Rancho's or Bilsteins??????

[Sarge]

I need to re-shock my 2500 to help with the crappy roads here in Ca. On a 97 3500 I had prior to this truck, I put Rancho's on all the corners, and it helped. Now I need to do the same, but I have heard some good things about Bilsteins. I know the Rancho's are adjustable, but once I set them, I never needed to adjsut them. Has anyone had any experiences with comparing the two? Any comments or suggestions are welcome. I have even considered air shocks, but have not found any acceptable yet. Thanks, Sarge

 

[DocStressor]

The decision is really a no-brainer. Get the Bilsteins if you don't tow heavy for their superior ride and handling. Get Rancho 9000's if you do tow heavy or haul a camper. Rancho's don't have as sophisticated a valving system as the Bilsteins for dampening jolts and smoothing out washboard. But no non-adjustable shock can provide the stabilizing resistance of the #4 or #5 settings of the Rancho's.

 

[vinconco]

bilsteins front



Ranchos rear

 

[RustyJC]

Rancho RS9000's if you tow heavy & need the adjustability. Bilsteins if you don't. Since we pull a 13,500 lb 5ver, we use the Ranchos - they're great for our application. Like they say, "Different horses for different courses. "



Rusty

 

[TPCDrafting]

Is it ok to pull loads with Bilsteins? Where is a good place to get Ranchos? I'm looking to replace soon as well and was leaning toward the Bilsteins mostly because I can get a good price on them through Dad's discount at Camping World and had heard good things about them. But I haul horses quite a bit and want to get the right shocks.

 

[RustyJC]

I got a decent deal on my Rancho 9000's from http://www.4wheelparts.com . I'm sure others on the forum will probably have something better, but I paid something like $260 for 4 shocks.



The real advantage of the Ranchos over the Bilsteins for towing applications is the adjustability. The Bilsteins are a great shock - if I didn't tow, I'd probably have them, but when you're changing the weight applied to the rear axle by 60-80% (difference between empty and loaded conditions), being able to adjust the shock characteristics is, IMHO, critically important.



JM2CW



Rusty

 

[Ted Constantine]

I also got four bilsteins from ORW through the Group Purchase that Bob Wagner set up. Price was great and the discount covered everything they sell not just the Bilsteins. I love the shocks and am very glad I got them over the ranchos. Performance aside in any application the quality of a Bilstein is higher than that of Rancho, interms of constructionand materials. The RS 9000 is great for the adjustablity. I have found no need at all for anything other than the stock valving of the bilstein. I tow pretty heavy bumper pull car hauler on occasion often with the truck loaded to max gvw itself and the bilsteins rule. So I beleive that a fifth wheel pin weight could not be more than that unless you are using air bags. If youare very conserned about having the adjustability I would go Bilstein in front and rs9000 rear with the remote control kit and the adapters and fitting that some one made. I am sorry but I can not think of the gusy name right now that made the fittings fo the rs9000 but they are sweet and make the previous issues with leakage a non issue. I will try to find the name.



HTH

Ted

 

[Bug Out]

If you live in Ca, get rancho's

The roads here absolutely suck. . From one end of the state to the other.



My 3500 was so bad when pulling the 5th, I got rancho's which calmed down the Rodeo effect of these "Golden State Roads".

 

[exfuzz01]

shocks

A few yrs ago I installed Bilstein shocks along with the IPD suspension on a motor home that we had. Handled very nice.

Dont know how they would work on a truck but I assume it would be about the same. I just checked and IPD makes larger torsion bars for the Dodge.









01,QC, A/T, 4:10 rear end, long bed, stock except for pillar gauges, LineX liner, Smitty nerf bars. Soon to be upgraded with DTT , tow a 24 ft Komfort 5th wheel, approx. 8K.

 

[Ted Constantine]

Here is the lin to the parts I was talking about MCS . I would suggest a look for any one with rs9000s. These look like very quality upgrade parts that make the remote system much more reliable. Makes me wish I had an excuse to buy them myself.



