Informative video on the 5100s, but your advice from 4:30 to 5:30 is pure gold. That’s the kind of wisdom and encouragement the overland community needs and I appreciate that you did that.
I’ve had Bilstien 5100 on front and rear, a month ago my rear shock after 7 years broke. I called Bilstien support and once I showed a receipt they overnighted a new 5100. They recommended to change the other side so I ordered one and had my mechanic install them. Keep your receipts. Bilstien has great customer service that is USA based . I will never buy another brand. Btw the one that was still good is now a spare in case I need it or someone on the trail. I put 80 to 90k on the shocks. That’s the limited lifetime warranty. Excellent
I replaced the worn out Rancho 5000's on my 89 Suburban 2500 with the Bilstein 5100. It was a Revelation! Washboarded trails no longer beat me to death. With 10,000 miles and a 3rd of that overlanding, I love these shocks!
A hidden benefit of 5100s is that they extend suspension downtravel by over 1.2" with the Toyota IFS, which is a fairly big deal for certain types of off-roading. No other modifications required. This has been confirmed by Kai over at Tinkerer's Adventure. Great video man! The Bilstein's really are some of the best bang for buck options out there.
@@3rdgen4r Springs dont affect the travel in the front. The compressed and extended length of the shock does. On a 4Runner/Tacoma/GX at least, the Bilsteins run about 3/4" longer extended than the stock shocks so you get a bit over an inch of additional downtravel. This is important because, as you lift the truck, then you are putting the shocks closer to being fully extended. If you kept the stock length shock and lifted the truck 3", you would have almost no downtravel left and it would ride like crap. Having the extended shock allows you to lift and still retain a reasonable amount downtravel. Some companies like Dobinsons or OME advertise "extended travel" shocks. That is the same thing, Bilstein just doesn't advertise theirs as extended travel, but they are.
@@FOURFTP It really depends on which UCAs, but even if they did, I suspect the shock is still the limiting factor. If you really want to increase travel, there are shock and control arm kits that are designed to work together to do just that, but they are quite expensive. Total Chaos and Marlin Crawler’s RCLT come into mind
Bilstein shocks are the perfect suspension for someone that knows you aren't going off-roading every day and its your daily driver, I've driven multiple vehicles with them and all of them are amazing for day to day use with off-road on the side!
That's what I need. I just want to life it about an inch so I can take it to the beach and go camping. Where can I find more info about recommendation on all the parts to pair with this 5190.
Great video! "Economical and value based solid option" is a great way to describe the Bilstein 5100's. I run them with Eibach springs on my Tacoma.It's definitely a stiffer ride on the road, but it gets me to my occasional off the grid camp ground. While most of my family members are running Kings on their jacked up trucks they do a lot more "wheeling" than I do. 30k in and I'm happy with them.
I'm on my 3rd set of 5100s. Not because they broke. But because my rig keeps changing and they have suited all my needs along the way. What a fantastic shock!
your point about 'just getting out there' is a good one. If you want to overland, explore, camp, etc, you can do it with whatever you have right now. My father explored and camped a big chunk or the western US and parts of mexico with a beat-up 2wd F-100. It is easy to get sucked into shopping and styling your vehicle instead of using it.
I stand by Bilstein. I replaced my crunchy front stock struts at about 56,000miles with some Bilsteins on my 2014 Chrysler 300. The shop said "wow I haven't ever seen someone put Bilsteins on a Chrysler 300 before." #3 or 4 years later my car is at 103,000 miles and rides like a DREAM, no crunch at all!
It’s sad that your factory struts only lasted 50,000 miles. I’ve put 200k miles on Toyotas and 150k on Hondas in the rust belt without having to replace struts.
@@bannedbycommieyoutube5time920 Well it does have a big 3.6L V6 in the front and the car weighs 4,000lbs so it did not surprise me personally. Toyotas weigh about 1,000 lbs less Ill bet and have much lighter engines. Which is why I upgraded to Bilsteins, to get some more life. I'm at 103k miles now and they're still smooth as butter. Love em.
@@XBLHAX two of the Toyota vehicles had an engine either similar weight (3.5 liter engine in Toyota Camry, aluminum head and block just like the Chrysler 3.6), or a what I believe to be a slightly heavier engine (Toyota LS 400 with a 4.0 V-8). None of them had strut problems with such low miles. It’s a Chrysler issue, not an engine weight issue.
When I first got into the Toyota crowd and began to look for advice at the usual internet hangouts. I was instantly overwhelmed by info on what your truck NEEDS to be able to go off-road. I found this overwhelming as it was posted everywhere and all UA-cam videos were screaming the same thing. In enters overland outfitters and Braeden. They said some great things about going out and finding what you wish to have your truck set up to do. I did just that. I now know that I do not need to dump 10's thousand into my suspension and body mount relocates, or strut relocates. I need to have a solid footprint and to stay between .5 - 2 inches of lift. I will be also replacing the needle bearing for future-proofing reasons. After spending a good 4 months of the last year off-road in a stock Tacoma sr5, I now know that the truck is already quite capable at the base level. It gets me everywhere I want to go solo currently, and has taken me and my sons to some spots we never thought we could make. Again all stock! However, I have made some friends along the way that like to do some more technical trails here in BC, Canada. They have assured me that they have all tried the suspension combo I am going to be going with and loved it. They only have gone upwards from here due to vanity and hobbyist reasons. I have opted for the Bilstein 6112/5160 combo. I like the raw look of the struts and the black coils. simple and easy to look stock still. I have also gone down a rabbit hole recently about pizza cutter tires, which will potentially eliminate the need to mess around more with the UCA debacle. Them Cooper STT Pro's in 255/85/r16 or 255/80/r17 are looking pretty great! This video had great advice. Many enthusiasts should be more open to starting at the beginner's level. If they move upwards and want to do more, they most likely will get a second vehicle to work on and abuse. This works well because if you do wanna upgrade after trying these lower-cost options, you can pull them and toss them onto the other rig. Happy adventuring everyone!
I’ve owned over a dozen Jeeps in my lifetime. Had many different brands of shocks on everything from stock to fully locked with 6” lift and long arms. I now own three jeeps…a TJ, XJ and an MJ. And they ALL have 5100s on them. Love them.
I had 5100' s on my last taco and I loved them for the daily drive, occasionally off road. Camping and fishing. Probably gonna get the same on my new one 👍 great video bro. Straight to the point
Love my 5100s on my 1st gen Tacoma. Put my first set to the test driving all types of off road terrain. Eventually had to replace them which cost was well under the cost of the kings I purchased for my 4Runner. Easily could buy multiple sets and still be under the cost of a high end CO. What it comes down to is that these will do the job without having to spend an arm and a leg.
I bought my 2000 Tacoma 4x4 brand new. About 9 months ago, I finally bought the shocks I always wanted: the Bilstein 4600 series shocks. These are the same shocks that came on the top-of-the-line 1st gen Tacoma's with the TRD performance package. Let me tell ya, it's the single best performance upgrade I've ever done to my Tacoma. Not only do they handle rough, uneven terrain much better and offer a significant improvement in overall ride quality, but the major difference is the Bilstein 4600 series shocks eliminated virtually all body-roll. Going around tight turns, making sudden/abrupt directional changes, lane changes, etc, the truck now stays planted and level. No more "tilting your head" going into tight turns, and the truck literally feels much safer when negotiating tight turns & twisty roads. They are quite amazing actually, and are much cheaper to buy nowadays vs way back in 2000. Back in the early 2000's the 4600 series Bilstein shocks for my Tacoma were anywhere between $150 to $175 EACH, and that does not include the price of installation. I recently bought mine brand new from an authorized Bilstein distributor online for just under $90 each..........not counting installation cost of course. That is a significant price reduction. My Tacoma drives much more like a sports car now. I fell in love with my 1st gen Tacoma 4x4 all over again, only it's even better now. Highly recommended.
