Want to upgrade shocks on a Suburban 2500

[intheburbs]

Took our first trip with the new TV - 2008 Suburban 2500. Roughly 2000-mile round trip down to Gulf Shores. Several times, the surface of the road caused some excessive suspension travel, especially on the front end. I was not using my weight bars, since there was no squat to the rear at all. Here's my weigh slip from the trip:



The motion was well-damped, it was never more than 1 or 2 big heaves, but I'd like to upgrade to shocks that will help minimize/reduce that motion.

I'm open to suggestions. There seems to be a dizzying array of shock choices, but I'd like to hear from experienced RVers about what's worked for them. Cost is not part of the equation; don't need any budget shocks. Rancho? Monroe? Other?

Thanks for the help.

ETA: The Bilstein 4600 HD shocks look good. Any thoughts? LOL just saw N-trouble's post.

[BurbMan]

I put KYB MonoMax shocks on last year and have been quite happy with them so far.

[APT]

Thanks for the follow up inthe! Might take you up on that offer if this snow ever melts!

[Redsky]

Two best are the Rancho 9000XL and the Bilstein 5100 shocks. Depends in part on what you can find that will fit your SUV. Bilstein 4700 series are also excellent shocks. Anything is going to be a big improvement over the stock shocks.

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

intheburbs wrote:
THIS is what I bought.

We have a winner!

That is the correct Bilstien shock for towing.

I don't like BMW's and I don't like Mercedes, BUT the German made Bilstien's work GREAT! Well worth the money spent.

[intheburbs]

Follow up - had the shocks installed yesterday. Won't be towing the TT for a few months, but wanted to post my initial impressions.

Driving around on the third-world country cart paths that masquerade as paved roads here in SE MI, the ride is much improved. Prior, I would've said my 01 half ton Burb with the ZW7 premium smooth ride suspension had a better ride than my 08. Can't say that any more. Undulations are much more dampened and controlled. This is the way it SHOULD ride. Pretty sure the shocks that were replaced were the originals (118k miles).

Thanks, everyone, for the recommendation.

APT - feel free to contact me; we can get together if you want a test ride.

[APT]

I sometimes take my TT from storage to home or back without WD bars. It is something I could never do with my prior half ton or the other half tons I test drove. So I understand what you did; it doesn't look too bad on the Burb.

Good choice on the shocks! Let us know how you like them. I may replace mine this spring.

[intheburbs]

APT wrote:
I highly recommend using a WDH. The receiver is only rated for 600 pounds of TW, which I'm certain you are exceeding given TT axles have 5500 pounds. 600 pounds of TW would be <10% TW. The other reason to use one is for the loss of weight on the front axle. Hard to say what that is unless you take 3 passes.

Thanks for the report!

Thanks for the info. It never registered with me that the receiver has different ratings with/without the bars. I know the tongue weight is in the 900-lb range, so I guess I should be happy I didn't break anything going without the bars. It is a WD hitch, I was just being lazy by not using them. "Hey, I got a 6000-lb rear axle, and she isn't squatting, so who needs weight bars?" Rookie mistake (and I'm not a rookie).

[Cummins12V98]

intheburbs wrote:
THIS is what I bought.

We have a winner!

That is the correct Bilstien shock for towing.

[intheburbs]

THIS is what I bought.

[ExxWhy]

I have the Rancho 9000 xl on my Excursion, I like the adjustability. No experience with the bilsteins, though EX owners report they are stiffer. Looks like they only make them for the front of your truck however.

X2 on using the WD bars, it's not just for rear end sag.

[APT]

I have the same truck, bought new. The OEM shock are underdamped new, let along with however many miles yours has now. Bilstiens are on my upgrade list, as are KYB Monomax. I wish Rancho made the RS9000X for these.

I highly recommend using a WDH. The receiver is only rated for 600 pounds of TW, which I'm certain you are exceeding given TT axles have 5500 pounds. 600 pounds of TW would be <10% TW. The other reason to use one is for the loss of weight on the front axle. Hard to say what that is unless you take 3 passes.

Thanks for the report!

[Cummins12V98]

Yellow and blue Bilstien's

[DUNEBUGGYDOUG]

N-Trouble,Tell us what kind you like lol

[DUNEBUGGYDOUG]

N-Trouble,Tell us what kind you like lol