Back order shocks

[Mike_and_Terry_]

Went to replace rancho shocks on 3500 gmc . The shocks have been on backorder for over 3 weeks and was told don't know when they will come in. So I change the order to blistein shocks. My question .. what are these shocks like with heavy load?

[Bedlam]

I had the adjustable Rancho shocks on my F250. I found once I tuned the front, I did not touch them but the rears would be adjusted based on whether the camper was loaded. I think you can get away with a fixed set up front, but you will not get that fine tuning of the 9000 series.

[towpro]

I put 9000's on the back and 5000's on the front of a 2015 Ram 4wd (with Rancho's engineers blessing). with camper on, even with socks on stiffest setting (I tried many settings) I would hit this dip in the road and the rear of the truck would start to oscillate and only way to stop it was to slow down.
Rancho said the rear ones might be bad so they replaced them. Same problem with new next rear set. So I returned them all under that 90 day free ride program.
I put the stock shocks back on and left it that way.

I also noticed the 9000 did not extend themselves if you compressed them, you had to pull them to extend them (but the 5000's did). I seem to recall when I questioned this they said they were not gas charged. But now I see on the website that are gas charged so maybe they redesigned the 9000's.

also many people said that to remove the adjuster and grease it as thy rust shut over time.

[Buzzcut1]

Mike and Terry Ann wrote:
Buzzcutt , order them from Advance auto . Told they were made over sea and they don't know how long they will be on backorder. Current shocks are shot ( leaking) so I can't wait long. Given the times we live in now I don't have much of a choice.

check the part here. most are in stock
https://www.summitracing.com/search/department/chassis-suspension/section/suspension-components/part...

[Mike_and_Terry_]

Buzzcutt , order them from Advance auto . Told they were made over sea and they don't know how long they will be on backorder. Current shocks are shot ( leaking) so I can't wait long. Given the times we live in now I don't have much of a choice.

[thedavidzoo]

We just installed 4 Rancho 9000 XLs yesterday. Rear was easy, front was a pain. Dealer wanted too much for shocks and labor, over $1000. DIY cost us $380 total from Shocksurplus.com.

Haven't been out with them yet. We'll see if we can tell a difference.

[jimh406]

I had adjustable 9000s on my SRW with the same TC. They were a good bandaid for a combination that was stretched to the max. My F450 with Bilsteins is a much better combination and much better ride, but I also am not stretching the capability any more.

In any case, I think both shocks have a reason to be. If your setup is stretched near the limit, and you ride empty a lot, the 9000s are a pretty good solution.

I remember one time I was riding empty on a gravel road that I almost bounced the SRW off of at 25. I had my tailgate on, but otherwise, I was in hauling mode. My tire pressure was up and the 9000s were up as well. After turning the shocks down and dropping the pressure, I felt much safer. The point being, the 9000s really do slow the suspension and make it much stiffer. YMMV.

[Bert_the_Welder]

Hemi Joel wrote:
Definitely wait for the adjustable Rancho 9000's. Every setup is different, requirements vary. With the 9000's you can adjust them to suit. With bilstien, you are stuck. I spent big $$ on Blistien 4600's, and they were worse than the old monroes I took off. I lost $$ getting rid of the bilsiens, and going with 9000's on the rear which I love, and monroe gas on the front, which are just barely OK, but better than the bilstien. They don't make 9000's for the front of my truck, I wish they did.

Adjustable is great...while it's working. Just wish the Rancho's were better quality. Knobs fail and then powder coat is garbage. Sure you get life time warrenty, but you still gotta pay for the removal and install.

[Hemi_Joel]

Definitely wait for the adjustable Rancho 9000's. Every setup is different, requirements vary. With the 9000's you can adjust them to suit. With bilstien, you are stuck. I spent big $$ on Blistien 4600's, and they were worse than the old monroes I took off. I lost $$ getting rid of the bilsiens, and going with 9000's on the rear which I love, and monroe gas on the front, which are just barely OK, but better than the bilstien. They don't make 9000's for the front of my truck, I wish they did.

[brholt]

Just replaced the factory shocks with KYB Monomax shocks. Very pleased with the results

[towpro]

I always had the problem on my Pickup camper trucks with needing shocks with more dampening to help with sway, but with camper off that same shock would be over hard and ride rough. I tried those adjustable ones but they had other problems (returned them)

now that I have a motorhome I don't have the option of removing the camper, but had same problem, the stock Mercedes shocks were designed for a van body and were too weak.
Than someone introduced me to Agile Offroad. This guy builds shocks for off road racers, but also happens to own a Mercedes Motorhome, so he went to work on re-valving a fox 2.0 shock for his motorhome. Best money I ever spend on rear shocks. solved my problem. Maybe call him and see if he has a valving solution for your truck that would work loaded or unloaded?

[time2roll]

Have the bills, next set will be Monomax.

[Buzzcut1]

I had no trouble getting mine in just a few days from Summit Racing, who did you order from?

[Mike_and_Terry_]

Yes they are 9000 adjustable

[MORSNOW]

Love my almost new Bilstein 4600's, just finished a 3,000 mile trip down the Alcan with them, no porpoising, bouncing, or jarring ride.