@@208Tyler would you recommend any specific aftermarket coil with these if you’ve got extra weight? I’m fabing my own sliders that will add about 100 pounds but am otherwise stock weight. Just wondering if you’ve had any good experiences with any brands that justify extra cost
I like the OME coils, and they’re very popular all around. I have the 2885 coils to compensate for my bumper. A 2884 would work well if you don’t have a steel bumper or winch
Have 2019 Frontier Pro-4x and replaced the 4600’s with 5100’s and an add-a-leaf in the rear. Lifted total of 2” up front and like 0.5” in the rear. Love it so much. About three and a half years in on them.
I have a 2016 Crewmax with 4600s and they are spent after two years and 25k of on and off towing. They were never up to handling the weight of the Truck. Are the 5100s tolerable for daily use? Thanks.
One of my f150 work trucks had those and and they really in improved the ride. The rear shocks blew out pretty quick so we got the 5160 and they never failed me. The 5100 in the front never failed either. I'm sure some mechanic has a reason that only the rear shocks failed......they were way way better than stock
Absolutely love Bilstein. I have the 4600 B6 shocks on my Silverado. Great ride. 4600 is a great option for unlifted trucks and cars. I also had 5100s on my old BMW which was lowered. They where also great.
I have a 00 excursion. I bought 5100s because I know they can handle the weight of my rig plus towing. Know they won't blow out. But also offroading shocks. Usually it's either offroad or towing. I'm excited to finally put them in when I get my springs.
Just did 5100's on all 4 corners on my 2010 Tacoma. Couldn't be happier, paid $1000 for everything needed including an Icon add a leaf for the rear lift. Even had the option for a heavier duty front spring for the added weight of an aftermarket bumper and winch.
Im running 5100's in my 3rd gen 4runner with stock FJ coils in the front and Dobinsons coils in the rear. I have alot of added weight and they hold up great. I don't rock crawl or blast through deserts, but I hit trails of mixed varieties often. Most people buy kings or other high end stuff just for the bragging rights or for show. Maybe when these 5100 go out I will upgrade to something else, but for now these work great.
I’ve got 5100s on my ‘21 4Runner Off Road and keep up with the Land Cruisers, Tacomas and 4Runner with built suspensions. I’m going to upgrade the springs because of added weight, but I have zero issues with the struts.
Great video! You made a really good point about escalating cost, it gets really easy to do that. I definitely agree with you about finding out what you need first, then spending the money. I actually was going to go with the 5100 for my 4Runner, then on the advice of friends and acquaintances decided on the 6100's, however, all the research that I did led me to believe that those had a pretty firm ride, which is not what I'm looking for. I ended up going with the Eibach 2.0 coilovers, with the rear reservoirs. The resis were a splurge, I found them on sale and they weren't much more than the standard kit. I like that this comes assembled, and is adjustable for when I eventually put a winch on it I figured that would save me the cost of changing coils later on. I kind of took a gamble on the ride, somebody with the Tacoma told me it was stiff, a woman with a 5th gen 4Runner like mine said it was amazing on her daily driver and she loved it. Haven't installed it yet, fingers crossed I like it.
Just ordered a set of 5100s for my 03 Tundra SR5, 4x4 AC. I like the fact that I can level the front using only stock springs. I plan on putting on different springs and UCAs at some point, but for now the shock upgrade is all the budget will allow.
On Tacomas the 5100 is a perfect cheap upgrade over the stock Bilstein 3400s that come on the TRD off road model. Even if you don't lift your Tacoma the 5100 rides better than the stock shocks.
I have bilstein 5100s in the rear + 1” lift spring and bilstein 6112s in the front with completely rebuilt coilovers. I love the ride and it rides like a dream offroad
while not 5100s, I went with the 6112 fronts on my f150 and 5160s on the rear and it totally changed the trucks handling and shock absorption for the better. I've been buying bilstein for decades, both aftermarket and oem on my vehicles (shout out to the frontier pro4x), and they've always been awesome for my use case.
Good to hear! I had initially planned on going eibach- I really like there offering, just couldn’t find as nice of a deal for a fully assembled strut at the time!
2nd gen tacoma rep here. I’m running archive garage shock relocation, with king 2.5x12 in the rear, and +2 total chaos with king coil overs and bypass. They were worth every penny. I had fox factory series before, and the kings are miles above in performance. Instead of focusing on short term cost, realize serious use will destroy inferior products. If you buy once, cry once(after research), you probably won’t have to buy again. In the long term getting a top shelf item will save you money and headache in the wilderness, and maybe a long hike out of said wilderness.
@@truthseeker8123 My 5100s were also worth every penny. While I would love to try out really nice remote resi/mid travel setups, I have more important places to spend my money. Getting a simple monotube that supports the weight of my bumper is all I need, and that’s the case for a lot of other people as well
Having Fox fail I bought Bill Stein’s for my ram 1500 and then also for my Ford F150. I have a combined over 200,000 and could not be happier with how they increase the handling performance and ride. I recommend them to everybody!
Great video. I had my 5100s on my 14 sierra for 107k without issues and will be moving them to our 12 silverado now that it needs new shocks. I finally went to coilovers with Eibach 2.0s, Reservoir rears, and Dirt King UCAs. Truck is a decent bit higher now and settling in. I don't really offroad much but am hoping to actually use it more this year and wanted some extra lift and travel. All that is to say this video is great for people getting into the market. The 5100 is an outstanding shock and honestly outside of the desert where you need more volume and piston diameter because the shocks are getting thrashed through whoops, 2.0s are pretty dang usable for trailing.
Im considering the 5100s for my 14 Sierra. I dont offroad or tow/haul at all. How comfortable are the 5100s? My factory ranchos are so stiff they make my truck feel like a cinderblock on wheels. I know the bilsteins are firm, but are they harsh and unbearable on the highways?
@@Amokof so i don’t consider the ranchos firm like at all. They’re very squishy. The bilsteins are considerably stiffer at max ride height. Which will be the question do you plan to run them at 1.85”? I’ve read that fox 2.0 is the way to go if you’re looking for that plush Cadillac ride. All i can speak to is the eibach and bilsteins though.
@@5RWill I think the reason my Ranchos are so stiff is because they’re probably shot and worn out. My truck jolts and shakes violently when going over the slightest road imperfection. It’s so bad that even my interior started to creak from all the vibrations. I do plan on having the 5100s set on the max setting. I dont expect them to ride like a caddy but will they be bearable and comfortable enough to commute on the highways?
@@Amokof I think so. Typically when shocks go though they're not stiff so to speak until they bottom out then they send a ton of jolt through the cab. Then when you go over slight bumps you'll rid on the springs and feel like your bouncing. I liked my 5100s but they're more firm than my ranchos were. You will fill most little imperfections in the road with the 5100s they don't have much bump compliance. But I loved mine, however my Eibach's are a large upgrade to me in ride quality.
