My long time tire service guy just made me an offer to level my truck and install new shocks. I was just going to crank the bolts and still may. However, he offered to put on a Rough Country package that includes leveling keys, longer front shocks and replacement rear shocks - for $300. I went back and checked the sticky on shock recommendations and Rough Countries are mentioned as an option.

Anyone have any that can comment on quality of ride compared to stock?

 

They are your basic, generic, Tenneco made off-road shock. Tenneco (parent company of Rancho & Monroe) makes about four lines of white, generic shocks over in Asia and resells them to a host of companies. Many lift-kit companies purchase them and place their sticker on them. These shocks can also be purchased with Skyjacker, ProComp and a host of other stickers on them.

They are an upgrade from stock for sure, but not up there with the better Ranchos, Monroes or Bilsteins. I have a set of ProComp ES3000s on my Grand Cherokee which the same shock as the Rough Country Hydro shock. The other Rough Country shock is the Nitro which is nitrogen filled and a stiffer shock (ProComp sells this shock as their ES9000).

On my GC they are adequate, nothing to get anyone all excited about, but nothing wrong with the ride quality either. But when ProComp throws them out the door at $34.95 and include a buy 3 get one free sale (netting out to like $27 a shock) they are very good for the money. Rough Country retail on the Hydros was about $30 each and the Nitros was about $35 each last I checked. So don't expect a Caddy-like ride that you'd get out of Bilsteins at $90 a shock. As long as your expectations aren't set that high, you'll be satisfied with them...

 

Ive got them on my RC lift and they are fine. I do have the nitrogen filled shocks that were a slight "upgrade"

 

Thanks for the feedback. I didnt get the model numbers but he did mention they were the nitro shocks. I would be looking to pay them to install whatever shocks i get anyway and was going to ask them to crank the bolts for me while they had it on the lift. So, $300 for a turnkey job didnt sound so bad to me as long as the shocks are decent. I will have to spring for an alignment as well but was going to have to do that regardless.

 

Seems like a pretty good deal to me, $300 installed, saves you a bunch of time. As long as you don't do a ton of crazy offroading i would think you'd be ok with those Rough Countrys