For Those That Have Rancho'S On A 2500...

[RonSchon]

I'm getting ready to order some Rancho 9000's to replace my stock shocks - 70,000 miles on a 2004 Dodge 2500 Gasser.

I've had Rancho's on a previous heavy camper hauler, and liked the performance of the shock quite a bit.

I always have the FWC on the truck, so I probably wont need to dicker with the setting much once I find the sweet spot. Just wondering about those that have them - what do you set yours at with your load on? I'm thinking probably 6 or 7 in the back and 4 or 5 in the front, but just curious to what others have found most comfortable.

I see they make the RF models now so you can change them from the cab - I just don't know if I need that. I didn't mind crawling under there on the last truck, and this one will be even less changing needed. I'd like to get an inch of lift out of the change, but I think that's probably not likely to happen - or have you found that you get a little lift out of the Rancho's?

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

I doubt you will get any lift out of new shocks. I run the Bilstein shocks on mine w/ the Lorenz Suspension system.

 

[chnlisle]

I know Kyle is a big fan of Bilsteins and they have served him well but my buddy Gene has a 2500 CTD like me with stock suspension and he took the Bils off and installed Explorer Pro Comp 9000's and loves them. I have never had good luck with Ranchos on my little trucks and great luck with the Pro Comps so I'll be switching over on my Dodge soon. But I am a heretic....I'm also forsaking my BFG/AT's and buying a set of Hankook Dyna Pro 285/70 - 17's before we head up to do the White Rim in October. I am never going to hear the end of this from Salty.

 

[RonSchon]

Alright Jay - I'll give your advice a try...

On their way with a 2" leveling kit - When I put my 315 70 17's on I got a little rub.

 

[the fisherman]

I'm not trying to start anything, but the two products that are being discussed here are the lowest denomator in the four wheel drive world, Rancho read (Munroe) make most if not all of their products in you know where and the Phillipnes. I am proud to say that if you show up at DC Customs in Ukiah, and want products made by either mfg. we won't be able to help you. Do a little reasearch, I decided not to reccomend parts anymore, but for your dollar there is much better, unless you just want cheap.

 

[RonSchon]

Hey Fish,

Thanks for the input - I have looked at a couple of truck suspension projects over the last year, and one of them was quite detailed and the person did a Kore suspension after having just done a RevTek on the truck. He did a step by step "How-To" for it, and it was impressive. Here's his linky.

I admit to knowing very little about the products - but because my current truck has 70k miles - and is not my dream machine - I'm looking for something on the cheap side, that fulfills my most basic of needs.

If my current steed was a little younger, and equipped a little more to my liking, I'd be going about this a bit differently. While it's a good truck, it doesn't have the engine or the interior I like, so I don't want to spend too much dressing it up.

 

[chnlisle]

Ron,
I knew we'd hear from Salty.
I just ordered a set myself.

 

[SunMan]

As they say to each their own but they've served me well over the years.

I sure wish they were cheap $ wise too cuz i paid a buttload for these new ones with coil overs! Ouch.

 

[the fisherman]

Ron,
I knew we hear from Salty.
I just ordered a set myself.

I thought you might like to see how they're made

 

[chnlisle]

I thought you might like to see how they're made

Wow cool hand made just like my Fiat.

 

[RonSchon]

Wow cool hand made just like my Fiat.



Installed. Rides very nice. I had not truly realized how bad the beast had gotten to riding. Feels like a "better than new" truck. Worn in, but rides like new.

I will add-a-leaf to the back end - in this picture I'm parked where the terrain is a few inches higher in the back of the truck than the front of the truck so it's not as noticeable, but the front is too high. Even without the FWC on the back, it'd be off. An add-a-leaf should lift me just about an inch in the back.

Blackberry camera, so the pic isn't great.

 

[Kilroy]

I've read in other forums the remote for the 9000 has leaked very often and not been reliable.

 

[generubin]

I always had problems with the bushings cracking on my Ranchos, the Bilsteins were painfully too stiff for washboard roads. I have had best luck with ProComp 9000 on my last few trucks.

 

[chnlisle]

I had Ranchos on my Bronco, Exploder and Nissan and exercised the warrantee on them all. I didn't learn my lesson and put them on the T-100 too. When they failed on it on went the ProComps. That's whats on the Dodge also. I sense a theme here.