I know that there are a lot of threads about shock selection and i have read a lot of them, but i figured it would be best if i made my own thread with my own info instead of going off of someone else's that is different. I have a 79 f 150 4x4. I put some monroe gas magnums on it last year and these are pretty rough riding shocks. I talked to an incompitant salesman and when i went back a few days later for something else the salesman i usually talk to didnt understand why he would give me those shocks because they are pretty stiff. Well they were already on the pickup so i couldnt take them back. On the street they are ok, still too stiff but i can deal with it but when i go in a pasture or rough dirt or gravel road they pound me a little more than i like. I do not do any hardcore offroading. I live on a farm and hunt and fish a lot. I do have hankook dynamic mt's on the pickup because i like playing in mud ocassionally especially when hunting or fishing. I do not tow a boat or anything a whole lot. Maybe once or twice a year ill pull a stock trailer with some cows but we have a 02 powerstroke for the heavy pulling even though the 79 does pretty good pulling the stock trailer. It is interesting pulling a loaded stock trailer down a dirt road with some mud holes. Maybe the pickup just rides rough and i wont expect much improvement in ride with shocks in my price range so maybe just keep these and deal with it i guess.As usual price is somewhat of an issue. I dont think i can justify spending over 200 on shocks. I would like to stay under 150 if possible. Also anyone reccomend a site to get them off of that is cheaper than others. Once i figure out with your guys help what i want i will check the few local autoparts places but i will most likely end up ordering them online. The truck has a stock suspension (well it does have traction bars) but no lift or anything. The shocks that were on the pickup before were gabriels i believe but they were wore out.

 

Anyone have any opinions on the explorer pro comp shocks? I have found the es 9000's pretty cheap buy 3 get 1 free i think. The es 3000's are the same price so i was wondering if the 9000 is stiffer than the 3000 or what.

 

also what about trailmaster ssv's? if what they claim is true it sounds like a good deal. I have been searching for good buy 3 get 1 free deals for any shocks other than pro comp and havent had too much success. Seems like most online places dont have anything for a 79 f 150. In a rough pasture my monroe gas magnums beat me up pretty badly. Should i expect this from most of the shocks other than the high priced ones. bilsteins are out of my range and so are rs 9000's. I want to stay under 200, around 150 would be nice.

 

The RS900x is worth every penny especially if they are on sale. I just installed mine and they are great.

 

I havent found any place that is on sale or i would probaby get them. I have been looking for the buy 3 get 1 free but no luck so far. Even with the buy 3 get one free they are a the limit of what i would like to spend but if they are worth it i just might. Also they say that on the rears Part No. RS8125 axle shim kit may be required on rear axle for shock-to axle clearance. Do i really need this? I will look for 3 for 1 deal, any help will be appreciated. Then if i find it and get no answers here about the shim kit ill call rancho about it i guess. I have also started looking for doetsch tech 3000 shock info. waiting for response from them whether they have shocks for my pickup and price also. They got good reviews in the "massive shock shootout" in 4 wheel & offroad mag.

 

Well i did find the buy 3 get 1 free deal at 4wheelonline.com. They are still $315 for 4. That is out of my price range. What do they normally cost per shock or for all 4? I have no lift. At truckaddons.com for 4 at reg price it is 310 for 4 and 77 apiece. I might be able to swing that price if it was buy 3 get 1 free but i dunno. That is a lot of money on just shocks.

 

Oh my word...$315 for shocks? lol. Don't even go there. Me I just have new KYB's. Don't know how good they are because I havn't installed them yet but we will see. They are lifetime warrenty too. Break a shock...ooo get a new one...not pay hefty prices.. lol.

Get some skyjackers. They are decent. So is bilstein's and rancho's. The basic rancho's would be good. Hell its a truck the shocks are going to get beat out of it in a year anyways if you wheel. So the way i figure it is to buy lifetime warranty shocks and keep the truck.

 

I will pry get doetsch tech 3000's if they have them for my pickup. i think they are about 30 apiece.

 

I think the 9000's are nitrogen compressed and 3000's are hydraulic (liquid filled).

I also agree with getting some skyjackers or ranchos. Good shock for the price. I got the S.J.'s for I think 32 each at Jegs.