Started with Bilstein from middle 80s and now with my FJ Cruiser today, its 6112/5160 and I check out other manufacturers and test drive their offerings from time to time, but in the end its Bilstein.
I’m very happy with the 6112/5160 set up. Great for navigating Houston’s traffic and potholes. I have always driven sports cars but it transformed the F150 and eliminated almost all of the sloshy body roll. Bilstien is definitely the best value you can find.
Love the White Rim Road through Canyonlands, did it a couple years back on my DR-Z! Also just ordered 4600's for my '09 Taco, finally replacing the OEM struts and rear shocks after 175k miles.
@@208Tyler yeah I’m planning to do it on my GX470 as well after realizing it all I frankly need as I’m not going overboard with the truck likely snow and some small trails is all my GX is gonna experience and its nice you get to keep the OEM air springs and oem front springs as well too many ppl at GX go too crazy with there setup spend thousands on UCA’s and etc. Simple mods is so underrated these days
I have a 4th gen 4runner. Had 5100s, but they were old and blew. Got Dobinsons IMS to replace, set to 2” lift. Ride quality is great by comparison. I feel they were worth for that alone, assuming you have the cash to do it like I did. Mods; Tires; 255/75/17 Goodyear Duratrac RT SPC UCAs 1” wheel spacers TRD wheels
6112 in the front full assembly mediums spring load rears 5100 withe deavers mediums leaf pack. Night and day. The performance from my readings and chats on toad are way better than other brands. I've also pushed it offload. Best bang for your buck.
For daily driver and some Offroad use Bilstein is the best option period. For mid travel and long travel King, Icon, Fox, Locked, Sway Away. Always go 3.0 if there’s a n option, only go with remote reservoirs if your doing high speed runs like 30min sessions etc. there no better shock than a tuned shock for the specific terrain and speed you will be driving in.
I've owned 2 first gen tundras with a combimed 450,000 miles. King monotube struts were by far the best ride on and off road. Worth the extra 4-$500. Blew away fox, and, bilstein struts i had. The donut blind strut test on tacomas came to the same result. I do like 5100 's for the rear.
Had a 4Runner with Dobinsons, 5100's, and 33's. The best offroader I owned to that day. It did everything I threw at it and rode spectacular on the road. Of course, I didn't have the ICON or KING brand stickers, but that didn't matter. It was perfect and I genuinely miss that vehicle except for the MPG for the lack of power. (12mpg and barely any torque). Now I'm running a TRX (11.8mpg @ 650lb-ft) with stock e2 Blackhawks by Bilstein and upgraded to 37's. Rather than change out the suspension, I have an FMI perch collar to add preload and keep stock geometry. The truck is nearly perfect OEM and 37's with reduced rake give it the design the engineers seemingly intended it to be. However, there are a few TRX owners in the forums ditching the BHe2 struts, coils, links, etc. and comment as if they are worthless and spend tens of thousands on all new aftermarket equipment that isn't compatible with Rams onboard suspension management and control system. Fingertip suspension control to buying another product if what they have is too stiff or too soft and lots of dash lights and stability control issues. Practically breaking the vehicle. I don't understand their line of thinking as to how this adds capability or value. They bought a purpose-built OEM offroad enthusiast halo vehicle, paid for advanced suspension and capabilities, scrap them, and pay for it again? Just get a normal 1500 and upgrade it! The TRX was built by engineers whose sole focus was on off-roading abuse and power. I'm keeping to the original as possible and see negative value in replacing any suspension component. I'll certainly stone toss on this one unless they are sponsored and taking the vehicle to SEMA. Same issue with TRD Pro owners who scrap their suspensions and effectively throw away everything they paid for except TRD emblems. To each their own I guess, but it's financially silly to those who understand suspensions.
I went straight to 6112 and 5160 on my FJ. I have a heavy bumper and winch and went with the heavy load option on the 6112. The shock is tuned specifically for the heavy springs supplied with them. They pair the 6112 with 5160 reservoirs on the rear. I did OME 2895 rear springs.
Got them on my Silverado with updated body mounts, and it rides so well, looking forward to installing my new HD tie rods and upper control arms next week; it can only make the ride better considering how worn out the almost 400k stock components are.
I put the 4600’s on my 04 Z-71 crew about three years ago and man they are awesome. My 98 Z-71 had them from the factory and I never had any issues with them up to 228k miles. You just can’t beat them and they’re reasonably priced.
Thanks for this video, I have a 2015 4cyl 5-spd Access Cab Tacoma and got it new. It’s had a 3rd Gen TRD-OR suspension under it the last 4 years or so. Even swapped the front sway for the OR to help soften the ride. It raised the front over 1” so I had to add 1” blocks to the rear. I didn’t want to but WILL NOT bro lean my Tacoma. I’m not after height, honestly I’d love to have a great suspension but at stock height. This is a great option! Thanks again man! Well done!
Do yourself a favor and get the strut with the spring already attached on the fronts. Way easier than having to install a spring on yourself. Makes the install fast.
This video is great, and I agree with everything that you’re saying, except for me, the value minded option is to include some of your future preparations in your purchase. For example, if you buy 5100 and find out that you need more, you’ve now bought two pairs of struts. a combination of 6112 and 5160s will handle everything that 95% of us do.
I had 5100 on a 2011 Silverado 1500 reg cab. I am very hard on my vehicles and oh my gosh did these shocks allow me to do things that I shouldn’t have 😅!!! They held up great and they loved it when you pushed them. They’re definitely higher speed shocks, they perform better at higher driving speeds, at low speeds they get very stiff. But gosh, I recommend them to literally everyone!!! Oh and I can confirm, you can definitely jump your truck at 40mph and land in complete confidence with these!
I installed 5100's on my Frontier to level the front and replaced the rear shocks as an upgrade. Not necessarily for anything gnarly. That's what the dirt bike is for. Good bang for the buck and a good choice for when I go camping or day trips without a bike.
I have 5100s on two of my trucks and I love them. GMC1500 and F250. Best shocks on the market hands down. My third truck still has the OEM shocks on a f150 platinum. And as soon as those fail. Another set of 5100s will be put into it. I will say on the GMC the oem springs are getting worn. As it’s starting to sag lower with the added weight of a front and rear bumper and my tools. But it’s also at 180k miles and I’m hard on it. 5100s and new coils are soon to be installed
I would have went this route but I wanted a rebuildable suspension and I went with elkas full suspension . It’s amazing but if I was limited in finances I’d have gone bilstein all the way. They worked amazing on my 2019 taco ! I have recommended them to lots of people
Brother is on the eibachs (which is basically a 5100 with slightly different valving, a bit more pleasant on road from what others have said) I'm running some $300 Icons I rebuilt with 5160s in the back that were on sale. Last 4Runner was running used 4600 Taco struts with $100 freedom offroad rear springs/shocks. Oddly enough I think my favorite setup was the 4runner. For the die hards it would have been too soft, but in daily use and in practice and in my trip up north all over Line 3, it was absolutely perfect. $400 total in that setup
I wanted Bilstein 5100's but couldn't find any in stock at the time, so I went with Eibach to level my Ranger and replace the horrible factory shocks. What a difference! I'm sure the Bilsteins would have made a similar difference but I totally love my new and much improved Ranger. This "budget" option far exceeds my off roading needs. I'd be afraid of tearing my truck up to push it harder than my set up handles easily now. I have no interested in anything more expensive for the suspension.
