ICON Stage 6 Review: 2017-2019 Super Duty Snow Lift

The ICON Stage 6 suspension system is a complete 2.5-inch coil-and-shock lift built for the 2017-2019 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty, and it is the setup we reach for when a Tampa customer wants their diesel to shrug off deep snow, frozen ruts, and a plow up front. Winter punishes a stock Super Duty: low front-end clearance packs with slush, worn factory shocks turn washboard ice into a jackhammer, and skinny stock tires struggle for bite. A 2.5-inch lift restores clearance for aggressive winter tires while the ICON remote-reservoir shocks keep the axle planted on rutted, frozen back roads. In this review we break down what the ICON Stage 6 (part number icoK62516) actually includes, how it drives, what tires it clears, and how it stacks up against budget leveling kits and shock-only upgrades for the same truck.

What Is the ICON Stage 6 Suspension System?

The ICON Stage 6 is a bolt-on, 2.5-inch lift and performance suspension system engineered by ICON Vehicle Dynamics for the 2017-2019 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty 4WD. Unlike a spacer-style leveling kit, it replaces the factory ride-control parts with new front coil springs and ICON 2.5-inch Velocity Series remote-reservoir shocks, plus the brackets and hardware needed to keep the solid front axle geometry correct after the lift. The "Stage 6" name signals ICON's top-tier package for this platform: the highest level of damping control and off-road travel ICON offers for the truck in a 2.5-inch height.

For winter driving, the two things that matter most are clearance and damping. The 2.5 inches of front lift open room for a taller, more aggressive winter tire, and the remote-reservoir shocks add oil volume and cooling so the dampers do not fade over long, choppy stretches of frozen washboard. That combination is exactly what a stock Super Duty lacks in January.

The 2017-2019 F-250 and F-350 belong to the fourth-generation Super Duty, a truck with a fully boxed frame, a solid front drive axle on coil springs, and a curb weight north of 7,000 pounds on the diesel models. That heft is why a quality damper matters: a 7,000-plus-pound truck loads a shock far harder than a half-ton, and cheap gas-charged replacements overheat quickly on rough winter roads. ICON keeps the lift modest at 2.5 inches on purpose, because a taller lift on a solid-axle truck steepens driveline and steering angles and can hurt cold-weather manners. The 2.5-inch height is the engineering sweet spot for clearance without compromise.

ICON Stage 6 Review: Ride, Clearance, and Winter Capability

The ICON Stage 6 (icoK62516) is a full-system lift for the 2017-2019 Super Duty, priced at around $6,100. In our Tampa shop, it is the kit we recommend to owners who use their trucks hard year-round and want a genuine ride-quality upgrade rather than just a height change. Below is the featured product, its live pricing, and the key specs that matter for a winter build.

Ride quality and damping

The heart of the Stage 6 is the pair of ICON 2.5-inch Velocity Series remote-reservoir shocks. The larger 2.5-inch bore and external reservoir hold more oil than the factory dampers, which resists heat fade when you are hammering a frost-heaved county road for an hour. Owners consistently describe the ride as firmer and more controlled than stock without becoming harsh, and the truck no longer porpoises after big frozen dips. That composure is the single biggest reason we push the full system over a spacer kit for people who actually drive in bad weather.

Clearance and tire fitment for snow

The 2.5 inches of front lift levels the Super Duty's factory rake and opens the wheel wells for a taller winter tire. With the Stage 6, most owners run up to a 35-inch tire (for example 35x12.50R18 or 295/70R18) on the factory wheel width, which is the sweet spot for winter: enough sidewall to air down for snow, and a large enough contact patch for a proper three-peak mountain snowflake all-terrain. That extra clearance also means the front bumper and lower valance sit higher above packed snow berms and plow piles.

Installation and what to expect

The Stage 6 is a bolt-on system, but it is a serious job on a heavy solid-axle truck. Plan on a full day in the shop with spring compressors, a press for the shock hardware, and a lift. Because you are changing ride height and disturbing the front axle, a four-wheel alignment afterward is mandatory to protect your winter tires from feathering. We also recommend re-torquing the hardware after the first few hundred miles. If you are not equipped for solid-axle spring work, have it installed professionally; our Tampa team does these regularly.

ICON Stage 6 vs Leveling Kits vs Shock Upgrades

Not every winter build needs a $6,100 system. The right choice depends on how hard you drive and how much clearance you want. Below we compare the ICON Stage 6 against two budget paths for the same truck: a bolt-on leveling kit for clearance on a tight budget, and a shock-only upgrade for owners who like their stock height but want better winter ride control. Every product links to its verified fitment page so you can confirm your exact year.

Best budget lift: Fabtech 2in Leveling System

If your only goal is clearing a taller winter tire without spending supercar money, the Fabtech 2-inch leveling system is the value pick. It raises the front around 2 inches to level the factory rake and open room for up to a 35-inch tire, at roughly $200. It reuses the factory shocks, so you do not get the ICON's damping upgrade, but for a plow-lane commuter that just needs grip and clearance it gets the job done. It fits 2017-2024 Super Duty, so late-2017-2019 owners are covered.

Keep your height, fix the ride: Eibach Pro-Truck shocks

Some Super Duty owners are happy with stock height but hate how the factory shocks crash over frozen, rutted roads. The Eibach Pro-Truck front shock is the low-cost fix: a monotube damper valved for 0-2 inches of lift that sharpens winter body control for around $150 per corner. It is not a lift and it will not clear bigger tires, but for a truck that already has clearance it is the cheapest way to get more composed handling when the pavement turns to ice.

Winter Setup Tips for a Lifted Super Duty

A lift is only half of a winter build. To get the most out of the ICON Stage 6 in snow and ice, pair the added clearance with the right tire and a few cold-weather habits. First, run a true three-peak mountain snowflake all-terrain tire in the 34-35 inch range; the lift creates the room, but the tire compound and siping do the actual gripping. Second, keep tire pressures in check as temperatures drop, since every 10-degree F fall costs roughly 1 psi and a soft tire hurts both handling and wear on a heavy diesel. Third, get the four-wheel alignment done at install and re-check it after the first big cold snap, because road salt and frozen potholes are hard on freshly set toe angles.

Because Florida trucks travel north for ski trips and snow season, we build a lot of these at our Tampa shop for owners who tow trailers and sleds into the mountains. If you are adding a plow or heavy front accessories, tell us up front so we can advise on front-end load and spring rate. Browse the full suspension collection or our complete range of lift kits to match parts to your exact Super Duty.

One last cold-weather note: road salt and brine are brutal on suspension hardware. After the season, rinse the underside thoroughly to flush salt out of the coil buckets, shock mounts, and radius-arm brackets, and inspect the shock bodies for pitting. The ICON components use protective finishes, but no coating survives salt spray forever without maintenance. When you order your lift, plan the matching winter tire at the same time so the shop can mount, balance, and align in one visit; see our full range of winter and all-terrain tires to pair with the 2.5 inches of clearance.