2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Which shock is better? Rancho or Bilstein

[Silver Bullet Ram]

Just wanting a opinion of the 2, wanting new shocks for my Ram.

 

[GFoley]

Several with adjustable Rancho have posted that the adjustable feature has frozen or is now stuck. I like my Bilstiens and do not have a need or desire to reach under and adjust any settings.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

That what I was wondering, how good is this adjustable feature. Usually when things don't work for me, it gets a hammer taken to it.



Gary

 

[DPelletier]

The Bilsteins have a good reputation, although I haven't tried them myself. If you have a large slide-in camper like I do, no other shock has the dampening of a Rancho RS9000X on level 9. This level of dampening is very important for sway control on a heavy camper. I'd feel comfortable trying Bilsteins based on what I've heard if I didn't have a slide-in.





Dave

 

[Jack in Alaska]

My rear Rancho 9000's grenaded after two years. I ordered another set but have not installed them yet.

Probably should have gone with Bilsteins as that is what is on the front.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

It isn't a big slide in camper, just a 8' pop up shadow cruiser truck camper. 1100 pounds dry weight. I haven't experience porposing since I had a half ton years ago.

 

[DarrellB]

Bilsteins for 5 years here and I love then. No problems to speak of with any of them.



DB

 

[kentdiesel]

When pulling a trailer the factory shocks with 95,000mi on them let the my truck bounced badly on a wash board type road. I installed Bilsteins and it controlled the bouncing and improved the ride, loaded and unloaded, towing or not.

I have not owned any rancho shocks so i can't give an opinion on them.



Kent

 

[CFast]

Never had Rancho's, no opinon on them. My Bilsteins with my T-Rex are awesome. I've read more on the Rancho's valves quitting than I have on the Bilsteins not working. JMO.

 

[mediccummin]

Iv'e used Rancho's for 20 years without any problems, never had a valve stick on my 9000's, tried bilsteins once and wont use them again.

 

[kcv67]

My rancho shocks went bad after about 1 year. I had the shocks set on hardest level and they did not work. (Rancho 5 position) Called for warranty and they no longer made that shock. Had to pay the difference for the updated shock(Rancho 9 position). They sent the shocks after paying the difference and shipping. One front shock went bad after two weeks. The nut fell off the piston so you could pull the shock apart. So I am not too fond of Rancho.

 

[RustyJC]

We've had Rancho 9000's (the old 5 position version) on our truck for almost 3 years with no problems. They are a tremendous improvement over the factory shocks when towing (settings of 4 front/5 rear stop the continuous "bouncing" of the factory shocks caused by insufficient rebound damping). When running empty, settings of 3 front/2 rear give a much smoother ride than the factory shocks as the "kicking" in the rear caused by excessive compression damping is eliminated, yet there is still enough rebound damping to keep the front end from bouncing 2 or 3 times after hitting a dip as it did with the stock shocks.



Rusty

 

[dresslered]

I would go with the Bilstein unless (as mentioned) you have a slide-in camper application or deal with heavy loads. I do not see how you can adjust for the weight differences between 'empty' and 'loaded' without an adjustable shock. If you go with the incab adjustability feature, the adjustment knobs get replaced by pressure lines and a rubber o-ring which seals out the elements and thus seems to resolve the 'sticking' issue. My Rancho's have held up fine, but I am not too impressed with their quality control--very poor workmanship in my opinion.

 

[InThinAir]

I have had 2 trucks with 9000s on them. No problems with either, put 150K on set on my 96 and have about 60k on the 01 with no problems.



But...



I think that the best set up is Rancho's on the back, for adjustiblity. And Bilsteins on the front. I never adjust the fronts and it is actually a pain to adjust the fronts. Also I mounted the rears with the knobs both pointing to the rear. That I think protects the knob from alot of things. Also with Ranchos just on the rear, if you have a problem they are a cinch to replace back there, ten minutes tops. I can put up with some quality issues to have a better unloaded ride and be able to load up the Slide in and crank up the dampening. But as I said no issues here.



The 03 is getting Ranchos in the rear soon, and the Bilsteins up front when I have the dough.



---DOug

 

[JJW_ND]

Bilsteins

I had two sets of Rancho 9000. First set had one rear and both fronts fail about 60K miles (2 years post install). Replaced under warrenty. Second set had one front and one rear fail. I still have the shocks and might get them warrentied.



I ordered Bilsteins just to see how the ride was.



In my case the ride was night and day. I usually kept the Ranchos on 3 front and rear.



If these Bilsteins last as long or longer then the Ranchos, they are hands down winners.



jjw

ND

 

[Extreme1]

I have Rancho adjustable shocks. If you do change the loading (trailer or camper) these are the solution. BUT! If you live where there is salt (snow removal) you need to get the remote kit. I had my first 2 shocks stick after amost a year. Rancho said their lifetime warrantee is limited to 1 year if the knob is used and they rust. As mentioned above, not very good quality or customer service.



Also, they won't warrantee them directly. They tell me to "go to another supplier, they'll take care of you". Right. Walk into a store you didn't buy them at (the place I bough them at is gone) and ask for a warrantee replacement. Not good customer service.



As for the Bilstiens, If they were available when I bought my Ranchos, I'd have bought them. I did buy a set for my old ralley car a million years ago. There were the best shock made at the time.



If/when I have time (in about another million years) I'd like to build a set of Fox shocks for my truck. I've done enough valving work when racing sleds cross country that I'd feel comfortable building a smaller (stock size) set. Having several sets laying around helps too.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I have worn out several sets of Rancho shocks on the old Ford that I had. Have never been able to were out a set of Bilstiens, yet, on anything that I have run them on. No racing equipment, though. Just street and off roading.

 

[Willys]

How much does a set of these bilsteins run? I have a 96 2500 4x4 which is similar enough to the same app. as y'all.



I figure since the truck is over 245k its probably time to get new ones... once I fix all the other tiny things asking for attention.



Andy

 

[mberry]

I have Bilsteins on my truck and love them! Best thing I ever did for it and me. I got mine for just under $300 for a set of 4. Shop around though.

 

[24V-DSL]

Just turned 100K on Bilsteins. Love 'em. (I don't tow or go off road)