Best off-road and on road shocks?

[spartan4life79]

Looking to get a little more into off roading this summer, and trying to figure out what might be the best shocks to put on my 2004 Ford Ranger XLT? And anything else anyone would recommend. Maybe lights? Grill guard?

Thanks!

 

[03ranger30]

I would imagine bilsteins, that is what I am going to be getting once I need new ones

 

[nitrofan1]

Shocks are like shoes. There are different types for different functions. Are you looking for 90% road 10% off road? Stock or lifted? Hauling, towing or not?

Give us more detail. You might be convinced to get the wrong shock otherwise.

 

[PRanger]

Got new bilsteins about two weeks ago. Much much better on and off road than my 13 year old stocks. Used to rock so much on the trail now it crawls smooth

 

[GDRBO]

I run Fox or Bilstein. For the bucks KYBs work pretty good.

 

[4.0B2]

Shocks are shocks?? No! Don't believe that...

If you ever run bilsteins, you'll never use a different shock. NEVER! I'm getting some for my b2 when I do the front axle swap. Just gotta figure out the length I need. Well worth the money. 5150's. Even 5125's. 4wheelparts runs good sales on them sometimes to.


Good bilsteins are gonna treat you right on road, off road and for mild towing. Any towing you'll do with a ranger: you'll be fine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I like my nitro Skyjacker's.

 

[spartan4life79]

Its a stock Ranger, had thought about a body lift, but wasnt sure on it really. I would say 75% on road 25% off road. Might tow a trainer with atv's on occasion but rarely.

 

[nitrofan1]

Its a stock Ranger, had thought about a body lift, but wasnt sure on it really. I would say 75% on road 25% off road. Might tow a trainer with atv's on occasion but rarely.

If you won't be doing a suspension lift and you want quality vs cost go with Bilstein. They have a rep of outstanding quality. If you don't want to order off the net Monroe Sensa-Trac, Monroe Reflex and KYB are great shocks with the advantage of in town availability and parts store support.

 

[jeffw920]

no one else seems to have mentioned these so far, but i like the rancho rs5000's They're cheap and they ride really stiff. I just replaced my bilstein's (4600 series? not sure) with the ranchos, the truck rides much stiffer and harsher but i'm actually in favor of it, the ride is less "bouncy" too

 

[upnsmoke]

Shocks are shocks?? No! Don't believe that...

I agree. Shocks matter, on any vehicle, in any environment. Ask any autocrosser about shocks, and I guarantee he has a lot to say. I know first hand that Monroe is pure junk. Sensa tracs have no damping whatsoever through the middle part of their travel. KYB Gr2s are okay, but tend to lose their low speed damping within 10k miles of install, and that is with strictly street driving. I have Kyb gas a justs (or something like that) on our '91 F150 hauler, and they have been okay for about 30k on the street now. They see some off road occasionally and do okay. Rancho rs5000s are what I currently have on my Ranger, and they have almost as much low speed damping as a Koni yellow (good street/ autocross shock), or at least it feels that way, which makes them stiff as hell for off roading. However, somehow it seems that they have not lost any of their damping, even as I continue to beat on them pretty hard on occasion. There is almost no arguing though, that about everything Biltstein makes works right and lasts. I had a set of custom valved Bilsteins on an autocross Mustang back when I was into that kind of thing, and was far happier with them for several reasons than any Konis or Tokicos I have ever owned, and I have had multiple sets of both. All in all, for price and performance, in my book, Bilstein wins, and Bilsteins are what will go on my Ranger next.

 

[spartan4life79]

Thank you for that info! That helps me out quite a bit!