Help me decide Rough Country 2.5 lift (N3 struts or M1 monotube)

[Big Cam]

Let me start by saying I am the kind of truck owner who will not lift my truck anymore than this one time leveling. I very likely will not get aftermarket wheels anytime soon or in the future. I'm pretty much only looking into this because the rake on my truck is a lot as we all are familiar with.

With that said, I don't feel I will ever use the adjustability of the M1's, but I was wondering ignoring the adjustability, are the monotubes simply a better shock? I have no issue with the extra $150 price tag, but I want to make sure I'm not just paying for the adjustability. Is there a benefit to having them be adjustable, will the shock lose pressure overtime and raising it a bit more might keep the level stance?

I do not plan on installing the rear lowering blocks as I've seen tdog4871's post in the leveling thread and I like how it looks, I want a little bit of rake.

Thanks for your input.

Link for convenience.

2.5 Inch Lift Kit | Ford F-150 Tremor 4WD (2021-2025)

2.5 Inch Lift Kit | Ford F-150 Tremor 4WD (2021-2022)

www.roughcountry.com

 

[Fozzy]

As far as I know the M1’s have no adjustability. That is their Vertex line of shocks. Mono tube shocks generally have better overall performance. Even if you don’t care about performance I would get the M1’s for the zinc coating alone.

 

[Big Cam]

As far as I know the M1’s have no adjustability. That is their Vertex line of shocks. Mono tube shocks generally have better overall performance. Even if you don’t care about performance I would get the M1’s for the zinc coating alone.

The M1's can be adjusted, there is a ring you adjust, it's not an on the fly process, you need to compress the spring, but they are adjustable.

Thanks for the reply though, forgive this dumb question, how are the N3's not a monotube? They look so similar to the M1's.

 

[johncode]

They are supposed to be an upgraded shock over the N3 and are height adjustable. I don’t think there’s enough out there to say how much better they are otherwise

 

[Tremors]

Let me start by saying I am the kind of truck owner who will not lift my truck anymore than this one time leveling. I very likely will not get aftermarket wheels anytime soon or in the future. I'm pretty much only looking into this because the rake on my truck is a lot as we all are familiar with.

With that said, I don't feel I will ever use the adjustability of the M1's, but I was wondering ignoring the adjustability, are the monotubes simply a better shock? I have no issue with the extra $150 price tag, but I want to make sure I'm not just paying for the adjustability. Is there a benefit to having them be adjustable, will the shock lose pressure overtime and raising it a bit more might keep the level stance?

I do not plan on installing the rear lowering blocks as I've seen tdog4871's post in the leveling thread and I like how it looks, I want a little bit of rake.

Thanks for your input.

Link for convenience.

2.5 Inch Lift Kit | Ford F-150 Tremor 4WD (2021-2025)

2.5 Inch Lift Kit | Ford F-150 Tremor 4WD (2021-2022)

www.roughcountry.com

If you call RC and ask about the strut and explain you don’t want the rear block, they should give you the part # for just the Strut assembly w/out the rear blocks.

I pasted the strut only below if your interested.

M1 Loaded Strut Pair | 3 Inch | Ford F-150 4WD (2014-2025)

Enhance your vehicle’s performance with Rough Country's M1 Strut Loaded Kit, offering durable, adjustable suspension for superior handling and off-road capability.

www.roughcountry.com

 

[Fozzy]

The M1's can be adjusted, there is a ring you adjust, it's not an on the fly process, you need to compress the spring, but they are adjustable.

Thanks for the reply though, forgive this dumb question, how are the N3's not a monotube? They look so similar to the M1's.

That’s not adjustable, that RC using the same strut for different applications. The N3’s are twin tube.

 

[Big Cam]

That’s not adjustable, that RC using the same strut for different applications. The N3’s are twin tube

Thanks for the picture reference. In my eyes being able to adjust the height makes it adjustable, but I guess we can agree to disagree.

 

[FaKtor34]

Adjustable means you can adjust the damping and compression, etc, but I get what you mean by the adjustable height. @Fozzy is correct though the M1 would be a better overall option and should last longer than the N3, whether that's worth the extra money for you or not is your decision, me I would go with the M1.

 

[b-real]

Given your stated use, why not just use a spacer? It will be cheaper and will not negatively affect the ride as the RC kit might (ride is subjective).

 

[Big Cam]

Given your stated use, why not just use a spacer? It will be cheaper and will not negatively affect the ride as the RC kit might (ride is subjective).