Did the same thing. They were not available for awhile. Went with an adjustable rough country and they were WAY better than factory equipment. So far they do what I need. I will see how long they last.
I've not upgraded my shocks yet because for like 4 months I could only get the back and not the front. Then my oil cooler broke... I'm getting 5100 installed by next month
i just ordered some kyb shocks because bilstein is moving its production to mexico, 1 dollar = 20 mexican peso but the shocks are not selling for half the price as when they were made in the usa, i live in mexico btw nothing wrong with made in mexico except when they pay their factory workers 10 dollars per day or less and then make a ton of profit from selling them at such a high surplus, kybs were cheaper, made in japan apparently
I had king 2.5s with adjusters on my taco and TC UCAs for over 100k. The king lower sphericals squeaked and the upper control arm uniballs had like .25” when I finally took them off. Replaced with stock ucas and billstein 6112s. More than satisfied with the 6112s. Better on road for sure
Occasional easy minor course offroad trails aka "OverLanding" ... 5100s are more than enough. Just make sure to get the other suspension accessories to correct the geometry of the 4runner suspension (diff drop hardware, pan handle bar correction, upper control arms, extended axle travels, New Oem Toyota Lower ball joints) and all your suspension bushings since you're already in there.
I was thinking of getting these for my stock base bronco for a while, but wasn't sure. Now I feel pretty confident in getting them next time I have some extra cash. Thanks for the information.
I when with the Bilstien 6112 fronts and 5160s on my F150... fantastic all around shock. Did 5100s on my brothers 2003 Cummins, worked great for that application
I appreciate your channel! I have been doing an offroad build on my '04 sr5 and as I look into upgrading equipment, I have followed this channel, i'm subscribed. Thanks for the great info.
BILSTEIN shocks are name brand :p they've been around forever, and some of their shock selections are comparable or better to that of the "big brands" bilstein is no slouch, been running them on everything I've had from sandrails to to cars and trucks. Awsome manufacturer.
First time i ever did a lift kit on my personal vehicle. Front struts factory cpils rear bilstein coils and rear shocks. Set at 1.5 rear 1.75 front. My 4r clean as sh*t now and offroading makes such a difference. Its crazy what a couple inches can do ;)
Great video buddy, When i had first gen tundra 2004 like yours. Ive had the kings coil overs+ rear. Rancho coil overs + fox 2.0 rear. All i found out is if you dont go full long travel and actually dial all the parts of your truck for being better. Its waste of money ! And the end i ended up going to the yellow 4600 series shocks and was the happiest with it. Now on my newer gen tundra 2020 i went with the 5100 since the beginning. Middle clip.+ rears. Great combo and the BEST VALUE FOR YOUR DOLLAR
I am super happy with my 5100's as i dont run loaded up much, just a mountain bike and some tools/emergency/recovery gear. I do run with more aggressive AT tires but I stuck with stock size. Mild 1.75" / 1" lift on a 4Runner. This combo works nice with stock size tires or slightly larger.
Great vid! 2019 SR5 4Runner with 2.5 in the front and 2 in the rear. Fits 285’s just fine and it’s nice and level. It’s a great ride once aired down on the backroads here in Idaho. Not looking to Baja any trails or rock crawl. Just gets me that ground clearance to explore. I’m happy with my choice!
I put 6112's on the front of my 2020 ranger and they feel great. I was running fox 2.0's in the rear. Then changed to 5160's. I think the rebound is a little better on the fox 2.0's than the 5160's. The ranger leaf springs are so firm I'm chagning them to ICONs. Hopefully it settles the ride down a lot more with new leafs.
He lifts 5 times a week btw
Informative video on the 5100s, but your advice from 4:30 to 5:30 is pure gold. That’s the kind of wisdom and encouragement the overland community needs and I appreciate that you did that.
Thank you! Thanks for watching and commenting
I’ve had Bilstien 5100 on front and rear, a month ago my rear shock after 7 years broke. I called Bilstien support and once I showed a receipt they overnighted a new 5100. They recommended to change the other side so I ordered one and had my mechanic install them. Keep your receipts. Bilstien has great customer service that is USA based . I will never buy another brand. Btw the one that was still good is now a spare in case I need it or someone on the trail. I put 80 to 90k on the shocks. That’s the limited lifetime warranty. Excellent
Awesome! I’m glad to hear you’ve had such a good experience with them
I replaced the worn out Rancho 5000's on my 89 Suburban 2500 with the Bilstein 5100.
It was a Revelation! Washboarded trails no longer beat me to death.
With 10,000 miles and a 3rd of that overlanding, I love these shocks!
Awesome! Glad you like them
A hidden benefit of 5100s is that they extend suspension downtravel by over 1.2" with the Toyota IFS, which is a fairly big deal for certain types of off-roading. No other modifications required. This has been confirmed by Kai over at Tinkerer's Adventure.
Great video man! The Bilstein's really are some of the best bang for buck options out there.
Yes, that’s my understanding, at least for certain models. I’m not sure if it’s for everything, but I do regularly hear about it on Toyotas.
Thanks!
With stocks springs?
@@3rdgen4r Springs dont affect the travel in the front. The compressed and extended length of the shock does. On a 4Runner/Tacoma/GX at least, the Bilsteins run about 3/4" longer extended than the stock shocks so you get a bit over an inch of additional downtravel. This is important because, as you lift the truck, then you are putting the shocks closer to being fully extended. If you kept the stock length shock and lifted the truck 3", you would have almost no downtravel left and it would ride like crap. Having the extended shock allows you to lift and still retain a reasonable amount downtravel.
Some companies like Dobinsons or OME advertise "extended travel" shocks. That is the same thing, Bilstein just doesn't advertise theirs as extended travel, but they are.
You think with uniball uca will give me another 1” down travel ?
@@FOURFTP It really depends on which UCAs, but even if they did, I suspect the shock is still the limiting factor. If you really want to increase travel, there are shock and control arm kits that are designed to work together to do just that, but they are quite expensive. Total Chaos and Marlin Crawler’s RCLT come into mind
Bilstein shocks are the perfect suspension for someone that knows you aren't going off-roading every day and its your daily driver, I've driven multiple vehicles with them and all of them are amazing for day to day use with off-road on the side!
I agree! Well said
That's what I need. I just want to life it about an inch so I can take it to the beach and go camping. Where can I find more info about recommendation on all the parts to pair with this 5190.
Thanks for sharing, is it much better than 2021 4Runner trd off road with kdss factory setup in terms of on road ride quality?
Dude,
You packed delivery style of info, and great info at that, is greatly appreciated and such a breath of fresh air in UA-cam-edia!
Thanks! I appreciate it!
Great video! "Economical and value based solid option" is a great way to describe the Bilstein 5100's. I run them with Eibach springs on my Tacoma.It's definitely a stiffer ride on the road, but it gets me to my occasional off the grid camp ground. While most of my family members are running Kings on their jacked up trucks they do a lot more "wheeling" than I do. 30k in and I'm happy with them.
Glad to hear it! Thanks for commenting
I'm on my 3rd set of 5100s. Not because they broke. But because my rig keeps changing and they have suited all my needs along the way. What a fantastic shock!
