Best Shocks?

[brittsnbirds]

Wondered if anyone had the "hot" set up with their 2500 HD Chevy pulling a 5th wheel.

Currently have a Curt Q20 in the bed. Installed the Rancho adjustable shocks and Firestone airbags to cut down the bounce and bottoming out.

The airbags made a significant improvement to cut down on bottoming out but still have some bounce. I crank the Rancho's all the way up for dampening when I pull.

I called Firestone and spoke with them about better shocks. They said I have the best that I could hope for. Would like to do better on the bounce.

Any ideas?

[brittsnbirds]

I'm pulling with a '09 Chevy 2500 HD Z71, tow package, 6.0 6 spd., 3:73 gears. My trailer is a Keystone Sprinter Widebody 269FWRLS-WB, Shipping weight is 8594, pin weight is 1565#.

The trailer pulls much better than the 27' TT that I had.

When I hook up the truck levels out, trailer is a tad up but for the most part level. Even after loading up for a trip and minimal water it doesn't sag. The main time that I have the bouncing is going across bridges and dips on the highways. The Air bags have helped but would like to cut it down even more. I have found running around 45-50 lbs in the bags is the best. More than that puts the nose too unlevel for my taste. I would like to have it dead on but putting wood in the back for camp fires and more stuff for longer trips loads it down.

I do have a small compressor and gauge to install eventually so I can tweak it as needed. Right now I use my little jump start/compressor.

Which model Bilsteins do you guys use?

[goducks10]

N-Trouble wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
JMO but if your 9000's are in good working condition then Bilstiens probably won't make enough of a difference. Sounds like you have some other issue causing the bounce. Maybe an air hitch would be money better spent.

True, but he first needs to determine IF the shocks are in good working condition...

My guess would be one or more of your rear shocks are bad. Rancho's these days aren't known for their durability, even true for the 9000s. I would first do a visual looking for any leaks then remove them, compress and see if they return to full length. If they don't, time to replace. And as others have mentioned go with Bilsteins.

How many PSI are you running in your bags?

Good catch on the bottoming out. I missed that part. Yeah if he's bottoming out with bags and 9000's then something's not right. I'd ditch the bags and go Timbrens. You can only drop a little with them. I run them on my 2500 with 1800lbs of pin. Not for anything more than a more stable ride. They sit 1" off the axle. When hitched up the rest right on the axle. So no bottoming out per say.

With that being said more air in the bags should work the same.

That 5er only has a 1445lb dry pin. Only 60lbs more than mine. Even if he maxed out that 5er he'd be at 1902lbs assuming that the pin to weight (16.4) ratio stays the same. Hard to imagine 1900lbs causing a 2500 to bottom out. I've towed my 5er with out the Timbrens and at 1800lbs on the pin it never came remotely close to bottoming out. Actually the ride is not much different than with the Timbrens.

Doubt he's loading 2795lbs (CCC) in it. 1500lbs is more likely. So the pin should be under 1900lbs.

[N-Trouble]

goducks10 wrote:
JMO but if your 9000's are in good working condition then Bilstiens probably won't make enough of a difference. Sounds like you have some other issue causing the bounce. Maybe an air hitch would be money better spent.

True, but he first needs to determine IF the shocks are in good working condition...

My guess would be one or more of your rear shocks are bad. Rancho's these days aren't known for their durability, even true for the 9000s. I would first do a visual looking for any leaks then remove them, compress and see if they return to full length. If they don't, time to replace. And as others have mentioned go with Bilsteins.

How many PSI are you running in your bags?

[rhagfo]

goducks10 wrote:
Doubt he needs a bigger truck. Looks like a low pin from design. Maybe getting that rocking horse thing by design.

You have some serious spring issues if you are bottoming out with that 5er!
I tow a 5er, 2005 Copper Canyon 293FWSLS that is about 1,000# heaver dry than yours and carries a 2,000# pin, and I can't remember ever bottoming out, and I don't have bags.
I run stock Camper Package springs and Bilstien 5100's, and tow nice and smooth. Does your rig have a Camper or tow package?

[goducks10]

Doubt he needs a bigger truck. Looks like a low pin from design. Maybe getting that rocking horse thing by design.

[azdryheat]

Maybe you need more truck.

[IAMICHABOD]

Have to agree with the others, Bilsteins because of their design stops over rebounding and It puts a stop to porpoising.

I have used them on all of my heavy vehicles and they have performed better than any others.

E Shocks is the cheapest and most reliable place to buy them. They will answer any questions that you may have.

[ScottG]

RAS43 wrote:
Bilsteins. I never had much luck with Ranchos or any adjustable shock.

Exactly the same story here.

I found that the Bills have better rebound dampening and that's very helpful to keep the back of the truck under control with a heavy load.
It puts a stop to porpoising.

[chevor]

More infö….What your pulling?, speed? Pressure in bags?

[goducks10]

JMO but if your 9000's are in good working condition then Bilstiens probably won't make enough of a difference. Sounds like you have some other issue causing the bounce. Maybe an air hitch would be money better spent.

[RAS43]

Bilsteins. I never had much luck with Ranchos or any adjustable shock.