New shocks?

[TxGearhead]

I've got 65,000 miles on my 2018 RAM. Cummins, 4X4, long bed, DRW. I carry the Bigfoot occasionally and the Landmark 5th occasionally more. Both 4,000# loads. Only mod is a Hellwig BigWig. I'm assuming I need new shocks.
My priority is as smooth a ride as possible. 90% highway use.
I realize this is a subjective issue.
Your recommendations?

[bigfootgrey]

I installed Rancho 9000’s on my truck 10 years ago. I removed the setting adjustment knob and coated the piston with marine grease. The shocks have been flawless. Starting to show some surface rust but no leaking. Being able to soften the ride of my dually unloaded is a big plus. I run 3 on the front and 1 rear unloaded and 9 all around with the camper on.

[PButler96]

Buy Bilstein at your own risk and thats coming from a previous Bilstein fan.. Bought a set in Feb, noticed them leaking in Mar. Removed, returned, and when I opened up 2 of the replacements they were already leaking. Got 4 more in from the distributor, looked fine and installed in Apr, all 4 were leaking by June 1. Just swapped them out with Ranchos last week.

[Geo_Boy]

Bilstein 4600’s work great, out of the box. No climbing under your truck and turning a knob to try to tune for the conditions. Conditions constantly change. Buy Bilstein’s.

[Hemi_Joel]

Rancho 9000 is the way to go. They are fully adjustible from mush like a Bilstein 4600 all the way to extra firm. Turn a knob, get the ride that makes you happy regardless of what you are or are not hauling.

[srschang]

I had a bit of porpoising with my 2022 Ram 3500 (4500 miles) crewcab longbed dually and a 4800# camper. Switched to Bilstein 4600's, it made a significant difference.

[Grit_dog]

Lwiddis wrote:
Installing new shocks is important IMO. The make of the shocks (if a quality manufacturer) isn’t important.

Except most shocks won’t last as long as Bilsteins. Dunno why they are so tough, but only other shock, OE or aftermarket that wasn’t shot after x number of miles is Bilsteins.
(Curiously except for the red colored shocks that came on a 01 Dodge Ram off road model. Those were actually still good at 130k miles. Only OE shock ever that I had last very long)

[Grit_dog]

Bilsteins are a good middle of the road not too soft not super hard, lasts forever shock.

[tcguy]

I am running Bilstein 4600 shocks on my 2018 F350 diesel 4x4 CC dually with an AF 990 TC and am happy with the ride.

[MORSNOW]

I've been running Bilstein 4600's for the past 5 years, great ride and a durable shock.

[Geo_Boy]

Bilstein 4600’s

[greenno]

If you want a bit softer ride go with Bilsteins. I had 5100's on my previous truck and have Fox 2.0's on my present truck all carrieng the same 990 camper.
The Fox's are difinetly stiffer. Better off-road and with a load but they are more firm than the Bilsteins if you want softer.
Hear good things about Rancho to, adjustable from what I can tell.
Good luck.

[Bedlam]

If your suspension is cycling more than once after going over a bump, you need shocks. Otherwise, you need more spring.

[JimK-NY]

Why do you assume you need new shocks? With any luck they will last for several more years.

Are you having ride issues?

[Lwiddis]

Installing new shocks is important IMO. The make of the shocks (if a quality manufacturer) isn’t important.

[jimh406]

I like my Bilstein 4600 shocks. You will get a lot of other recommendations.