Hi Scott,
I agree with the consensus of the thread that your friend should get the SAW shocks. The Fox 2.0 shocks from Fab-Tech are good, but like you said, the SAW shocks are arguably better and definitely cheaper. The Fabtech/Fox shocks use a lower rubber bushing, whereas the SAW shocks use a lower heim joint. The SAW shock also has a beefier piston than the Fox shock. I don't know if you can change out the coil springs for a different brand and rate with the Fabtech/Fox shocks, but with the SAW shocks, you can change the coil springs for Eibachs or Hypercoils, although the SAW coil springs are of sufficient quality that there is really no need. But at least the option is there. Of course, you can probably do the same with the Fabtech/Fox shocks, but when I called Fabtech about it, the sales tech didn't have a clue.
Lastly, you can get the SAWs from Camburg for $625 or from Jim at IMZZ for $605 if your friend is a member of the Toyota Tacoma Off Roaders Association (TTORA), thanks to Jordan who swung this deal for TTORA members. Have your friend go to
www.tacomaterritory.com for info on signing up for TTORA. It's a free club for Taco enthusiasts, and we need all the desert prerunner Tacos we can get in the club.
Hope this helps. Take care,
Ed