I have spent the last couple of hrs reading thru hundreds of posts. I have a question that no one else asks.

18 STX 4x4. 20x9 -19mm wheels. 33x12.50s.

Truck only rubs now if I cross the truck up(flex) while turning sharply. But I am considering a strut style option. But here's my question.... I'm looking for a SOFTER yet controlled ride quality. My truck seems to bounce something fierce. Especially on the dirt roads. The *** end the literally try to pass you. The front seems a little stiff as well in my opinion.

So I've looked at the Bilstein 5100 and 6112 series, the eibachs, the fox 2.0s. but they all say stock like ride. I want a more plush comfortable ride? And while I am reading that they will all tame the bounciness, which would be the smoothest? Truck will never see hard core offroading. Just a few mud holes on the way to the local sand bars and creek banks.

Also my truck has the max tow package does that come with stiffer rear springs? is replacing the rear springs a viable option?



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You sound like me with every Truck I've owned...! YES the stock ride is rough and ridiculous in the rear IMO..! I installed a pair of Rancho RS5000 on the rear only and the difference is night and day..! .. I've used them on my 05 F350 front and rear as well... The only downside to them for me is they don't hold up with salt on roads and get rusty quick.. However, on the upside they are warrantied for life and I've exchanged them on my 05 at least 4 times.. For the price and performance these can't be beat IMO.. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&jsn=10&jsn=10

 

I have Max tow package as well. The springs are the same. Max tow gives you the 9.75 diff with either 3.55 or 3.73, and supposedly the hitch is different as well. I'm going to be adding on board air compressor and air bags to my rear as I plan on doing some heavy towing next year.. I had air bags on my old 02 F150 and it made a world of difference when towing heavy loads.

 

“Stock-like ride” is BULL. All of those options are more controlled and have better handling than stock. Many call this “stiff” or “harsh”. ShockSurplus on YouTube has a great many videos on them but the basic run down is this:

-Fox are the most plush while being more controlled than stock. Great in whoops and especially at low speed bumps
-Bilstein are the stiffest or most controlled on the road. Low speed bumps are harder, handles high speed pretty well
-Eibach falls in between. Not crazy plush but not crazy stiff

in your case, I would recommend Fox. Currently I have Mammoth Off-road from AmericanTrucks. They’re basically a knockoff Fox, at least visually. They do have adjustable damping on the compression side and I’m very happy with them but there’s very little info on them and there’s no reviews on longevity or anything. But for all 4 it’s $700 which is just over half of the Fox. But the Fox are top notch and you can’t go wrong with them, I cannot promise the same with MO

 

Thank you, this is info I needed. I just found mammoth(just received my American trucks catalog LoL). I was thinking Fox too. I'll look more into the mammoth, and check out the shock surplus. Plan to order in the 2 weeks.

 

I will point out the reason all those shocks are said to have a "Stock like ride" is because they are all setup (valved) to have better or, alike performance/aggressive and tuned for better handling over stock, therefore the ride really doesn't change.. However, the Fox will no doubt be the best of the bunch as they are tuned nicely.. I have them on all my offroad toys and my 05 F250 6.0 with and 8inch Fabtech lift kit.

Over the years on different vehicles I've used all the ones you listed except for the 6112s but I already know what to expect from them.. I live in a city with horrible roads and potholes everywhere... I'm telling you from person experience if you want a "SOFTER RIDE" the 5000 are the only ones I've found to give such a ride.. They don't break the bank and other than a poor paint job they are very well made and the ONLY shocks I've came across that are valved for slower rebound, in turn, creating a softer ride.. I've never felt like I was loosing control and I drive hard.... I left the front on this 16 stock because it still handles very well and the bumps aren't that bad.. The rear was terrible..

Here's a clip from shock surplus. "Rancho will give you a softer ride. ." https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx6aVMB9o...s26vVosyXTfyN7

Also make note the FOX shocks are not cheap to rebuild and I've had several of them on different rides start to leak at the seals. One was only 3 years old had less then 2k on it hardly seen any trails and was leaking at the seal.. If you do decide to run fox I highly recommend you get covers or boots they don't come with them unless that has since change..?... and the R9000 are okay but aren't worth it IMO, the 7000 your going back to aggressive. If you decide to go with performance/handling the mammoth shocks Dapepper has may not be a bad alternative... Curious to see how long they last and how they compare to FOX... Could use a set for my 2018 CANAM 850XMR if they swing that way too..

Hope this helps..