Towing with Fox 2.5 DSC shocks? (might purchase shocks soon)

[Atreides]

I have a 23’ Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7, and I‘m looking at getting Fox 2.5 dsc 2-3” lift coilovers and the matching 0-2” rears. I tow a 5k# travel trailer quite a bit with a net truck payload of 1,400# and one of the hopes I had is that I could change the DSC when I tow to get better performance than the stock shocks which can’t handle the payload well in my opinion. I have Timber Grove airbags in the rear (1k miles on them and love them so far) and even with a WD hitch the rear end still bounces around more than I’d like, which is the shock “performance” I’d like to improve (not the airbags fault).

If I purchase the kit, the full setup would be:
- Fox 2.5 DSC 2-3” lift front coilovers (FOX-883-06-166)
- 550# front coil spring
- ICON UCA’s (not tied to these, but I do like the Delta joint design)
- Fox 2.5 DSC 0-2”lift rear (FOX-883-26-079)
- Stock rear spring
- Timber Grove rear airbags (currently installed)
- ReCurve R3 weight distribution hitch

Below are my expectations/hopes and I’m curious if others think I’m on the right track, or won’t get what I’m hoping for…

1. Current rake (not towing, “daily driving”) with airbags@5psi is 3.25”. So I want to lift the front end with the coilovers by 2.5” which would net a 0.75” rake (mostly “level”)
2. Drive around with no load in truck and dial in my “daily driving” DSC settings
3. For towing, I’ll inflate the airbags to match the front gap (or a bit more in rear) current estimation would be 30 psi
4. Drive with the trailer and dial in my “towing“ DSC settings (when towing our trailer the payload is mostly the same for every trip)
5. Change the DSC settings to my preferred level when I tow, and when not towing (not sure how hard this will be given reservoir locations)
6. Between daily driving, and towing, by changing the DSC settings, I’ll get noticeably different shock performance

Appreciate any experience or opinions as I don’t want to drop $4,500 on suspension and be off-my-rocker on my expectations

Cheers

 

[H2OMAN]

They will work great for you. You need to adjust them until you find your best road setting, off road settings, and then tow settings. Excellent call on the Icon Delta Joints. For another $300 you could do read springs that are progressive and really help you out with all of your needs.

 

[Atreides]

For another $300 you could do read springs that are progressive and really help you out with all of your needs.

Thanks for the info and feedback, much appreciated.

For progressive rear springs, do you have any suggestions on ones to look at, or spring rates to look for?

 

[H2OMAN]

I don't know any of the rates but, Icon, Carli, and Eibach seem pretty popular and well liked.

 

[TittoPollito]

So I know this is a little different than what your plans are but here is what I have and I tow an 8.5 x 20 tandem axle enclosed trailer that weighs between 6500 - 7200 depending on how long/far we are going racing. 2021 Crew Cab lowered w/ airlift 1000 in coil bags ( set to 25/35 psi with the trailer hooked up swapping these in a couple months as they don't perform exactly as I would like) and the Teraflex/Falcon front and rear shocks/struts with the tow dampening adjustment, I also have a Curt Anti sway/WDH. I towed the trailer with everything but the shock package for about 3,500 miles and it had a lot of bounce and unpredictable movements. After adding the shocks and setting them to the number 3 preset it is much more predictable and stable feeling, I will be doing the hellwig sway bar and bag update once I get through with the wifes home updates.

 

[H2OMAN]

So I know this is a little different than what your plans are but here is what I have and I tow an 8.5 x 20 tandem axle enclosed trailer that weighs between 6500 - 7200 depending on how long/far we are going racing. 2021 Crew Cab lowered w/ airlift 1000 in coil bags ( set to 25/35 psi with the trailer hooked up swapping these in a couple months as they don't perform exactly as I would like) and the Teraflex/Falcon front and rear shocks/struts with the tow dampening adjustment, I also have a Curt Anti sway/WDH. I towed the trailer with everything but the shock package for about 3,500 miles and it had a lot of bounce and unpredictable movements. After adding the shocks and setting them to the number 3 preset it is much more predictable and stable feeling, I will be doing the hellwig sway bar and bag update once I get through with the wifes home updates.

This is not a bad idea.

