Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I figure that the owners of RV’s would be knowledgeable about shocks, so I am also posting this in the “Towing, Hauling & RV” forum.
Rancho RS 9000 shocks have a nine-position external (manual) adjustment and an optional “in cab” remote controlled adjusting system. The total package is quite expensive. Then there is the additional mounting of the remote adjusting system air compressor, 12V. wiring, gage panel and the routing of the small control air lines etc. Friends that I have talked to say that with the RS 9000 shocks, if you don’t get the remote adjusting system you are wasting your money. I. e. after the newness wears off, you will get lazy, find an acceptable “mid” adjustment (not to tight for unloaded and not to loose for loaded conditions) position and leave the shocks at that setting. In which case you could have purchased “non-adjustable” shocks for a lot less money and had the same thing.
Rancho RS 5000 shocks are “Gas charged self adjusting” with “ten stage velocity sensitive dampening” “that gives comfortable highway ride and superb off-road performance”
Bilstein uses a “Rising Rate Self-Adjusting Digressive Working Piston” whereby the rate of damping increases as movements become more rapid. They also say that they contain no ball check valves or moving parts other than pistons and are gas charged.
Monroe says, “The Sensa-Trac shock's precision tapered grooves allow the fluid to freely flow around and through the piston. The result is a smooth and comfortable ride. When the piston travels beyond the tapered grooves, fluid is directed totally through the piston, this results in extra vehicle control. ”
My truck is rated at 8,800# GVWR with a 6,000# rear axle, the 5th wheel GVW is about 12,000# including a tongue weight of 2,000-2,300#.
Will any of these systems give the pick-up a better un-loaded ride while still having stiffer damping when loaded in comparison with OEM replacement shocks? For “on” pavement use only, is shock oil foaming really a problem? Are “Gas Charged Shocks” necessary? Which of these are systems are actually better? Etc.
It seems that the more you research a question the more confused a person gets. IE: “Our” brand A is exactly like their brand B except… which means that ours are better. It naturally follows that the brand B dealer will say that being different from brand A means that theirs are better etc. I am asking for input from the real world, not just listening to salesman hype.
It appears to me that the Monroe Sensa-Trac or Rancho RS 5000 system would be better for my use. With small and slow movement of the suspension system the shocks would have minimum dampening effect. When a “large bump” occurs and the suspension system has a long distance of fast travel the shocks then “tighten up” for more dampening control.
The “Rising rate” and other systems seem to get stiffer as the rate of continuous oscillation increases, independent of load or suspension travel distance.
Am I missing something here or am I just confusing myself?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and input.
Rancho RS 9000 shocks have a nine-position external (manual) adjustment and an optional “in cab” remote controlled adjusting system. The total package is quite expensive. Then there is the additional mounting of the remote adjusting system air compressor, 12V. wiring, gage panel and the routing of the small control air lines etc. Friends that I have talked to say that with the RS 9000 shocks, if you don’t get the remote adjusting system you are wasting your money. I. e. after the newness wears off, you will get lazy, find an acceptable “mid” adjustment (not to tight for unloaded and not to loose for loaded conditions) position and leave the shocks at that setting. In which case you could have purchased “non-adjustable” shocks for a lot less money and had the same thing.
Rancho RS 5000 shocks are “Gas charged self adjusting” with “ten stage velocity sensitive dampening” “that gives comfortable highway ride and superb off-road performance”
Bilstein uses a “Rising Rate Self-Adjusting Digressive Working Piston” whereby the rate of damping increases as movements become more rapid. They also say that they contain no ball check valves or moving parts other than pistons and are gas charged.
Monroe says, “The Sensa-Trac shock's precision tapered grooves allow the fluid to freely flow around and through the piston. The result is a smooth and comfortable ride. When the piston travels beyond the tapered grooves, fluid is directed totally through the piston, this results in extra vehicle control. ”
My truck is rated at 8,800# GVWR with a 6,000# rear axle, the 5th wheel GVW is about 12,000# including a tongue weight of 2,000-2,300#.
Will any of these systems give the pick-up a better un-loaded ride while still having stiffer damping when loaded in comparison with OEM replacement shocks? For “on” pavement use only, is shock oil foaming really a problem? Are “Gas Charged Shocks” necessary? Which of these are systems are actually better? Etc.
It seems that the more you research a question the more confused a person gets. IE: “Our” brand A is exactly like their brand B except… which means that ours are better. It naturally follows that the brand B dealer will say that being different from brand A means that theirs are better etc. I am asking for input from the real world, not just listening to salesman hype.
It appears to me that the Monroe Sensa-Trac or Rancho RS 5000 system would be better for my use. With small and slow movement of the suspension system the shocks would have minimum dampening effect. When a “large bump” occurs and the suspension system has a long distance of fast travel the shocks then “tighten up” for more dampening control.
The “Rising rate” and other systems seem to get stiffer as the rate of continuous oscillation increases, independent of load or suspension travel distance.
Am I missing something here or am I just confusing myself?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and input.
I would go with the Rancho adjustables in your case. That way you can get them just right rather than roll the dice. The reason many of us wave the Bilstein flag so loudly is they got the damping just right for our 4x4 trucks with the BE5-2549 Fronts and BE5-2550 Rears. Again, I have never seen a "one size fits all" shock work well that's not adjustable. jmo...
