Icon 4.5" vs BDS 4" lift

[Chatham036]

I am just testing the waters on lift kits for my super duty. I know that Icon is a top shelf company but unfortunately it has a top shelf price tag. From what I can tell, the main benefit to Icon is the use of progressive rate coils and their shocks are suppose to be suppurb. Icon's lift is $2,182 for the 4.5" basic kit.
2005 - 2007 Ford Super Duty F250 / F350 4.5" Suspension System Stage 1 - ICON Vehicle Dynamics


BDS Suspensions offers a 4" lift kit that is nearly half the price of the Icon. It has the same rear blocks and it offers progressive rate coils. BDS gives you the option to customize this "base kit" to be closer to what you desire. I opted for Fox Shocks 2.0 in the front and rear. This upgraded kit chimes in at $1,507
Customize - Ford F250/F350 4WD 4" Suspension Lift Kit 343H

So in theroy, if Icon's two benifits are shocks and progressive coils, the BDS kit with upgraded shocks to the FOX would have both of those benifits included AND a lesser price tag.

Anyone have any experience with either of these kits?

[TripleE44]

I was in your same spot when I got my lift. It seems like a lot more for what you get with an Icon lift. I ended up with a lift from Trevor at PMF. The coils and shocks I got are Icon, but the rest, 4 link, sway bar links, traction blocks etc is all from PMF. I don't remember what I paid exactly, but I vaguely remember it came out around the same as if I had done the Icon basic 7'' lift. I figure the same as you, the coils and the shocks are the benefits of the Icon kit.

I'd PM Trevor before you decide anything.

[TurboMustang370]

I'm running Icon's 4.5" kit. I got mine before they started with "stages". I guess mine would be the Stage 2, I upgraded to Bilsteen 5150s, steering damper/stabilizer and got a set of bars from One Up Offroad.
Honestly, for the money spent, I thought the ride would be better but I guess with a 350 you will always have rear end hop.
My only regret was not going higher.

[CT Performance, Inc.]

We are a Icon and a Pure Performance dealer..

Just a FYI but For just a little more $ that a Icon kit you can heve a better riding system with 4 link arms..