Tacoma stage kit buyers guide from AccuTune Offroad

If you’re after the best-riding suspension for your 2005+ Toyota Tacoma, AccuTune Off-Road has the solution. Our complete Stage 1–5 kits are built with trusted, trail-tested components and come ready to install on your stock Tacoma—no extra parts needed.

Each stage adds upgrades in performance and price, with “A” versions featuring compression adjusters for manual tuning based on weight or terrain. Kits are available with your choice of King or Fox shocks, all custom-tuned in-house for your truck.


The Stage 1 Suspension Kit for Tacomas is a solid entry-level option featuring quality parts at an affordable price. It includes everything needed to lift your truck and improve ride comfort both on and off-road. Up front, it uses Fox 2.5 IFP coilovers for improved handling, while the rear features custom-valved Fox 2.0 remote reservoir shocks paired with an Icon mini pack.

Pros: Great value, upgraded rear shocks, smoother ride.
Cons: Front IFP coilovers are not tuned or rebuildable.
[Tech Note:] IFP vs. Remote Reservoir – learn the differences.


Stage 2 Tacoma Suspension Kits are ideal when ride quality matters—especially for daily driving with occasional off-road use. Compared to Stage 1, the big upgrade is front 2.5 remote reservoir coilovers, which come custom tuned for your Tacoma. These work in sync with the rear 2.0 remote reservoir shocks, also tuned by AccuTune, to deliver a smoother, more controlled ride.

Pros: Tuned front & rear shocks, better handling, DSC/LSC adjuster options.
Cons: Slightly higher cost than Stage 1, but worth the upgrade.

Stage 3 Tacoma Suspension Kits are a great option to consider if you’re looking for a solid mid-travel suspension setup for your Tacoma. Perfect for weekend warriors and frequent trail users, these kits upgrade to 2.5 rear shocks and include the Icon Mini Pack for improved performance on rough terrain like washboard roads. Choose between Fox, King or Ride shocks, all custom tuned for your truck and driving style.

Pros: Fox, King and Ride options, 2.5 rear shocks, compression adjusters available.
Cons: Add-a-leaf only—consider Stage 4 if you’re adding heavy gear like bumpers or a rooftop tent.

Stage 4 Tacoma Suspension Kits are the most popular mid-travel system offered by AccuTune Offroad. These kits replace the rear add-a-leaf with a full Icon RXT leaf pack, which features three adjustable stages to dial in your ride height and payload capacity. Paired with 2.5 shocks front and rear, this setup is ideal for serious off-roaders who also want a comfortable street ride. If you’re planning to add bumpers, a rooftop tent, or other heavy accessories, Stage 4 is the kit to get.

GOOD: Complete shock & spring package handles added weight and aggressive terrain.
BAD: None – this kit is worth saving for. For even more extreme setups, check out the Stage 5 Kits.

 

Stage 5 Tacoma Suspension Kits are the ultimate mid-travel setup before going full long travel. Building on the Stage 4 system, these kits add weld-on rear shock relocation brackets and hammer hangers, allowing for 2.5″–4.5″ more rear shock travel than Stages 1–4. With custom valved 2.5 shocks front and rear, this setup is built for serious off-road use—whether it’s big rocks, whoops, or high-speed terrain.

GOOD: Maximum rear shock travel, excellent off-road performance.
BAD: Higher cost and requires cutting/welding. If you want bolt-on only, Stage 4 is a better fit.

Custom Tacoma Suspension Kit
Want to tailor your suspension to perfectly fit your build? Our Custom Kit option lets you choose your preferred upper control arms, leaf pack, and shock options to create a suspension system that works best for your truck and driving style. Whether you’re adding more weight, looking for more travel, or just prefer a certain brand, we’ll tune everything to work together seamlessly.

Build it your way—get it tuned the AccuTune way.

Compression Adjusters
Kits labeled with an “A” include shocks with compression adjusters, giving you the ability to manually fine-tune your suspension. These adjusters let you dial in your ride for added weight, towing, or more aggressive off-road driving.

  • Fox 2.0 adjusters control low-speed compression—ideal for adjusting handling, body roll, and bottom-out resistance.
  • Fox 2.5 adjusters offer the most range, with separate high- and low-speed compression settings.
  • King 2.5 adjusters target mid-speed compression, affecting high-speed damping when open and low-speed when closed.

GOOD: Fine-tune your suspension for different terrain, loads, or driving styles.
BAD: You may never use them—and retrofitting later is costly.

Fox vs King, which one should you get? [click to learn more]

Shock Tuning Options 

 

Adventure Tune – This tune delivers exceptional comfort both on and off-road. Whether you’re cruising down fire roads or dealing with harsh potholes on your daily commute, it soaks up the terrain with ease. The ride is soft and compliant over small bumps, while our flutter stack valving ramps up compression on bigger hits to prevent bottoming out. It’s the ideal setup for high-mileage drivers who want a smooth, controlled ride without sacrificing performance.


Dual Sport Tune – The Dual Sport Tune offers increased off-road performance and improved on-road stability compared to the Adventure Tune, with a firmer overall ride. Its added stiffness handles rain ruts, g-outs, and whoops with ease, making it great for aggressive driving. While the on-road ride is noticeably firmer, it’s still manageable for enthusiasts—especially when paired with 37”+ tires to help smooth things out. This tune is ideal for lifted rigs with bigger tires that are still driven to and from the trail.


Trail Tune – The Trail Tune is built for maximum off-road performance. Designed to handle big hits, large whoops, and aggressive terrain, this tune shines in fast-paced off-road driving and technical crawling with low tire pressures. It’s ideal for highly modified vehicles that prioritize trail capability over street comfort. Expect a stiffer ride on-road—this setup is best suited for dedicated off-road rigs that don’t mind a rougher commute.

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