Ted

 

[jsnyder]

I tow some heavy loads (15-20k GCVW) with my Bilsteins and I am happy with them. These trucks ride so nice with all that weight on the gooseneck that you probably couldn't tell the difference between Ranchos and Bilsteins. Unloaded the Bilsteins are great.



Jason

 

[Sarge]

Thanks all, I knew there would be a ton of information to come back. The tow info is really helpful as I often pull a #8500 TT around on these crappy roads. You have been most helpful.



Sarge

 

[SlyBones]

How about Bilsteins for the unloaded ride, and airbags for the loaded ride??



Currently running Ranchos. Like them better than stock. Adding airbags tomorrow morning. Have to see how I like things after that. May consider going to Bilsteins if or when these ranchos wear out. Or may just stick with getting the Ranchos replaced. Would like to hear a few more opinions.

 

[jsnyder]

I think airbags and Bilsteins would be the cat's meow.



Honestly, when you are sitting on the overloads I don't see how you could tell the difference in shocks? I hauled a load of hay last winter, GCVW of approx. 24k and I was amazed at how well the truck rode.



Disclaimer, overweight yes. Kept it under 60 the whole way home.



Jason

 

[RADdodge]

I didn’t think air bags would improve the ride. I thought they were for adjusting sag when carrying a heavy load?



Anyway, adjustable shocks proved valuable to us. And we do adjust them! In northern California we were getting beat up carrying our 4K lbs. camper. I was ready to pull off to rest. Anyway we normally set the shocks when we run with the camper, 3 front and 5 rear. We reduced that to 1 front and 3 rear when we hit this really bad freeway. Steering response was sloppy, but we floated down the road and all I could say was AHHHHHHH!



Adjustable shocks help with unloaded, loaded, towing, etc. It gets rid of the rocking and proposing that is induced into the suspension with equal value shock absorbers. After experiencing the advantages that adjustable give you, I wouldn't use anything else. They give you more choices and they work.

 

[Sarge]

Just ordered.............

I just thought I would pass it on. I just ordered 4 Bilsteins from Off Road Wearhouse in Escondido, Ca. They were 45. 99 each, plus tax and shipping came out to just over $200. 00. Not bad, considering Camping World wanted about $80. 00 each!!! :--) I decided to go with the Bilsteins just because I had Ranchos on my last 97' 3500. What the heck, variety is the spice of life!! I will post later about my impressions about the two compared. Thanks all for your help.



SargeOo.

 

[Todd G]

I ordered the Bilsteins from ORW last week through the Group Purchase and was told competing vendors had complained and Bilstein made them raise the price. I had to pay $58. 99 each. I think I may have got the shock shaft.

 

[Sarge]

Shock Shaft........

I think you did Todd, thats too bad. I called em on the phone and was quoted $49. 99. The web price was $45. 99. The salesman on the phone said it had something to do with having to charge shipping (8. 00) was why the net was cheaper. For what ever reason, I was happy with the price Now I can't wait to put em on... ... ... ... . Sarge

 

[DocStressor]

Yeah, airbags are not shock absorbers, even though they are sometimes called airlift shocks. They are designed to raise the rear of a loaded vehicle and thus shift more of the weight to the front axle. They don't dampen bumps or prevent side to side rocking at all. I am remined of this fact every time I forget to adjust my rear Rancho's from 1 to 5 after loading the camper. If anything, airbags make the ride of an unloader truck worse, since you have to keep ~15-20 lbs in them to prevent damage. This increases the "bounce" with no load.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Re: Shock Shaft........

Originally posted by Sarge

I think you did Todd, thats too bad. I called em on the phone and was quoted $49. 99. The web price was $45. 99. The salesman on the phone said it had something to do with having to charge shipping (8. 00) was why the net was cheaper. For what ever reason, I was happy with the price Now I can't wait to put em on... ... ... ... . Sarge

<B>When you order the BILSTEINS make sure you get the HEAVY DUTY VERSION 8800GVW, not the lighter duty version



That may be the why there is a price discrepancy :{