Best Shocks & Lift Options for the 2025+ Toyota 4Runner – Underdog Motorsports

Best Shocks & Lift Options for the 2025+ Toyota 4Runner

Best Shocks & Lift Options for the 2025+ Toyota 4Runner

The 6th-gen 4Runner is the most capable one Toyota's ever built — new TNGA-F platform and, for the first time, an independent rear end. But the shock is now doing far more of the work, so the right setup transforms how it rides, hauls, and handles the trail.

This is our straight-talk guide to every shock and coilover worth running on the new 4Runner — from a budget setup to a full overland or desert build — and we install and dial in every one of them right here in Mesa, AZ.

Why Get It Installed at Underdog?

  • 400+ Five-Star Google Reviews
  • 38+ Years of Off-Road Experience
  • Authorized ICON, FOX, Bilstein, OME & King Installer
  • UCAs & Post-Install Alignment Done Right
  • No Spacer Lifts — Ever
  • We Run These Setups in AZ Desert Ourselves

What's Different About the 2025+ 4Runner

The 6th-gen 4Runner moved to the TNGA-F platform with an independent rear suspension — a big jump in on-road composure over the old solid-axle trucks. It rides better stock than any 4Runner before it. But that also means the shocks carry more of the load, so choosing the right ones (and installing them correctly) makes a bigger difference than it used to.

Two things we tell every 4Runner customer: once you go past roughly 2.5" of lift, upper control arms aren't optional — they restore your geometry, take stress off the CV axles, and open up bigger tire fitment. And if you're on the hybrid i-FORCE MAX, the extra weight matters — we lean toward load-tuned setups so it sits and rides right. Below is every option worth considering, grouped by tier and how you actually use your rig. Call us and we'll match it to your build and quote it installed and aligned.

The Full Comparison

Ten real options, entry to premium. Not sure where you land? Call us — we'll match your budget and how you drive.

Setup Tier Best For
Bilstein 5100 Entry Budget level & a little lift on a daily driver
Eibach Pro-Truck Value Comfort-first daily with light off-road & overland
Fox 2.0 Performance Mid Mild daily use, entry into the Fox lineup
Radflo 2.0 Coilover Mid Value coilover — daily + light off-road
Bilstein 6112 Coilover Value Best bang-for-buck — daily + weekend trails
Fox 2.5 IFP Mid Balanced pavement + real trail use
Old Man Emu MT64 Overland Loaded/overland rigs on long dirt roads
Fox 2.5 Perf. Elite Premium High-speed off-road + haul/tow, still dailies well
King 2.5 OEM Series Premium Desert pedigree, rebuildable, high-speed control
Old Man Emu BP-51 Overland+ Heavy overland builds, fully adjustable

Our Take on Each Setup

Honest, from a shop that installs these every week and runs them on our own trucks. Tap "Full breakdown" on any option for the details.

Bilstein

5100 Series

Entry
The budget level

A proven direct-fit monotube that gets you a level stance and a bit of clearance without breaking the bank.

Our take: A clean, no-fuss upgrade over factory — Bilstein quality at the lowest entry price. A starting point, not a destination.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 46mm monotube, digressive valving
  • Adjustability: Front snap-ring heights (level to mild lift)
  • Reservoir: None
  • Damping: Fixed

Ride & fit: Firm but composed on the street, with a modest front lift for the look and a little clearance.

Our install note: Great budget entry. If you go for tire clearance and taller lift down the road, plan on UCAs — we'll flag it up front.

Get a quote on this setup →
Eibach

Pro-Truck

Value
The plush all-rounder

Monotube front and rear tuned for comfortable street manners with capable light-duty dirt performance.

Our take: A great comfort-first choice if your 4Runner lives mostly on pavement with the occasional trail or overland trip.
Full breakdown
  • Design: Monotube front coilover + rear shocks
  • Adjustability: Front height adjustable
  • Reservoir: None
  • Damping: Fixed

Ride & fit: Plush on the street, composed on light dirt — an easy daily setup that soaks up the rough stuff.

Our install note: A no-drama comfort build. We set the front height to match your wheel/tire package and align it after.

Get a quote on this setup →
Fox

2.0 Performance

Mid
The entry Fox

Smoother than stock with that Fox name, tuned for mild daily and light off-road use.

Our take: A nice step up for a light-duty daily. Gets overmatched the moment you load it up or push it hard in the dirt.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 2.0" (46mm) monotube IFP coilover
  • Adjustability: Height-adjustable front
  • Reservoir: None
  • Damping: Fixed

Ride & fit: A clear step up from stock for pavement and mild trails; not built for sustained high-speed abuse.

Our install note: If you tell us you tow or load up, we'll steer you a tier up — this one's best kept to a light daily.

Get a quote on this setup →
Radflo

2.0 Coilover

Mid
The value coilover

A well-priced adjustable coilover that punches above its tier — daily comfort with real off-road manners.

Our take: An underrated bang-for-buck coilover. Reservoir and revalve options let it grow with your build.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 2.0"/2.5" body coilover
  • Adjustability: Front height adjustable; reservoir/adjustable versions available
  • Reservoir: Optional
  • Damping: Fixed (adjustable options offered)

Ride & fit: Comfortable daily with capable light off-road performance, and it can be re-valved as your needs change.

Our install note: A smart value pick. We'll spec the right version (reservoir vs. non) for how you actually use the truck.

Get a quote on this setup →
Bilstein

6112 Coilover

Value
The value pick

An adjustable 60mm front coilover with matched rears. Real ride-quality gains and height adjustability.

