Help with suspension setup

Hi everyone,

I am new to the 4runner and off road community and need help making a decision on suspension setup. I have watched and read numerous youtube videos and forums (4runner, Tacomas, Broncos, Jeeps, Ih8Mud, etc) about different suspension setups. I pretty much tried to learn and understand what and how suspension works for offroading/overlanding. I have communicated with some highly respected companies/individuals such as Accutune, Exit off road, JBA, and other shops. As i read more and more, I feel like i am getting more confused on what I need/want.

So i am asking on the forum from people with personal experience

First, my goals of my build:
Daily driver, 2" lift mid travel, minimal weight added, only add weight from cooler, camping gear, small recovery gear (already have maxtrax, looking for other possible gear without front bumper). Build is for mainly for forest roads and some desert while i am stationed in california. Mainly mall crawling, but I try to go out atleast twice a month. Still trying to get into local communities/groups.

Current build: RCI aluminum skid plate, RCI roof rack. 265/70/17 KO2 C-rating. Currently not planning on getting front or rear bumper armor or swing set. Will be getting JBA UCAs when I choose a setup. Might get sliders, but mainly for looks and not protection/crawling. Currently have OEM one which works well for my kid to use to get in.

Setup 1:
Fox 2.5 RR (NO DSC)/ 2.0 LSC (Adventure tune by Accutune)
- Comments: Don't have to worry about DSC issues, but can't adjust for daily driving and off road for the fronts.

Setup 2:
Fox 2.5 DSC/2.0LSC (Adventure tune by Accutune)
- Comments: Initially my top choice, but read many forum posts about DSC knob issues across the board (4runner, Tacoma, Jeep, and Bronco forums).

Setup 3:
Dobinsons IMS
- Comments: Cheapest setup but does not have RRs. Might be the setup that I need?

Setup 4:
Dobinsons MRR
- Comments: Best bang for buck, but was informed MRRs were recently having quality issues, unsure if its true or not. I wasn't able to find any recent discussions on MRR issues.

When choosing these 4 setups, I looked at reservicing intervals and shops on both west and east coast as i am active duty, pricing, reviews, shock specs, etc. I tried to look at each setup from top to bottom. The price for the Fox PES DSC 2.5 front and rear is too high for my liking.

Sorry for the long post, but hopefully i can get some help from the community.

Thank you

 

I’ve had my fox 2.5 dsc since 2021.

can’t go wrong with any of your options

 

60,000 miles on the Dobinsons IMS. When they need replacing, I'll get the same set up. I bought 'em for the price and do not regret it one bit. Most of my miles are on pavement but they haven't let me down on 3 trips to Moab, either. A lot of the guys I wheel with have Dobi suspensions, too.

I concur.

 

Thank you for your feedback. Do you run the extended travel or mid travel setup? And do you know if many of the members you ride with run extended or mid?

 

Thank you for your feedback. I am debating if I need the DSCs or if the Accutune tune will be sufficient for my needs. Never experiencing these shocks in person make it very difficult to choose.

 

Dobinsons.

I wouldn't waste money on DSC and tune setups if you are not all into offroading and in and out the trails all the time. These things seem nice and cool but if you don't use them they just stay there for looks only.
Good luck.

 

Thats what I was thinking as well. When you say DSC, are you including Dobinsons MRR as well?

 

I am thinking about why the swaybar will need to be relocated. Is the swaybar relocation related to the reservoir mounting brackets brackets or having to clear the hose lines for the DSC?

 

We all have mid travel. This will be (hopefully) the last vehicle I ever buy and I want to retain the reliability. My intuition, right or wrong, tells me the extended travel will cause issues down the road. Ball joints, CV axles and front suspension parts in particular.

 

I agree on tunes, but if you’re spending the money, 100% go with DSC. Why not have the ability to control your ride?

 

Accutune is totally legit. I’d choose them if you like to go fast on corrugated or desert roads.

If your style is more conservative, go with dobinson and save some money for other goodies.

 

Have you look at Ironmanusa yet?

 

For what you want to do I’d recommend the Eibach kit with some control arms and call it a day.

 

I went with a 1.5” rear with coils and 2.7” front with coils, all Bilstein and it looks and rides great.

 

Thats what I was recommended and was thinking about doing if I went the fox 2.5 route. Just debating DSC or non DSC for the Foxes.
Two things what I dont like about any remote reservoirs (maybe except for Kings) are the routing routes for the hoses and the mounting location for the reservoirs. Fox and Dobinsons MRR seem less secure/safe compared to Kings' hose routing and reservoir mounting design.

Yup, if i choose Fox, I am 100% going with Accutune. As for my build, I will most likely just do slow runs and never go "fast" in the desert, especially with my family inside the vehicle.
I figured that Fox/Kings are good for "fast off roading" and Dobinsons/OME are good for "slow overlanding." And i think thats how they are engineered towards. Different needs of the markets (USA vs AUS).

I did but it never ended up on my list when I analyzed different setups.

Eibach was on my initial list, but was removed after reviews.

 

What was it that pushed you away from iron man?

 

Paging @Crikeymike . He’s the resident Dobinson expert.

 

I have remote reservoirs and love them. Dobinson IMS is the most bang for your buck upgraded shock without price jump of going remote reservoirs IMHO. I went the more expensive route to be able to adjust high and low speed. Probably overkill but it rides great.

When these need to rebuild I will be buying the IMS and using those. My buddy just installed the IMS mid travel setup on 34s. I drove it and was impressed with how nice they handle.

 

cheap ass Chinese shit lol

 

Well, it’s a company out of Australia, with manufacturing in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.

And where are the parts for other shocks built? You know the ones that are assembled in America

 

Fox is manufactured in the USA.
Kings are USA as well

sorry, Ironman makes some OK stuff, but if you’re going to spend $2k+ on suspension, you might as well spend another 1-2k more and get better quality.

 

So 2k isnt enough, one must spend 4K. I don’t agree, for what the op stated they want, 4K is a waste of money.

 

manufactured or put together in the US, but where are the materials and parts from?

 

Kings are machined in California

 

paying over 2 grand for shitty Chinese parts isn’t worth it.

With every company, I’m sure there will be some components from overseas, but quality control is what makes the difference.

Fox is far from the best, and their mountain bike suspension components are an example of that, but they have lead the game for awhile.

 

In Australia and in the Land Cruiser world, Ironman seems to be liked. I don’t disagree with Chinese stuff, but I’ll buy a second setup with the 2k saved.

 

And that’s fair. The people that have Ironman like them until they don’t.

 

Isn’t that with everything? I’ve like my vehicles, until I don’t.

 

until you have to take your brand new suspension off for a warranty replacement.

and imagine if you don’t DIY, you’re now paying a shop to install, remove, and now reinstall your new parts. dannnng, all that money you thought you saved.
https://www.google.com/search?q=iro...ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#ip=1

 

https://youtu.be/2DrADX0XuVA?si=AsAWTAQU1ILSw44i