I owned the RS9000s on my 96 RAM, and they broke after 5 years and 60K. THey were completely DONE. Plus, adjusting them did very little. Got the RS5000s to replace themm and they worked very well. However, my RS9000s were so shot, any shock would have been better. I was basically riding on SPRINGS before I replaced them. Rancho RS9000s DO NOT COME WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY. The RS5000s do.

I got RS5000s for my 2001 RAM. Haven't installed them yet because the stockers still have about 10K miles left on them and do not need to be replaced now AT ALL.

RS9000s are overpriced. If they were 75 bucks, I would say get them, but not over 100 dollars. 48 dollars for the ranchos (plus the $50 rebate going on now), you can't beat that. Plus limited lifetime warranty.

 

Rebuildable shocks are super easy to rebuild. They slide apart and you essentially just replace seals. Its an easy job.

A short stroke bypass shock is a shock with 2-4 bypasses, with a short stroke length. FOA makes some great entry level shocks using old King valving designs.

 

I thought that there was a lifetime warranty on the 9000's...I thought it was a 2 year warranty for the remote adjuster but the shocks were still lifetime...maybe i was wrong.

I am not really interested in rebuilding shocks...I want to put on something with decent quality and reliability that will last a while with little maintenance.

 

The 9000s do not come with a remote adjuster, that is EXTRA. Also, go to the rancho website, there is no warranty for the 9000s. Only the 5000s.

I like the 5000s, they are 48 dollars each, and very good. You also get a 50 dollar rebate, so it is like getting one free (buy the steering stabilizer with the rebate like I did!). I would say high quality and very reliable...lifetime warranty, they will last a lifetime.

 

I noticed a big difference between my Bilsteins and Monroe Sensatracs. Go with Bilstein.

 

aren't monroes $19 a piece at sears?

 

I had Bilsteins in my Ford diesel 4x4 in the mid '90s. They rode great but I blew a shock with about 11k miles on it. This truck was mainly used for towing my bass boat when I was tourney fishing and the dealer contacted Bilstein about replacement and was told they didn't warranty the shock for towing or hauling use. I was like WTF???
Bilsteins give a great ride but I won't have a shock on a truck that isn't rated or warranted for towing or hauling.

Replaced with Rancho RS5000s. I thought they rode a little harsher but held up fine. I put the same shocks on my 2nd Gen Ram when I lifted it and they were fine for the 68k miles I had the truck.
I have the RS9000x on my 3rd Gen because they ran a deal for a set for free when I bought my suspension lift. Six years and 50,000 miles and they are just fine. Adjustment ***** still work fine but I almost never touch them. I can't feel any difference between the settings. Shocks run great both on and off-road, but I think the adjustment thing is just a gimmick...

 

I first had the original RS9000x (put about 50k on them). I liked them so much I then upgraded to the RS9000XL's, and have been very happy with them so far (have about 25k on them so far). They are nitrogen gas charged by the way, and feature a huge 2.75" body diameter, and an 18mm diameter piston rod. They are 9 position adjustable, but I can really only tell about 3 differences. Settings 1-3 seem about the same feel, as does 4-6, and then 7-9. But, the difference between setting 1 and setting 9 is very noticable. I really like being able to adjust them when I am going to tow or haul heavy loads or for when i'm going to be out on a bumpy rutty backcountry road. Definetly outperforms the stock shocks or any cheapy shock on the market. Oh and by the way, the RS9000XL's carry the same warranty as the RS5000's (limited lifetime warranty). Only the extended length RS9000XL's have a shorter warranty.
http://www.gorancho.com/warranty.php

I know for a fact that mine have the lifetime warranty because I am looking at the paperwork that came with them as I am typing this. True, the price is kinda high, but I bought mine when they ran a buy 3 get on 1 deal, so a set of 4 was basically the same price as any other decent shock on the market. I would get them again and I recommend them, escpecailly if you like to tow or haul loads.

 

AH yes, you are right about the warranty. But having the RS9000s, I hardly ever adjusted them. It is a PITA to get under there and adjust them all. And you have to remember that your shocks in the rear are at different positions, so you can end up doing the wrong settings for both back shocks.

The 5000s are a bit stiff, but i like that. No body roll at all with the 5000s. SO I bought them again after having the RS9000s and RS5000s. In my opinion, there really is not much of a difference in performance as there is a difference in price between both of them. And I only tow when I move....which can be anywhere from every 6 months to 4 years.

 

Thanks for the info. I went with the stock height Bilstein HD all around and a 2" urethane coil spacer up front. Can't wait to put them on...ordered the shocks and spacer from two different sites...got the shocks in a few days but the spacer is taking for ever...12 days from ordering!!