Upgrading your suspension is usually high on the list for those looking to modify their trucks. This is especially true if you’re looking to do things like add bigger tires, armor and improve ground clearance.
Choosing/buying shocks can be a challenging. There are many different options at a variety of price points. You may have noticed that there are two common shock sizes you see available. 2.0s and 2.5s. This refers to their body diameter, and is closely related to things like piston size and hydraulic fluid capacity.
Comparing the two different sizes is going to be the primary focus for this post. This should help you to better understand the decision and what will be suited best for your rig. Don’t be fooled, buying a bigger and more expensive shock is not always the answer. Many 2.0 systems perform very well for the average user and while adding 2.5s may be visually appealing, and naturally more performance oriented, jumping into that realm might not always be necessary.
Let’s take a deeper dive and hopefully you can learn something new. I personally have the most experience with shocks around the 2.0 diameter, but have also seen and driven trucks with the upgraded 2.5s. Most recently, I’ve been exposed to the Dirt King lineup. A newer product to the market, but these guys have an eager team driven to be the best!
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Table Of Contents
What Are Shocks & Why Do They Matter?
Shocks (aka shock absorbers), do exactly what their name describes. They’re a super important part of your vehicle. This conversation is especially relevant to off-roading and overlanding, where these systems are subjected to more stress and strain than usual. Not to say it doesn’t apply for daily driving, since the OEM suspension leaves much to be desired.
A shock’s main function (often paired with coil or leaf springs) is to control compression and rebound as drive over various terrains. If you did not have shocks and the springs were solely responsible for damping, then the vehicle would not be very stable as the oscillations would be uncontrolled. The ride would be bouncy, with little control, and very little comfort.
This comfort and control is even more important when heading off the pavement, where conditions and obstacles are usually much less predictable, and the road (or lack thereof) creates the need for more support. So, choosing the right set for your truck will ultimately affect how well your vehicle performs.
Sizes & Oil Volume
The two common sizes we’re looking at today, 2.0s and 2.5s, both refer to the diameter of the body in inches. They behave differently on and off-road and their size difference impacts a variety of performance categories.
When looking at the larger of the two, we see an increase in the amount of oil they hold inside. This increase in fluid allows for better heat dissipation. Combatting excess heat plays a greater role during extended or aggressive driving. More oil capacity equals less shock fade and more consistent performance.
Although the options on the market vary, the larger bodies usually also have external reservoirs for even more fluid capacity. They may also have clickers/adjusters, which allow fine tuning in ride quality. This is usually limited to compression adjustment, but some allow for tweaks to rebound as well.
At the end of the day, the primary benefit of added oil volume helps to provide better damping and improves the ride.
Performance Comparison
It’s worth noting that whether you get 2.0s or 2.5s, a good set will perform well on and off-road.
On-Road
2.0s are usually more comfortable on the road, with no loss in handling. So you get maximum comfort, while still no compromising control. They are however, not technically a performance shock. They are a good option for street driving and are much better than OEM.
2.5s are still comfortable, but usually more sporty and firm. Their major focus is control, without losing comfort. If you have more weight, they will also handle the added weight better overall.
Off-Road
2.0s typically maintain their softer nature off pavement. That’s not to say you can’t off-road them, but they are more suited for on-road. Their larger diameter over factory still provides plenty of benefits. Many 2.0s are IFPs (internal floating piston) so they do have less up-travel.
2.5s really shine in this category. They are designed with off-road miles in mind. The larger size equals more cooling capacity and they handle abuse better. Many 2.5s come with reservoirs, so you get more up travel, and even more fine tuning for ride preference and performance.
Factors To Consider
Even knowing everything above, we can dive into a couple specifics to think about. Here are two of the most important ones.
Intended Use
Are you a daily driver, a weekend warrior, or do you like to push your truck? These will help determine what to choose. If you want to push hard on demanding terrain, get the 2.5s. If you want better on-road performance, but still a good option for off-road, get the 2.0s.
Budget
This might be the biggest consideration with most people’s purchases. If the added costs are something you’ve already considered, or cost is not as important as performance, then for sure – get the 2.5s. The whole buy once, cry once mentality.
If you’re on a budget, but still want a solid upgrade, get the 2.0s. These provide the biggest bang for your buck and will do just fine for most applications.
My Experiences
I’ve had the chance to try and experience both. These setups were both from Dirt King. Most recently, Konrad (another author and editor here) was running a set of their 2.5 DCA (dual compression adjuster) Remote Reservoir kit, and I’m running their 2.0 IFP kit.
The information above is pretty spot on. Nothing new to report that we haven’t touched on above. The 2.0s are very comfortable on the road, and still provide a ton of comfort and plenty of control off the beaten path. The 2.5s are also very comfortable, but out of the box on the firmer side when compared directly. But the adjusters can offer more or less compression so if you like a softer and more compliant ride, or a firmer more controlled one, switching it up on the fly is easy.
While the 2.0s can definitely hang with the 2.5s, naturally, if you beat on them side by side, the 2.5s will outperform them for several of the reasons already mentioned.
A quick note, not all 2.0s come with threaded shock bodies, while pretty much all 2.5s do. The good thing about the DK 2.0s is that the shock body gives you the same ride height adjustment as the 2.5s.
Dirt King uses progressive valving in all their shock lines. The reasoning is simple. Digressively valved shocks are less friendly for daily driving, which even if you’re hitting it harder off-road and more often, the majority of us still daily drive our trucks, and progressive valving is simply more comfortable for driving around town. Linear valving works well too, but doesn’t offer the same upper end dampening that progressive ones do.
That said, after years of development, and the pressure applied by an industry to build a good product, alongside making sure to keep a strong reputation, Dirt King has produced something that I would say is special. Their customer service has been great and they’ve been making killer suspension for a long time. It was only a natural progression that they started building their own shocks. And they’ve used all the other brands for years, so there’s got to be an improvement if you’re going to make a pivot this big.
Don’t forget, now is the best time ever to buy one or the other from Dirt King. Hit – https://dkgroupbuy.com/ – to learn more.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it up, I think the argument and discussion are simple.
Need a good budget conscious kit that still has the ability to grow with your build? Get a set of 2.0s and make sure they have a threaded shock body to adjust preload as you add weight.
Are you looking for the maximum in “mid-travel” (factory geometry arms) setup that can handle 99% of what you would normally put it through while giving you the option to fine tune compression? Get the 2.5s and don’t look back.
At the end of the day, I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Both will have the intended effect of better performance and adding clearance from the actual lift and a noticeable upgrade over stock. Each use case will be different and I hope this post equipped you to make the right decision.
Tell us in the comments below, what are you running on your rig and why?
