I have a 2005 V10 SC, 4X4,XLT, with 54,000 miles on it. It had the original shocks on it. With only a 220 lb cap on the back, it ran stiff and jittery like heavy duty pickups do when empty.
After reading some positive remarks on some forums, I decided to get some RS9000XL adjustable shocks for the truck. The shocks have 9 different settings...low numbers softer ride and high numbers towing and such.
Well, so far I am mighty impressed. I have not towed with it yet but the improvement running empty is remarkable to me. I am presently running them on #3 and it is hard to imagine the difference from the old shocks. I am going to experiment with other settings with different load/towing capacities.
I will be towing a 8500 lb travel trailer and was wondering what setting on the shocks to try first. It is easy to adjust for an empty truck as the feedback is immediate but pulling my trailer will throw in alot more variables into play.
I would like to get some feedback on what setting you folks with the adjustable Ranchos use when towing.
I put this question on the V10 forum because the shock adjustments would be different then the diesels due to the diesels added weight.
I have only had this 2005 V10 for four months and I am more impressed with it every day. I have had alot of pickups in my life, and I always dreamed of a truck like this. Other than the expense of fuel and the small fuel tank on it, it is the perfect truck for my needs.

 

I recently put brand-new XL's on the front of mine, and WOW what a difference, and I had 9000X's on it since almost brand-new. The XLs are a much different animal, and are also gas-charged unlike the X's were.

There are two aspects to shocks.

1) How well they control up-and-down movement of the WHEEL, keeping it in contact with the road as much as possible, and how much they transmit that motion into the chassis. Too stiff, they put too much motion into the chassis. Too soft, they allow the wheels to leave the ground on very bumpy surfaces. Either way, it can effect traction around turns or during braking (causing the ABS to come on).

If the shocks allow the wheels to leave the ground over bumps, and you are going around a curve, you either lose the steering (front wheels) or the back end wants to skip-out (back wheels). Likewise, when braking, your ABS will come on if the wheels leave the ground, which is NOT good, as the ABS system in these trucks just basically lets go of the offending wheel, it doesn't seem to actually continue braking as much.

2) How well they keep the BODY from swaying and/or bouncing when turning fast, encountering rises or dips in the road, etc.

I notice under load, that turning up the shocks helps a great deal to control the weight. But too far, and you run the risks talked about in #1 above.

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I have no idea how people deal with unadjustable shocks, when you have such a wide range of weight/load/handling.

My rear leaf springs have the overloads on top, as well as a flat thick "overload" on the bottom. As the load increases, that bottom flat leaf comes more and more into play and greatly stiffens the spring. Depending on how much actual load is in the back will definitely effect where you set the shock to.

I dunno... you have to gauge this for yourself. At 8500lbs, that trailer is probably a bumper pull, not a 5th wheel? Make sure you keep the rear tires inflated way up, that'll help the "push" you get from the trailer.

What tongue weight do you think you'll be seeing? 8500lbs, tongue weight should be, what, 850-1000?

 

I have the My Ride system, so I have played with settings a lot!

Empty: I run at 1 (front) and 1 (rear). IMO, these have more compression damping than necessary, so I turn way down for best ride. If driving in a more spirited way, I go up to 3 and 2.
Towing with WD setup: 3 and 5
Towing with huge load in bed (at GAWR): 3 and 7

 

I'm also wondering if most folks with the Rancho RS9000XL's run with the same setting on all four wheels or do some have different settings from front to back?
When I start pulling my 8500 lb travel trailer, I think I may start out with the shocks set at 7 and work from there.
Unlike so many gadgets on the automotive market, these shocks really do make a difference in adjusting to the many variables a truck suspension, loaded and unloaded, go through.