Haha awesome! I’ve had good luck with mine too
your point about 'just getting out there' is a good one. If you want to overland, explore, camp, etc, you can do it with whatever you have right now. My father explored and camped a big chunk or the western US and parts of mexico with a beat-up 2wd F-100. It is easy to get sucked into shopping and styling your vehicle instead of using it.
Yup! Don’t spend more than you have to, it really can be a cheap hobby. Just gas and tires.
I stand by Bilstein. I replaced my crunchy front stock struts at about 56,000miles with some Bilsteins on my 2014 Chrysler 300. The shop said "wow I haven't ever seen someone put Bilsteins on a Chrysler 300 before." #3 or 4 years later my car is at 103,000 miles and rides like a DREAM, no crunch at all!
That’s awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing
Isn't the Chrysler 300 built on a Mercedes platform? You would think it would come with Bilsteins
It’s sad that your factory struts only lasted 50,000 miles. I’ve put 200k miles on Toyotas and 150k on Hondas in the rust belt without having to replace struts.
@@bannedbycommieyoutube5time920 Well it does have a big 3.6L V6 in the front and the car weighs 4,000lbs so it did not surprise me personally. Toyotas weigh about 1,000 lbs less Ill bet and have much lighter engines. Which is why I upgraded to Bilsteins, to get some more life. I'm at 103k miles now and they're still smooth as butter. Love em.
@@XBLHAX two of the Toyota vehicles had an engine either similar weight (3.5 liter engine in Toyota Camry, aluminum head and block just like the Chrysler 3.6), or a what I believe to be a slightly heavier engine (Toyota LS 400 with a 4.0 V-8). None of them had strut problems with such low miles. It’s a Chrysler issue, not an engine weight issue.
When I first got into the Toyota crowd and began to look for advice at the usual internet hangouts. I was instantly overwhelmed by info on what your truck NEEDS to be able to go off-road.
I found this overwhelming as it was posted everywhere and all UA-cam videos were screaming the same thing.
In enters overland outfitters and Braeden. They said some great things about going out and finding what you wish to have your truck set up to do. I did just that. I now know that I do not need to dump 10's thousand into my suspension and body mount relocates, or strut relocates. I need to have a solid footprint and to stay between .5 - 2 inches of lift. I will be also replacing the needle bearing for future-proofing reasons.
After spending a good 4 months of the last year off-road in a stock Tacoma sr5, I now know that the truck is already quite capable at the base level. It gets me everywhere I want to go solo currently, and has taken me and my sons to some spots we never thought we could make. Again all stock! However, I have made some friends along the way that like to do some more technical trails here in BC, Canada. They have assured me that they have all tried the suspension combo I am going to be going with and loved it. They only have gone upwards from here due to vanity and hobbyist reasons. I have opted for the Bilstein 6112/5160 combo. I like the raw look of the struts and the black coils. simple and easy to look stock still.
I have also gone down a rabbit hole recently about pizza cutter tires, which will potentially eliminate the need to mess around more with the UCA debacle. Them Cooper STT Pro's in 255/85/r16 or 255/80/r17 are looking pretty great!
This video had great advice. Many enthusiasts should be more open to starting at the beginner's level. If they move upwards and want to do more, they most likely will get a second vehicle to work on and abuse. This works well because if you do wanna upgrade after trying these lower-cost options, you can pull them and toss them onto the other rig.
Happy adventuring everyone!
I’ve owned over a dozen Jeeps in my lifetime. Had many different brands of shocks on everything from stock to fully locked with 6” lift and long arms. I now own three jeeps…a TJ, XJ and an MJ. And they ALL have 5100s on them. Love them.
MJ especially loves them
I had 5100' s on my last taco and I loved them for the daily drive, occasionally off road. Camping and fishing. Probably gonna get the same on my new one 👍 great video bro. Straight to the point
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching and commenting
Love my 5100s on my 1st gen Tacoma. Put my first set to the test driving all types of off road terrain. Eventually had to replace them which cost was well under the cost of the kings I purchased for my 4Runner. Easily could buy multiple sets and still be under the cost of a high end CO. What it comes down to is that these will do the job without having to spend an arm and a leg.
My fox shocks on 4runner went dead at 50k miles. Swapped to 5100's. Couldn't be happier
I’ve generally heard good things about fox, so I’m a little surprised. Glad you like your 5100s!
I love seeing these normal looking trucks out in the wild, especially when you see one like this and know it’s tastefully modified
Finally someone focuses on functionality, cost to returns ratio instuead of paying and getting crap just for aesthetics. subscribed
Thank you! I appreciate it
I bought my 2000 Tacoma 4x4 brand new. About 9 months ago, I finally bought the shocks I always wanted: the Bilstein 4600 series shocks. These are the same shocks that came on the top-of-the-line 1st gen Tacoma's with the TRD performance package. Let me tell ya, it's the single best performance upgrade I've ever done to my Tacoma. Not only do they handle rough, uneven terrain much better and offer a significant improvement in overall ride quality, but the major difference is the Bilstein 4600 series shocks eliminated virtually all body-roll. Going around tight turns, making sudden/abrupt directional changes, lane changes, etc, the truck now stays planted and level. No more "tilting your head" going into tight turns, and the truck literally feels much safer when negotiating tight turns & twisty roads. They are quite amazing actually, and are much cheaper to buy nowadays vs way back in 2000. Back in the early 2000's the 4600 series Bilstein shocks for my Tacoma were anywhere between $150 to $175 EACH, and that does not include the price of installation. I recently bought mine brand new from an authorized Bilstein distributor online for just under $90 each..........not counting installation cost of course. That is a significant price reduction. My Tacoma drives much more like a sports car now. I fell in love with my 1st gen Tacoma 4x4 all over again, only it's even better now. Highly recommended.
A thorough and level-headed approach to shocks, springs, and leveling a First Generation Tundra (FGT).
Literally just blew my stock no name strut yesterday and started shopping for struts on my 02 tundra. Your videos rock!
Oh man! Glad the video helped, thanks!
@@208Tyler would you recommend any specific aftermarket coil with these if you’ve got extra weight? I’m fabing my own sliders that will add about 100 pounds but am otherwise stock weight. Just wondering if you’ve had any good experiences with any brands that justify extra cost
I like the OME coils, and they’re very popular all around. I have the 2885 coils to compensate for my bumper. A 2884 would work well if you don’t have a steel bumper or winch
Have 2019 Frontier Pro-4x and replaced the 4600’s with 5100’s and an add-a-leaf in the rear. Lifted total of 2” up front and like 0.5” in the rear. Love it so much. About three and a half years in on them.
I have 5100s on my 2016 Tundra. They are great! Such a smooth ride!
Glad you like them!
I have a 2016 Crewmax with 4600s and they are spent after two years and 25k of on and off towing. They were never up to handling the weight of the Truck. Are the 5100s tolerable for daily use?
Thanks.
I just got 5100’s and lift installed on friday. I LOVE how it rides
That’s awesome!
One of my f150 work trucks had those and and they really in improved the ride. The rear shocks blew out pretty quick so we got the 5160 and they never failed me. The 5100 in the front never failed either. I'm sure some mechanic has a reason that only the rear shocks failed......they were way way better than stock
I agree with your opinions nothing wrong with starting out with 5100 and then upgrading later when you realize you need them
Absolutely! Thanks for watching
Absolutely love Bilstein. I have the 4600 B6 shocks on my Silverado. Great ride. 4600 is a great option for unlifted trucks and cars. I also had 5100s on my old BMW which was lowered. They where also great.
