I just placed an order for 4 Rancho RS9000X shocks plus the in-cab remote and free shipping for a grand total of $289.99. Apparently this is a limited time offer until the end of October so anyone considering new shocks may want to look into this deal quick.

Consider the Billsteins at $62 each for a total of $248 plus you get not only adjustability but in-cab adjustability and the $42 difference is well worth it. The remote itself sells for about $130 so it's definitely a good deal.

 

There's an old off roaders saying, "friends don't let friends buy ranchos".

 

Must be older than me cause I've never heard it... :-)

Seriously, I figure with a lifetime warranty and all that other good stuff included, I really can't go wrong.

 

hey Tom you fogot to mention where ya got them at?

 

LOL, he's teasing us!

What's wrong with Rancho? I would doubt I could afford new shocks now, but down the road I'd like to upgrade em....

 

Sorry about that, I meant to paste the link:
http://www.samsoffroad.com/samsoffroadsto/index.html

 

i was looking at the same shocks... i just dont know if there made for a truck with 4 inch suspension lift... does anyone know if they would make them for that?

 

You can check out www.gorancho.com and see if they have your application but I believe that they do. From talking with someone at samsoffroad.com it sounds like they are drop shipping from whatever warehouse has stock so I imagine that they can get you whatever Rancho offers. During the ordering process, it asks you to put in the year, make, and model of vehicle plus any lift you have and whether it is suspension or body lift. I would also include the make of the lift just to be safe.

 

Rancho is better than what they put on the trucks from the factory, but while you're there doing the work anyway, you might as well get the good stuff.

 

Rancho's aren't bad at all and they have a very wide range of lengths, mountings, and damping rates available. If you have a truck that's lifted or needing longer travel you can often get a shock specifically for what you need.

Dave, what SPECIFICALLY do you have against Rancho's? So far it sounds "anedotal" or one of those brand-conscious things that abound in offroading as well as everywhere else. You know the old: "If you don't have the right brand you're not serious -- no matter what results you get"

And just because someone makes a good race product, doesn't mean they do or don't make a good product for more conventional vehicles.

Tenneco Automotive's rep and quality control are some of the best in the business. Plus, most of the shocks are made in the USA.

So, someone tell us why Rancho's are no good?

 

Thanks for the info Tom, I've been wanting theese for a while now since the controller thing is free i finally decided to order it cant wait to get them on now.

 

I didn't say Rancho wasn't any good, just that there are better options out there if you want them. One look at Ranchos site vs. Bilsteins site and it becomes very apparent who is more serious about building high quality shocks. For the average user, myself included, the Rancho will perform adequately. But given the choice at the same, or even close to the same price, I would go Bilstein every time. For the record, I have had both Rancho RS9000's and the FX4 OEM Bilsteins.

 

Dave, I just found out that you don't get the controller with the shocks but you get a coupon to get the controller free from Rancho. You have to order by the 31st and have the form to them postmarked no later than 11/15/04. I would have posted that sooner but I just got off the phone with them and Rancho to verify.

 

Okay, Dave, I wondered. No question some shocks are better than others for whatever reason, but the difference in price can be prohibitive. I thought you were getting into a "Ford vs. Chevy" type argument. Some Chevy people use that same catch-phrase you did about friends buying Fords. See what I mean? You pays your money and you takes your chances.

I am running Rancho RSX's on my low-capability truck and I too like the warranty on them.

 

When I had the 9000's I almost never changed their setting. I always left them on 5.

 

If you just need a shock that works, Rancho is fine. If you are serious about it, and your rig can use the capabilities of the higher end shocks, Bilstein has the product for you. Rancho just has OEM replacements, basically. The stock 'Steins on the FX4 seem nicer than the Ranchos on my '92, but they were two different trucks so I can't rule that out as a factor.

Either one is much better than the stuff from the factory by far. My '92 had serious axle hop problems about 2 feet into the trail with the OEM shocks, with the 5000's they would last on the trail much longer without heating up and becoming useless.

 

I'll let you guys in on a little secret about the warranty. If there is so much as a ding in the can, its VOID. All it takes is one rock ding to void the warranty. I find my self saying this alot lately "Ask me how I know" lol... I'v had Procomp (still have two), Rancho's, and Bilstein. I'm only going to say two things. 1. If your not getting 9000's get the ProComps. They are made by the same company, just branded differant. 2. One of those three companys has a better warrantee than than the other two.

Dont forget about that ding thing though... it will screw you over...

 

what comes on the 04 ranger 4x4 edge?

 

Are they black or yellow? Black is Motocraft Yellow is Bilstein.

 

I didn't know Tenneco Automotive made the ProComps. Interesting. Besides Rancho, Tenneco is also Monroe and Dynomax.

Cooper was making the ProComp tires and may still be. I don't think ProComp makes too many things but has them made under contract for the most part.

 

Yea thats what I was told by the 4wheelparts guys. Everyone I talked to told me that ProComp shocks are made by the same people as Rancho and Monroe. The only reason I ditched the Procomps for the Rancho's was they had the right part in stock after my Procomps exploded... but i can say i couldnt tell a differance in ride quality at all...

 

Perhaps this is why you didn't like them?? I think the major downfall of the 9000s is that you need to touch them to adjust them which is quite inconvenient. The only reason I'm buying them now is because of the free remote. Otherwise, I would probably leave them at one setting and never change them too. At that point tho, unless you've picked the right setting for every condition (which doesn't exist and is why Rancho gives 9 settings) there is no way you're going to be happy with them. The Bilsteins aren't made to be adjustable and are therefore probably a better all around shock when used that way. The time I spend on the highway and the time I spend on the trail are very differnt so I believe that I will be changing settings... This is the benefit of the 9000s.

 

I think 5 was the only setting that did anything. Those shocks didn't last long, well the bushings didn't anyway. They were practically gone after a few years, and that isn't a lot of miles for me, maybe 30,000.

I don't think those Ranchos are valved for the application are they? The Bilsteins are. The nicer Bilsteins are rebuildable and revalaveable, if that's a word.

 

I was told by Rancho that the RS9000X has only been out for 1.5yrs so perhaps they fixed the issues you had with them. I'll find out when they show up. I don't know if they are valved different for each application because you are supposed to adjust them to suit the application.

I'm not disagreeing that the Bilsteins are good shocks, in fact the only comment I've made about them is that they are non-adjustable which is a fact. What I am saying is that the remote adjustability of the RS9000X shocks gives a distinct advantage for someone who puts a lot of highway miles on the truck but takes it offroad on weekends and doesn't want to deal with the compromise of a shock that's too soft for the street or too firm for the trail.

 

Rancho's are valved for the application. Tenneco spends quite a bit of time testing them for that reason. However, many want to step outside those parameters because what Rancho (or Bilstein for that matter) say is "right" for your truck may not be exactly what you want.

I like the idea of take-aparts where you can rebuild them yourself. Not so excited about sending one back to be redone, though. How do the common Bilsteins work? Can you do them yourself?