King 2.5 Shocks Review : 2019-2023 Ford Ranger
Posted by Brandon Sevestre on
These King 2.5 extended travel adjustable coilovers and shocks made Steve's Ranger so much fun to drive that they saved Ol' Plan B from getting sold. If that isn't about the best seal of approval a set of shocks could ask for, I don't know what is.
In This Article
- Meet 'Plan B'
- Why an Upgrade was Needed
- Choosing the Right King 2.5 Package
- Standard vs. Extended Travel at a Glance
- King 2.5 Ranger Features & Specs
- What About King's Single Compression Adjuster?
- Handling
- On-Road Ride
- Off-Road Ride
- Verdict: Who Should Buy These
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What's Next for Plan B
Meet 'Plan B'
It's been a while since we last checked in at the Ranger Station, so here's the rapid-fire recap.
Steve is a man of many Fords, most of them RBVs (Ranger-Based Vehicles, for the layman). There's JP, his Jurassic Park–painted second gen Explorer on 37s with a full-size 8.8 out back, a high-pinion full-size Dana 44 up front, and the matching coil spring and radius arm suspension. And there's his under-construction Mazda Navajo with links, coilovers, tons, and 40s.
Steve has the tools of the trade to have all the fun he could ever ask for. What he needed was a backup daily: something to get him to work, yank the pigs to the trail, and take the kids to school, but still survive getting a little rowdy.
Enter his aptly named Ranger, Ol' Plan B, which we've used to test a whole lineup of suspension packages over the years:
- Bilstein 5100 — where we started, light and simple
- Fox 2.0
- Eibach Pro-Truck Stage 2 - Install
- Eibach Pro-Truck Stage 2 - Review
- 2019+ Ford Ranger - Frequently Asked Questions
If you haven't seen those reviews yet, they're worth a look, because they're the best way to understand why these Kings are worth the extra scratch.
Why the Ranger Needed an Upgrade
After spending time in the racier suspension setups we've tested on other rigs over the years, Steve started taking a liking to driving a little faster off-road, on top of his rock donkey addiction.
Add in over 90,000 miles of getting sent a little too hard and towing well beyond what the truck was designed for, and the Eibachs were due. Steve (a.k.a. the Boggsyman) wanted to have a little more fun with the truck before transitioning into the F-150 you've seen in our more recent videos, so he scored a screaming deal on a set of like-new Kings.
As you can tell, these darn shocks did such a good job that the truck is still here, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about it. I get to drive a lot of stuff at Shock Surplus, but few things put as big a smile on my face as Ol' Plan B did on these Kings.
Choosing the Right King 2.5 Package
Normally I'd have a lot to wax poetic about when it comes to ride quality, handling, and overall performance. But brother, I don't need an hour of network TV to tell you these Kings are flat-out stellar everywhere, so today we're keeping it simple. First up: what the package includes and why we think this is the right choice among the available options.
We went with the extended travel adjustable version, so let's break down what that means.
Standard Travel vs. Extended Travel
Like a lot of brands, King sells these coilovers in two lengths:
- Standard travel: works with the stock upper control arms.
- Extended travel: requires aftermarket upper control arms.
Why Standard Travel Barely Gains Any Travel
These coilovers use an inverted body compared to stock, with the shaft at the bottom and the body at the top, plus a billet top hat that converts the coilover body's eyelet mount to the stock-style mounting pattern on the coil bucket.
That layout has a number of benefits we won't get into here. What matters in this case is that the spring sits lower in the assembly, and it's a little wider than the narrower parts of the factory spring. As the suspension extends, the stock upper arm moves closer to the spring, so clearance gets tight at full extension.
Add a reservoir hose to the mix and things are tight like a tiger. And even if there were more room, the limited articulation and positioning of the stock upper ball joint means it will bind before the coilover can extend much further anyway.
That's why the standard travel coilovers have only slightly more travel than stock, and a maximum recommended lift of around 2″.
Why We Went Extended Travel
We upgraded Plan B's control arms back when we switched to the Eibachs, so going extended travel was a no-brainer. There's no price difference between the two, and with how much rake these Rangers have from the factory, we knew we wanted at least 2″ of lift and that the extra travel would make for a much better ride. That certainly came to fruition after install.
Not only does it feel like a gyp to spend this much on a set of coilovers and not gain any travel, but we'd wager that if you even remotely need a 2.5″ body coilover and shock setup, your stock control arms are going to be a serious liability anyway.
