What's a "mono-tube" shock?

[Kyle]

I've been shopping for shocks and have some questions about the terms they use.



ProComp brags about "Mono-tube" construction while Rancho highlights their "Tri-tube, mono-flow design".



Can someone explain what this means and why one is better than another?

 

[Wiredawg]

Good Qestion!

I'm looking at the Pro-Comps too. 4 for the price of 3 until Sep 30th. Hope somone is a shock expert.



Wiredawg

 

[ewcmr2]

A twin tube put the "guts" of the shock in a smaller inner tube and the oil/gas in the outer tube. In a mono tube the piston will be larger (requiring less movement for precise control) and will dissipate heat better.



EC with bilsteins on both trucks.



The TDR spell checker tries to replace Bilstein with Holstein... ( :

 

[Kyle]

So Mono-Tube is "better"???

So does that mean mono-tube is "better" or just different?



Assuming I'm not racing in a 500-mile ralley, do I need to be concerned with heat disipation (city driving, highway, and the occasional elk hunt)?



I'm looking at the new RS9000X because (1) they're available and (2) they're adjustable from the cab.



I don't know if the mono-tube design of the ProComps is worth having to adjust externally and, most importantly, waiting until they're produced for our pickups (no date as yet, but at least a year out).

 

[ewcmr2]

A monotube is definitely better in theory, but in real life, it may not be a big enough difference to be concerned with.



EC

 

[damon]

Don't get your hopes up for the new Pro-Comp shocks for your RAM, they don't make them and told me just a couple of weeks ago that it will probably be a year or so



On the other side - I love my new Bilsteins