I brought it back to Shane and it was taken care of no questions asked. Factory Toyota CV boot aswell, he didnt try to cheap out and get something aftermarket. To me having that kind of support is worth more then saving a few hundred dollars.

I guess I am trying to say that no matter what set-up you choose if it can be had through National sometimes it is worth paying that bit more and knowing that you wont get dicked around if something fails and you can go and deal with someone face to face.


Let me know if you want to take it for a spin.

[BeachBoy]

I would love to see how it handles with the 2.0

My only concern for paying more at National is that I might be here (in Calgary) only for a year. Paying more (I don't know Shane's prices, but the regular price is outrageous compared to getting them online.. $5,200 CAD at National for the fox setup compared to about $3,500 CAD online with shipping) and getting a good after sales service is good, but the cost per month is high if you don't have a long term relationship with the store... Maybe Shane will get that price difference to an acceptable amount.

[oriontaco]

I see what you mean about the long term, if your not planning on being here in a year then you have to do what you have to do. Anytime that is good for you send me a message and we can arrange a time to get out that works for the both of us.

[BeachBoy]

I'm going Icon

I am in Texas and was able to find the stuff in stock and delivered here. I'll save a ton on shipping by bringing them back with me.

Now I need leafs and bumper/skid plates

[Doc McCoy]

Woohoo ... Icon rules!

[freeze]

siiick.... can't wait to see the goods on your truck!

[BeachBoy]

you need to help me decide what to get in the back.

I have the heavy double cab long bed, and might put a camper shell on top...

I will either go 3" allpro or the deavers with slightly longer shackles

[freeze]

are you going to carry any loads in the back (fuel/hi-lift/gear/motorbike/snowmobile...etc..)?

All-Pro 3" is for good flex ok load carrying
Deavers is for good flex not good load carrying
Alcan is for Serious flex not good load carrying
OME Dakar ok flex good load carrying

[Doc McCoy]

Well ... The Deaver 8pack (what I have) is not great for load carrying. They make custom packs though.

Why Deavers are also Bad Ass! (http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/tacoma/deaver.html) - A custom 10 pack.

I know Wheelers can custom order them. As for being in Texas and being able to order some right away ... Probably the Alcans or the Old Mans.

[freeze]

Now that's good news... custom leaf packs

[Heeltoe989]

If you guys are looking for Icon stuff, you might want to talk to Kevin at HRT Off-road. he will be able to help you a lot. I've ran the Deaver ten pack, which I still have (for sale), and a 12 pack and hated them both. I'm now run on OME Dakars with the extra leaf kit and very happy with the flex and load carrying.

http://highrollerztrux.com/home/

he's a good friend of mine and let him know I sent you.

Richard

[BeachBoy]

I bought custom made Alcans.

and I will look at HRT if I need help with my Icons. Thanks

[Heeltoe989]

I bought custom made Alcans.

and I will look at HRT if I need help with my Icons. Thanks

He's the guy to talk to when you get your Icons rebuilt in a few years. Just got mine done and what a difference. I also added King Springs which I love!

[freeze]

what's involved with the rebuild process? Is it just replacing the fluids and seals or is there more to it?

[BeachBoy]

I think they also clean the body (don't know if they remachine or replace it)

With icons you can also convert it to extended travel

[Heeltoe989]

what's involved with the rebuild process? Is it just replacing the fluids and seals or is there more to it?

the rebuilding process you can do a few things, change fluid and all seals, at this time you can change the weight of your oil for more or less rebound ( I went a bit thinker to slow the rebound down a bit). everything gets inspected and changed if needed. At this time I did the extended coil conversion which is just a spacer from Icon. (give and extra 3/4" of down travel on the shock which works out to about another 1 to 1.5 of over all suspension travel. I also got rid of the HORRIBLE Icon springs ( I've broke one all-ready) and changed to a heavier King 14"x700lbs spring which works better and supports the bumper and winch MUCH better!! The ride is a bit stiffer but since i don't have the sway bar anymore, the new springs control the body roll better too.

The Icon Springs are ok for truck with no bumper, but I would never recommend them if somebody had a bumper and winch. You just have to pre-load them too much to get the lift out of them. At the time of rebuild I was at 3"1/4 preload which is very hard on the spring and now with the new Kings, I'm at 1"5/8.

Less preload and the shocks work much better.

Richard

[freeze]

Less preload and the shocks work much better.

Richard

I agree completely. I get frustrated when I read threads at TTORA trying to get 3" out of their coil over system after complaining their coils have sagged. Cranking the prelaod isn't a way to increase lift hight... you should have the proper coil stiffness to match the weight of the vehicle. Then they complain about ride quality... well if you don't have the proper space between the coils at the proper sag hight, you're going to get a rough ride!

Thank you for the info Healtoe!

I'll start a new thread on coil over tech, because preload, rebound and dampening is a great topic to go through.

[Heeltoe989]

Less preload and the shocks work much better.

Richard

I agree completely. I get frustrated when I read threads at TTORA trying to get 3" out of their coil over system after complaining their coils have sagged. Cranking the prelaod isn't a way to increase lift hight... you should have the proper coil stiffness to match the weight of the vehicle. Then they complain about ride quality... well if you don't have the proper space between the coils at the proper sag hight, you're going to get a rough ride!

Thank you for the info Heeltoe!

I'll start a new thread on coil over tech, because preload, rebound and dampening is a great topic to go through.


Yes its a very good topic and one that needs addressing if your a newbie you will need help with. Good coil-over set up and performance in important to how a good daily driver / Off-road truck works in the trail and the road.

At the moment I am done with my trucks suspension, its set up well now for wheeling and camping weights, the only thing I will add later on is air bumps From Icon to get rid of the terrible rubber bump stops on my truck that really can't absorb anything let alone a 6500lbs loaded Tacoma

[BeachBoy]

I am getting front bumper, but no winch, so for now the stock Icons should be ok (I hope).

I think the Fox are even lower than the Icons (spring # rate)

[Heeltoe989]

I am getting front bumper, but no winch, so for now the stock Icons should be ok (I hope).

I think the Fox are even lower than the Icons (spring # rate)

Fox are a great shock, but I wouldn't recommend them for a truck in Alberta. The shaft isn't as tough as the Icon one and can pit over time with salt/gravel hitting it and then your looking at replacing a very expensive shaft. Depending on the bumper your getting, ARB being on of the heaviest out there, you should be fine with a bit more pre-load on the shock, but if your going to add a winch at some point I would recommend a spring change to help deal with the extra 80 to 100lbs of winch.

Richard

[BeachBoy]

getting AllPro front bumper, much lighter.

and yes once the winch goes in I'll def. look at bigger springs.

[Heeltoe989]

getting AllPro front bumper, much lighter.

and yes once the winch goes in I'll def. look at bigger springs.

Sounds good!

If you need the King Springs such as me you can find them at HRT off-road.

That's where I got mine. 14"x700lbs

[Doc McCoy]

I'm going to be doing my first gen ones with 700s in the coming winter. I'll have to get in touch with HRT

[Heeltoe989]

I'm going to be doing my first gen ones with 700s in the coming winter. I'll have to get in touch with HRT

Also I would highly recommend that you can go to an extended coil-over with your Icons. Give a bit more travel and is very easy to do when your shocks are all taken apart.....very minimal cost too.

R