2015 F150: Fox 2.0 Coilovers versus ICON 2.5 Coilovers

We've had ICON's 2015 F150 4WD Stage 2 Suspension System on our 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost Project truck for a couple of weeks now and finally had the opportunity to stretch its legs off-road, and we can now provide a proper comparison between the 2015 F150 Fox 2.0 Stage 1 Package that was on the truck earlier in the year and the ICON Stage 2 System. One the 2009 to 2014 F150s, the differences between the two kits were a little more clear cut, with the changes that both Ford and ICON have made for the 2015 F150s, the line between which kit you ought to choose has become a lot more blurry. However, in the name of science and making choices that much easier for our customers, we here at Stage 3 have tested both systems, and thus feel obligated to list out some of the pros and cons of each so that you can find the suspension system that works best for your very own 2015 F150.

Now, before we begin, it's important to note that there's really not such thing as "best". Put 10 people in a room and have them define the term "best" and you'll get 27-1/2 different answers. The Fox 2.0 Kit and the ICON Stage 2 System both have their pros and cons, it's just a matter of deciphering which is the best for what you happen to be doing with your 2015 F150, and where you need it to go.

Fox 2.0 Stage 1 Kit: the Fox 2.0 coilovers and rear shocks come over unchanged from the 2014 model year, with no revalving or any other modifications. The Fox 2.0s are by far and away the most popular coilover and shock choice that we have here at Stage 3, and they offer up an excellent balance of performance, ride quality, and price. However, they are just that: "balanced" which means there is a little give and take going on which may not suit the die-hard off-road performance enthusiast.

Fox 2.0 Pros:

• Extremely Smooth Street Ride: the Fox 2.0s ride so well on the street that it's hard to describe. Smooth like OEM with much less bounce, jounce, wandering, and body roll.
• Easy Installation: with a maximum of a 2" level, the Fox kit doesn't require a ton of finagling with the lower control arm to get installed into the truck.
• Excellent Rear Shock Travel: the Fox 2.0 rear shocks actually have a decent amount of travel which helps maintain tire contact during high articulation.
• Price: for under $1000, you can have adjustable front coilovers and performance shocks that ride beautifully.

Fox 2.0 Cons:

• Not for Aggressive Off-Roading: the 2.0 coilovers and rear shocks just don't handle high-speed off-roading all that well. The valving just isn't suited for violent impacts, and you can feel the shocks and coilover bottoming out at the lengths of their travel, making for rough going. Coming over large obstacles meant that we usually crashed back down harder than what's really ideal.
• Only 2" of Leveling: while 2" of front leveling is enough to let you squeeze on 33" tires, it still leaves you with a hint of front rake, and pretty much means that a rear block or set of Add-a-Leafs is out of the picture.

Overall, the Fox 2.0s are an excellent upgrade that provide some of the best bang-for-your-buck performance on the market. The Fox kit is great for trucks that see hunting and camping trails with some lighter off-road requirements, however, for those high-speed trail runs and desert runner builds, you're going to need something more heavy-duty.

ICON 2.5 Front Coilovers: ICON is one of the most well-known names in the off-road world, and they manufacture some of the best off-road performance coilovers and shocks that you can find on the market. Granted, all that performance comes at a price, but you can pretty much take your 2015 F150 anywhere once you've installed some of ICON's suspension hardware. Unlike Fox, ICON went back to the drawing board with their 2015 F150 Systems and revalved both the coilovers and shocks for the lighter weight of the 2015 F150s versus the 2009 to 2014 F150s.

ICON 2.5 Pros:

• 2.63" Lift Height: the ICON 2.5 Front Coilovers can go up higher than the Fox 2.0s, which means the potential for larger tires and/or adding a rear block (like our Pro Comp 3" Block) for a big, tough look and extra clearance without a ton of rake.
• Awesome rebound and compression: the ICON 2.5 coilovers are extremely composed during high-speed off-roading and have the perfect combination of rebound and compression so you're not bottoming out on their valving while rocketing down trails at speed with a solid feel that isn't backbreaking.
• Surprisingly Good Street Ride: whether ICON took criticism of their 2009-2014 F150 kits' on-road ride quality to heart, or if the valving just worked out that way, the ride quality of their 2015 2.5 Coilovers is very good. While slightly stiffer than stock, the difference is not anywhere near as dramatic as the older trucks.
• Modular "Stage" System: unlike the Fox kits, the ICON systems have a ton of room to grow with more options for coilovers, rear shocks, and UCAs if you want to get more spendy.

ICON 2.5 System Cons:

• Price: ICON's performance doesn't come cheap. The Stage 1 Kit is over $1700, and the Stage 2 Kit we put on our truck is over $2400, and let's face it: if you're doing the kind of driving that warrants 2.5 coilovers, you likely need a UCA, too. Compare with the Fox 2.0 Kit's $960 base price.
• Install can be difficult: if you're installing the coilovers at their full ride height, you're going to have some fun fitting them into your truck while fighting your LCA.

If anything does the ICON system in, it's the price. Granted, the more comparable Fox 2.5 coilovers aren't very far off, but the real question is if the ICON's (or any other 2.5 coilover) difference in price worth the difference in performance on your truck? If you absolutely need a suspension system that can handle high-speed off-roading on aggressive trails, then the ICON kit is your winning ticket and will get you in and out of just about whatever you need.