Rancho or Bilstein ?
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Rancho or Bilstein ?
Alright it is time for some new shocks for the old girl, I looked yesterday and found Bilstein 4600, and Rancho 5000 and 9000. I know they make a 5100 in the Bilstein but didn't see it listed on either site I was looking at for my truck so maybe it isn't even an option.
I currently drive about 5000 to 6000 miles a year all of that in the summer I don't take the truck out unless I absolutely have to in the winter (MN Salt).
75% of the time I have a 12ft Aluminum trailer with RZR, 25% Toy Hauler 9k
My buddy has run both Bilstein's and Ranchos one froze up and one dumped its contents out so he is saying a horse a piece.
Thoughts?
I currently drive about 5000 to 6000 miles a year all of that in the summer I don't take the truck out unless I absolutely have to in the winter (MN Salt).
75% of the time I have a 12ft Aluminum trailer with RZR, 25% Toy Hauler 9k
My buddy has run both Bilstein's and Ranchos one froze up and one dumped its contents out so he is saying a horse a piece.
Thoughts?
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 29
Pick the path and go.
I run the adjustable shocks to dial-in their behavior. Making changes only takes a few minutes with a creeper. Once the ride quality gets set, I rarely touch the dials again and the shocks after this point are effectively non-adjustable for how I use them. Empty or heavy, the setting stays the same.
If I went with fixed shocks, adjustments are not possible and the only option to change behavior is to change the whole unit with another.
I run the adjustable shocks to dial-in their behavior. Making changes only takes a few minutes with a creeper. Once the ride quality gets set, I rarely touch the dials again and the shocks after this point are effectively non-adjustable for how I use them. Empty or heavy, the setting stays the same.
If I went with fixed shocks, adjustments are not possible and the only option to change behavior is to change the whole unit with another.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 284
From: NT, See you in the
On the higher end Fox's and Bilsteins you can get shim packs to revalve them. I believe the Bilstein 7100 is the first or so model that allows this. But they are much more expensive than the 80-100 dollar per shock price.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,555
Likes: 2,035
From: North Texas
4600s on Bricknose, Rojo, and Lobo. All are 2x4. 5100s I use on 4x4 stuff, last truck was the 6.4 F350. Maybe I will put on new Mexpedition as 4x4. My Z71 has the magnetic adjustable OE shocks so they are stock.
Never really dug Ranchos but that is me. Never tried Fox. Bil offers lifetime warranty and are rebuildable. Are Rancho or Fox?
Bil are also pretty stiff upon initial install.
Never really dug Ranchos but that is me. Never tried Fox. Bil offers lifetime warranty and are rebuildable. Are Rancho or Fox?
Bil are also pretty stiff upon initial install.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,586
Likes: 5,615
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i have no use for rancho shocks when they blow out within 5000 miles of install.
the bilsteins on the 2002 truck have 65,000 miles on them now and still ride like new..
the bilsteins on the 2002 truck have 65,000 miles on them now and still ride like new..
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 29
Sorry to see that Rancho did not work as planned. Agree that were my experience the same, would avoid them too. Bilsteins have a great reputation and if I was stuck with not having adjustable as an option, would most likely go that way.
FWIW, I got ~45K out of a set of adjustable 9000 Rancho's on the SOB 3/4 ton and they were still good when I sold it. The SOB 3/4 ton had the 5000 series adjustable Ranchos when I bought it, they were well past done, and no idea whether they were defective or just worn from age. The SD has a set of 9000s with ~30K on them (this truck does not get driven much). The OBS is getting a set of 9000s now and time will tell whether QC changed.
FWIW, I got ~45K out of a set of adjustable 9000 Rancho's on the SOB 3/4 ton and they were still good when I sold it. The SOB 3/4 ton had the 5000 series adjustable Ranchos when I bought it, they were well past done, and no idea whether they were defective or just worn from age. The SD has a set of 9000s with ~30K on them (this truck does not get driven much). The OBS is getting a set of 9000s now and time will tell whether QC changed.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2019
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Ordered the Rancho's from shock surplus and installed them yesterday. They are almost twice the size of the shocks that were in the truck and they seem to work great so far. Its still a 1 ton so its not going to be smooth but it took quite a bit of harshness out of the ride.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,950
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
In installed Bilstein 4600's on my 2000 7.3L several years ago. They have seen 10's of thousands of miles towing a 5th wheel cross country. Still providing a great and comfortable ride. The only thing I don't like about them is they are yellow, but I didn't care enough to paint them, so they are still yellow.
Having the ability to adjust Rancho shocks is nice to some, but for me I was not willing or desiring to get under the truck (or reach behind the wheel in the back) in order to "dial them in" each time I used the truck. Despite the fact that 90% of the time the truck is on the road the 5th wheel is on it. I wanted something to install, forget and enjoy.
Having the ability to adjust Rancho shocks is nice to some, but for me I was not willing or desiring to get under the truck (or reach behind the wheel in the back) in order to "dial them in" each time I used the truck. Despite the fact that 90% of the time the truck is on the road the 5th wheel is on it. I wanted something to install, forget and enjoy.
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