Best Shocks & Lift Options for the 2021–2026 Ford F-150
The 14th-gen F-150 is a great-riding truck — and a heavy one that a lot of people tow and load with. That combination makes shock choice matter: the right setup levels out the factory rake, controls the weight, and holds up whether you're on the highway, the jobsite, or the trail.
This is our straight-talk guide to every leveling, coilover, and shock option worth running on the 2021+ F-150 — 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
- Front & Rear Done Right — With Alignment
- No Spacer Lifts — Ever
- We Run These Setups in AZ Desert Ourselves
What's Specific About the F-150
Up front, the F-150 runs an independent coilover/strut setup — so leveling and lift happen with a proper coilover or leveling shock. Out back, it's a leaf-sprung solid axle, which changes how you lift and support the rear: add-a-leaf packs, new leaf springs, and reservoir rear shocks do the work there — especially if you tow or haul, where rear control matters most.
Two things we tell every F-150 owner: most builds start with leveling out the factory rake (nose up ~2" so it sits flat), and if you regularly tow, haul, or run the PowerBoost hybrid, we lean toward reservoir rear shocks and load-tuned setups so the truck stays planted under weight. Past a leveling kit into real lift, plan on upper control arms to keep the geometry right. (Running a Raptor? That's a different long-travel platform — call us and we'll talk it separately.)
Below is every option worth considering, grouped by tier and how you use your truck. Call us and we'll match it to your build — or see our full F-150 lift & install services →
The Full Comparison
Ten real options, entry to premium. Not sure where you land? Call us — we'll match your budget, your rake, and how you drive.
| Setup | Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bilstein 5100 | Entry | Clean factory-rake level on a daily driver |
| Eibach Pro-Truck | Value | Comfort-first level/lift, daily + light off-road |
| Fox 2.0 Performance | Mid | Mild daily use, entry into the Fox lineup |
| Bilstein 6112 + 5160 | Value | Best bang-for-buck — coilover front + reservoir rear |
| Fox 2.5 IFP | Mid | Balanced pavement + real trail use |
| Old Man Emu Kit | Overland | Loaded, towing & overland rigs |
| Fox 2.5 Perf. Elite | Premium | High-speed off-road + haul/tow, still dailies well |
| Bilstein 8112 | Premium | Adjustable premium Bilstein, all-around |
| ICON Stage Kit | Premium | Complete engineered package, front & rear |
| King 2.5 | Premium | Desert pedigree, rebuildable, high-speed control |
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.
5100 Series
A proven monotube that levels the factory rake and adds a bit of clearance without breaking the bank.
Full breakdown
- Design: 46mm monotube, digressive valving
- Adjustability: Front snap-ring heights (level ~2")
- Reservoir: None
- Damping: Fixed
Ride & fit: Firm but composed, level stance, room for a slightly bigger tire.
Our install note: We pair it with the right rear support (shocks/add-a-leaf) so the whole truck sits and rides even, not just the front.
Get a quote on this setup →Pro-Truck
Front and rear kit tuned for comfortable street manners with a clean level and capable light dirt.
Full breakdown
- Design: Monotube front + rear
- Adjustability: Front height adjustable
- Reservoir: None
- Damping: Fixed
Ride & fit: Plush and easy to live with daily, with a level stance and a touch of extra clearance.
Our install note: A no-drama daily build. We set front height to your wheel/tire package and align it after.
Get a quote on this setup →2.0 Performance
Smoother than stock with that Fox name, tuned for mild daily and light off-road use.
Full breakdown
- Design: 2.0" monotube IFP coilover
- Adjustability: Height-adjustable front
- Reservoir: None (reservoir rear options exist)
- Damping: Fixed
Ride & fit: A clear step up from stock for pavement and mild trails; not built for heavy sustained abuse.
Our install note: If you tell us you tow, we'll steer you to reservoir rears or a tier up — this one's best for a light daily.
Get a quote on this setup →6112 + 5160 Kit
Adjustable 60mm front coilover plus 5160 remote-reservoir rear shocks — the F-150 staple.
Full breakdown
- Design: 60mm 6112 front coilover + 5160 reservoir rear
- Adjustability: Front height adjustable
- Reservoir: Rear (5160)
- Damping: Fixed
Ride & fit: A big ride-quality jump front and rear that holds up on Arizona trails and stays composed when loaded.
Our install note: Our go-to F-150 value build. We'll add rear leaf support if you lift past level, and align it before it leaves.
