Mike, I'm hauling 1400 lbs of road base home in my utility trailer. I'd guess about 150 lbs. tongue weight. Rides like a Cady!
I don't like my Rancho RS5000X shocks
- Thread starter Mike_H
- Start date
I heard back from the reseller I bought my shocks from that they will accept them back, even though I don't have original packaging. That's a relief. KYB will be here Thursday, so I should have an initial report back sometime this weekend
MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
I’m interested in hearing more about these Skyjacker Black Max shocks.
My Ranchos are a definite improvement over the new style OME shocks, but not as smooth as the factory shocks were.
My Ranchos are a definite improvement over the new style OME shocks, but not as smooth as the factory shocks were.
The first pair of KYBs showed up today... The finish is much better than the ranchos.
And, I know this doesn't mean anything, but they are very tough to compress by hand. Gonna want to make sure to install 1/2 of them before cutting the band!
And, I know this doesn't mean anything, but they are very tough to compress by hand. Gonna want to make sure to install 1/2 of them before cutting the band!
Got the KYBs installed today. I posted my initial impressions over on the KYB vs Rancho Vs skyjacker thread.
I've installed 4-5 different gas-charged shocks over the years and none were easily compressed by hand. I wouldn't want any that are easily compressed by hand.
The difference between the KYBs and the Ranchos in "by hand compression" is quite dramatic. I had to use a floor jack to get the KYBs in. The ranchos I could do by hand.
More of the reviews went into this thread...
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...vs-skyjacker-black-max-vs-kyb-monotube.51209/
Well I will put in my 2 cents worth .
I love my Ranchos but I have new control arms , new bushings on the track bar , sway bar , new OME springs , everything is all new so I don't have any other issues .
Jeep rides great , handles great . All the work I did on the suspension was made to go together nothing is mis-matched.
I drove many a Jeep looking for the one I got and this ones ride now is nothing short of incredible .
I think you have other issues !
I love my Ranchos but I have new control arms , new bushings on the track bar , sway bar , new OME springs , everything is all new so I don't have any other issues .
Jeep rides great , handles great . All the work I did on the suspension was made to go together nothing is mis-matched.
I drove many a Jeep looking for the one I got and this ones ride now is nothing short of incredible .
I think you have other issues !
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Gizmo
Member
I removed the 9000xl's and tried the 5000x's based on some members raving abut them a years ago . I sold the jeep not long after installing them . I didn't care for the stiffness on and off-road. I bought the jeep back a few years later and put the 9000's back on set on 4 in the front and 3 rear. handles better and much better dampening over rough and pot holed asphalt and can travel faster off road . Average weight TJ, 9000lb winch and 4.0, savvy springs ,35s. Had 5100s on a similar Jeep but too stiff going slow but not bad at speed on highway . The 9000xl's seem more controlled without the stiffnes of the 5000x. Based on the opinion of a few JF members I told a buddy about the 5000x back when they were just released and he bought a set and his Jeep rides incredibly smooth equipted a little heavier than mine. For me the 9000xl's are still fine for me . If they die before I then I will go Fox . I have had good luck with them on other 4x4's
Nashvillwill
Member
Ranchos are garbage, the common recommendation is silly.
I don’t think Rancho’s are garbage at all. I ran 9000’s for years and was very happy with them - for me and my rig they certainly were not garbage. I tried a set of Billstein 5100’s for a while but they were way to soft for my rig. Doesn’t mean they are garbage, but they did not work for me. Some love the things. Different shocks work with different rigs. Personal preference comes into it as well.
There's a few reasons to say they're junk:
1. Stacking - ever go quickly over sequential bumps and notice how they progressively get harsher?
2. Inconsistency - the same two shocks won't perform the same
3. The paint
4. Lacking Consistent performance over obstacles taking away stability.
It's not all relative. You can prefer that ride all you want, but the reality is what it is - it may just not matter for what people that like ranchos do.
Which shock is best….? Might as well drive wooden sticks under your finger nails.
With Rancho paint quality being an obvious exception I can think of, debating which shock is best is a waste of time and band width. Totally subjective.
With Rancho paint quality being an obvious exception I can think of, debating which shock is best is a waste of time and band width. Totally subjective.
i'll be putting some blackmax in the rear to replace my blown ranchos on saturday.. will see how it rolls with rancho fronts. i've got a few testing grounds in mind to hopefully feel any difference.
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