4600s are great too. Thanks for commenting
Which one is more comfortable for an unlifted daily driver truck 4600 or 5100?
I have a 00 excursion. I bought 5100s because I know they can handle the weight of my rig plus towing. Know they won't blow out. But also offroading shocks. Usually it's either offroad or towing. I'm excited to finally put them in when I get my springs.
Awesome! Those are great reasons to buy, I hope you enjoy them
Just did 5100's on all 4 corners on my 2010 Tacoma. Couldn't be happier, paid $1000 for everything needed including an Icon add a leaf for the rear lift. Even had the option for a heavier duty front spring for the added weight of an aftermarket bumper and winch.
Awesome! Glad you’re happy with them
Where did you purchase from?
Wow… You laid it all out. Especially the thought processes we go through trying to balance gear with what you actually get the gear for.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting
agreed 5100 are great and not expensive
Ya, it’s a solid option!
Im running 5100's in my 3rd gen 4runner with stock FJ coils in the front and Dobinsons coils in the rear.
I have alot of added weight and they hold up great.
I don't rock crawl or blast through deserts, but I hit trails of mixed varieties often.
Most people buy kings or other high end stuff just for the bragging rights or for show.
Maybe when these 5100 go out I will upgrade to something else, but for now these work great.
Awesome to hear. Ya the high end stuff is cool, but often not required. Thanks for commenting!
I’ve got 5100s on my ‘21 4Runner Off Road and keep up with the Land Cruisers, Tacomas and 4Runner with built suspensions. I’m going to upgrade the springs because of added weight, but I have zero issues with the struts.
Glad they’ve worked good for you!
Wow! No nonsense and straight to the point. Thank you.
Subscribed.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting
Icon all the way. Rebuildable forever.
You could win Mr. Olympia with the amount of lifts you have done.
I've used bilstein for over 35 years on my corvettes and trucks. Nothing better for my usage.
Great video! You made a really good point about escalating cost, it gets really easy to do that. I definitely agree with you about finding out what you need first, then spending the money. I actually was going to go with the 5100 for my 4Runner, then on the advice of friends and acquaintances decided on the 6100's, however, all the research that I did led me to believe that those had a pretty firm ride, which is not what I'm looking for. I ended up going with the Eibach 2.0 coilovers, with the rear reservoirs. The resis were a splurge, I found them on sale and they weren't much more than the standard kit. I like that this comes assembled, and is adjustable for when I eventually put a winch on it I figured that would save me the cost of changing coils later on. I kind of took a gamble on the ride, somebody with the Tacoma told me it was stiff, a woman with a 5th gen 4Runner like mine said it was amazing on her daily driver and she loved it. Haven't installed it yet, fingers crossed I like it.
Eibach makes goods stuff, I almost went with them. Smart to buy the adjustables, leaving room for future mods!
Thanks for watching and commenting
Just ordered a set of 5100s for my 03 Tundra SR5, 4x4 AC. I like the fact that I can level the front using only stock springs. I plan on putting on different springs and UCAs at some point, but for now the shock upgrade is all the budget will allow.
Still have my 5seed R 50 Pathfinder. Love it.
On Tacomas the 5100 is a perfect cheap upgrade over the stock Bilstein 3400s that come on the TRD off road model. Even if you don't lift your Tacoma the 5100 rides better than the stock shocks.
I believe it! I’ve been quite happy with mine
I have bilstein 5100s in the rear + 1” lift spring and bilstein 6112s in the front with completely rebuilt coilovers. I love the ride and it rides like a dream offroad
Got 5100s on my 18 tacoma OR. Worked well to level it.
Running 275/70/16 K02s and have no issues.
Nice!
Does it feel stiffer than oem?
while not 5100s, I went with the 6112 fronts on my f150 and 5160s on the rear and it totally changed the trucks handling and shock absorption for the better. I've been buying bilstein for decades, both aftermarket and oem on my vehicles (shout out to the frontier pro4x), and they've always been awesome for my use case.
Really good and insightful video. I decided to go with Eibach coil overs and shocks on my 2nd gen Tacoma and been very pleased so far.
Good to hear! I had initially planned on going eibach- I really like there offering, just couldn’t find as nice of a deal for a fully assembled strut at the time!
2nd gen tacoma rep here. I’m running archive garage shock relocation, with king 2.5x12 in the rear, and +2 total chaos with king coil overs and bypass. They were worth every penny. I had fox factory series before, and the kings are miles above in performance. Instead of focusing on short term cost, realize serious use will destroy inferior products. If you buy once, cry once(after research), you probably won’t have to buy again. In the long term getting a top shelf item will save you money and headache in the wilderness, and maybe a long hike out of said wilderness.
@@truthseeker8123 My 5100s were also worth every penny.
While I would love to try out really nice remote resi/mid travel setups, I have more important places to spend my money. Getting a simple monotube that supports the weight of my bumper is all I need, and that’s the case for a lot of other people as well
Having Fox fail I bought Bill Stein’s for my ram 1500 and then also for my Ford F150. I have a combined over 200,000 and could not be happier with how they increase the handling performance and ride. I recommend them to everybody!
Great video. I had my 5100s on my 14 sierra for 107k without issues and will be moving them to our 12 silverado now that it needs new shocks. I finally went to coilovers with Eibach 2.0s, Reservoir rears, and Dirt King UCAs. Truck is a decent bit higher now and settling in. I don't really offroad much but am hoping to actually use it more this year and wanted some extra lift and travel. All that is to say this video is great for people getting into the market. The 5100 is an outstanding shock and honestly outside of the desert where you need more volume and piston diameter because the shocks are getting thrashed through whoops, 2.0s are pretty dang usable for trailing.
Im considering the 5100s for my 14 Sierra. I dont offroad or tow/haul at all. How comfortable are the 5100s? My factory ranchos are so stiff they make my truck feel like a cinderblock on wheels. I know the bilsteins are firm, but are they harsh and unbearable on the highways?
@@Amokof so i don’t consider the ranchos firm like at all. They’re very squishy. The bilsteins are considerably stiffer at max ride height. Which will be the question do you plan to run them at 1.85”? I’ve read that fox 2.0 is the way to go if you’re looking for that plush Cadillac ride. All i can speak to is the eibach and bilsteins though.
@@5RWill I think the reason my Ranchos are so stiff is because they’re probably shot and worn out. My truck jolts and shakes violently when going over the slightest road imperfection. It’s so bad that even my interior started to creak from all the vibrations. I do plan on having the 5100s set on the max setting. I dont expect them to ride like a caddy but will they be bearable and comfortable enough to commute on the highways?
@@Amokof I think so. Typically when shocks go though they're not stiff so to speak until they bottom out then they send a ton of jolt through the cab. Then when you go over slight bumps you'll rid on the springs and feel like your bouncing. I liked my 5100s but they're more firm than my ranchos were. You will fill most little imperfections in the road with the 5100s they don't have much bump compliance. But I loved mine, however my Eibach's are a large upgrade to me in ride quality.
@@5RWill looks like ill be considering the Eibachs too. I appreciate the reply, thanks!
I just ordered 5100’s for my 2004 sequoia, have a set of 285s off of my Tacoma I sold can’t wait to see them on there
Awesome! Hope it all turns out!
I've owned them all. Bang for the buck you can not beat the Rough Country 2.5 Vertex remote reservoir coil overs.
