how do I tell if I have a high ryder ranger? I know this sounds like a stupid question, especially since I have had the truck for 2 years now. it is a 1994 with 4.0, 4wd, long bed and 30x10.5 tires... I am looking at replacign the shocks-- I blew 2, and I want rancho 9000 series (the truck has only 66000 miles, I figured to get good shocks to last another 4 years til I am done with college), but I guess I cant get them for the high ryder... any help would be great... Any other shock advice for this truck if the rancho's dont work? I do offroad, hauling stuff, and a lot of highway driving nad would liek to keep the price under $115 each.. thanks.
Jeremy

 

Not sure how to tell if yours is the high rider or not, but If you want good shocks for a low price just hit the autoparts store. Gabriel and Monroe make some GREAT shocks (in fact they make a LOT of the shocks out there, that are rebranded to other names) and you would be hard pressed to spend $50 per shock for even their best ones on a ranger. They will last 4 years and if not most are covered with a lifetime warranty through the parts house, so you would just have to bring them back and swap them.

 

While Gabrial and Monroe make some ok shocks at best for your stock street truck, they don't have anything even close to a Rancho RS 9000 - 11 way adjustable shock like the poster is talking about getting.....those shocks are in a class well above anything Gabrial and Monroe have to offer - and for under $50 a shock Rancho RS 5000's with a life time warrent are better than anything in the Monroe or Gabrial product line -

 

I have had Gabriel 44's on my 250 for 17 years and 150000 miles on dirt Alaskan logging roads without a failier. If and when one fails Napa has confirmed that they will replace the set. It don't get better than that for a stock hight replacement shock. JMHO

 

I've waited a couple of days to do some reaserch before comenting back on this. Here are a few things that I think prove my point -

Check the construction of those Gabrials and Monroe shocks - they are single tube construction while I know ranchos are mono-tube construction. One advantage to mono-tube construction if the exterior tube of the shocks can better withstand a hit from road debris, a rock, what ever and are still capable of functioning (in most cases) where single tube constructionlike the cheap monroes and gabrials will no longer be able to function once they are dented it prevents the shock movement past that damaged area.

Now someone spoke of top brand shocks rebranded as Gabrial and Monroes. I don't know about other brands, but the only ones those two companies have that would be the same type of shock as a Rancho would be there reflex type shocks, so maybe there is one type of cross-over.

The other difrence is rancho shocks have bags of cellular gas contained around the inside keeping all the air out and prevents the hydraulic oil from bubling or shock fade. This is a rancho only deal - now they are owned by the same company that owns gabrial but I don't think they cross over.

My point is there is a difrence in a quility shock and a cheaper brand - even if you want the best monroe or gabrial it will cost you close to what the entry level from the top three shocks companies cost - the bottom line is you get what you pay for. That's not to say monroe or gabrial don't make an ok shock, but I don't think I would trust it on my truck I take off road on a regular basis and risk cupping tires that cost close to $200 a piece by skimping out on quality shocks made for off roading - but that's just me.

As for your gabrial 44's that are 15 years old. Maybe they still function like new, maytbe not - while I don't doubt that you have had them on your truck for 15 years I am highly skepticle that they still function and perform like new, I would guess they have gradualy worn and you don't really notice it until you get a new set - pluss I know for a fact there is no shock bushing that lasts 15 years so at minimal all of your shock bushing are gone, if not you've at least had to replaced them a few times by now -

 

One last thing - the only three companies I found to make adjustable shocks like the ones the original poster was talking about purchasing would be Rancho, Bilstien, and I think it was Fab-tech that was the other company to make adjustable shocks. So for adjustables you choices are very limited -

 

Hey Bob, where's thosew light tabs??????????????