I've been researching some shocks here lately via the forum (new member since I finally bought a f150), YouTube and various truck sites. My truck is currently stock everything, previous owner did slap on 2014 FX4 20" rims though. Wanting to level her out for looks, and I live 20mins from the beach and plan on driving it before summer is over. Not towing any boats yet, but will in the future. I work out of town, 3 hour ride every now & then. I see people reccomending bilstein 5100s and Fox mainly. Should I keep my focus on them? Looking to purchase within a week or two, & A/T tires not long after. Any feedback or recommendations is appreciated!
2015 F150 5.0, Lariat, FX4, SCrew, 5.5ft bed

 

I'd suggest the Fox 2.0 all day, every day, especially for the money, performance, and if it means anything, the looks.
The bilsteins, although many like them, and they do work well, have a terrible finish on them that winters eat right up. Plus, by the time you get done having a shop break down your OEM struts and install them, IMO, they just aren't worth it, in other words, labor intensive for the front coilovers. Fox, has a great finish, work flawless, and less labor to install.
There are other dampers, at more cost, that are available. I'm using Fox 2.0 on the rear, and HaloLift Alumas on the front, more $$$. Only reason is that Fox doesn't offer a coilover that would give me 2.5" lift. Otherwise, everything would have been Fox.

 

this

 

[QUOTE=johnday in BFE;7471577]I'd suggest the Fox 2.0 all day, every day

Thank you for the rec! I watched some more videos specifically about them, and fox vs bilstein and I can see why. The price point is higher but now most sites allow you to use affirm so I might end up doing that. They will probably be best since I'll be hitting the beach more next year. Would you reccomend an upgrade to the control arm for the 2"?

 

[QUOTE=TheMac;7471809]You're welcome. For a 2" level, not really, unless you want. With those Alumas I have, they gave me 3", and I've had no problems after better than a year, angles didn't look too bad, so I just left things alone.
As usual, the way I change out coilovers, toe in was all that needed adjustment, pretty typical when ever leveling front regardless of using coilovers, spacers, or the Bilsteins.

 

Be aware that fox shocks need servicing. I purchased a pair for 2500 pickup and snapped a shank after 1.5 years with relatively mild driving. Would not purchase again.

 

I found out the other day, that Fox now has a "snap ring" system like Bilstein uses, at a much lower cost than the coilovers. I'd still suggest the complete coilover assembly, it's worth it to me at least.

 

All shocks will require replacement or maintenance…up to the individual if they want a serviceable shock or a dump and run shock.

if my stock shocks on 2 different trucks were leaking at 30k, fox/king/icon are recommended to be serviced at 50k, how long are we planning to run an aftermarket non-serviceable shock until it leaks/fails?

I kept my stock shocks, I’ll be able to toss them in for when I take my fox shocks to get serviced

 

I bought Bilstein's & had the tire shop I go to install them. $250 labor to install all four. They have a big hydraulic spring compressor & it's easy for them. If I decided to install them myself I also would've bought Fox. I'm not messing with springs without a really good spring compressor.

 

Just want to touch on longevity. To me the stock units have none. All the rest of the IFP shocks are up to the users discretion, how fussy and aware you are is a big factor in shock life (
a LOT of owners never change out the stock shocks). Even a completely failed shock will not prevent the operation of the vehicle. As for the top end rebuild-able Fox/Icon/King types all recommend a 50000 mile service, but how necessary is it? I have my original Icon 2.5 IFP coil-overs and rear shocks, at 40000. They still felt tight and handled well as I could remember. I did upgrade to 2.5 CDCV externally valved Icons for the adjust-ability. I kept the original IFP Icons as future rebuilds if needed. I'm sure these top end shocks and coil-overs last much longer than 50000. The makers probably use this as a average between heavy off road use and strictly pavement. I have 10000 on the CDCV units and they may well last longer than I will have this truck. KM