Factory "Rancho" Tenneco Shocks Love 'Em or Hate 'Em/Upgraded

[Kubs]

8 hours ago, John K. said:

I'm learning a lot here.  I have noticed know one has mentioned shocks and towing, is that a different conversation?

It should be in here also since the shocks control the motion of the truck, loaded or unloaded.  The Bilsteins tow far far better than the stock NHT shocks did.  The NHT were too bouncy and couldn't handle a load as well.

[John K.]

3 hours ago, Kubs said:

It should be in here also since the shocks control the motion of the truck, loaded or unloaded.  The Bilsteins tow far far better than the stock NHT shocks did.  The NHT were too bouncy and couldn't handle a load as well.

I bought my 18 Z71 (5.3L, 3.42 rear end) for the purpose of towing a 21ft TT.  Loaded trailer about 5200lbs and hitch weight of about 600lbs plus 200lbs to 300lbs of junk in the bed of the truck.

The truck has just over 800 miles and I have made a few close to home trips with the trailer. What I have noticed is how much the rear end bounces when going over bumps i.e. road to bridge joints/transitions. Somewhat unnerving at times.  I'm just wondering if another brand of shocks might reduce some of that bouncing motion.  I have thought about bags, but shocks might be the place to start.

I'm 70 and retired so this is not a daily drive and no mods.  The Ranchos are "OK", but they do seem to let you know every bump and as mentioned in another post, make you feel like a bobble head.

Edited September 6, 2018 by John K.
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[Kubs]

2 hours ago, John K. said:

I bought my 18 Z71 (5.3L, 3.42 rear end) for the purpose of towing a 21ft TT.  Loaded trailer about 5200lbs and hitch weight of about 600lbs plus 200lbs to 300lbs of junk in the bed of the truck.

The truck has just over 800 miles and I have made a few close to home trips with the trailer. What I have noticed is how much the rear end bounces when going over bumps i.e. road to bridge joints/transitions. Somewhat unnerving at times.  I'm just wondering if another brand of shocks might reduce some of that bouncing motion.  I have thought about bags, but shocks might be the place to start.

I'm 70 and retired so this is not a daily drive and no mods.  The Ranchos are "OK", but they do seem to let you know every bump and as mentioned in another post, make you feel like a bobble head.

The Bilsteins took all of the bounce away.  It absorbs the bumps without issue.  I tow a 7000lb car/trailer combo and I dont even know it is back there now.  Very stable.

 

Airbags will not help with the bouncing, but will help with squat and leveling the load.  I also have a set of Firestone Ride Rite air bags on my truck to keep it level when loaded up.

[Silverado-Hareek]

Correct the Bilstein 4600's and 5100's are basically an "all around" shock that's built for better control in standard driving conditions, better off road performance for general off roading and 4 wheel driving, and better towing performance.  It really doesn't excel in a specific area of use more than the other.  It's an upgrade to your stock Tenneco's/Rancho's so essentially how you would use your stock truck is how you should still use it with these Bilsteins, but with an upgraded performance in these all-around areas of use.  These shocks aren't built for say taking your truck off of jumps 20' into the air.  The 5100's are good for up to a 1" rear lift and they will level your front end.  Anything more than that and you should consider other equipment.  But these are the best shocks you can buy in my opinion for a stock truck or a leveled truck that won't be abused too terribly much outside of what we'll call "normal" truck usage.

Edited September 6, 2018 by Silverado-Hareek

[Roscopcoletrain]

6 hours ago, Kubs said:

It should be in here also since the shocks control the motion of the truck, loaded or unloaded.  The Bilsteins tow far far better than the stock NHT shocks did.  The NHT were too bouncy and couldn't handle a load as well.

Coming from my 09 Silverado, which really didnt tow all that well, I had just put a set of 4600 on the rear. It did improve. Then I traded it in on my 15, which tows soooo much better. Doesnt bounce around nearly as much as the 09 did. Im almost scared to swap out anything suspension wise lol. 

[Kubs]

18 hours ago, Roscopcoletrain said:

Coming from my 09 Silverado, which really didnt tow all that well, I had just put a set of 4600 on the rear. It did improve. Then I traded it in on my 15, which tows soooo much better. Doesnt bounce around nearly as much as the 09 did. Im almost scared to swap out anything suspension wise lol. 

I came from a 2000 3/4 ton that was all stock.  Being a 3/4 ton it really wasn't bouncy, but I didnt care for the 4 speed and the lack of power at highway speed.  This '18 NHT blows the old 3/4 ton out of the water, and it only got better with the Bilsteins.  If you're happy with the truck now no need to change anything, but if the rear bounce starts to bother you upgrading to the 4600 or 5100 will make it better.

[Centex14]

On 9/5/2018 at 10:19 AM, 15 Z71 said:

How much do bilstiens cost for all four corners?

Got mine from Amazon for $358 with prime shipping.

[Roscopcoletrain]

wish we had that kind of deal up here in Canada 

[Sierra Dan]

I found the best deal on them at 4wheelParts. $345 free shipping.

That was with a coupon code at the time.

[15 Z71]

3 hours ago, Sierra Dan said:

I found the best deal on them at 4wheelParts. $345 free shipping.

That was with a coupon code at the time.

That's not bad at all,I just cant see taking off the Ranchos and spending 350 dollars when I only have 37,000 miles on my truck. I do agree they are ruff riding. The bilstiens will definitely be a good investment down the road though. 

[Sierra Dan]

3 minutes ago, 15 Z71 said:

That's not bad at all,I just cant see taking off the Ranchos and spending 350 dollars when I only have 37,000 miles on my truck. I do agree they are ruff riding. The bilstiens will definitely be a good investment down the road though. 

If they are rough riding now, they are shot.

Mine were shot at 40k

You do not have to buy all 4 at once.

The rears are about $75 a piece.

$106 each for the front.

Edited September 7, 2018 by Sierra Dan

[Sierra Dan]

The 5100's are nice but there are other brands very similar in design, function and cost.

Pro Comp and Eibach just to name a couple.

 

[John K.]

If I was using my truck as a daily drive or to run errands the Rancho's would be fine for now, but as I plan to use it mostly to tow, I decided to order a set of Bilstein 4600's for the rear and deal with the other end after the first of the year. 

The wife can't quite figure out why I have to get new shocks for a brand new pick-up.  And while I agree with her, I did do my best to explain why. 

I haven't told her about the fronts.   

 

[bsprtsgrp]

I swapped out the Z71 Rancho "Bricks" to new Rancho quickLIFT Loaded & RS9000XL Front & Rear Suspension

[Sierra Dan]

16 minutes ago, bsprtsgrp said:

I swapped out the Z71 Rancho "Bricks" to new Rancho quickLIFT Loaded & RS9000XL Front & Rear Suspension

Chris,

 

The stock ranchos are bricks. Thanks for chiming in and please vote!

I have heard positive reviews on the 9000xl's  How do you like them?