Started with Bilstein from middle 80s and now with my FJ Cruiser today, its 6112/5160 and I check out other manufacturers and test drive their offerings from time to time, but in the end its Bilstein.
I’m very happy with the 6112/5160 set up. Great for navigating Houston’s traffic and potholes.
I have always driven sports cars but it transformed the F150 and eliminated almost all of the sloshy body roll.
Bilstien is definitely the best value you can find.
Glad you found something you like! I’ve always wanted to try 6112’s
I got the same setup too!
i have 6112/5160 on a 4th gen 4runner and i got a good deal and couldn’t be happier!
where did you get your Bilstein installed in Houston?
Love the White Rim Road through Canyonlands, did it a couple years back on my DR-Z! Also just ordered 4600's for my '09 Taco, finally replacing the OEM struts and rear shocks after 175k miles.
That’s awesome! Sweet, I hope you like em!
Great vid. I opted for a little bigger and went with a 6112 Bilstein shock and 700lb coils for the weight of my bumper and winch 👍🏼
thank you! The 6112's are great. The orange Tundra from my AZ video is on them and they ride really good, definitely an upgrade from the 5100!
Yep, seems like the 6112's are the latest "it factor". What coils did you get? I need to do the same for bumper.
@@oldowl4290 I’m running the Eibach 700lb coil springs 👍🏼
I have them on 05 4x2 4Runner and has been amazing thus far best mods I ever did to my truck.
Good to hear it!
@@208Tyler yeah I’m planning to do it on my GX470 as well after realizing it all I frankly need as I’m not going overboard with the truck likely snow and some small trails is all my GX is gonna experience and its nice you get to keep the OEM air springs and oem front springs as well too many ppl at GX go too crazy with there setup spend thousands on UCA’s and etc.
Simple mods is so underrated these days
Simple is the best! The more you change, the more compromises you make and the more complicated it gets
I have a 4th gen 4runner. Had 5100s, but they were old and blew. Got Dobinsons IMS to replace, set to 2” lift. Ride quality is great by comparison. I feel they were worth for that alone, assuming you have the cash to do it like I did.
Mods;
Tires; 255/75/17 Goodyear Duratrac RT
SPC UCAs
1” wheel spacers
TRD wheels
6112 in the front full assembly mediums spring load rears 5100 withe deavers mediums leaf pack. Night and day. The performance from my readings and chats on toad are way better than other brands. I've also pushed it offload. Best bang for your buck.
For daily driver and some Offroad use Bilstein is the best option period. For mid travel and long travel King, Icon, Fox, Locked, Sway Away. Always go 3.0 if there’s a n option, only go with remote reservoirs if your doing high speed runs like 30min sessions etc. there no better shock than a tuned shock for the specific terrain and speed you will be driving in.
I've owned 2 first gen tundras with a combimed 450,000 miles. King monotube struts were by far the best ride on and off road. Worth the extra 4-$500. Blew away fox, and, bilstein struts i had. The donut blind strut test on tacomas came to the same result. I do like 5100 's for the rear.
Had a 4Runner with Dobinsons, 5100's, and 33's. The best offroader I owned to that day. It did everything I threw at it and rode spectacular on the road. Of course, I didn't have the ICON or KING brand stickers, but that didn't matter. It was perfect and I genuinely miss that vehicle except for the MPG for the lack of power. (12mpg and barely any torque).
Now I'm running a TRX (11.8mpg @ 650lb-ft) with stock e2 Blackhawks by Bilstein and upgraded to 37's. Rather than change out the suspension, I have an FMI perch collar to add preload and keep stock geometry. The truck is nearly perfect OEM and 37's with reduced rake give it the design the engineers seemingly intended it to be. However, there are a few TRX owners in the forums ditching the BHe2 struts, coils, links, etc. and comment as if they are worthless and spend tens of thousands on all new aftermarket equipment that isn't compatible with Rams onboard suspension management and control system. Fingertip suspension control to buying another product if what they have is too stiff or too soft and lots of dash lights and stability control issues. Practically breaking the vehicle. I don't understand their line of thinking as to how this adds capability or value. They bought a purpose-built OEM offroad enthusiast halo vehicle, paid for advanced suspension and capabilities, scrap them, and pay for it again? Just get a normal 1500 and upgrade it! The TRX was built by engineers whose sole focus was on off-roading abuse and power. I'm keeping to the original as possible and see negative value in replacing any suspension component. I'll certainly stone toss on this one unless they are sponsored and taking the vehicle to SEMA. Same issue with TRD Pro owners who scrap their suspensions and effectively throw away everything they paid for except TRD emblems. To each their own I guess, but it's financially silly to those who understand suspensions.
I went straight to 6112 and 5160 on my FJ. I have a heavy bumper and winch and went with the heavy load option on the 6112. The shock is tuned specifically for the heavy springs supplied with them. They pair the 6112 with 5160 reservoirs on the rear. I did OME 2895 rear springs.
How you like the 6112 ?
Got them on my Silverado with updated body mounts, and it rides so well, looking forward to installing my new HD tie rods and upper control arms next week; it can only make the ride better considering how worn out the almost 400k stock components are.
Glad you like them!
I put the 4600’s on my 04 Z-71 crew about three years ago and man they are awesome. My 98 Z-71 had them from the factory and I never had any issues with them up to 228k miles. You just can’t beat them and they’re reasonably priced.
Thanks for this video, I have a 2015 4cyl 5-spd Access Cab Tacoma and got it new. It’s had a 3rd Gen TRD-OR suspension under it the last 4 years or so. Even swapped the front sway for the OR to help soften the ride. It raised the front over 1” so I had to add 1” blocks to the rear. I didn’t want to but WILL NOT bro lean my Tacoma. I’m not after height, honestly I’d love to have a great suspension but at stock height. This is a great option! Thanks again man! Well done!
Haha ya! The bro lean is a bad look
Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!
As someone who’s about to get his first Tacoma and start overland/camp this is awesome to hear. Subbed and looking forward to more content!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Do yourself a favor and get the strut with the spring already attached on the fronts. Way easier than having to install a spring on yourself. Makes the install fast.
This video is great, and I agree with everything that you’re saying, except for me, the value minded option is to include some of your future preparations in your purchase. For example, if you buy 5100 and find out that you need more, you’ve now bought two pairs of struts. a combination of 6112 and 5160s will handle everything that 95% of us do.
Of course! Always plan ahead.
I went with kings. Gotta tell the ride and performance was outstanding on my 2020 4 runner.
Glad you’re happy with them!
I had 5100 on a 2011 Silverado 1500 reg cab. I am very hard on my vehicles and oh my gosh did these shocks allow me to do things that I shouldn’t have 😅!!! They held up great and they loved it when you pushed them. They’re definitely higher speed shocks, they perform better at higher driving speeds, at low speeds they get very stiff. But gosh, I recommend them to literally everyone!!! Oh and I can confirm, you can definitely jump your truck at 40mph and land in complete confidence with these!
I have the 5100 on my Chevy Silverado for couple of years. Best shock for money.
Happy to hear it!
I installed 5100's on my Frontier to level the front and replaced the rear shocks as an upgrade. Not necessarily for anything gnarly. That's what the dirt bike is for.
Good bang for the buck and a good choice for when I go camping or day trips without a bike.
Well said!
