Rancho 9000 shocks

[LPChristensen]

Just thought I would tell you all that the information in the FAQ section of this forum regarding the part number for an 03, 4X4, 3500 SRW is correct. Part number 99221 for the front and part number 99269, fit perfectly. I thought that the front shocks would be the pain in the butt to put on but I had more trouble with the top of the rears. Should have taken the rear tire off, but I am much to stubborn for that, never take the easy way when you can find a way to get bloody knuckles. I also figured that I would set the adjustment to "5", middle of the road setting. That was way more firm than the original shocks. I then crawled under the beast and adjusted it downward to "1". What a difference that made, it now rides like my old Lincoln. It might be worth the investment just for the ride they give empty. But I bought them to help my handling when my truck camper arrives, They are nice shocks! I have no idea why the technical "experts" at Ranch claim they have no 9000s that fit the 03's or 04's.

 

[HOBrian]

What settings are you using front/rear? I am waiting for the summer to buy mine.



BrianOo.

 

[Snoplop]

Last time I checked they had a p/n for swr but none for drw application. Anyone know if they have a release date for the duallys yet? Had 9000 Ranchos on our last ( 01) Ram and they made a world of difference. Ran the front on #3 and the back on 1-3 or 5 depending if the camper was on or not. Can't wait to swap out the stock shocks again once they become available.

 

[David Muench]

Why would the duallies use different shocks?

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by David Muench

Why would the duallies use different shocks?

Heavier axle assembly requiring different damping rates, maybe?

 

[coolcharters]

Will these p/n's fit the '03 2500 4x4?

 

[rbattelle]

Coolcharters,



Good question. My first instinct would be "no", just because the overload springs on the 3500 trucks might require slightly longer shocks? Someone more knowledgable will answer.

 

[DPelletier]

The Ranchos on level 9 already have dampening an entire order of magnitude heavier than the stock dually shocks. I can't see why they would be any different. Also a 3500 SRW and 3500 DRW both have the overloads, right?

I plan on buying the 99269's for the rear of my dually. I'll post after I've installed them.

You'd think Rancho would be more on the ball. Someone should send them an e-mail with the part numbers



Dave



ps. we should check the stock numbers and see if there is any difference between the factory pn's for 2500's, 3500 SRW's and 3500 DRW's

 

[DPelletier]

Coolcharters,

I'll bet you a case of beer that the 99269's will fit on your truck. FWIW, the FAQ's list the pn's for 3rd gen 4x4's, not 3rd gen 3500's





Dave

 

[David Muench]

Originally posted by rbattelle

Heavier axle assembly requiring different damping rates, maybe?

Honestly, I don't think any of the RS9000X's have different damping rates. I think they just rely on the adjustability, and the only difference in part numbers is the lengths and end types.



I bet the shocks listed in the FAQ fit a dually.



. . Or a 2500.

 

[mbaston]

I too am curious about the Rancho's use on a 03 3500 DRW. Keep me posted as my stock shocks have about had it.

 

[Snoplop]

Just got off the phone with Rancho. Not very forthcoming with info on new product applications thats for sure. Said the 99221 p/n is a front application with a 2 inch leveling kit on a 3/4 ton application. 99269 is for the rear of a 3/4 ton. When asked about upcoming shocks, I may as well have asked a milk cow for a 12 digit prime number. They have NO 2003 or newer one ton 9000 shocks for the Dodge. Said the dampening rates are different due to the gvw. ( perhaps they are too picky and the 3/4 ton application will work fine? I can get as much hay in the bed of a 3/4 ton as a one ton!) Have no idea if or when they will make any. So, guess I will pursue other vendors that are more responsive. :-{}

 

[LPChristensen]

Snoplop, aren't you just amazed at the customer service/technical expertise that Rancho has on it's staff! At least you got them to give you some part numbers, the illiterate technical service clown that I was referred to said they had no shocks that fit 03 or 04 2500 and 3500 Dodge trucks, 4x4 or 2X4. I asked him about 99221's for the front and 99269 for the rear, "No, they will not work for your application". I think that sometime down the road when I find a decent replacement for them they will be removed. Makes you wonder about what type of quality assurance that a company like Rancho uses to manufacture it's products when they have "technical" experts that seem, based on their attitude and knowledge, may not be qualified for "employee of the year" in a one man yard care company, IMHO!

 

[Red Ramrod]

I installed Ranchos on my 4x4 quad dually. I had also called Rancho with a few different part #'s to check. First time I called I spoke with the village idiot. I waited a day and called back. The guy that helped me was then smart enough to compare the shock specs against the info he found for replacement shocks - compared bolt holes and length. He said the RS99221 is not the right length for the front. He did say the RS99197 would work on the front and the RS99269 would work on the rear. I just double checked the boxes and that is what I put on. I just drove from Seattle, WA to New Orleans, LA and back (6000 mi) with a 5000 lb slide in camper. I also have air bags and have put larger bump stops by energy suspension on so the overloads come in to play a sooner. The truck road like a cadillac with the shock set on 7 front and rear. It handled rough sections of hiway just fine. Didn't ever have to drop below the speed limit due to ride. I like the ranchos because the offer a good ride without the camper also. With them set on 1 with the truck unloaded the wife now claims she no longer needs a sports bra to drive on hiway with the dreaded expansion joints. I do know that the shocks set on a high setting give a lot more resistance and firmer ride than stock and set soft a lot less resistance and softer ride than stock. Time will tell how they hold up. At 7000 total miles on them I give the two thumbs up.



Front - RS99197

Rear - RS99269

 

[Snoplop]

Is RS99197 the correct length with a 2" leveling kit in the front?

 

[Red Ramrod]

The RS99197 is without the leveling kit. It fits stock ride height. Sorry I missed the 2" leveling kit in the post above being a newbie.

 

[LPChristensen]

RedRamrod, I don't know how there can be so many different part numbers that seem to fit our trucks and yet the fine people at Rancho say they don't make a shock for an 03 or 04. What I do know is the the 99221's that I put in the front of my truck a week or so ago, were exactly the same length at the original equipment shocks that I took off, I laid the old next to the new. I'll stick with 99221's for the front and 99269's for the rear, they fit and they work-----

 

[Red Ramrod]

Larry,



I imagine they both will work fine unless we enter a stadium truck jumping event. The guy at Rancho said the 99221 is a 1/2" longer. He says when you pull the shock to its limit by hand you can not fully extend to its max. The final 1/2" of travel is to stiff to be pulled out by hand. I guess we'll have to wait a few years for the rocket sceintist at Rancho to figure it out. But for now both of our shocks seems to be working fine.