 

[Atreides]

the Teraflex/Falcon front and rear shocks/struts with the tow dampening adjustment

thanks for the feedback, and helps confirm that what I’m wanting to do should work. I just looked at the Teraflex / Falcon site and those shocks seem legit. I entered in my year (2023) and it looks like they don’t offer anything past 2020 for the Ram 1500, which they confim in fitment notes. Looks like a great system though.

Regarding airbags, have you picked anything out yet? If not, I recommend looking at Timber Grove. That was the only kit I could find that was fully bolt-on and didn’t require cutting, and awesome that its stainless at that price. The only thing is at 5 psi (their recommended minimum pressure) it raises my rear end up 0.5”, so the rake is even more pronounced and is what got me looking at front coilovers. My truck looks rediculous at 30 psi in the bags and no trailer… haha

 

[TittoPollito]

thanks for the feedback, and helps confirm that what I’m wanting to do should work. I just looked at the Teraflex / Falcon site and those shocks seem legit. I entered in my year (2023) and it looks like they don’t offer anything past 2020 for the Ram 1500, which they confim in fitment notes. Looks like a great system though.

Regarding airbags, have you picked anything out yet? If not, I recommend looking at Timber Grove. That was the only kit I could find that was fully bolt-on and didn’t require cutting, and awesome that its stainless at that price. The only thing is at 5 psi (their recommended minimum pressure) it raises my rear end up 0.5”, so the rake is even more pronounced and is what got me looking at front coilovers. My truck looks rediculous at 30 psi in the bags and no trailer… haha

I have a 2021, i called and talked to them before my order, zero fitment issues. I am 99.9% sure the ‘23 uses the same suspension part numbers as the ‘19+ so it should work in my head lol. I was going to go with the timber groves but my IHC drop kit has the bump stops cut out already so I will probably run the air lift bags that fit in that spot and you have to cut the stops for that kit anyway.

 

[biodiesel]

I'm posting to see if there are any updates on the Fox 2.5 coilovers. I was told that the 2.0 coilovers are plenty sufficient for towing. I'm just curious if anyone can give real-world scenarios.

 

[H2OMAN]

I'm posting to see if there are any updates on the Fox 2.5 coilovers. I was told that the 2.0 coilovers are plenty sufficient for towing. I'm just curious if anyone can give real-world scenarios.

Linear valved shocks arent the best for towing. Not that the 2.5' wont do it. But youre gonna need heavier springs. The 2.5's are for off road.and youll need to match your tow/haul weight with heavier springs.

 

[biodiesel]

Linear valved shocks arent the best for towing. Not that the 2.5' wont do it. But youre gonna need heavier springs. The 2.5's are for off road.and youll need to match your tow/haul weight with heavier springs.

I called the folks at Shocks Surplus. They carry all the major brands (Icon, Bilstein, Fox, Rancho, King, Old Man Emu, Eibach, and KYB). I asked about Fox coilovers. They would only recommend the Fox 2.0 coilovers for towing if I were using air springs/air bags to supplement. It surprised me a little, but they said the 2.5 was overkill for towing and on-road driving.

 

[H2OMAN]

I called the folks at Shocks Surplus. They carry all the major brands (Icon, Bilstein, Fox, Rancho, King, Old Man Emu, Eibach, and KYB). I asked about Fox coilovers. They would only recommend the Fox 2.0 coilovers for towing if I were using air springs/air bags to supplement. It surprised me a little, but they said the 2.5 was overkill for towing and on-road driving.

It is huge overkill for on road only.

 

[Atreides]

As we all know there is a big difference between need and want. I don’t need Fox 2.5’s for towing, but I wanted adjustable damping for towing so I could better control the dynamics of my truck+trailer.

With the Fox 2.5’s and towing my trailer for 38 trips, over 5,000 miles over a wide array of road and some offroad conditions I can say its a night and day difference between factory shocks and Fox 2.5’s. I towed with and without stabilizer bars, with and without airbags, and still a huge difference with the Fox 2.5’s in all combinations. Not surprising, but the best setup for my 5,000lb trailer was airbags at 25psi, back shocks setting on 5 both short and long stroke, and stabilizer bars. Also of note I got the Front shocks version with a 2” lift as I wanted to level the truck given that I had airbags to adjust level when towing.

