Anybody have experience with their N3 line for shocks/struts? How do they compare to OE performance? To bilstein? Application would be 2018 F150.
Rough country N3
- Thread starter buck91
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Rough Country is mostly Emporer's New Clothes -- lots of marketing and little else.
I wouldn't even consider ranking their shocks over Bilstein.
That said, I have not actually used them so I cannot provide personal experience. Over the years I've used their shocks somewhere, and recall they didn't last that long. But that was so long ago that the supplier has almost surely changed since then.
I wouldn't even consider ranking their shocks over Bilstein.
That said, I have not actually used them so I cannot provide personal experience. Over the years I've used their shocks somewhere, and recall they didn't last that long. But that was so long ago that the supplier has almost surely changed since then.
Coming from my last position working for a urethane company that made boots and bushings for everyone in the suspension world, almost all shocks for the lift kit aftermarket are made by Driv (Tenneco/Monroe) or Ride Control (Gabriel). Find the best deal on the class of shock you are looking for, they are very much the same, or very very close to it.
Two very different opinions. Anybody else?
In the Jeep world they're trash. I'd recommend Fox for a mid level shock, or Bilstein 5100 or Rancho RS7MT for entry level but still good.
If RC is all you can afford and/or you are not keeping the truck then get them. They are better than OEM. If you can afford to get the Bilstiens or Eibachs then I recommend you go that route.
I paid for tuned shocks from accutune and have been pleased with them more than any other. These are under the bed of my 18 F180. They are fox adjustables and they asked for how much weight I carried in there daily, etc. if I could have done it differently, I would have said NO weight, for a slightly softer shock. I run mine on the second to softest setting for daily drives. Saying no weight would allow me to dial up or down instead of being at the bottom. (I’ve got a 250lb shell and a few odds and ends in the bed).
For atruly a truck that doesn’t go bouncing washboards off road at 30+, I would not recommend the bilstein 5100. That shock has less rebound and more compression dampening, especially as they wear, and on the highway this can lead to a pogo-stick effect. I found the 4600 to be much more suitable for a highway vehicle. That said, an empty truck bed and a 4600 can be a stiff ride. If you can find it, the Monroe reflex has always felt good to me for a larger vehicle. They are a linear shock (which I personally prefer).
Ok so thats also a point. The softer ford suspension may very well be valved linearly, so a matching valving in the back is a good idea - Gabriel Ultra would get a nod there. If it’s an STX with the stiffer ride, I’m pretty sure they are progressively valved, which will match a 4600 better. I think.
For atruly a truck that doesn’t go bouncing washboards off road at 30+, I would not recommend the bilstein 5100. That shock has less rebound and more compression dampening, especially as they wear, and on the highway this can lead to a pogo-stick effect. I found the 4600 to be much more suitable for a highway vehicle. That said, an empty truck bed and a 4600 can be a stiff ride. If you can find it, the Monroe reflex has always felt good to me for a larger vehicle. They are a linear shock (which I personally prefer).
Ok so thats also a point. The softer ford suspension may very well be valved linearly, so a matching valving in the back is a good idea - Gabriel Ultra would get a nod there. If it’s an STX with the stiffer ride, I’m pretty sure they are progressively valved, which will match a 4600 better. I think.
