Rancho 9000's might have been an oops

[noteven]

I installed Rancho 9000's on our Dodge 3500 about 12,000 miles ago. 4000 miles hauling our single slide 9ft camper / towing, 3000 other miles towing cargo/flatbeds, and about 800 miles towing our Carriage toy hauler. The rest has been empty buckboard.

They appear to be failing at about 10,000 miles.

- I wrote an email to Rancho Tech Support through their website a week/10 days ago asking why these shocks might be doing this and received this answer:

[noteven]

720Deere wrote:
My experience with real Rancho shocks (not the fake ones that Ford uses) has been that when used hard, they don't last a long time, but Rancho is usually pretty good about warranty replacement. You seemed to cut your post short and did not include the Rancho response.

My original post includes the response from Rancho - that being no response. 🙂

To be fair webform communication to "support" could go astray by accident or on a Friday pm... and I haven't blocked out time in my business day to sit on the phone to wait to have this call that is very important to us recorded for quality assurance...

I was on this forum yakking away about how great these shocks were but they don't seem to be panning out so I thought I would report back.

[AnEv942]

Well if it continues to rock does seem a problem if they were set up higher-12000 miles doesnt sound good? Yes if you have reciept lifetime warranty.

We just replaced ours under warranty, 12 years old-been on the truck since 2001 and they were going south. Go figure. Shop I originaly bought from closed up-Rancho replaced them direct-I just had to pay to ship old skinny 5 posistion ones to them. Got new fat 9 positions.
Im at about 4/5 unloaded and 8/9 loaded.

Have long travle ranchos 9012s on the jeep-I cant say enough good things about them even though those are not warranted for life (non stock). I replaced them out of pocket recently also. They were only 10 years old-but they get beat & worked. The newer fat body took some work to fit.

[12V_Cummins]

Almost all of my rams I NEVER put 9000s in the front. Too much of a pain to change. Just tried out the no 7000 in the front and its perfect. In the rears I use the 9000s because its very easy to adjust.

Few years ago I had 9000s up front. All four shocks were on 9 and the truck didn't want to stay inline. Backed all 4 down to 2 and what a difference. Smooth and straight driving.

[narcodog]

I have 60K miles on mine and most carrying the TC. I have not had the first problem...

If I trade trucks I'll go back to Rancho's.

[d3500ram]

JumboJet wrote:
I tried Rancho 9000s on my Dodge Cummins. After having two metering valves fail (replaced under warranty) I sold them on eBay and bought Bilsteins. My opinion, Ranchos cannot handle heavy loads off road.

After 2 failures as you describe I do not blame you for switching brands. Just curious, which model Bilstein's did you get and how are they doing?

[JumboJet]

I tried Rancho 9000s on my Dodge Cummins. After having two metering valves fail (replaced under warranty) I sold them on eBay and bought Bilsteins. My opinion, Ranchos cannot handle heavy loads off road.

[d3500ram]

bikerdib wrote:
...I just installed 9000s on my Ram 2500. Setting the rear dampening is not a problem, easy to get to but the front is a real pain trying to get my fingers inside the coil spring. ...

Just find the best setting for the front shocks and leave it there. Is your Ram a diesel?

I set my front 9000's on "9" and leave it there. The extra weight of the Cummins does not cause the Rancho's to complain... I will set the rear shocks to "9" with camper on and "3" unladen.

[720Deere]

My experience with real Rancho shocks (not the fake ones that Ford uses) has been that when used hard, they don't last a long time, but Rancho is usually pretty good about warranty replacement. You seemed to cut your post short and did not include the Rancho response.

[bikerdib]

I don't like hearing this. I just installed 9000s on my Ram 2500. Setting the rear dampening is not a problem, easy to get to but the front is a real pain trying to get my fingers inside the coil spring. Don't the 9000s have a lifetime warranty? Where did you buy them, would the shop you got them from stand behind the warranty. I got mine through O'Reilly auto parts and they said I have a lifetime warranty on them.

[wcjeep]

Rancho 9k's carry a lifetime warranty. Take your receipt and defective shocks to the place you bought them. What color is the shock body?