Get a quote on this setup →2.5 IFP
Bigger 2.5 body means better heat management and a more balanced ride on pavement and dirt.
Full breakdown
- Design: 2.5" monotube IFP coilover
- Adjustability: Height adjustable
- Reservoir: None front (reservoir rear options)
- Damping: Fixed
Ride & fit: The larger body manages heat far better than a 2.0 — confident on pavement and real trails alike.
Our install note: Pair it with reservoir rears if you tow. We check UCA and clearance at your height and dial it to your terrain.
Get a quote on this setup →Suspension Kit
Load-tuned front and rear built for rigs that carry weight, tow, and cover long dirt miles.
Full breakdown
- Design: Nitrocharged monotube, load-tuned front & rear
- Adjustability: Spring-rate/application tuned
- Reservoir: BP-51 bypass upgrade available
- Damping: Fixed (BP-51 adjustable)
Ride & fit: Comes into its own under weight — tongue weight, bed load, and long washboard roads.
Our install note: Great for the heavier PowerBoost hybrid and tow rigs. We match rates to how you actually load it.
Get a quote on this setup →2.5 Performance Elite
Remote-reservoir, adjustable, built to take high-speed abuse and haul/tow duty while still behaving on the street.
Full breakdown
- Design: 2.5" front coilover + 2.5" reservoir rear
- Adjustability: DSC compression adjuster available
- Reservoir: Front & rear
- Damping: Adjustable
Ride & fit: Reservoirs front and rear keep it consistent under sustained hits and heavy loads — composed at speed, civil on the commute.
Our install note: We route the reservoirs cleanly and set the adjusters to your load and terrain — where our tuning time really shows.
Get a quote on this setup →8112 Series
Bilstein's zone-control adjustable coilover — position-sensitive damping for comfort and control in one.
Full breakdown
- Design: Position-sensitive (zone control) coilover
- Adjustability: Front height adjustable
- Reservoir: Piggyback/reservoir by application
- Damping: Position-sensitive
Ride & fit: Soft in the comfort zone, firm in the control zone — a very livable premium ride that still performs.
Our install note: A great pick if you want premium ride without fussing with dials. We set height and align it dead-on.
Get a quote on this setup →Stage Kit
A full engineered system — front coilovers, rear shocks/springs, and the geometry parts to match.
Full breakdown
- Design: 2.5" VS coilover system + matched rear
- Adjustability: Height adjustable; CDCV / UCAs by stage
- Reservoir: Optional by stage
- Damping: Fixed or adjustable by option
Ride & fit: Engineered as a matched front-and-rear system, so the geometry and ride are dialed out of the box.
Our install note: We love these as a clean complete build. UCAs at taller heights, and a dead-on alignment before you go.
Get a quote on this setup →2.5 Coilover
Race-bred, buttery high-speed control, remote reservoir, and fully rebuildable for the long haul.
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 the build evolves.
Get a quote on this setup →2021+ F-150 Suspension FAQs
What's the difference between a leveling kit and a full lift?
Leveling raises just the front ~2" to remove the factory rake so the truck sits flat — great for the look and a slightly bigger tire. A full lift raises front and rear for real clearance and bigger tires. We'll tell you which fits your goals.
My rear is leaf-sprung — how do I lift or firm up the back?
The rear is handled with add-a-leaf packs, new leaf springs, or blocks, plus better rear shocks. If you tow or haul, reservoir rear shocks make a real difference in control and heat.
Do I need reservoir rear shocks?
They're worth it if you tow, haul, or run rough terrain at speed — the extra oil volume keeps the shock consistent under sustained load. For a light daily, standard shocks are fine.
I have the PowerBoost hybrid / I tow a lot — does that change things?
Yes. The extra weight up front and the tongue/bed load mean we lean toward load-tuned setups and reservoir rears so the truck stays level and planted instead of sagging or riding harsh.
Can I just run a strut spacer to level it cheaply?
We don't do spacer lifts — ever. They throw off geometry, wear components, and mismatch the valving. We level and lift the right way with proper shocks and coilovers. Buy once, cry once.
What about the Raptor?
The Raptor is a different long-travel platform with its own Fox Live Valve setup — it's a separate conversation. Call us at 480-269-2833 and we'll talk Raptor specifics.
Let's Build Your F-150 the Right Way
Not sure which setup fits your budget, your rake, and how you drive? That's what we're here for. Call or request a quote and we'll dial in the right front and rear — installed and aligned in Mesa, AZ.
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