Now for the question of do you need the 2.5’s over the 2.0’s, I’d say for sure No, unless you want the ability to adjust damping. I think I read somewhere that the 2.0’s are matched to the 2.5’s at a 3 setting, so its probably fine as the 2.0’s are a huge difference over the factory shocks. I also towed a bit at a 3 setting as my coworker wanted to buy the Fox 2.0’s and it was still a huge difference over the stock shocks.

Are the 2.5’s overkill… yup… but I love them, and I’d buy them again. Not just for towing, but just driving dynamics in general. Even if I just drove on pavement 100% of the time, I still think the ride quality improvement is worth it for me, but thats completely my preference. I just rode in a 2025 Ram 1500 stock and the ride quality was noticeably worse, but I wouldn’t say it was bad. Just depends on what you want and like.

Only complaints about the Fox 2.5’s is that I have to uninstall them to change the ride height. Other than that they are worth every penny IMO

 

[H2OMAN]

As we all know there is a big difference between need and want. I don’t need Fox 2.5’s for towing, but I wanted adjustable damping for towing so I could better control the dynamics of my truck+trailer.

With the Fox 2.5’s and towing my trailer for 38 trips, over 5,000 miles over a wide array of road and some offroad conditions I can say its a night and day difference between factory shocks and Fox 2.5’s. I towed with and without stabilizer bars, with and without airbags, and still a huge difference with the Fox 2.5’s in all combinations. Not surprising, but the best setup for my 5,000lb trailer was airbags at 25psi, back shocks setting on 5 both short and long stroke, and stabilizer bars. Also of note I got the Front shocks version with a 2” lift as I wanted to level the truck given that I had airbags to adjust level when towing.

Now for the question of do you need the 2.5’s over the 2.0’s, I’d say for sure No, unless you want the ability to adjust damping. I think I read somewhere that the 2.0’s are matched to the 2.5’s at a 3 setting, so its probably fine as the 2.0’s are a huge difference over the factory shocks. I also towed a bit at a 3 setting as my coworker wanted to buy the Fox 2.0’s and it was still a huge difference over the stock shocks.

Are the 2.5’s overkill… yup… but I love them, and I’d buy them again. Not just for towing, but just driving dynamics in general. Even if I just drove on pavement 100% of the time, I still think the ride quality improvement is worth it for me, but thats completely my preference. I just rode in a 2025 Ram 1500 stock and the ride quality was noticeably worse, but I wouldn’t say it was bad. Just depends on what you want and like.

Only complaints about the Fox 2.5’s is that I have to uninstall them to change the ride height. Other than that they are worth every penny IMO

Yeah. I had to put airbags in mine to handle loads. Off road the 2.5 are absolutely amazing and on road behavior is fantastic. Just not very good with a heavy load in the bed. You can call Fox and get fronts with heavier springs. They use Eiback springs so you can call Eibach and get heavier coils for the back or use another manufacturer. I like their off road springs so I used airbags to supplement hauling loads.

 

[biodiesel]

@Atreides, thanks for providing some real-world feedback. You've given me a lot to think about. My plan is to install either Fox 2.0 or 2.5 coilovers for a 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. Fox makes 2.0 and 2.5 coilovers that are tuned for the diesel, so that makes it a little more appealing. Since I'm focused more on towing and on-road driving, I would have the coilovers adjusted for factory height. And just for the record, the 2015 EcoDiesel already has supplemental air springs (picture below).

We also have a 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel with the factory 4 corner air suspension. The 2020 EcoDiesel is a designated tow rig. Last year, it logged over 8,000 miles just in towing. At this time, I'm completely happy with the factory air suspension.

The 2015 EcoDiesel, however, is my daily driver, but it does a few thousand miles of towing each year as well. It now has 130,000 miles on the truck. The factory coils are worn out, so I need to either replace with new Mopar coils or just go to Fox coilovers.

Based on the additional information I've shared, would you still recommend bumping up to the Fox 2.5 Factory Series Coilovers with Reservoir (2014-2018 Ram 1500 4WD Diesel)? If so, would you also go with Fox 2.5 Factory Series Reservoir Shocks for the rear? I've heard of some Ram 1500 owners installing a more heavy-duty rear spring for towing such as the TUFTRUCK (TTC-1223V). Here's the link: TTC-1223V