New Bilstein dampers are coming for Toyota’s latest trucks, but developing them has been a challenge. Toyota’s new TGA-F global platform underpins everything from the Tacoma and Tundra to the new Land Cruiser and Lexus GX.

In a recent episode of Bilstein’s “Shock Talk,” the team sat down to talk about tiny details of this new “modular” chassis and discuss the new shocks they’re engineering for it. As host Mike put it, “This new platform is pretty darn confusing. I mean we even get experts that are confused about this.”

New Bilstein Dampers For A “Modular” Problem

While the idea of one platform for all trucks sounds simple, the reality for a shock builder is much different. Mike also explained the issue. “It doesn’t match up for us as a shock builder,” he said. “It doesn’t look like something that we can manage as one part fits everything.”

He pointed out that even though the Tacoma and 4Runner share a platform, they use completely different lower shock mounts—one with a double-shear bolt and the other with a single-shear stud—forcing Bilstein to design and build two different parts.

The “Best Value” Tacoma

The team unanimously agreed on the best starting point for any enthusiast looking to build one of these new trucks: the Tacoma TRD Off-Road. Guest expert Ryan called it “the best value in the lineup,” as it comes from the factory with crucial off-road hardware like a rear locker and excellent Bilstein shocks.

Shane from Bilstein’s Product Management drove the point home, explaining that a buyer could save a huge amount of money by starting with the TRD Off-Road instead of the top-tier TRD Pro. He explained that someone can buy the TRD Off-Road and will have $20,000 to save on the side.

Build, Don’t Buy

The final consensus from the team was clear: skip the expensive, high-end factory models and build your own. While Mike opted for the larger Tundra to “haul bigger loads,” both Shane and Ryan chose the smaller Tacoma/GX platform as their ideal starting point. The common thread was that they would all use the money saved to install high-performance aftermarket suspension.

The new Bilstein dampers, like the upcoming 8112s, are the key to this strategy. They allow an owner to start with a lower-cost, but still capable, truck and build it into something that outperforms even the top-of-the-line factory models, creating a better truck for less money.