Our take: The setup we point most budget-conscious buyers to first. Best bang-for-buck on the new 4Runner, period.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 60mm front coilover + matched rear
  • Adjustability: Front height adjustable
  • Reservoir: None
  • Damping: Fixed

Ride & fit: A big jump in ride quality over stock that still holds up on Arizona trails — the sweet spot for most daily-plus-weekend rigs.

Our install note: Our go-to value build. Past ~2.5" we add UCAs to keep geometry right; we set your height and align it before it leaves.

Get a quote on this setup →
Fox

2.5 IFP

Mid
The sensible middle

Bigger 60mm body means better heat management and a more balanced ride on pavement and dirt.

Our take: The smart step up without going overboard — equal parts daily and trail. A very easy setup to recommend.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 2.5" (60mm) monotube IFP coilover
  • Adjustability: Height adjustable
  • Reservoir: None (internal float)
  • Damping: Fixed

Ride & fit: The larger body manages heat far better than a 2.0 — balanced and confident on both pavement and real trails.

Our install note: The step-up most folks are happiest with long-term. We'll check UCA clearance and dial the setup to your terrain.

Get a quote on this setup →
Old Man Emu

MT64

Overland
The overlander's workhorse

A 64mm-piston monotube tuned for rigs that carry weight and cover long dirt miles — the overland staple.

Our take: If you're building a loaded touring/overland 4Runner — bumpers, drawers, roof load — this is right in the pocket.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 2.8" / 64mm-piston nitrocharged monotube, load-tuned
  • Adjustability: Application/spring-rate tuned
  • Reservoir: None
  • Damping: Fixed

Ride & fit: Comes into its own under weight and long washboard dirt roads — exactly the overland use case.

Our install note: Great match for the heavier hybrid i-FORCE MAX too. We match spring rates to how you load it so it sits and rides right fully kitted.

Get a quote on this setup →
Fox

2.5 Performance Elite

Premium
The do-it-all premium

Remote-reservoir, adjustable (DSC EVO), built to take high-speed desert abuse and still behave on the street.

Our take: Where serious builds really start. If you actually hit speed off-road, haul, or tow — and still daily it — this is the sweet spot.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 2.5" with remote reservoir
  • Adjustability: DSC EVO dual-speed compression adjuster
  • Reservoir: Remote
  • Damping: Adjustable

Ride & fit: The reservoir keeps it consistent under sustained hits, so it stays composed at speed and civil on the commute.

Our install note: We mount and route the reservoirs cleanly and set the DSC adjusters to your terrain — this is where our tuning time really pays off.

Get a quote on this setup →
King

2.5 OEM Series

Premium
Desert pedigree

Race-bred, buttery high-speed control, remote reservoir, and fully rebuildable for the long haul.

Our take: For folks who genuinely hit speed in the desert and want a shock they can service and re-tune forever.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 2.5" coilover, remote reservoir
  • Adjustability: Tunable & fully rebuildable
  • Reservoir: Remote
  • Damping: Tunable (revalve/re-spring)

Ride & fit: Race pedigree shows up as controlled, buttery high-speed compliance — and you can service and re-tune them for life.

Our install note: Best for people who actually push desert speed. We can revalve/re-spring to your weight and driving as your build evolves.

Get a quote on this setup →
Old Man Emu

BP-51

Overland+
Premium overland

Internal-bypass and fully adjustable — luxury-like comfort with rough-terrain control for heavy, loaded rigs.

Our take: The overlander's premium pick. Progressive bypass damping that pays off when your 4Runner is loaded down and run hard.
Full breakdown
  • Design: 51mm internal-bypass, remote reservoir
  • Adjustability: External compression & rebound
  • Reservoir: Remote
  • Damping: Adjustable

Ride & fit: Plush when cruising, firm and controlled when the terrain gets rough — built to run hard fully kitted without fading.

Our install note: Worth the extra tuning time we put in dialing compression and rebound to your rig's weight and use.

Get a quote on this setup →

2025+ 4Runner Suspension FAQs

Does the new 4Runner even need aftermarket shocks?

The 6th-gen rides better stock than any 4Runner before it. But the moment you add a lift, bigger tires, or start pushing it off-road or loaded, the right shocks completely change how it drives. If it's bone-stock and you're happy, you can wait.

What's the difference between the Bilstein 5100 and 6112?

The 5100 is a direct-fit 46mm monotube — a clean, affordable level. The 6112 is a 60mm adjustable coilover with noticeably better ride quality and a real height range. If budget allows, the 6112 is the better long-term buy.

How much lift can I get, and do I need upper control arms?

Coilovers get you roughly 1.5–3 inches up front. Past about 2.5", UCAs aren't optional — they restore your geometry, take stress off the CV axles, and open up bigger tire fitment. We'll tell you exactly what your target height needs.

I have the hybrid i-FORCE MAX — does the weight matter?

Yes. The hybrid carries extra weight, so we lean toward load-tuned or heavier-valved setups (like OME or a revalved coilover) so it sits level and rides right instead of sagging or riding harsh. Tell us your trim and we'll spec accordingly.

Can I just run a spacer or leveling kit on stock shocks?

We don't do spacer lifts — ever. They throw off your geometry, wear bearings and CV joints, and mismatch the valving. We build suspension the right way, with parts engineered to work together. Buy once, cry once.

Do you install all these brands, with alignment?

Yes — we're an authorized installer for ICON, FOX, Bilstein, Old Man Emu, King and more. Any height change requires an alignment, and we handle it in-house on every lift install.

Let's Build Your 4Runner the Right Way

Not sure which setup fits your budget and how you drive? That's what we're here for. Call or request a quote and we'll dial in the right shocks — and UCAs if you need them — for your 2025+ 4Runner, installed and aligned in Mesa, AZ.

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