I'm running the rs9000's front and rear on my truck and they are great in the bush and on the road and you can fiddle with them quite a bit to make them ride nice. my buddy has bilstien remote resoviors in the front and they also work good but you need space for the resoviors cause they are pretty big

 

bilstein vs Rancho??? Thought Id never see the day.

Bilstein 5125 or better, hands down IMO.

 

Bilistien 5100's are good shocks if you want en exellent ride onroad, offroad there much better than stock also

 

Rancho has recently come out with some gas versions of the RS9000 shocks, the 9000XL. They even have remote reservoir versions in some lengths. Have a set I'll be putting on my '85 shortly to replace some of the older RS9000s:
- http://www.gorancho.com/products/sho...rs9000x_RS.php

They feel really nice operating them by hand, and having the in-cab adjustment like the old 9000s will be nice. I do have Bilsteins on my daily driver, so will be interesting comparing the ride between the two.

 

I ran RS5000's on my old 87 and the ride was stiff but good... I usually carried around a ton of weight in tools and materials so everything was fairly loaded up then the ride was truck but plush-ish... when driving empty the ride was firm... very truck...

need new shocks on my 94 truck now but can't afford them lol... trying to decide between getting 5000's again or Bilsteins... never know which ones to look at though lol 5100/5150? what's the diff?

 

4 crawler do you happen to know what part number your shocks were? I am trying to find out which ones will fit a 1982 hilux. Also is there a big difference in quality between the rs9000x and the rs9000xl... or does the XL just mean it has the wireless capability?

 

Shocks used listed on the web pages below:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension-III.shtml
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspe...ml#SpringSpecs

But unless you have a similar suspension lift unlikely those p/n's would fit your truck, best to download the PDF file from their site and pick by dimension:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/Rancho.shtml

I think the 9000Xs are just the revamped 9000s, they are a little better and have the 1-9 adjustment knob instead of the 1-5 knob. The 9000XL are the gas pressure shocks and are a whole lot nicer than the the 9000/9000X models. Some of the XLs are remote reservoir models as well.

 

my 2 cents...i had bilstien heavy dutys on my single cab pickup,very stiff,went to the rancho 5000 and it was like night and day,i think its because a its smaller lighter vehicle.i had bilsteins on my 88 and 89 4runners,they both rode rode great.

 

Makes sense.. Thanks for the info guys! I considered the rancho adjustable before.. but was talked out of it saying that it really wouldn't do what I was wanted.. however from asking a few people that are actually running them.. it sounds like I should be able to get the ride I am looking for.

 

i have rancho 9000xl all around and they are the best damn ride, used to have bilstein in the runner but i got the ranchos for free so i changed them out. and being able to adjust the stiffness for 1-9 is awesome the 1-3 setting is like OE ride and 4 is for offroad but when you put the on 9 it feels like your driving a lowered street racing car and no body roll at all... i have them on 9 all the time unless i go off road i turn the down.