I have a 1987 E250 Camper van that needs shocks. I'm not going with the standard ones and considered the "Shock Absorber-Gas-M<wbr>agnum Rear MONROE's p/n 34901." However, considering the weight and the rear overhang I am wondering if I should even step up to "Shock Absorber-Sensa<wbr>-Trac Load Adjusting Rear Monroe p/n 58599." Dollar difference, $42 to $120 each, quite a jump.


Anyone out their drive a loaded F or E 250 that can share there opinions whether it's worth it?

 

I'll get up on my Bilstein soap box and recommend their RV series, if they have them for your application, or their 5100. I like them a lot, and have used them for a number of years now from my Porsche, to my 1 ton and RV, and others between.
I have used KYB (have their monomax shock on my F150), and like them as well, but I don't think they are quite as good as Bilsteins.
The Bilsteins are valved for each application, and have a bit of pressure to them, meaning that they expand when they are removed from a vehicle or their packaging.

Other people like the non-pressurized shocks.

My experience with Monroe and the like are that they don't last particularly long, and don't add much to the ride control, especially with weight.

What ever you go for, I think you are on the right track with looking to go a step or two above the standard (inexpensive) fair.

BTW, I have a Volkswagon Westfalia camper van, and have run KYB gas-adjust shocks for ~20 years, and just changed them out to Koni in the front, and Bilstein's in the rear, and the difference was noticeable (in a good way), and of course, the new shocks were a bit more expensive...