Factory shocks are not designed for lifted trucks. When you add 2-6+ inches of lift, your stock shocks are stretched beyond their intended range. They bottom out, overheat, and give you a terrible ride. Here is every major shock brand ranked by what they are best for.
Shock Brands Ranked by Tier
Tier 1 — Premium ($150-$500+ per shock)
- Fox 2.5 / 3.0 — Race-proven, remote reservoir options, best heat dissipation. The gold standard for serious builds.
- Icon Vehicle Dynamics — CDC adjustable damping, individually dyno-tested. Best on-road comfort of any performance shock.
- King Shocks — Hand-built, Trophy Truck pedigree. For when money is no object.
Tier 2 — Performance ($80-$200 per shock)
- Fox 2.0 IFP — Excellent value performance shock. Great for daily-driven lifted trucks.
- Bilstein 5100 — Monotube design, adjustable height, smoothest ride in this price range.
- Radflo — Excellent quality for the price, made in USA. Hidden gem.
- Eibach Pro-Truck — German engineering, excellent damping control.
Tier 3 — Budget ($40-$100 per shock)
- Rough Country N3 — Comes with most RC lift kits. Adequate for daily driving, not great off-road.
- Rancho RS5000X / RS9000XL — The RS9000XL is adjustable (9 settings) which is unique at this price. Decent value.
- Pro Comp ES9000 — Budget option, twin-tube. Gets the job done.
- Skyjacker Hydro — Basic twin-tube, included with Skyjacker kits.
How to Choose
Daily driver, rarely off-road: Bilstein 5100 or Fox 2.0. Weekend warrior, regular trails: Fox 2.0 IFP or Fox 2.5. Serious off-road / desert: Fox 2.5 remote reservoir, Icon CDC, or King. Tight budget: Rough Country N3 or Rancho RS5000X.
We Install All of Them
We carry Fox, Bilstein, Icon, King, Rancho, Rough Country, and more. Every shock install includes a test drive and ride quality check. Financing available on all suspension work.
Call (913) 291-2027 | Suspension & Lift Kits | Finance $0 down