After putting about 5,000 miles on my 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road with the King 2.5 Suspension Kit front and rear, I feel like I have a pretty solid understanding of how it performs on and off the trail.
Overall, I’m really happy with the setup, but whether they’re worth the price depends a lot on how you actually use your truck. I wanted to share my thoughts from someone who puts their truck through a decent mixture of trails and daily driving.
Table Of Contents
Features & Specs
Coilovers & Shocks
- customed tuned for new Tacoma platform
- tested in harsh, real world conditions for the best damping and spring rates
- completely bolt-on
- adjustable ride height
- 2.5″ body improves cooling
- lab tested
- made from the same materials and tolerances seen in King’s Pure Race series
- rebuildable, can be serviced and tuned
- remote reservoirs increase fluid capacity, which improves heat dissipation
- threaded end cap with Schrader valve cap
- built with extruded 6061-T6 aluminum
- new, clean reservoir mounts
- 20 clicks of compression adjustment
- hardware and instructions included
Sway Bar Links
- OEM replacement upgrade
- 25% longer than factory for better sway bar angles and droop (in the rear)
- recommended for all trucks running King rear shocks
- added length is meant for off-road abuse
- more stability on and off-road, better handling
- CNC machined using 6061-T6 aluminum
- same manufacturing practice as all high end shock products
- hardware and instructions included
King products have a 90-day warranty.
King does offer rebuilds at their facility with relatively low lead times. You can also buy a rebuild kit and do it yourself. Depending on how hard you use them, rebuild intervals can be from 10-30K for best performance, but with mainly daily driving, some have lasted longer. The first thing that usually needs maintenance is not necessarily seals and fluid, but the spherical bearings.
Install & First Impressions
I installed the entire setup myself, and since it was my first time doing suspension, it took me about 10 hours. That said, the instructions were straightforward, and everything was very doable, even without prior experience. It’s definitely a job most people can handle at home if you’re willing to take your time.
Right after installing them, I took the truck out for about 100 miles off-road and really wanted to see what they could do. I was pushing speeds around 50 mph for extended periods, and once the shocks warmed up, the ride quality was very impressive. It almost felt like driving on pavement, even over rough terrain.
I also added upgraded sway bar end links with this setup, and it’s something I’d definitely recommend if you’re going with a suspension like this. With the kit’s increased suspension travel, the stock end links can become a limiting factor. The upgraded links help everything move more freely and keep the suspension working the way it should, especially off-road.
It’s a relatively small upgrade compared to the suspension itself, but it makes a noticeable difference and helps get the most out of the setup.
My Configuration
- 2.5″ Coilovers & Rear Shocks With Adjustable Reservoirs
- Sway Bar Link Kit
Complementary Parts
- Dobinsons Billet Aluminum UCAs
- Dobinsons (Red) Rear Springs – C59-819V
- Dobinsons Adjustable Panhard Bar
Off-Road Performance
This is where the Kings really shine. At higher speeds, the truck feels extremely planted and controlled. The faster you go (within reason), the better they seem to perform. The external reservoirs make a noticeable difference here, helping keep the shocks cool and consistent even after long stretches of rough driving.
I’ve also jumped the truck a few times with this setup, and it handled it extremely well. That’s the kind of performance these shocks are built for, and they deliver in that environment. As you can see above, I also run a camper, and the kit handles the added weight without flinching.
Slower Trails & Daily Use
At slower speeds and on more technical trails, the suspension still performs great, no complaints there. But this is also where I started to question the value a bit. For this type of driving, I honestly think you could run a much more affordable suspension and still be just as happy.
The same goes for daily driving and more mellow off-road use. If you’re mostly doing weekend trips, camping, and moderate trails, this level of suspension probably isn’t necessary.
When it comes to on-road driving, the Kings still ride really well, but they definitely feel more performance-oriented than stock. The truck feels more controlled overall, especially in body roll and braking. It doesn’t have that soft, floaty feel that the factory suspension has, which I personally like, but it’s something to be aware of depending on what kind of ride you prefer.
You’ll feel more of the road compared to stock, especially over smaller bumps and imperfections, but it’s not harsh by any means. It just feels more connected and planted. For me, it’s a good trade-off, but if someone is looking for the softest, most comfortable daily ride possible, this probably isn’t the main reason to upgrade to something like Kings.
Why I Chose King
One of the main reasons I went with King Shocks is their reputation. They’re known for building high-quality, durable suspension that performs well across a wide range of vehicles, and that gave me a lot of confidence when choosing a setup for my truck.
Since the 4th Gen Tacoma was brand new at the time, there just wasn’t a ton of long-term feedback yet on how different suspension systems would perform, so I didn’t really want to take a chance on a less-proven brand.
Going with something like King felt like a safe choice in the best way. They’ve been around for a long time, they’re widely used in off-road racing and by enthusiasts, and they have a track record of holding up under hard use. That reliability was important to me, especially knowing I planned to push the truck off-road and didn’t want to deal with issues early on.
Another thing I like about this setup is the long-term serviceability. Knowing that these shocks are fully rebuildable gives me a lot more confidence in the investment. Instead of replacing the entire system down the road, they can be serviced and brought back to life, a big advantage over some lower-cost options.
It also gave me peace of mind that if anything ever did need attention, parts and service are easy to find.
Final Thoughts
After 5,000 miles, I can confidently say I’m very happy with this setup. The high-speed performance is incredible; they handle abuse well, and they’ve lived up to their reputation.
Looking back, doing the install myself was actually a great way to learn more about the truck and how everything works together. It took longer since it was my first time, but everything fit as it should, and there weren’t any major surprises. If you’re on the fence about installing your own suspension, I’d say it’s definitely doable with basic tools and some patience.
At the same time, I do think it’s important to be honest; if you’re not driving aggressively or pushing your truck hard off-road, you can absolutely spend half the money and still end up with a setup you’re happy with.
For me, I’d still buy them again. But if your build is more focused on overlanding or lighter trail use, it’s worth thinking about whether you’ll truly take advantage of everything these shocks offer. You cannot go wrong with King suspension.
