I bought a BMW 650 GS and plan to carry it on a hitch mount. I have a Dodge one ton extended Van. The bike weighs 390. I have a couple of carriers that should work but might need an extender for the bike to clear the spare. I probably should go to more heavy duty shocks. Are Bilstiens worth the extra cost over Ranchos? Any recommendations?

Bilsteins, like Koni shocks are so good they will ruin you for life. Yes theyvare -that- much better then Ranchos. Myself I prefer Koni. But indeed they make a joke out of everything else IMHO. Like a Buck Knife, De Walt cordless tool, or Lifeline battery, one of the luxuries that is worth every penny.

Shocks that are simply shocks are not load-bearing. They only resist compression and rebound. Many manufacturers offer shocks with either springs added over them, or an internal air cylinder. These will help level a vehicle that's rear-heavy. Over the years, Dodge had Short Wheelbase, Long Wheelbase (those had same rear overhang) and Long Wheelbase Extended (extension behind rear wheels). These were the 15-passenger "church vans" and they were skittish on the road. By all means stiffen the rear. Sway bar and maybe track bar too. Just remember you're working with a design that proved problematic.

Bilstein 4600 helps control our fifth wheel and ride . Highly recommended.

rwj146 wrote:I bought a BMW 650 GS and plan to carry it on a hitch mount. I have a Dodge one ton extended Van. The bike weighs 390. I have a couple of carriers that should work but might need an extender for the bike to clear the spare . . . It'll be interesting to see how things work if you use an extender. Use of an extender (depending on length) AND 400 lbs. could exceed the tongue weight rating of a CAT III hitch (500-600 lbs.). If you have a CAT IV probably not a concern.

I just recently installed Koni FSD shocks on only the rear of our motorhome. These shocks function as soft shocks on sharp-edged bumps, and function as stiff shocks for sway control on curves, for controlling air push from passing vehicles, and for controlling the bounce from rough road surfaces, going over curbs, etc.. So far they are performing exactly as advertised and as I had hoped. I intentionally took a trip down a CA highway yesterday with a particularyl torn-up right hand truck lane. The FSD shocks definitley rounded-off the jolting from the cracks and potholes, but continued to maintain sway control just a bit superior to the Ford OEM shocks when they were new. The cracks and potholes on that particular section of highway now feel in the motorhome almost like they do in our family sedan on that same stretch of road.The Koni FSD shocks carry a liftetime warranty and are expensive. However, you may not feel highway cracks and potholes much in you van with the heavy BMW in the rear. You may need only bounce control when carrying your BMW, and many less expensive types of shocks will control suspension bounce introduced when carrying heavier than stock weight.

Shocks | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

j-d
Explorer II
Jul 03, 2015
Shocks that are simply shocks are not load-bearing. They only resist compression and rebound. Many manufacturers offer shocks with either springs added over them, or an internal air cylinder. These will help level a vehicle that's rear-heavy.
Over the years, Dodge had Short Wheelbase, Long Wheelbase (those had same rear overhang) and Long Wheelbase Extended (extension behind rear wheels). These were the 15-passenger "church vans" and they were skittish on the road. By all means stiffen the rear. Sway bar and maybe track bar too. Just remember you're working with a design that proved problematic.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Bilsteins, like Koni shocks are so good they will ruin you for life. Yes theyvare -that- much better then Ranchos. Myself I prefer Koni. But indeed they make a joke out of everything else IMHO. Like a Buck Knife, De Walt cordless tool, or Lifeline battery, one of the luxuries that is worth every penny.

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