I have 5100s on two of my trucks and I love them. GMC1500 and F250. Best shocks on the market hands down.
My third truck still has the OEM shocks on a f150 platinum. And as soon as those fail. Another set of 5100s will be put into it.
I will say on the GMC the oem springs are getting worn. As it’s starting to sag lower with the added weight of a front and rear bumper and my tools. But it’s also at 180k miles and I’m hard on it. 5100s and new coils are soon to be installed
I would have went this route but I wanted a rebuildable suspension and I went with elkas full suspension . It’s amazing but if I was limited in finances I’d have gone bilstein all the way. They worked amazing on my 2019 taco ! I have recommended them to lots of people
I just bought the complete 5100/OME kit with Spc upper control arm from yota mafia. It’s going in my v8 4Runner next week
Awesome! I hope you like it!
Brother is on the eibachs (which is basically a 5100 with slightly different valving, a bit more pleasant on road from what others have said) I'm running some $300 Icons I rebuilt with 5160s in the back that were on sale. Last 4Runner was running used 4600 Taco struts with $100 freedom offroad rear springs/shocks. Oddly enough I think my favorite setup was the 4runner. For the die hards it would have been too soft, but in daily use and in practice and in my trip up north all over Line 3, it was absolutely perfect. $400 total in that setup
I wanted Bilstein 5100's but couldn't find any in stock at the time, so I went with Eibach to level my Ranger and replace the horrible factory shocks. What a difference! I'm sure the Bilsteins would have made a similar difference but I totally love my new and much improved Ranger. This "budget" option far exceeds my off roading needs. I'd be afraid of tearing my truck up to push it harder than my set up handles easily now. I have no interested in anything more expensive for the suspension.
Glad you're happy with the eibach's! They were one of my top choices as well.
Did the same thing.
They were not available for awhile.
Went with an adjustable rough country and they were WAY better than factory equipment.
So far they do what I need. I will see how long they last.
I've not upgraded my shocks yet because for like 4 months I could only get the back and not the front. Then my oil cooler broke... I'm getting 5100 installed by next month
I love my 5100 on my 08 titan. Much better then the factory setup.
Very nice and informative video; thank you! Really liked the trail running footage with the narration. Great job!
Thank you! I appreciate it
i just ordered some kyb shocks because bilstein is moving its production to mexico, 1 dollar = 20 mexican peso but the shocks are not selling for half the price as when they were made in the usa, i live in mexico btw nothing wrong with made in mexico except when they pay their factory workers 10 dollars per day or less and then make a ton of profit from selling them at such a high surplus, kybs were cheaper, made in japan apparently
I had king 2.5s with adjusters on my taco and TC UCAs for over 100k. The king lower sphericals squeaked and the upper control arm uniballs had like .25” when I finally took them off. Replaced with stock ucas and billstein 6112s. More than satisfied with the 6112s. Better on road for sure
I got the 4600's for my Blazer ZR2 & love them..
Nice!
Occasional easy minor course offroad trails aka "OverLanding" ... 5100s are more than enough. Just make sure to get the other suspension accessories to correct the geometry of the 4runner suspension (diff drop hardware, pan handle bar correction, upper control arms, extended axle travels, New Oem Toyota Lower ball joints) and all your suspension bushings since you're already in there.
I was thinking of getting these for my stock base bronco for a while, but wasn't sure. Now I feel pretty confident in getting them next time I have some extra cash. Thanks for the information.
Glad the video helped!
5100s + good bump stops make a ride amazing in the ruts and bumps.
I was planning on getting the 6112 & 5160 combo but now, I think I’ll go for the 5100’s all around. It’s just more practical.
6112's are great if they're in your budget!
The first gen Tundra 4.7L v8 is a small reliable truck. That truck is a beast
I when with the Bilstien 6112 fronts and 5160s on my F150... fantastic all around shock. Did 5100s on my brothers 2003 Cummins, worked great for that application
Hi wich one drive more coftoble on pavimento as I'm going to lift my tundra 2016 with one of theme trying to decide thaks
I appreciate your channel! I have been doing an offroad build on my '04 sr5 and as I look into upgrading equipment, I have followed this channel, i'm subscribed. Thanks for the great info.
Thank you man, I appreciate it!
@@208Tyler yeah man! keep up the great content
Great video, well said. Bilstein is a good quality dependable brand.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video!
BILSTEIN shocks are name brand :p they've been around forever, and some of their shock selections are comparable or better to that of the "big brands" bilstein is no slouch, been running them on everything I've had from sandrails to to cars and trucks. Awsome manufacturer.
First time i ever did a lift kit on my personal vehicle. Front struts factory cpils rear bilstein coils and rear shocks. Set at 1.5 rear 1.75 front. My 4r clean as sh*t now and offroading makes such a difference. Its crazy what a couple inches can do ;)
Love mine, lifts my 2017 Tundra without using a cheesy spacer. Love em!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for commenting
I went to the 8100 bypass. Holy crap. What a change.
I wish they made 8100’s for the FGT
I believe the 5100 also is 17mm longer stroke on the shock. add motion ratio and you are close to 1 /14 inches of extended droop travel
It probably depends on the exact application, but I have always understood that the 5100 is going to be a little longer than stock
Yes indeed. This example is on fj / 4th gen 4 runner or Lc120 platform. Results may vary on application lol
Bilstein 6112's with 5176's in the rear is what I'm running on my Tacoma great setup and not that expensive.
Glad you’re happy with it!
Run 5100's on my 04 Grand Cherokee on a 4" long arm lift. Handles better than stock.
Great video buddy,
When i had first gen tundra 2004 like yours. Ive had the kings coil overs+ rear. Rancho coil overs + fox 2.0 rear.
All i found out is if you dont go full long travel and actually dial all the parts of your truck for being better. Its waste of money !
And the end i ended up going to the yellow 4600 series shocks and was the happiest with it.
Now on my newer gen tundra 2020 i went with the 5100 since the beginning. Middle clip.+ rears.
Great combo and the BEST VALUE FOR YOUR DOLLAR
I am super happy with my 5100's as i dont run loaded up much, just a mountain bike and some tools/emergency/recovery gear. I do run with more aggressive AT tires but I stuck with stock size. Mild 1.75" / 1" lift on a 4Runner. This combo works nice with stock size tires or slightly larger.
Good to hear! Glad you’ve got something that works for ya!
Love mine front and rear on my 4th gen 4runner V8. Had them for years and they still have been great.
Awesome to hear!
Great vid! 2019 SR5 4Runner with 2.5 in the front and 2 in the rear. Fits 285’s just fine and it’s nice and level. It’s a great ride once aired down on the backroads here in Idaho. Not looking to Baja any trails or rock crawl. Just gets me that ground clearance to explore. I’m happy with my choice!
Good to hear you're happy with it! And a fellow Idahoan!
🤙
that bumper looks sick on that tundra, kinda want to get one for mine
Coastal off-road! They make great stuff, I have a video on it on my channel
So great my full set from my 2016 4runner have been listed in fb for 75$ for 3 years with no bites
No one wants 7 year old ran-through old shocks lol
I put 6112's on the front of my 2020 ranger and they feel great. I was running fox 2.0's in the rear. Then changed to 5160's. I think the rebound is a little better on the fox 2.0's than the 5160's. The ranger leaf springs are so firm I'm chagning them to ICONs. Hopefully it settles the ride down a lot more with new leafs.