Blistine or Rancho 9000 Shocks?

[ken_burke]

The shocks on my 2011 F350 are bad (35,000 miles) and I want to add a new set of shocks. What would you recommend??

The truck is a little bouncy when I tow the 14,000 # 5th wheel. When unhitch and the tire pressure at 40 PSI, the truck REALLY bounces on a dirt road. I mean Really. I want to drive on dirt roads with a lot less bounce.

I have read that most folks go for the Blistines or Ranchos.

Your help is, as always, appreciated.

thanks ken

[john_bet]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Some heavy duty suspensions have no give at all so the world's finest shock absorber would be about as useless as the cheapest. The vehicle flexes on its tires and if you inflate the tires rock hard, then oh-well.

Ever look inside the cab of a big-rig? Freedman air seats? For that matter try your darndest the next time you park next to a big rig to FIND shock absorbers on it. Good Luck.

The brand new '13 IC Navistar school bus I drive has an air seat, rear air suspension and 4 shocks on it. The last time i looked at a semi tractor(4 1/2 years ago) it had air rear suspension and shocks all around(6).

[Old-Biscuit]

I've always replaced OEM's with Bilsteins.......great improvement.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Some heavy duty suspensions have no give at all so the world's finest shock absorber would be about as useless as the cheapest. The vehicle flexes on its tires and if you inflate the tires rock hard, then oh-well.

Ever look inside the cab of a big-rig? Freedman air seats? For that matter try your darndest the next time you park next to a big rig to FIND shock absorbers on it. Good Luck.

[Eycom]

Can't speak to the Blistnes, as I've had Rancho 9000s since 04. I haul an 11 1/2' Lance 1121; extended business travel for 6 years and full time, the past 3. I didn't avail myself of the inside cab controls, instead, manually adjusted the shocks based on desire. Front set at 2 and rear set at 9, I don't fool with adjustments anymore. I just drive slow when rolling over speed bumps, whether the camper is loaded or not. A sign of getting old.:B

[time2roll]

Have bills, get monomax.

[abc40kids]

Bilstein

[UTCoyote]

I prefer Bilstein 5100's over 9000's (have run multiple sets of both on multiple rigs). If you are talking the regular HD Bilsteins, then the 9000's would be better.

But an F350 is never going to ride much better than a covered wagon on dirt roads no matter what kind of shocks you run.

- Coyote