Best Entry Level Shocks for Tacoma and 4Runner (2026)
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If you want the cheapest real upgrade over factory shocks on a Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, FJ Cruiser or GX, get Bilstein 5100s. You reuse your factory coil and top hat, and you can set the front anywhere from stock height up to about 2.5 inches. If you only want to level it and keep a soft ride, Fox 2.0s are the smoother pick, and if you carry a lot of weight, look at Old Man Emu or Dobinsons.
So, I sat down with Hugo at Runnin4Tacos and lined up every entry level shock kit on the table, next to a factory strut. Everything here is OEM fitment, meaning straight bolt-on. You pull the factory parts out, put these in, and you don't have to modify anything else.
The short version
| Shock | Front lift | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilstein 5100 | Stock to about 2.5" | Lowest budget, a bit of lift | A little rougher ride, not rebuildable |
| Fox 2.0 | Up to 2" (about 1" rear) | Leveling with a factory-like ride | Less lift than the others |
| Old Man Emu / Dobinsons | About 2.5" | Heavier builds on a budget | Not made for high speed |
| Locked Offroad 2.0 coilover | Up to 3" | Top of the entry level, rebuildable and tunable | Costs more, you'll want upper control arms |
What you're starting with: the factory shocks
Most of these trucks come with Bilstein-made shocks that Bilstein tuned specifically for Toyota. You'll find them on Tacomas, some Tundras, some 4Runners and FJ Cruisers. They last a long time, but they're not the strongest shocks out there.
Some companies sell lifted springs that get you about 2.5 inches while keeping the factory shocks. You gain the height, but you give up ride quality and suspension travel to get it.
Bilstein 5100: the budget pick
The 5100 is the classic first upgrade. It's a factory replacement shock with a bigger body than stock, and it's valved a little more aggressive, so you get more performance while still using your factory spring.
- Adjustable height up front. The front shock has circlip grooves, six or seven depending on the part number. The bottom clip is stock ride height. The top clip is about 2.5 inches of lift.
- Reuse almost everything. You keep your factory coil and factory top hat, or you can buy an aftermarket top hat like KYB's.
- Get the exact part number. Bilstein has a ton of part numbers for these trucks, so match it to your year and model.
- It's not rebuildable. The body is welded as one piece. Once it starts leaking, you throw it out and replace it.
The 5100 can also work as a leveling kit. If you're lifting the truck with it, Hugo's advice was to run the front all the way up and add about 1.5 to 2 inches in the rear, that way you have more room for bigger tires.
The 5100 is still a current product. Runnin4Tacos lists it for the 2005–2023 and 2024+ Tacoma, the 2003–2024 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, GX470 and GX460, and the 2007–2021 and 2022+ Tundra. ToyTec also sells front and rear 5100 kits for the 2005–2023 Tacoma, 2010+ 4Runner and FJ, and 2007–2021 Tundra. Each code is for that store's own site.
Fox 2.0: the smoothest ride for leveling
The Fox 2.0 maxes out at about 2 inches in the front and about 1 inch in the rear. So this is really an entry level leveling kit. It's for someone who doesn't want to lose ride quality, and wants better handling and less nose dive.
At 2 inches, Hugo wouldn't do 35s unless you want to cut a lot.
One heads up: this video is from 2022. When I checked in October 2026, the Fox shocks listed for current Tacomas and 4Runners were mostly the 2.5 Performance Elite series, which is a higher tier. So check that a Fox 2.0 is still made for your exact truck before you plan around it.
Old Man Emu and Dobinsons: for carrying weight
These two Australian brands are pretty much the pioneers of overlanding suspension. Both are twin-tube shocks, with an outer chamber that holds extra fluid.
Twin-tube shocks like these run low pressure, around 40 to 60 psi, compared to about 250 psi inside a 5100. That makes them soak up hits nice and soft, but they're not a fan of high speed. They're designed to carry weight.
- Match the spring to your weight. OME has a lot of spring rates, from around 590 pounds up to 720 and heavier. Tell them how much weight you carry and they'll give you the right spring.
- Don't mix and match. Pair OME springs with OME shocks. Their shocks also come in versions for stock weight and for added weight. Hugo said a lot of "my OME rides too stiff" calls come down to the wrong shock and spring combo.
Both get you about 2.5 inches in the front and 1.5 to 2 inches in the rear, depending on what you pick for the rear. Runnin4Tacos lists Dobinsons shocks and lift kits for the Tacoma, 4Runner and Tundra. ToyTec lists Old Man Emu springs.
Locked Offroad 2.0: the top of the entry level
This one's a step past entry level. It's a ride height adjustable coilover that goes up to 3 inches of lift. It's fully rebuildable, and you can pick a spring rate and have the manufacturer valve the shock to match it. Out of the box it comes with a 600-pound spring, which is right for a stock weight truck.
It's valved linear, so it takes more force to compress. That way it stays smooth on washboard roads and more stable at higher speeds. Runnin4Tacos lists Locked Offroad 2.0 packages for the Tacoma, 4Runner and Tundra.
Plan for these too
- Upper control arms. For every inch of lift, you lose about a degree of caster. If you lift the front and run bigger tires, plan on upper control arms. Extended travel coilovers like the Locked make that even more important. I covered upper control arm mistakes separately.
- Rear lift is separate. Rear shocks don't lift the rear, they just dampen. On a 4Runner the rear lift comes from a coil spring. On a Tacoma it's a leaf pack or an add-a-leaf.
- Heavy and fast needs more. The Bilstein 5160 is still a 2.0 shock, but it adds a remote reservoir that keeps the oil cooler. If you're loaded up, Hugo recommends a 2.5-inch shock body or something with a reservoir. That's mid-tier territory.
If you want a step up from the 5100, we put a Bilstein 6112 front and 5160 rear on our 2nd gen Tacoma. I go through that setup in how much lift for a daily driven Tacoma.
My verdict
There's no single best shock for overlanding. It depends on your weight, your tires, whether you're adding a bumper, winch and skids, and whether you wheel rocks, run washboard or mostly drive the street. All of these brands are reliable if you use them for what they're built for.
If you have a bone stock Tacoma or 4Runner and the lowest budget, get the 5100s. You reuse your top hat and coil and get up to 2.5 inches. If you just want to level it and keep that buttery smooth factory ride, get the Fox 2.0 at 2 inches front and 1 inch rear. The Bilstein rides a little rougher, but you get more height. If your truck is heavy and you still want something affordable, go Dobinsons or Old Man Emu.
FAQ
Are Bilstein 5100s good for a Tacoma?
Yes. They're the most affordable real upgrade over the factory shocks. You reuse your factory coil and top hat and can set the front from stock height up to about 2.5 inches.
Bilstein 5100 vs Fox 2.0?
The 5100 gives you more height, up to about 2.5 inches, but rides a little rougher. The Fox 2.0 tops out at about 2 inches front and 1 inch rear, but keeps a ride closer to factory.
Are Bilstein 5100s rebuildable?
No. The body is welded, so when one starts leaking, you replace it.
What shocks are best if I carry a lot of weight?
On a budget, Old Man Emu or Dobinsons. They're built to carry weight. Pair the springs and shocks from the same brand, and pick the spring rate for your actual load.