Need new shocks & steering stabilizer

[Philip Saran]

I've got a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 4 door, 4x4 6.5 bed 6.7 diesel.
I tow a 34 foot (about 12,000 pounds) 5th wheel. Truck has 65K on it.
It is stock height and tows great.

What brands do you like? Ranch 5000, Monroe, etc.?

Phil Saran
Parker, Colorado

 

[AH64ID]

Bilstein would get my vote for your truck.

Rancho’s are bottom of my list.

 

[Philip Saran]

Bilstein would get my vote for your truck.

Rancho’s are bottom of my list.

John, thank you for responding.

 

[GrantP]

Another vote for Bilstein. I've used them on numerous vehicles, no complaints for what they are. For your application I think they'd be perfect. Rancho's (part of the Monroe Tenneco company) would be in my trash can in short order.

 

[Jim W]

X4: On Bilstein shocks and I used a Fox Steering stabilizer for my truck. Geno's Garage sells them which is this sites sponsor. Which I try and support whenever possible.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Bilstein 4600

 

[nukegm]

just ordered 2 fronts from genos for my 18 2500. left front shock is totally greasy and blown. only 23,000 on it. i like genos and try to support them. cheers !

 

[Jim W]

I went with the 5100 series shocks which works on the standard suspension lift plus up to 2" in lift. I did not like the yellow and blue shock color on an all silver and black truck so, that is why I choose the 5100 series these are silver in color.

 

[AH64ID]

I went with the 5100 series shocks which works on the standard suspension lift plus up to 2" in lift. I did not like the yellow and blue shock color on an all silver and black truck so, that is why I choose the 5100 series these are silver in color.

I also went with the 5100’s. They were a huge improvement on my 05.

 

[kthaxton]

I also have 5100's. Big improvement over my worn shocks.....surprise!

 

[cerberusiam]

The Bilstein 5100's or the cheaper Fox offerings for a stock style shock would be the best choices i have found. Even those are marginal for life expectancy on heavy loads and rough roads. If you ar enormally carrying more weight and lots of rougher roads then stepping up to a remote reservoir shock helps dramatically.

 

[CAROLINA CUMMINS]

I'm going with Bilstein 5100's soon on my '14, had great service out of them on the '98. What part number is correct for stock front height? I was wanting a 0-2.5" in case I ever level the front but only see one for 2-2.5" - Geno's shows Part Number BIL-24-251754 (front) and BIL-24-239455 (rear)?

 

[Cummins12V98]

4600’s are for stock ride and yellow and powder blue. 5100’s are for stock to 2” lift and are silver and black. Basically same shock.

 

[GrantP]

The Bilstein 5100's or the cheaper Fox offerings for a stock style shock would be the best choices i have found. Even those are marginal for life expectancy on heavy loads and rough roads. If you ar enormally carrying more weight and lots of rougher roads then stepping up to a remote reservoir shock helps dramatically.

The Fox 2.0's are OK if you like a shock that will come apart by itself. The screw in stem on the front shocks comes loose and then you end up with no shock at all. The third time that happened to me they went in the trash. When they did hold together they weren't bad. I also ran Fox 2.5's for a few years but I got tired of having to pull and rebuild them. I don't have much nice to say about Fox.

Totally agree on the remote reservoir shocks though, I run King 2.5's now and they are fantastic and were night and day over the Fox 2.0's. That might be overkill for the OP. It all comes down to budget and intended usage. For 99% of people on this site the off the shelf Bilstein's will work great, especially on an otherwise stock suspension.

 

[cerberusiam]

Fox has allegedly fixed the issues on the 2.0 so they are not the same shock as is the past, just what I am told so no experience with them lately. The Bilstein 5160's are good mid range choice for an external reservoir shock, they are step up over the 5100's.

 

[kthaxton]

4600’s are for stock ride and yellow and powder blue. 5100’s are for stock to 2” lift and are silver and black. Basically same shock.

No, they aren't. The 5100's are valved stiffer for heavier wheel/tire.
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/dodgeram-bilstein5100-shock-bil-24-239448/bilstein-front

"This Bilstein 5100 Series front shock absorber that fits lifted '14-'18 Ram 2500 4WD trucks is valved for off-road use, and has a longer piston travel to accommodate lifted suspensions. Since it is valved for off-road use, you should expect the shock to feel stiffer than a "street" shock like the B6 Series. "

https://www.shocksurplus.com/pages/bilstein-4600-vs-5100-series-the-lowdown

 

[Cummins12V98]

Then they have changed because right from Bilstein they were basically the same.

 

[Cummins12V98]

kthaxton I challenge you to call Bilstein customer support. The gentleman confirmed what I said! He said the quote above was NOT correct.

I stand by my statement.

He said "the only reason for it to feel stiffer would be because of a lift, NOT the shock"

 

[AH64ID]

I was given the same information as kthaxton from Bilstein when I last bought shocks in 2013. I had heavier tires and spent plenty of time off pavement, the 5100's were better valved for that use per Bilstein.

 

[kthaxton]

kthaxton I challenge you to call Bilstein customer support. The gentleman confirmed what I said! He said the quote above was NOT correct.

I stand by my statement.

He said "the only reason for it to feel stiffer would be because of a lift, NOT the shock"

Normally, I'd say, I take your word for it then.....however, your info contradicts AH61ID's, so....who knows. That said, I don't care enough about it to call them.