Rancho Shocks, Why Not?

[Gangly]

I posted on another section of the boards about my Eibach install, but while writing that I starting thinking about the Ranchos that were being replaced by the Eibachs.  I constantly read/hear arguments about how cruddy the Ranchos are, but I honestly thought they were a decent FACTORY installed off road shock.  Their on-road characteristics were lacking and their durability was shorter than expected, but I thought they did fine off-road.  I am honestly a little sad about the Ranchos being toast because unlike most people I preferred the plusher and softer ride of the Ranchos off road, especially when trail riding because they absorbed everything, never bottomed out as far as I could tell, and I felt very little rebound as long as I took things at a comfortable pace.  If I was 18 and was bombing down the back roads like an idiot I would have found the Ranchos lacking, but as an adult and driving at an adult's pace, they were great in that environment.  For a STOCK shock, they performed really well off road but the on road characteristics of the shock were lacking in some areas and the bounce was getting to a point of concern for me so I had to make a switch and went with Eibachs. 

 

For those who actually drove their trucks off road a little, did you find the Ranchos to be atrocious, or decent equipment, again for a FACTORY shock on a non Ford Raptor like vehicle?  

[Genesis]

I think they are a decent shock for the price. Now is the Z71 package a rival for the raptor or Zr2? No I don't think so because they are not really a apples to apples comparison. I think the attention should be on the factory tires as they are not what I expected when I think of the "Z71" package as they should be a bit more all terrain focused. I have about 500 miles of dirt and washboard roads on my 2020 (1700 miles total) and I think they are what I expected and that is average. Would the decision be made based upon the shocks on my truck? Nope I still like the truck very much as it is very good on paved roads and decent off road just like what I use it for. Now my 81 k10 I had before was built for much tougher and harsher roads but came at a price of on road manners.

 

Now I will say when the truck needs tires I will be buying some bilstein or fox shocks and a leveling kit.

[fatwhiteboy]

I replaced my Rancho's with Bilsteins.  Ranchos are probably one step up from stock hydraulic shocks and for many people even the stock garbage shocks are fine.  Do you need King's for the road and light off roading, I do not, but there is a huge difference in shocks.  I have Fox bypass shocks on my Jeep and they are incredible.

[BossTaco2020]

For my 70 year old dad, the stock shocks in whatever he drives are good enough until they wear out and even then I doubt he'd replace them. For me, I just need something firmer and feels less bouncy. The stock Bilsteins in my 2016 Tacoma TRD OffRoad were atrocious. So even Bilstein can make bad shocks. The stock Ranchos in my TrailBoss are too bouncy for me. I also drive a 2020 Lexus RX350 FSport and that ride is sweet. So I'm a little biased when I drive my truck and it's bouncing all over the place. I don't want exactly what my Lexus has, but I need something a little more firm on the roads. OffRoad, the Ranchos are fine going up to my cabin in the mountains. I'm really more concerned about tires up there than shocks anyways. I hate getting stuck.