In short: Old Man Emu is ARB's suspension brand and offers complete spring, leaf spring and shock absorber systems for Land Cruisers, Hiluxes and Rangers. We offer Tough Dog mainly for older Land Cruisers (70, 80, 100) and Nissan Patrols and Suzuki Jimnys, reinforced upper control arms for the Hilux, and currently do not offer it for the Ford Ranger at all (as of 01.11.2026). So for the Hilux and Ranger, Old Man Emu is our choice, while for the Land Cruiser, it is worth comparing.
As of: 01.11.2026. All prices and item counts are from our shop on that day.
The two brands at a glance
Old Man Emu (OME) belongs to ARB. ARB calls OME its premium suspension brand and states that every component is developed as part of a coordinated system. We have 1,014 active OME items: coil springs, leaf springs, parabolic springs, shock absorbers, shock absorbers, control arms and installation kits. The shock absorbers are available in three ranges:
- Nitro+ is the cheapest of the three ranges, with the Nitro+ for the front of the Hilux Revo costing us €262.49 compared to €695.99 for the MT64.
- MT64 is, according to ARB, a monotube shock absorber with a floating piston and a 2.5-inch piston (64 mm).
- BP-51 has, according to ARB, separately adjustable rebound and compression damping. For the front of the Ranger T9 and Hilux Revo, it comes as a shock absorber with a spring and separate reservoir.
Tough Dog is an Australian manufacturer of suspension components. We have 64 active Tough Dog items, and according to the collection overview from 31.10.2026, 60 of them are suspension parts: shock absorbers, steering dampers, adjustable Panhard bars, control arms and installation kits. We only offer springs for the Jimny and the Land Cruiser LJ70/LJ73. Typical for Tough Dog is the Foam-Cell technology. The adjustable shock absorbers, for example for the HDJ80, are adjusted according to the product data via a dial on the shock body in 9 stages, with a 45 mm bore, 70 mm body and 22 mm piston rod.
Comparison for Land Cruiser, Hilux and Ranger
The table shows what we have available for each vehicle from both brands. The numbers count active items whose title mentions the vehicle.
| Vehicle | Old Man Emu at ours | Tough Dog at ours |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 250 items, for the 70 series, among others, parabolic leaf springs at the rear for 400 to 1,000 kg (739.99 to 1,170.99 €), MT64 at the front 695.99 €, BP-51 at the front 931.99 € | 23 items, among others for the 70, 80, 100 and Prado: Panhard bar at the front from 2009 (270.99 €), shock absorber Ralph +50 mm at the rear HZJ78/79 (463.99 € pair), 9-way adjustable shock absorbers HDJ80 |
| Toyota Hilux | 100 items, for the Revo, among others, springs at the front HD +50 mm (325.99 €), leaf spring +50 mm medium (519.49 €), Nitro+ at the front (262.49 €), MT64 at the front (695.99 €), BP-51 shock absorber (1,483.49 €) | 1 item: reinforced upper control arms for Vigo and Revo (521.99 € pair) |
| Ford Ranger | 111 items, for the T9, among others, medium leaf springs at the rear, +300 and +600 kg (530.49 to 842.49 €), Nitro+ at the front (410.49 €), MT64 at the front (664.49 €), BP-51 shock absorber at the front (1,601.49 €) | none |
What this means for your choice
Ford Ranger
For the Ranger, we only offer Old Man Emu. For the T9, there are leaf springs at the rear according to continuous load: medium, +300 kg and +600 kg, plus parabolic springs and an additional air suspension. At the front, you choose between Nitro+, MT64 and the BP-51 shock absorber. Many of these parts also fit the VW Amarok from 2023 according to the title.
Toyota Hilux
For the Hilux too, the springs and shock absorbers we offer are from Old Man Emu. According to the product data, the progressive OME HD +50 mm springs for the Revo may only be installed with the OME MT64 or Nitro+ shock absorbers. From Tough Dog come the reinforced upper control arms. According to the manufacturer, they are designed for a 50 mm lift and bring the camber and toe back into a suitable range. If you combine them with OME springs, clarify beforehand with your inspector how he evaluates the combination.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Here there is a real choice. Old Man Emu covers the 70 series with leaf springs up to 1,000 kg continuous load, for example the 600 kg parabolic leaf spring for GRJ78/VDJ79, plus MT64 shock absorbers and BP-51 at the front. Tough Dog complements this with parts that realign the axle after a lift. The adjustable Panhard bar for the 70 series from 2009 centers the front axle under the vehicle again according to the product data. For the 80 and 100 series, there are the 9-way adjustable shock absorbers and steering dampers.
Shock absorbers in detail
- OME MT64: Monotube, 64 mm piston, according to ARB with a progressive piston and 7/8-inch piston rod. For the Revo, the MT64 at the front is designed according to the supplier for up to 50 mm lift and only for progressive OME springs.
- OME BP-51: Internal bypass system with reservoir, rebound and compression damping separately adjustable. For installation, you need a mounting kit for each vehicle, for the Ranger T9 at the front for €226.49.
- Tough Dog adjustable (BMX): 9 stages, 45 mm bore, Foam-Cell, multi-stage speed-dependent valve (HDJ80 product data).
- Tough Dog Big Bore "Ralph": 53 mm piston, 22 mm rod (HZJ78/79 product data).
How to choose correctly
- Determine continuous load. Take the empty weight and permissible total mass from the vehicle documents and add up what is permanently added: front bull bars, winch, hardtop, drawers, water, tank.
- Choose springs according to load. At the rear, the continuous load determines the leaf spring, at the front, the weight at the front.
- Shock absorber matching the spring. Stick to the manufacturer's approvals, for example, progressive OME springs only with MT64 or Nitro+.
- Check geometry. After the lift, have the axle measured. If the measurement shows deviations, control arms or a Panhard bar help.
- Clarify registration. According to § 19 Para. 2 StVZO, the operating permit expires if a modification is expected to pose a danger. With the approval of the part itself and installation according to instructions, it remains valid (§ 19 Para. 3). Otherwise, the way is through an individual assessment according to § 21 StVZO.
You can find all parts under Old Man Emu, Tough Dog and Suspension & Springs, by vehicle under Hilux Suspension & Lift, Land Cruiser Suspension & Lift and Ford Ranger Accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Man Emu or Tough Dog better?
That depends on the vehicle. For the Hilux and Ranger, we only offer complete suspensions from Old Man Emu. For the Land Cruiser, both complement each other: OME for springs and shock absorbers, Tough Dog for Panhard bars, steering dampers and adjustable shock absorbers on older series.
Is there Tough Dog for the Ford Ranger?
Currently not with us (as of 01.11.2026). For the Ranger T9, you will find springs, leaf springs and shock absorbers from Old Man Emu.
Can I combine OME springs with Tough Dog shock absorbers?
For the progressive OME springs for the Hilux Revo, the manufacturer prescribes MT64 or Nitro+. Check the approvals for every part and clarify combinations with your inspector.
How much does an OME suspension for the Ranger T9 cost?
That depends on the configuration. Individual prices on 01.11.2026: leaf springs at the rear 530.49 to 842.49 €, Nitro+ at the front 410.49 €, MT64 at the front 664.49 €, BP-51 shock absorber at the front 1,601.49 € per side.
Do I have to register the lift?
That depends on the documents of the part. The rules are in § 19 and § 21 StVZO, the decision is made by your inspector. We answer questions at +49 5101 8159430 or at hello@trail-setter.com.
