Need New Shocks

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
I will be ordering myself the Rancho 9000's soon to get the Shocktober 4 for 3 deal. My factory shocks are pretty well shot and bouncy going down the road. A possible safety concern. My truck will probably ride very nicely with the TC on and the 9000's mounted. The truck empty will probably ride a bit more roughly but I am putting the 9000's on to handle the TC not to deliver a smooth cushy ride. If it is a simple process to adjust the 9000's then I may take advantage of that but if it requires unbolting and turning, I'll just set them for the TC and live with it.

The Ranchos are easy to adjust and I like that ability to change dampening when empty or loaded. I have my OEM shocks sitting in the garage. They are free to anyone that wants to meet up or pay shipping.

Living in northern New England, the only available equipment comes via the internet and UPS.

Finding someone who is offering a free diesel dually would be easier than finding anyone who could custom build shocks here.

I already have a BigWig sway bar.

Perhaps to explain better about the side to side movement- if I drive slowly across a wide dip at a diagonal (think of coming out of a gas station at an angle) one rear tire drops into the low gutter at the edge of the road. The truck and camper tilts to that side due to the stiff springs and the swaybar but the springs and swaybar want to quickly rebound in the opposite direction. THAT is the motion that I want stiffer shocks to control.

That is just one instance. Remember that the shocks are the primary thing that slows spring movement (a swaybar is just an uncoiled spring)

'splained well enough?

I spoke with Bilstein yesterday. (1 Tech was useless, I called another number and got much better support…). I am running the truck in sig with 285 tires and SS in rear so I wasn’t sure if I should go with the 5100 (for lifted trucks) or the 4600 (for stock height trucks). Their recommendation after our discussion is to go with the 4600’s for carrying a TC. They did comment that the 4600’s are valved for heavier loads vs the 5100’s.

I can’t see the R9000’s being a good option in New England so will stick with a self adjusting mono-tube design. It came down to the BS4600 or KYB Mono-max. I think either would be fine, my research (of previous threads on various forums) indicates the Bilsteins probably have a slight edge…or at least a few more fan boys. Price is comparable.

It's not just you , and I've had two cups already :)

And I thought it was just me and the fact that's its 530 am and I haven't had my coffee yet. :) :) :)

Having struggled to get through two post grad level vibration classes many years ago, this whole line of discussion brings back a lot of painful memories. :) :) :)

twodownzero wrote:

BradW wrote:

twodownzero wrote:
From reading on here, it seems that the shock manufacturers have a marketing problem. Rancho's RS9000 is a popular shock for many applications and its dial isn't a solution for properly sized and valved shocks for the application.

The problem is, there is no magical "properly sized and valved shocks for the application". That is because there is not one application, there are two very different applications because the weight on the rear axle changes 4,000 to 5,000 lbs depending on whether the camper is loaded on the truck or not. That's why there is a knob to adjust the shock valving based on the weight it is dampening.

Brad

I am far from an expert.

twodownzero that is your only statement that is correct, the rest is just babble.

Travelon

I will be ordering myself the Rancho 9000's soon to get the Shocktober 4 for 3 deal. My factory shocks are pretty well shot and bouncy going down the road. A possible safety concern. My truck will probably ride very nicely with the TC on and the 9000's mounted. The truck empty will probably ride a bit more roughly but I am putting the 9000's on to handle the TC not to deliver a smooth cushy ride. If it is a simple process to adjust the 9000's then I may take advantage of that but if it requires unbolting and turning, I'll just set them for the TC and live with it.

BradW wrote:

twodownzero wrote:
From reading on here, it seems that the shock manufacturers have a marketing problem. Rancho's RS9000 is a popular shock for many applications and its dial isn't a solution for properly sized and valved shocks for the application.

The problem is, there is no magical "properly sized and valved shocks for the application". That is because there is not one application, there are two very different applications because the weight on the rear axle changes 4,000 to 5,000 lbs depending on whether the camper is loaded on the truck or not. That's why there is a knob to adjust the shock valving based on the weight it is dampening.

Brad

I don't think that's quite right, but again, I am far from an expert. The weight that is on the axle should be related to the size of the shock, and thus the amount of heat that has to be dissipated, but the valving has more to do with the type of suspension and how it cycles, not the amount it deflects (which is related to weight).

Stiffening the shocks because more weight is on the truck isn't asking the shocks to "control" motion, it is seeking to increase the spring rate to reduce deflection. Such movement is better controlled by the proper spring rate and a sway bar to control excess articulation, not shock absorbers.

Stiffer shock valving might be a mask (and perhaps the best available mask) for an overloaded suspension system. I really don't know the answer to that but I am happy with my air bags as to supporting the additional weight.

The companies I had in mind would be the ones famous for off-road related shocks: Bilstein (for both OEM mounts and for those willing to rework the mounting) and Fox/King/Sway-a-way (which would be more high performance shocks designed for those willing to make more extensive modification). I am absolutely certain that those who sell the latter products would be able to point you toward something that may work for your truck. They won't be cheap, but if a monster truck can have a controlled ride, so can our trucks with the camper on.

twodownzero wrote:
From reading on here, it seems that the shock manufacturers have a marketing problem. Rancho's RS9000 is a popular shock for many applications and its dial isn't a solution for properly sized and valved shocks for the application.

The problem is, there is no magical "properly sized and valved shocks for the application". That is because there is not one application, there are two very different applications because the weight on the rear axle changes 4,000 to 5,000 lbs depending on whether the camper is loaded on the truck or not. That's why there is a knob to adjust the shock valving based on the weight it is dampening.

Brad

twodownzero, if you are referring to my post, what is it you don't think is true?

Who are these three companies who make shocks that can be valved and rebuilt that will fit on the trucks we use? Who are some of the dealers?

Wayne