Rancho 9000's or Bilsteins?

I have Bilstein 5100's on my truck also. They offer a smooth ride and can handle rough roads.

Bilsteins on front, RanchoXL and have on the rear so while towing I'm able to set on setting #8 on a range of 1-9, while towing with my airbags at 30lbs and shocks at #8 I've got nice ride and control on the interstate especially going over the joints between the highway and a bridge or frost heave. On the front I'm using Bilsteins in the front...for steering stabilizer and as front shocks....I just like the control I get from firming the ride while Towing and my wife notices a big difference when she drives...

My ‘12 F350 has the factory installed snow plow prep on it, which includes heavier front springs and makes the truck sit level...so I installed Bilstein 5100 shocks and steering damper at 21,000 miles...much better ride and handling.

I also had the 4600 series on my last class c MH.

Larry

Crabbypatty wrote:
The votes are overwhelmingly for Bilsteins. My Platinum Ford is not lifted so Im going to order the 4600's. Also considering some kind of steering stabilizer as I have had a couple of death wobbles. While it may not cure it all, I dont see how it could hurt. Towing the biggest thing yet and while it rides smooth, I would like to have the odds in my favor.

Thank You for your input. Happy Trails

My truck is stock and the 5100’s work just fine. The ride height is the same and the ride is great. I also installed a Fox single steering stabilizer and that was a huge improvement also. Very easy install.

Word of warning...Anyone that has a ‘17+ Ford Super Duty and a B&W Turnover Ball hitch, the right rear shock is a major pain in the arse. The upper shock mount is about 1” from the hitch. I had to loosen the hitch, slide it to the driver’s side, and still barely got the shock in.

I have had two Super-Duty trucks. Both were F-250s, and the first was a 2000. Along with my current 2012 I looked at the same question. With both I installed Air Lift brand rear air bags, although I have also heard good things about Firestone. You can do a system that just uses the schrader valve to control the pressure in the system, but having an on-board compressor with the remote control is great. With the current system I am using the Wireless One remote controller, and it works great. Just a tip; if you have the upfitter switches you can consider wiring it to one of the switches so you can turn the system off while hitching/unhitching. I used #4.

About the shocks. I installed Rancho RS9000 shocks on both trucks. On my 2000 the first set lasted about 150K before they were shot. I installed another set on the truck that were still working great when I sold the truck at 220K miles. I also put a set on my 2012 last year and they were a big improvement over the so-called Ranchos that came with the truck. The factory shocks never were very good, so I don't know what model they really were; probably RS5000. The best advantage of the RS 9000 is the adjust-ability; you can change the adjustment for whatever your use is. I am very happy with them. I can't speak for Bilstein.

FishOnOne wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
I had the adjustable Rancho's on my Super Duty and they lasted ~20k miles.

Please tell us what you replaced them with?

The factory Ford Rancho shocks. Having said that I'm going to install Bilsteins soon.

Thanks for the honest reply!

But how can you justify a foreign owned American Made shock?

Went from Ranchos 9000 to Bilstiens last year, never had a ride like this ever with and without the fifth wheel. No crawling under the truck again. Every time I get in the truck I smile it rides so much better and I’ve had it for 17 years.

The factory Ford Rancho shocks. Having said that I'm going to install Bilsteins soon.

FishOnOne wrote:
I had the adjustable Rancho's on my Super Duty and they lasted ~20k miles.

Please tell us what you replaced them with?

Rancho 9000 adjustable for a working truck. Bilsteins just won't hold up in this type of daily work. Bilsteins are popular on rv websites though so take your pick.