I bought the 2" leveling kit from Fabtech that comes with their front and rear shockes. I was amazed that the shocks they send are NOT gas charged. I figured I would give them a shot anyway. The ride SUCKS. Anyone know why they would send non gas charged shocks or a 05 F350SD CC DRW?

 

Pressurized gas shocks use nitrogen that only assists with reduced shock fade over extended shock cycles, and has little effect on how a shock rides on the street.
A shocks valving is what determines how much resistance it will have and how it dampens. I do not believe these even use Cellular gas technology.
My understanding of the Fabtech shock is that they are a simple oil damper with no nitrogen, and one must upgrade to a dirt logic series shock to get gas charged shocks.
You might be looking for completely new shocks to get an improved ride.

 

Well I sort of disagree with you on how a gas charged shock doesn't help with the ride. To me they help the vehicle 'settle' quicker after a bump or a dip.
The shocks I have not tend to rock/bounce more than normal after a bump/dip.

I was looking at maybe the Rancho RS5000 shocks. Any other recommendations?

 

Oil is passed through a pasage or orifice during the compression and extension process, and limiting the amount of oil by making the pasage smaller, or making the oil thicker causes greater dampening. This is to as increased dampening creates heat. Heat can boil the oil and cause cavitation. This will make the shock useless until it cools back down. Pressurizing the shock only changes the boiling point and will change the boiling point. Adding oil will help, this is done with reservoir shocks, but this addressed a completely different issue. This is shock fade resulting from heat, not your issue.
If your truck tries to bounce after it hits a bump, then the valving is too soft (to slow) and needs to be increased.
You will find the results you desire from a stiffer shock with greater valving, and is not necessarilly from finding a nitrogen shock.
The RS5000 rancho shock is a cellular gas charged shock. Cellular gas is a gas charged shock that can eliminate the oil and air problems associated with mounting a shock inverted, or at an angle. Regular oil, and some gas charged shocks are directional, but valving remains a constant.
Sounds like you are looking for a fairly stiff ride.
Have you considered an adjustable shock like the 9000?

 

Not so much looking for a stiff ride, but would like it like it was with the stock shocks. They were gas charged.
I really don't want to spend the dollars on an adjustable shock.

 

How did you level the truck? Was this a hanger kit, or a complete spring?
A complete spring wil have changed the leaf configuration, and the heigth has increased as well as the rate of the spring. With this increased rate brings a stiffer ride, simply from the added resisatance. This makes shock selection a little more difficult since the valving can't be adjusted. Many companies have good luck using the Bilstien shock with thier kits. It is a quality shock and offers a very good ride, but this is based upon kits with progressive rate springs. Have heard of guys really not favoring the stock shock, and some that do, all boils down to prefereance.
Have you tried installing the stock shocks out back? Since it was only a leveling kit, you could get a better ride by using the stockers in the rear.
I might even consider re-installing the old ones up front again to see how it rides with those. Two inches is not a whole bunch, and the truck should not extend so far rhat it tops out, and I would consider doing that to see if you retain the ride you are after. Then you could find something close to that.
Might keep the guessing to a minimum.
I have a pretty decent pile of shocks and diaphragms trying to dial in the "right ride", and with shocks that are re-buildable, it makes it easy, but sealed bodies makes it impossible. Hate to see you buy a set of 5000's and get disappointed, you know?

 

It was a Fabtech leveling kit that installs under the spring.
I discarded the stock shocks.

What shock out there do you think is comparable to the stockers?

 

Been typing so much I forgot the OP. I see it is an 05, and the kit you are refering to is simply a spacer that fits under the coil spring, so the stock shocks should still be alright for the rear. Since the spring itself has not changed you may find that bilsteins in the corret length would be a worthy investment. Since the coil spring remains stok length, you should be able to retain the ride you originally had.
Plenty of aftermarket companies are using bilsteins in thier kits, DR did for the longest time. Even guys with factory suspensions such as yours are getting great results from these aftermarket shocks.
Check up in the forum where the SD guys hang out, or search for shocks and Super Duty and you will see exactly how popular the Bilstein shock is.
Hope it works out for you. Good luck.

 

10-4 Thanks for the help.