If you're browsing the forums for a solid Nissan lift, you've definitely seen the all dogs offroad rckilla kit mentioned a thousand times. It's arguably the most popular entry-level suspension upgrade for the Frontier and Xterra platforms, and for good reason. Most of us start out looking for a way to get rid of that "stinkbug" look—you know, where the front of the truck sits way lower than the back—and this kit was literally designed to kill that rake.
But beyond just making the truck look level, there's a lot to unpack about how it actually changes the way your rig handles. It's not just about height; it's about fixing some of the factory flaws that make these trucks feel a bit soft and boat-like on the highway.
What Actually Comes in the Kit?
When you order the all dogs offroad rckilla, you're getting a pretty specific recipe of parts. It's usually centered around a pair of Bilstein 5100 adjustable front struts and ADO's own high-quality coil springs. In the rear, you're usually looking at either an Add-A-Leaf (AAL) or their newer parabolic leaf springs, depending on which version you pick.
What makes this different from a "spacer lift" is that you're actually replacing the spring. A spacer just shoves your stock spring down to get height, which can lead to a harsh ride and decreased travel. The ADO coils are designed with a slightly heavier spring rate than stock. This helps the truck handle the weight of aftermarket bumpers or winches later on, but even on a stock truck, it just feels more "planted."
Why Everyone Calls it the Rake Killer
The name isn't just marketing fluff. If you own a second-gen Frontier or an Xterra, you know the factory rake is aggressive. It's great for towing, but it looks a bit goofy when you're just driving around town. The all dogs offroad rckilla aims to provide about 2 inches of lift in the front and roughly 1.5 inches in the rear.
That half-inch difference helps level the truck out almost perfectly. You still have enough of a rake that the rear doesn't sag the moment you put a cooler in the bed, but you lose that nose-down stance that makes the truck look like it's constantly braking hard. It gives the truck a much more aggressive profile without making it look like a monster truck that's trying too hard.
The On-Road Driving Experience
Let's be real: most of us spend 90% of our time on asphalt. If a lift kit makes your daily commute miserable, it's not a good kit. The beauty of the all dogs offroad rckilla is that it actually improves the on-road feel.
Stock Nissan suspension can feel a little "floaty." You hit a dip on the highway, and the front end bounces a couple of times before settling. With the ADO coils and Bilstein 5100s, that bounce is gone. It feels firm but not jarring. You'll notice less body roll when taking turns and less "nose dive" when you hit the brakes. It turns the truck into something that feels a bit more modern and controlled.
It's worth noting that since the spring rate is higher, you might feel smaller bumps a bit more than you did on the mushy factory springs. But most drivers find this a fair trade-off for the increased stability.
Taking It Off the Pavement
When you finally get off the highway and onto a trail, the all dogs offroad rckilla starts to show its true value. It's not a long-travel kit meant for jumping sand dunes, but for fire roads, light rock crawling, and overlanding, it's a massive improvement.
The extra couple of inches of ground clearance is the obvious benefit. You stop scraping your air dam or skid plates on every medium-sized rock. But the real win is the bottom-out resistance. The factory suspension is notorious for slamming into the bump stops on even moderate hits. The ADO springs have enough "umph" to catch the weight of the truck before it hammers your frame.
If you opt for the parabolic rear springs that ADO offers, the off-road performance goes up even more. Parabolic springs are designed to flex better while still carrying a load, which helps keep your rear tires on the ground when things get twisty.
The DIY Installation Process
So, can you install the all dogs offroad rckilla in your driveway? Yes, but with a few caveats. The rear is pretty straightforward—just some U-bolts and some muscle. The front is where things get interesting.
Since this kit uses new coils, you have to compress the springs to get them onto the Bilstein struts. Do not use the cheap "suicide sticks" you rent from an auto parts store. The ADO springs are stiff, and those cheap compressors can be genuinely dangerous.
Most people recommend taking your new struts and springs to a local shop with a wall-mounted compressor. They'll usually swap them over for $50 or $60, and it'll save you a lot of sweat and potential trips to the ER. Once the assemblies are put together, bolting them into the truck is a breeze.
Don't Forget the Alignment
Any time you mess with your suspension, your alignment is going to be out of whack. After installing the all dogs offroad rckilla, your front tires will likely be "toed-in" or have some camber issues. Don't skip the alignment shop. If you do, you'll chew through a set of expensive all-terrains in a few months.
Comparing It to "Cheap" Alternatives
You can find spacer kits online for $100 that claim to give you the same lift. It's tempting, I get it. But there's a phenomenon called "coil bucket contact" (CBC) that happens on these trucks. When you use a big spacer, the upper control arm hits the frame (the coil bucket) when the suspension drops down. It makes a horrible metallic clank every time you go over a speed bump.
Because the all dogs offroad rckilla achieves its lift through spring height and strut adjustment rather than just a thick puck of metal, CBC is much less of an issue. You get a better range of motion and a much quieter ride.
Is It Worth the Investment?
In the world of off-roading, you can spend $5,000 on a suspension setup without even trying. The all dogs offroad rckilla sits in that "sweet spot" where it's affordable enough for a budget build but high-quality enough that you won't feel the need to replace it in a year.
It's the perfect "set it and forget it" mod. It fixes the aesthetics, improves the handling, and gives you the clearance needed for larger tires (like a 285/75R16 or 265/75R16 depending on your trim).
If you're looking for a way to make your Nissan feel more like a truck and less like a minivan, this is probably the best place to start. It's a proven setup that has been tested by thousands of owners, and frankly, it's hard to find someone who regrets putting it on their rig. Whether you're just trying to survive a pothole-filled city or you're planning a trip to Moab, the all dogs offroad rckilla is a solid foundation for any build.