Aftermarket Shocks

[RWSkin]

We recently bought a new Jayco 264BH travel trailer. I am pulling it with a 1/2 ton Chevy Silverado with a weight distribution hitch (Recurve R3). This is working fine for us now. I would like to ask if anyone with a similar setup has changed the factory shocks on their truck to aftermarket shocks. If so, what brand/type of shocks did you install, and are you pleased with the results? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Wxman]

On two Silverados 2012 & 2017 I replaced the factory shocks with Bilstein 4600 shocks. I found good improvement in my opinion. Both of these trucks were Z71 trims with the factory off-road shocks which I didn't like for towing.
I was using E4 WDH and thought the new shocks really helped limit the rear up and down of the truck.

Good luck

[Old and soft]

Bilstein 5100 on my f-250, r3, 264bh. It was a little soft before, firmed it up a little. Noticebly less lean in the corners.
Have 7100's on my mid travel street legal rail buggy, luv em.

[crappiejig]

F 250 pulling 35 foot Eagle. X3 on Bilstein.

[Wxman]

FWIW, when I was purchasing shocks for the first truck the word on the street was the internals of the 5100s and the 4600s were the same. The 5100s had a nicer, showier finish and had sizes for lifted trucks as well as leveling capability for coil-over front ends.
No hard proof it is true.

Good luck

[inspectagadget]

I have the exact same trailer 264BH and use a Toyota Tundra w/ Limited trim, and Off-Road package. I installed King Coil-overs, up front, 2.5's with Resi's. The rear I changed to King 2.5 shocks w/ Resi's.

I have a WDH and it rides like butter!

[Marcm157]

Another Vote for Bilstein 5100's on my F250...

[85vf500rr]

I've got the Bilstein 4600s on mine. They are what is typically recommended for stock vehicles/wheels/ride height. The 5100s are supposed to be valved differently for heavier/larger wheels and tires as is common on off road vehicles and 4x4s. The 5100 series struts also have grooves to allow you to make minor adjustments to ride height. If these extra features don't apply, just go for the 4600s and you'll be happy.

[RWSkin]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'm getting Bilstein 4600s installed on Friday.

[craigav]

Originally Posted by RWSkin

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'm getting Bilstein 4600s installed on Friday.

Just to share my experience, I have a Silverado 2500 and had a truck camper and I never found the right shock that would be strong enough when towing my 5th wheel or carrying a load (truck camper) and still provide for a good ride when not towing or carrying a load. The last shocks I purchased for it though were the Rancho RS9000 series shocks.

There are certainly a lot of good (and bad) shocks on the market, the main difference here is that these are adjustable, you can turn down the resistance when driving unloaded and get a great ride down the highway, and then you can dial up the resistance when loaded giving you the firmness you need for towing or carrying a load. To me, all other shocks are a bit of a compromise, strong for loads then rough unloaded, smooth unloaded then not strong enough when loaded, not with these. Just a thought to share based on my real world experience.

FYI, I will not buy these for my class c as it is loaded all the time, and I have some bilsteins ready for me to install when I have some time, Bilsteins are good shocks for sure, just that I suspect you may find them more firm than you like when your truck is empty and not towing. ~CA

gorancho dot com is their website if you would like to read up on the rs9000's which is what I purchased.

[JFlightRisk]

I had two Tundra TRD's with Bilstein 4600 shocks from the factory. Traded for an F150, and put the Bilstein's on it in short order. You won't be disappointed.

[Eric H.]

Originally Posted by Wxman

FWIW, when I was purchasing shocks for the first truck the word on the street was the internals of the 5100s and the 4600s were the same. The 5100s had a nicer, showier finish and had sizes for lifted trucks as well as leveling capability for coil-over front ends.
No hard proof it is true.

Good luck

I've replaced many of the yellow 4600 with low mileage because they lost all the gas charge. The TRD Toyota Tacoma's came with them and they commonly failed early. I do like the zinc plated 5100's though and have used them personally with good results and long life. I don't know about any differences to the internals.