Shocks or Air bags??

[rolltideram]

I just bought a Northstat 8. 5 camper. Came home from Nashville with it yesterday. It took a few miles to get used to it being on my truck, but it handled pretty good. When I got closer to home on the county roads I could feel more sway or what felt like rocking side to side. I have an 01 quad cab short bed with the camper package and when I loaded the 2000# camper the truck only went down 2 inches.

Here is my question, would the rancho 9000's work to keep me more stable on bad roads? or would I need the air bags? Thanks, JC

 

[RonWeiss]

I'm picking up my NOrthstar Laredo next week and have followed my dealers advice, Firestone Air-bags, Rancho 9000's and Hellwig anti-sway (will be released soon).



Ranchos set to 9 for rocking

Bags to level ride.

Anti-sway to stop swaying

 

[DPelletier]

Yes the Rancho's will help with sway. You'll also find that your overloads aren't engaged. Problem with these trucks is that the overloads don't engage until you're well over GVWR. For my 2713 lb camper, I had the overload spring pack changed to a heavier pack with an earlier engagement point. This change eliminated almost all the sway. The Rancho's will help on their own, however. A dramatic difference

Air bags have thier place, which is primarily to help level a load. In my experience they do very little (if anything) to reduce sway.



Hope this helps,



Dave

 

[rolltideram]

When my truck went down 2 inches that made it level. I already have the sway bar, so I think I'll start with the Rancho shocks.

How heavy do you think you are going to be? I think I am right at the GVWR without my wife or the "stuff" loaded. JC



Thanks for the advice Dave. You posted while I was typing my reply. Do you know a good place to buy the Rancho shocks from. I have a set of RSX's that I got from 4wheel parts. I bought them for my 1500. I traded it before I put them on and 4wheel parts would not take them back. I really don't care about doing business with them again. JC

 

[rolltideram]

If any one want to know, Sam's Offroad in OK has the Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks for $290 a set with free shipping. JC

 

[Jim McCarty]

I don't want to start an argument here, but..... I've had the Rancho 9000 shocks and now have Bilsteins. There is no comparison. The Ranchos even when new didn't work nearly as well as the Bilsteins do with 90,000 miles on them. I'm an ex sports car racer so I've used a ton of different shock brands over the years and for my money the Bilsteins can't be beat. Also, the Ranchos wear out prematurely. Jim

 

[DPelletier]

Jim,

I won't argue about the quality of the Bilsteins. From all accounts they make a quality shock, and Ranchos are not without thier flaws. On the other hand the adjustability of the Ranchos is hard to beat when carrying a large slide-in, but probably more importantly, so far nobody has been able to tell me of a shock that has more dampening than a Rancho RS9000X on level 9 (max. setting) I found with a large camper that this level of dampening was a big help. How heavy do you haul and what is the center of gravity height above the bed?

I did hear that Bilstein was going to be making an adjustable shock soon. Anybody? I would be interested in such a shock, but without firsthand info. or a decent report on a Bilstein adjustable, I'd probably buy the Ranchos again because I know they work.



Dave



ps. sorry JC, I bought mine at a local jobber that doesn't have a store near you. Heard good things about Sam's.

 

[RonWeiss]

I agree, Bilsteins are a better quality shock but for a truck thats carrying a slide in Ranchos are the way to go.



You can't beat the adjustability of them... run them at 9 when the camper is on and 2/3 when off.



Ron W.

 

[Jim McCarty]

I don't have a slide in camper. I have a cab high shell with about 2,000 lbs of tools and then some lumber from time to time since I'm a building contractor. Obviously, you're going to be more top heavy than I am. When I took off the Ranchos and installed the Bilsteins that had 50k on them the change in handling was dramatic. No, they're not adjustable. I had my Ranchos set at their firmest setting. If the Bilsteins have an adjustable model, that would seem to be the way to go. Bilsteins seem to last forever.

 

[dresslered]

I'll second or third that as well! Bilsteins on EVERTHING 'cept the dually that carries a heavy slide-in. Then it's the Ranchos with the incab controller. Have stayed away from the air bags myself as I think that you can do more with bigger overloads and sway bars.

 

[y-knot]

If it were me, I would get a set of 5000lb air bags from Air Lift or Firestone and install them. This also means you should loose the Overload spring packs, you will need the room and with the air bags they are not needed. The ride will be very much improved, loaded or not. Shocks are there to controls isolation, it is there jobs to allow suspension movement but have it take place in a controlled manner. You may indeed need new shocks, that is something you will have to check out, but them alone will not fix your problem. Also, when I talk about air bags I mean a complete set-up which includes air tank and compressor. Don't even consider the week compressor Air Lift or Firestone offers, go with a Quick Air or something equivalent. No the set-up is not cheap, but what good accessories are? You get what you pay for with everything in life. Also, if you think you can install the bags and scrimp on the compressor, do yourself a favor and just forget the whole ideal. Air bags require a permanent and constant supply of air, if you try and go any other route, you will only be disappointed and will have thrown your money away.

 

[SMorneau]

Ican't comment on the Bilsteins but the adjustability of the ranchos with a top heavy camper is very useful. When inflated enough the airbags will work wonders. I don't know why you need on-board air for airbags. I have never had it and I have only adjusted the air at a filling station once when I first started using them. The rest of the time I set them to 75psi at home and I good for an entire trip. Although it would be handy for some leveling at the campgrounds.

 

[Jim McCarty]

I agree about the airbags. I don't have an onboard compressor and haven't needed one but that doesn't you might not want one for leveling at campgrounds. With the airbags you can install any shocks you want and the ride with airbags is great. Just my 2cents. Jim