Rancho RS5000x or Fox Performance 2.0 shocks? What does everyone recommend?

[ks2023]

Hello JL group!

I have a 2018 JLU Sport S. Stock height and only thing aftermarket are the Westin running boards. I run Wildpeak AT3W passenger tires at 31 psi so overall it’s fairly light. I’m looking for more of a daily driver shock and go off-road every other weekend.

I made the mistake of purchasing Bilstein 5100’s for my Jeep. They ride very firm and have a harsh/jarring feel on larger bumps on the asphalt. Off-road they are even worse.

I’m debating between buying the Rancho RS5000x because the valving is progressive and should offer a smoother ride at slower speed.
I’m also interested in the fox 2.0 performance, I believe the valving is more linear. I worry that my Jeep being on the light side will still ride firm on asphalt as a daily driver with the Fox’s.
Any advice is appreciated! Hopefully this post will help someone else out in the future. I’ll be buying from Extreme Terrain.

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[JEEP4U]

Go with OME (Old Man Emu) shocks for a smooth ride.

 

[Bill_P]

I would go with Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks. I have them on my '18 JLU and the ride is nice.

 

[ks2023]

I would go with Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks. I have them on my '18 JLU and the ride is nice.

Okay thanks Bill!

 

[dstevens]

You're going to get a different answer from each person about shocks. I tried RS9000s on my JK and they were the worst shocks I have experienced on any vehicle that I have owned or even driven. Truly terrible. Other people love them.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Rancho 9000s are hard to properly adjust and get worse over time, the little valve on them isn’t reliable.

Rancho 5000s have never disappointed me. Yeah, they aren’t flashy or the latest tech. But they work well and have been around forever. In recent years they have improved them with nitrogen gas.

 

[ks2023]

You're going to get a different answer from each person about shocks. I tried RS9000s on my JK and they were the worst shocks I have experienced on any vehicle that I have owned or even driven. Truly terrible. Other people love them.

Thanks dstevens!

 

[ks2023]

Rancho 9000s are hard to properly adjust and get worse over time, the little valve on them isn’t reliable.

Rancho 5000s have never disappointed me. Yeah, they aren’t flashy or the latest tech. But they work well and have been around forever. In recent years they have improved them with nitrogen gas.

Thanks for the response! I’m leaning towards the Rancho’s

 

[m3reno]

I had the same issue, OEM shocks were very harsh, bone jarring over bumps in the road. I installed The Rancho 9000XL and set them at setting 4 and the ride is amazing. Comfortable but not too soft. I installed them a week after I got my Jeep back in June of 2022 and they are still perfect. Best shock for the money.

 

[DubaiMarauder]

Hello JL group!

I have a 2018 JLU Sport S. Stock height and only thing aftermarket are the Westin running boards. I run Wildpeak AT3W passenger tires at 31 psi so overall it’s fairly light. I’m looking for more of a daily driver shock and go off-road every other weekend.

I made the mistake of purchasing Bilstein 5100’s for my Jeep. They ride very firm and have a harsh/jarring feel on larger bumps on the asphalt. Off-road they are even worse.

I’m debating between buying the Rancho RS5000x because the valving is progressive and should offer a smoother ride at slower speed.
I’m also interested in the fox 2.0 performance, I believe the valving is more linear. I worry that my Jeep being on the light side will still ride firm on asphalt as a daily driver with the Fox’s.
Any advice is appreciated! Hopefully this post will help someone else out in the future. I’ll be buying from Extreme Terrain.

Why not go with Fox 2.5 adjustables or Falcon ST3 3.3 adjustables and just set them to the softest setting and go up from there based on your ride preference?

 

[ks2023]

I had the same issue, OEM shocks were very harsh, bone jarring over bumps in the road. I installed The Rancho 9000XL and set them at setting 4 and the ride is amazing. Comfortable but not too soft. I installed them a week after I got my Jeep back in June of 2022 and they are still perfect. Best shock for the money.

Thanks!

 

[ks2023]

Why not go with Fox 2.5 adjustables or Falcon ST3 3.3 adjustables and just set them to the softest setting and go up from there based on your ride preference?

Thanks for the reply. High end adjustable shocks would make the most sense. I’m just trying to come up with a cheaper solution for now.

 

[m3reno]

I read that some people complained that the more expensive shocks were just as harsh as the originals. That's why I went with the Ranchos. On my Ram I had the Bilstein's and they made the ride hard. In the end I ended up putting in the Rancho's on my Ram also and the ride was perfect. Now If I was going to the desert riding all out then I would go with a performance shock.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

The thing I don't like about Fox shocks is that they have about 50k or so good miles in them before they need a rebuild, yes they are designed to be rebuilt. So that requires removal, time on the bench or sent out, then a reinstall. Your Jeep could be out of commission for days or longer. It's easier and less expensive in the long run to buy permanently sealed shocks.

Another advantage of Fox, and similar shocks, is the ability to pull them out and change valving in them to tune them to preference. Honestly, how many of you will do that?

 

[DaltonGang]

Why not go with Fox 2.5 adjustables or Falcon ST3 3.3 adjustables and just set them to the softest setting and go up from there based on your ride preference?

$1,400 for 2 Fox shocks?? That's just crazy talk.
$2,000 for 4 teraflex 3.3?? Not much better.

I can understand using these, if you are Desert Running, but just slow moving it in a Jeep??

.

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