Still cannot get a point. ICONs more expensive and need maintaining. To rebuild you need disassemble whole suspension. And it costs money and time. OME from other hand are cheaper, still reliable and can perform 30-40k easily without any extra effort. If they break, just replace with new one, still cheaper.
I have used OME on my 2013 Rubicon Unlimited and I liked them, but everyone I have talked to about the OME vs Bilstien vs Icon vs Radflo is that you can tell the difference in the ride between OME and the others and Icon and Radflo give the best rides.
Now I am driving a GX470 and so every inch of lift could make a difference when off road, I saw that in my Jeep from stock to the 2.5" Metalcloak lift and with the GX it will be even more important. The OME and Bilsteins say they go to 3" of lift but from what I have read it takes a top plate spacer for the OME and the Bilstiens will only go to 2.25-2.5". Plus there is no option for a longer travel suspension on the OME.
Price, yes the OME is less cost, from what I have been told, less ride, less travel, smaller shock, so that means less oil, less cooling, just less effective overall and about $650 less. Bilstiens are still in the running, but at around $550 less for the set up I want if I go with 5100 and not the 6112, then with the 6112 we are almost even in cost and again the 5100 are a smaller shock, 6112 about the 2.5 equal size. Now this pricing is based off the Radflo 2.5 extended travel from and the Metallic 2.0 long travel kit in the back, should I go with the 2.5 in the back, then thats about another +$250.
So if one of the Icons or Radflo break, you just replace it like the OME, just a little more cost, there is no difference there except the cost. Its what happens at 20k, 30k, 40k 50k or say you get to 60K miles and you want to rebuild your shocks, it $125 a shock, if you send it in to Radflo, same with Icon or maybe its something you can rebuild yourself at $60 a shock, so now are we cheaper or about the same cost when it comes time to replace the OME???? I don't know, but odds are that at 80k total miles the Radflo or icons will be riding a lot better. So this comes down to when will you rebuild your shocks, Icon recommends a smaller interval and Radflo is longer, but the Radflo guy said the most import thing is to keep the shaft clean and keep an eye on them for leaks.
Something that I know is that with the Raadflo, I should be rebuilding about every other spring/summer. I live about 1.5-2 hours from Ouray/Silverton and go camping or drive the trails up there about once a month (this year will be less due to S2000 function).
in the next month or so, I am adding a new stereo and putting on a rear bumper, skid plates (if I can get them in time) and a suspension system. So for me, cost is a factor, but more important is the ride and how the suspension system will do what I want and give me the lift I want. We might be talking apples to apples here, but there are a lot of different apples and some taste better than others.
