Fox 2.5 DSC vs Icon Stage 9 vs MCM FAB ADS suspension lift

I’m wanting to lift my 2020 CrewMax 3”. I’ve narrowed it down to either the Fox 2.5 DSC kit, Icon Stage 9 or the MCM Fab ADS suspension lift. I’m running out of time and trying to take advantage of the Black Friday sale. Which kit do you guys recommend and why. I’ve had Icon in the past but not impressed cause they leaked. Don’t have any experience with Fox kit, was told by hey focus more on factory Ford Raptors and Toyota TRD Pro and they rust. MCM FAB with ADS shocks was highly recommended but don’t know if they have a Black Friday special going on. Appreciate any help, plan on placing my order tomorrow. Thanks!

 

A use case tends to help…

“mission dictates gear”

 

Stay away from icon.

Any good brand midtravel kit would work. Total chaos,dirtking,camburg Mcm fab. Ads shocks are great.

 

I really don't understand the Icon hate.

Pick your color and go for it.

 

Matt at MCM is very knowledgeable when it comes to Tundras and suspension and was super helpful answering my questions when I was looking at different options. You may or may not get that with the other brands. I would give him a call and at least talk to him about what he's got going on before you buy something else. ADS is also very easy to get ahold of if you need anything.

Fox has separate high and low speed adjusters, which is a nice feature if you want to tweak your suspension.

 

Always leaking,can’t align terrible customer service. Before they were icon they were another company and did even worse nothings changed. Plenty of info out there on it .

 

Never had any issues with my old Donahoe's (pre Icon branding) and my RXTs are newer so I can't comment on long term issues. I'm curious on volume tho, it appears Icon sells a LOT more suspensions than some of the others, hence why you'd hear of more issues.

As to alignments, I'm guessing most of those are operator error. If a tech can't get all smiley faced green lights, they say your stuff is messed up. I've ran into it with Camburg/Swayaways on my truck in the past.

 

What is your use case? be real here:

• Family Hauler/Tow Pig - cadillac ride for you and passengers, towing travel trailer or boat?
• Mall Crawler/Pavement princess looking to improve ride? Bragging Rights?
• Overlander - kitting out your suspension to support additional payload while tackling some off highway trails?
• Crawler? Slower vehicle speed, lots of articulation requirements?
• Pre-runner? Higher vehicle speed, big hits over long distances
• 
  
• What do you plan for wheels and tires?

-JS

 

I love my ADS gear with MCM UCAs and Deaver U748s, and my primary use is DD. I flog my truck down gravel logging roads at speeds I never would have dreamed of, tow my 8,000# travel trailer all over the PNW, and haul crap to the dump. Tires are currently 275/65-20, but will be 285/75-18 when time comes to replace.

I’ve been nothing but smiles with this setup. Ride quality and control he’s exceeded my expectations, but that always comes at a price. In this case, it was dollars. Nothing else…

 

My driving is 75% off road & 25% pavement keep in mind this is my daily driver also. I would like to improve the OEM ride quality for sure. Currently I have a canopy that has a fly fishing rod carrier and Decked Drawer System that is loaded down, so I need new rear springs or what do you suggest. I’ve been told replacing the rear springs would provide a better ride quality over an Add A Leaf kit. Future build plans for the truck will include a front bumper, winch and hauling a travel trailer. Probably go with 295/70F 18 BFG KO2 All Terrains. I want a narrow stance not a wide stance with tires sticking out of the fender.

 

MCM kit with MCM UCAs, ADS 2.5 front coilovers and ADS triple bypasses rear with Deaver pack and TC/MCM shackles. Done.

(I currently run MCM kit in the rear)

 

I have a good friend that has a shock rebuilding company in Salt Lake City and he hates Icon. They leak, parts break, don't stand up to corrosion. He's had Icons where the piston wasn't even held on and the nut was nowhere to be found in the shock, and they were like 3 months old shocks. Lots of stories and they stand out above the rest as having horrible quality control and not lasting.

 

Why do you suggest the ADS Triple Bypass over 2.5 ADS Compression Clickers?

 

This is better description to help pick a system with you….

What sort of off-roading are you referring to in your 75%?

 

very easy to tune to your liking and add extra inch of down travel paired with leaf pack/shackles.
Super comfy when driving and I had Kings rear before.

 

I thought that can tune/adjust the ADS 2.5 Compression Clickers too?

 

The 2.5 compression adj is different adjustment to tuning bypass tubes. Triple bypass allows for adjustments in different zones throughout the travel. The clickers is essentially only doing the main tube as a whole.

 

Do you think the ADS Triple Bypass is over kill for my application? I don’t on doing any severe off tossing.

 

100% overkill lol do the clickers that’ll be plenty of adjustment

 

All depends. Will you cycle the rear suspension more than 6-7 inches? If so, then bypasses will have benefit. Clickers on a smoothie shock will let you make adjustment to the compression damping throughout the single section of a regular shock. I don’t think that clickers will affect rebound damping at all, but could be incorrect on that. Triple bypasses allow tuning of compression damping in two separate areas as the shock gets squished, as well as rebound damping adjustment for the section of travel just before full extension. Rather than a single valving pattern throughout the entire length of travel, you get a progressive rate that you set so it’s butter as you drive, and then more aggressively controlled the further you push it.

You’re looking at dumping $6-7K into suspension here, so I’d recommend looking up some videos of how bypasses work and then decide if they’ll be worth it.


If you’re planning on a winch and bumper, go 700# coils on the front. I’m not sold that clickers are nearly as beneficial on the front as the rear…


Deaver or Alcan would be my choices for rear spring packs. You’ll need to weigh the truck at each corner as it sits fully loaded if you want the best spring you can get.


And, yes. You need new rear springs for the static load you describe in your post. It’s similar to mine, and my OEM springs were completely toast. The rear would just bang on the overload and bumps if I put anything else in the bed. My ride quality is a zillion times better that stock now. 0.0% chance I’d take a TRD Pro over what can be put together with some help from forums like this.

 

also add rubber bump stops like the wheelers or durobumps.






.....you did ask us for advice...

 

That's a bummer to hear their QC has gone downhill. As I mentioned, my old ones held up great for years of abuse. I have heard the corrosion issue, but it's usually salt belt folks and it seems like everything rusts. I guess we'll see how my RXT rears hold up, so far so good.

 

Front or rears and what's the real benefits besides keeping the truck from fully bottoming out?

 

Helps with hard bottom outs and makes it more progressive.

 

Wonder if anything will change since Yukon acquired Icon.