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.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
In a week I will put 4 new RS7MT’s in the can. Sad story where AZ sold me the wrong shocks (too long) - had a front end shop mount while doing an alignment.
Before I got home - felt them bottom out 3 times - oil on my driveway. I had to argue with both places. AZ has new shocks on order - takes a week. I might put RC’s on the front today - don’t think the back bottomed out - but are still wrong …
Before I got home - felt them bottom out 3 times - oil on my driveway. I had to argue with both places. AZ has new shocks on order - takes a week. I might put RC’s on the front today - don’t think the back bottomed out - but are still wrong …
I always put shocks side by side fully extended to make sure lengths are close.
If they're so long you used them as bump stops driving home, the shop should have noticed something didn't seem right. That said, if you provided parts it's not their fault.
When I lifted my JL I relocated the rear mounts and kept running stock length Rubi shocks
The stock mounts are comically low for trail work
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Yeah - but when a 30 year front end guy never recognized there was maybe 1/3 the rod travel left -vs- clearly visible bump stops - then proceeded to argue over the concept - agreed to disagree - I’m just done with him. Sadly I thought it was handy to get it done during the alignment - but it’s going to be me - my 4 ton big red - and 20v impact (and my son if I order catfish platesI always put shocks side by side fully extended to make sure lengths are close.
If they're so long you used them as bump stops driving home, the shop should have noticed something didn't seem right. That said, if you provided parts it's not their fault.
When I lifted my JL I relocated the rear mounts and kept running stock length Rubi shocks
)
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
I have been rock crawling in my buddies outfitted JL - but no interest in beating mine up on Flintstone Cove! Plenty time in sand and mud - and it’s amazing how much it gets drug through even then …
I wrapped header tape around my cross-over pipe and it’s freakin’ shredded by brush going into back-lakes etc …
I wrapped header tape around my cross-over pipe and it’s freakin’ shredded by brush going into back-lakes etc …
Rough Country is pretty much bottom of the barrel. I have seen a GMC truck and Jeep Wrangler with them that lasted just over a year. The GMC the bushings literally fell out and the Wrangler was bouncing like a ship at sea. I installed a RC lift kit on an S10 that was horrible as well. My Jeep CJ7 has SkyJacker shocks that were installed with their 4" lift back in like 1990 and they are still fine. My 2020 Gladiator has the factory FOX shocks and at 82k miles still function fine but I think they are way overpriced if I need to replace them. Then there is Bilstein - a favorite everywhere and I too have great luck with them as standard on one of my Corvettes and I put them on my GMC pickup many years ago.
Are you talking about the exhaust loop? Get the evo exhaust loop skid, mine's a life saver.
...and replace the stock springs/shocks....they're junk like they have been on every jeep since the beginning of time...LOL. On road even I can't believe what a difference a proper suspension makes.
Can't give any feedback on the shocks, but my old Titan came with their lift kit when purchased. The overall ride quality was pretty rough (partially due to needing longer shocks). The rubber portion of their ball joints were cracked and the truck was less than a year old. I would personally look elsewhere.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Update on this - still waiting for the correct RS7MT’s - so my $109/pair N3’s kept me on the road another week - but what’s sadder than the money I lost with the installation - is that the vehicle performs much better than stock shocks at 46k …I always put shocks side by side fully extended to make sure lengths are close.
If they're so long you used them as bump stops driving home, the shop should have noticed something didn't seem right. That said, if you provided parts it's not their fault.
When I lifted my JL I relocated the rear mounts and kept running stock length Rubi shocks
I might leave the N3’s until I do brake pads in a few months …
Plenty other fish to fry …
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