Why We Went Adjustable
The second option is whether you get the coilovers with or without adjusters, and we went with. Just like it's a lot of money to spend without gaining travel, it's a lot of money to spend without being able to adjust the shocks to your preferences, your driving style, the terrain you're on, or the loads you're carrying.
We ultimately found a setting we never felt the need to change while unloaded, but that setting would change with a load in the bed or another driver behind the wheel.
King Off-Road Shocks
2.5 Performance Series
2019-2023 Ford Ranger
Shop Ford Ranger Upper Control Arms
Not sure which King package fits your truck and lift height? Call us at (213) 433-3616 and we'll get you sorted.
King 2.5 Standard vs. Extended Travel at a Glance
| Standard Travel | Extended Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Control Arms | Retains stock arms | Aftermarket arms required |
| Travel vs. Stock | Slightly more than stock | Meaningfully more travel |
| Max Recommended Lift | Around 2″ | 2″+ (we ran at least 2″) |
| Limiting Factors | Spring-to-arm clearance at full extension; stock upper ball joint bind | Removed by aftermarket arms |
| Price | No price difference between the two | |
| Our Pick | Only if you're keeping the stock arms and staying under 2″ | Yes, for anyone who needs a 2.5″ setup in the first place |
King 2.5 Ranger Features & Specs
- Application - Ford Ranger (2019+)
- Components Front coilovers and rear shocks
- Body Diameter 2.5″
- Front Coilover Design Inverted: body at top, shaft at bottom
- Upper Mount Billet top hat converts the coilover's eyelet mount to the stock coil bucket mounting pattern
- Reservoir Front: Remote reservoir with hose, Rear: Piggyback Reservoir
- Travel Options Standard travel (stock upper arms) or extended travel (aftermarket upper arms required)
- Adjustment Options Non-adjustable, or adjustable with a single compression adjuster
- Rear Suspension Works with the stock leaf springs
- As Tested Extended travel adjustable, aftermarket upper control arms, at least 2″ of lift, stock rear leaf springs, 90k+ mile truck, adjusters left at one setting for every test condition
What About King's Single Compression Adjuster?
We've come down on King a lot for only offering a single compression adjuster when many other brands offer two- and three-way adjustment, in some cases for similar or even less money. That extra adjustment lets you tune ride and handling somewhat independently.
Honestly? We never felt like we needed it with this set.
I'd love to pull these apart someday and see what King did for valving, because despite being a little light on adjustability compared to some options, they rode like a dream, handled incredibly, and were probably the most predictable setup I've felt since the Fox 2.5s I ran for about a year on my Bronco. The difference is that this Ranger felt like an extension of my body within seconds, not months.
I promised I'd keep things simple today, so let's just tick the boxes on each category.
Handling
These shocks are a perfect case of just enough body motion to find traction, and nowhere near enough to unsettle the truck.
On the Road
They feel super tight. The truck goes exactly where you point it and does exactly what you'd expect. It's certainly not on rails, but it feels even more nimble than before, and although it's not a heavy truck to begin with, it somehow feels lighter to toss around.
Off-Road
In the dirt the limit is super approachable. It gives you tons of feedback about what the truck is about to do and where the grip is, and it's incredibly neutral when you cook it past the limit. Easy to slide when you want to, a breeze to keep tidy, and the understeer comes in more gently and progressively than anything I've driven in the midsize segment besides a Ranger Raptor.
This little Ranger platform is highly underrated to begin with, but these Kings make it something anybody can jump in and look like a hero.
On-Road Ride
In stock form, and even with plenty of lesser aftermarket suspension systems, these Rangers can be a little jittery and nervous on the road. They're easily unsettled by minor imperfections and can wear you out on longer drives.
Where it feels like the suspension is constantly in motion on lesser setups, the Kings isolate almost everything happening underneath you on pavement.
After experiencing what they can do off-road and how well they handle, it's hard to believe just how comfortable they are on the way to and from the trailhead.
Off-Road Ride
Speaking of which, the dirt is obviously where these shine.
A Rear End That Feels Linked
When I drove the truck out in Johnson Valley, the rear end almost felt linked rather than riding on stock leaf springs. It isn't completely free of the rear-end buck we're used to on most midsize trucks, but the back end stayed super planted and let the front skip over the bumps.
