Rancho Quicklift vs Bilstein 6112 vs Fox 2.0 Coilovers vs KYB Truck-Plus
Posted by Sean Reyes on
These 4 popular shock & spring options for leveling kits and performance suspension are comparable in looks, but are very different in function and purpose. About the only similarities between the KYB Truck-Plus coilovers, Quicklift Leveling Struts, the Bilstein 6112 Struts and Springs, and Fox 2.0 Performance coilovers share are their vehicle-leveling capabilities. Each of the 4 will provide the 2 to 3 inches of front lift required to level most trucks, but in different manners.
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KYB Truck-Plus Assemblies
KYB’s new Truck-Plus single unit assemblies come with new coil springs, new top mounts, and using their Monomax or Gas-a-Just monotube shock designs for a leveled-stance on your truck. These units use spacers on top of the assembly to achieve the lifted height. Going from a factory shock to the Truck-Plus will achieve the leveling height in the front, and improved handling and response.
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Rancho Quicklift Loaded Leveling Struts
Rancho Quicklift Loaded Leveling Struts use a lifted coilspring situated on a factory-height strut. This unit comes complete, ready to install out of the box without the use of a coil spring compressor. The strut has compression adjustment, controlling how firm or soft the struts respond to your terrain. There is no height adjustment for the Quicklift Loaded Leveling shock.
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Bilstein 6112 Struts and Springs
Bilstein 6112 Struts and Springs use an adjustable height coil spring collar, with factory-spec coil springs. There are 5-9 different height settings for the coil spring collar to be mounted on the shock, controlling the height of the front of the vehicle. The lowest setting usually equates to factory height, and the top setting will lift the vehicle a substantial amount in order to level the front with the rear, removing the factory rake stance. This unit needs assembly and a coil spring compressor for installation. Shock Surplus offers a pre-assembly service on most 6112 units.
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Fox 2.0 Performance IFP Coilovers
Fox 2.0 Performance IFP Coilovers are the off-road inspired performance parts. These units come with a threaded coil spring collar to adjust the height between factory height and 2 inches of lift. These units are ready to install out of the box, and can be used with various different lift kits that utilize a strut spacer (ProComp, Rough Country, Fabtech, etc). The Fox 2.0 coilovers are optimal for aggressive terrain, go fast attitudes, and inspired driving - these shocks provide increased handling and control, at the sacrifice of road comfort and 'plushness' for your daily driver.
| Adjustable Height |
Adjustable Comfort |
Good for Heavy Duty / Towing |
Off-Road Performance Oriented |
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| KYB Truck-Plus | NO | NO | YES | NO |
| Bilstein 6112 | YES | NO | YES | YES |
| Rancho Quicklift | NO | YES | YES | NO |
| FOX 2.0 Coilovers | YES | NO | YES | YES |
The Bottom Line
The different options are for much different purposes in terms of vehicle use. The Bilstein 6112 is the beefiest of the 4, more capable and smoother riding in every terrain, excellent for serious rigs hauling equipment or spending a lot of time off-road and adventuring. The Quicklift is the most affordable and appropriate for a daily driver that sees occasional weekend action. Fox’s coilover is an entry level off-road product, being able to withstand significant punishment off-road.
Price points vary significantly between the 4 options, but do not use price as a quality measurement tool to determine the ride quality for your vehicle. Although the Bilstein 6112 is noticeable less than the Fox 2.0, we favor the Bilstein heavily due to the much larger shock body and active piston (2.5" body vs 2.0" Fox body). The Rancho Quicklift setup is great for a suspension refreshment on a budget, providing a lot of flexibility for many drive types through its compression adjustment range on the shocks themselves.
