After searching for a couple hours about shocks, I am still left with a couple of questions. I have decided to go for the bilsteins, but should I get the 5100 series or the HD series? I would like to do some light desert runs and such. Do the 5100's provide more travel? Also, do the 5100's actually lift the truck 4 inches?

 

Shocks don't lift any vehicles, unless they are air shocks.

They will provide as much travel as your suspension will allow. Sounds like the 5100's are for trucks WITH 4" lifts.

 

So then the HD series should be more than enough for me? Does anyone know how much travel they actually have?

 

The HD's Have probably about 9 inches of travel but stock suspension hits the stops a long time before that. I have the HD's and love them. I don't have one bad thing to say about them.

 

X2 - Bilsteins rock

 

I don't like em. Way too stiff. Definitely going with adjustable shocks when I blow these bilsteins out.

 

Though I'll admit, they do look nice when you're flexin em

 

i havent ever ridden in a truck with bilsteins, so i cant comment, but you might of got a harder valved shock?

 

True, they might have been 255/70s or something. I didn't even think to look at the box when I slapped em on.

They're the 5150s that trail-gear carries. They aint list anymore valving info, so I dunno...

But yeah, I much prefer 170/60.

 

I like my bils because they are stiff at low speeds where I need the support (mostly for crawling...to prevent weight transfer/shifting/unloading) and they get super soft when going real fast


For your application Duartizzle I would go with the Bils with the reservoir on em

 

I like my 5100's and 5125's with the 255/70 valving. You can get them both in different travel lengths.