Forgiving Past the Limit
Even when I overcooked it and sent them beyond their limits, a few seconds of patience and a dab or two of the brakes brought the truck right back to its happy place.
The truck felt like it had more travel than it really did. The tires felt glued to the ground without ever topping out hard, which is a testament to rebound valving that's absolutely dialed.
Comfortable at Low Speed, Too
The best part is that the truck was incredibly comfortable over RZR chatter, washboard, ruts, and everything else at lower speeds.
Actually, I lied. The actual best part is that we never touched the adjusters. Same setting from street driving to smacking whoops, sliding around, and creeping along at low speed.
Would a better ride and more performance be possible with something position-sensitive? Potentially. But it's hard to believe another set of regular old adjustable 2.5s from any other brand feels this darn good.
Want your Ranger to drive like Plan B?
King Off-Road Shocks
2.5 Performance Series
2019-2023 Ford Ranger
Verdict: Who Should Buy King 2.5 Extended Travel Adjustables
- You daily your Ranger but like to get rowdy in the dirt: this is the setup. Comfortable on the commute, predictable at the limit, and composed at speed without touching a clicker.
- You're already running (or planning) aftermarket upper control arms: go extended travel. Same price, much more travel, much better ride.
- You're keeping the stock arms and staying under 2″ of lift: standard travel is your only King option, but we'd argue your stock arms are the real bottleneck at this price.
- You tow, haul, or share the truck with other drivers: get the adjusters. The setting that works unloaded won't be the one that works with a load or a different driver.
- You've been on Eibach Stage 2 or 2R and want more: the Kings are a clear step up everywhere, and in our experience worth the extra scratch.
- You want fully independent ride and handling tuning: look at two- or three-way adjustable options, though we never missed them on this truck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard travel coilovers work with the stock upper control arms but gain only slightly more travel than stock, with a maximum recommended lift of around 2″. Extended travel coilovers require aftermarket upper control arms and deliver meaningfully more travel, which translates to a much better ride. There's no price difference between the two.
Yes. The extended travel coilovers require aftermarket upper control arms. In our opinion, if you need a 2.5″ body coilover and shock setup at all, your stock control arms are going to be a serious liability anyway, so plan on arms from the start.
The King coilover is inverted, with the body up top and the shaft at the bottom, so the spring sits lower in the assembly and is slightly wider than the narrow parts of the factory spring. As the suspension extends, the stock upper arm moves toward the spring and clearance gets tight, especially with a reservoir hose in the mix. Even with more room, the limited articulation of the stock upper ball joint would bind before the coilover could extend much further.
We recommend the adjustable version. At this price, being able to tune the shocks to your driving style, terrain, loads, and whoever is behind the wheel is worth it. We found a setting we never needed to change while unloaded, but that setting would change with a load or a different driver.
Other brands offer two- and three-way adjustment for similar and sometimes lower prices, and we've criticized King for that before. On this Ranger we never felt we needed it. We left the adjusters at the same setting for street driving, whoops, sliding around, and low-speed crawling, and the shocks were excellent everywhere.
Remarkably well. Stock Rangers and many lesser aftermarket setups feel jittery and nervous, get unsettled by small imperfections, and wear you out on long drives. The Kings isolate almost everything happening underneath you on pavement, while keeping handling tight and predictable.
Yes. We ran them on the factory leaf springs, and off-road the rear end felt almost like a linked suspension. There was still a little of the rear-end buck typical of midsize trucks, but the back stayed planted while the front skipped over the bumps.
The Eibach Stage 2R was everyone's favorite setup on this truck before the Kings, and a great compromise for a daily driver that also sees the trail. The Kings are a clear step up: more comfortable on the road, better handling, more travel, and far more composed off-road. They cost more, but in our experience they're worth the extra money.
What's Next for Plan B
Now that this Ranger may be hanging around the fleet a little longer, tell us what you'd like to see us test on it next. Drop a comment on the video and subscribe to the channel, because you just might get your wish.
More from the Ol' Plan B Ranger series:
- Bilstein 5100 — where we started, light and simple
- Fox 2.0
- Eibach Pro-Truck Stage 2 - Install
- Eibach Pro-Truck Stage 2 - Review
- 2019+ Ford Ranger - Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Upgrade Your Ranger?
Interested in these Kings, or anything else for your Ranger or whatever you're whipping? Shock Surplus is your one-stop shop.
Phone: (213) 433-3616