Given the cost difference is not that great, $500ish for the shocks or $200ish for a "decent" set of spacers, I'd rather replace the whole unit, so it operates as intended. I just don't like the idea of spacers, since the stock suspension wasn't meant to be moved like that. I know it's minimal, and my line of thinking is based on pretty much just feeling, no facts.

Also from the research I've done (a little), it seems the consensus is spacers are the cheap way to do it, and shocks are the proper way to do it. A little stiffer ride doesn't scare me, and I will take this offroad, just not anything hardcore.

 

[b-real]

Given the cost difference is not that great, $500ish for the shocks or $200ish for a "decent" set of spacers, I'd rather replace the whole unit, so it operates as intended. I just don't like the idea of spacers, since the stock suspension wasn't meant to be moved like that. I know it's minimal, and my line of thinking is based on pretty much just feeling, no facts.

Also from the research I've done (a little), it seems the consensus is spacers are the cheap way to do it, and shocks are the proper way to do it. A little stiffer ride doesn't scare me, and I will take this offroad, just not anything hardcore.

Spacers are spacers, and wont change really how it handles offroad compared to stock aside from more ground clearance. But a $500 set of new struts (RC) compared to a good set at $1500+ (Fox/Icon), you will be able to tell a difference.

I am admittedly biased against RC as I come from the hardcore jeeping world, and RC has never been something you use there. The mall crawler jeeps use RC stuff, and Rough Country meant for a rough ride.

 

[Escape Hatch]

I'll run spacers into the market opens up a bit more for Tremor specific.

 

[Cranbery]

I wish the mono tubes were out when I bought my RC kit, I'd have bought them without thinking twice. For the cost increase which imo is negligible, just go for it.

 

[FaKtor34]

I wish the mono tubes were out when I bought my RC kit, I'd have bought them without thinking twice. For the cost increase which imo is negligible, just go for it.

What he said? I've never been a huge fan of RC but from what I'm hearing lately they have stepped up their game

 

[Fozzy]

I'll run spacers into the market opens up a bit more for Tremor specific.

What are you waiting for? someone to come out with a inconsistent orange springs or maybe a Tremor sticker on it. Can't change CV angles. Everyone waiting for the 3.5" Tremor strut is also waiting for CV boot failure.

 

[Escape Hatch]

What are you waiting for? someone to come out with a inconsistent orange springs or maybe a Tremor sticker on it. Can't change CV angles. Everyone waiting for the 3.5" Tremor strut is also waiting for CV boot failure.

It's a fair question. I'll wait a bit, maybe 20k miles or so. I dropped a nice chunk on the last car in mods so I am attempting greater restraint this time around.

 

[AMB Tremor]

Let me start by saying I am the kind of truck owner who will not lift my truck anymore than this one time leveling. I very likely will not get aftermarket wheels anytime soon or in the future. I'm pretty much only looking into this because the rake on my truck is a lot as we all are familiar with.

With that said, I don't feel I will ever use the adjustability of the M1's, but I was wondering ignoring the adjustability, are the monotubes simply a better shock? I have no issue with the extra $150 price tag, but I want to make sure I'm not just paying for the adjustability. Is there a benefit to having them be adjustable, will the shock lose pressure overtime and raising it a bit more might keep the level stance?

I do not plan on installing the rear lowering blocks as I've seen tdog4871's post in the leveling thread and I like how it looks, I want a little bit of rake.

Thanks for your input.

Link for convenience.

2.5 Inch Lift Kit | Ford F-150 Tremor 4WD (2021-2025)

2.5 Inch Lift Kit | Ford F-150 Tremor 4WD (2021-2022)

www.roughcountry.com

Will this work with 2023 Tremor

 

[FaKtor34]

Should be fine unless for some odd chance they change something.

 

[EgoBoost]

If you call RC and ask about the strut and explain you don’t want the rear block, they should give you the part # for just the Strut assembly w/out the rear blocks.

I pasted the strut only below if your interested.

M1 Loaded Strut Pair | 3 Inch | Ford F-150 4WD (2014-2025)

Enhance your vehicle’s performance with Rough Country's M1 Strut Loaded Kit, offering durable, adjustable suspension for superior handling and off-road capability.

www.roughcountry.com

Is this different than their tremor specific kit? Or is it only the shorter rear blocks that make it tremor specific?
I don’t need to lower the rear. Just want to bump up my front a couple inches. Also. At 2.5” front lift. Should I do upper control arms?

 

[chrsschb]

Is this different than their tremor specific kit? Or is it only the shorter rear blocks that make it tremor specific?
I don’t need to lower the rear. Just want to bump up my front a couple inches. Also. At 2.5” front lift. Should I do upper control arms?

Gonna take a wild guess the rear blocks are why it's tremor specific.