I am in the process of compiling a spreadsheet for readily available, reasonably priced off-the-shelf replacement shock absorbers to fit my TJ Unlimited (LJ) Rubicon with approximately 5" of suspension lift. My goal is to find the specifications and part numbers for various shocks that have approximately the same extended and compressed lengths as the shocks I have now which already have the appropriate bump stops. Theoretically, sticking close to the same extended and compressed lengths will make the new shocks a bolt-on operation with little fine tuning necessary. (We'll see how that goes in the real world. 
)
My current monotube shocks have the following specifications:
Front
Extended Length 29.3"
Compressed Length 17.4"
Travel 11.9"
Rear
Extended Length 24.8"
Compressed Length 15.4"
Travel 9.4"
The Rocksport Long Travel twin tube shocks for the TJ and LJ have the following specifications:
Front
Extended Length 27.4"
Compressed Length 16.2"
Travel 11.2"
Rear
Extended Length 24.5"
Compressed Length 14.6"
Travel 9.9"
I have searched for clues as to who makes these shocks and how they compare to other shocks commonly used on TJ's and LJ's. Unfortunately I have found nothing definitive. What I have learned is that: (1) OME shocks are manufactured in the Monroe factory in Australia; (2) there are many Aussie offroaders who believe that the OME Nitrocharger and later the Nitrocharger Sport are similar if not the same as the Monroe "Gas Magnum" and "Gas Magnum 4x4" sold in Australia, and (3) there is evidence to suggest that Metalcloak may have contracted with either OME or Monroe to produce the private labeled Rocksport shocks, and that these shocks have similar valving as the now discontinued OME Nitrocharger. I can find no confirmation of this theory, but I did find the following post by Matson at Metalcloak on another jeep forum:
Immediately after stating that Metalcloak is one of the largest resellers of OME shocks in Northern California and that the ". . . OME Nitrocharger Shocks were incredibly popular because of their superior travel and performance," Matson answered the following question:
Do you know anything about the RockSports in terms of valving? Do they offer a firmer or softer ride than the OME's?
"The Rocksports are nearly identical to the OME's in terms of Valving and Travel. We chose the OME originally because they were very similar to our desired valving in the 6Pak Shocks. And since we developed a system around our Dual Rate Coils and 6Pak Valving, we wanted the same performance out of any other shock we introduced to the system. The . . . RockSport Long Travel Shock . . . meet(s) that performance criteria."
See: https://www.********forum.com/f274/metalcloak-gamechanger-w-ome-shocks-1465034.html#post22015577
[Replace **** with wrangler]
If Rocksport long travel shocks are valved similarly to the discontinued OME Nitrocharger shocks that have a reputation for being smooth riding, then these may indeed be worthy of consideration. At $138/pair, a full set of Rocksports is only $63 more than the Amazon price for a set of the Rancho RS5000x shocks currently popular on the Internet jeep forums. [Let's not get into the knee-jerk love/hate for Metalcloak prevalent on some jeep forums - this is a discussion about shocks, not the company that sells them.]
What do you TJ and LJ owners who have direct personal experience with Rocksport long travel shocks have to say about them? There are generally positive comments on the JK boards but not much mention on the TJ side.
@Serbonze, you have them, what say you? On the street? On washboard roads? In the rocks?
And if @Matsonian is reading, what can you tell us about the valving of the Rocksports in comparison to the now discontinued OME Nitrochargers? Which shocks were you referring to in the post linked above, the now discontinued Nitrocharger or the Nitrocharger Sport?
)My current monotube shocks have the following specifications:
Front
Extended Length 29.3"
Compressed Length 17.4"
Travel 11.9"
Rear
Extended Length 24.8"
Compressed Length 15.4"
Travel 9.4"
The Rocksport Long Travel twin tube shocks for the TJ and LJ have the following specifications:
Front
Extended Length 27.4"
Compressed Length 16.2"
Travel 11.2"
Rear
Extended Length 24.5"
Compressed Length 14.6"
Travel 9.9"
I have searched for clues as to who makes these shocks and how they compare to other shocks commonly used on TJ's and LJ's. Unfortunately I have found nothing definitive. What I have learned is that: (1) OME shocks are manufactured in the Monroe factory in Australia; (2) there are many Aussie offroaders who believe that the OME Nitrocharger and later the Nitrocharger Sport are similar if not the same as the Monroe "Gas Magnum" and "Gas Magnum 4x4" sold in Australia, and (3) there is evidence to suggest that Metalcloak may have contracted with either OME or Monroe to produce the private labeled Rocksport shocks, and that these shocks have similar valving as the now discontinued OME Nitrocharger. I can find no confirmation of this theory, but I did find the following post by Matson at Metalcloak on another jeep forum:
Immediately after stating that Metalcloak is one of the largest resellers of OME shocks in Northern California and that the ". . . OME Nitrocharger Shocks were incredibly popular because of their superior travel and performance," Matson answered the following question:
Do you know anything about the RockSports in terms of valving? Do they offer a firmer or softer ride than the OME's?
"The Rocksports are nearly identical to the OME's in terms of Valving and Travel. We chose the OME originally because they were very similar to our desired valving in the 6Pak Shocks. And since we developed a system around our Dual Rate Coils and 6Pak Valving, we wanted the same performance out of any other shock we introduced to the system. The . . . RockSport Long Travel Shock . . . meet(s) that performance criteria."
See: https://www.********forum.com/f274/metalcloak-gamechanger-w-ome-shocks-1465034.html#post22015577
[Replace **** with wrangler]
If Rocksport long travel shocks are valved similarly to the discontinued OME Nitrocharger shocks that have a reputation for being smooth riding, then these may indeed be worthy of consideration. At $138/pair, a full set of Rocksports is only $63 more than the Amazon price for a set of the Rancho RS5000x shocks currently popular on the Internet jeep forums. [Let's not get into the knee-jerk love/hate for Metalcloak prevalent on some jeep forums - this is a discussion about shocks, not the company that sells them.]
What do you TJ and LJ owners who have direct personal experience with Rocksport long travel shocks have to say about them? There are generally positive comments on the JK boards but not much mention on the TJ side.
@Serbonze, you have them, what say you? On the street? On washboard roads? In the rocks?
And if @Matsonian is reading, what can you tell us about the valving of the Rocksports in comparison to the now discontinued OME Nitrochargers? Which shocks were you referring to in the post linked above, the now discontinued Nitrocharger or the Nitrocharger Sport?
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