Recommendations about shocks (Rancho RS5000)

[Fbeeel]

Looking for a bit of advise on shocks, was considering buying Rancho RS5000's for '98 4x4 XJ Sport (4door). Wanted to get some feedback on those shocks for my application.....my Jeep has stock suspension for now and even If I were to lift it it would not be much. Maybe 2-3 inches at most. This is my every day vehicle (I hate to call it a car), I commute about 2 hours a day, mostly rolling back roads and some highways. I average about 400-450 miles a week. I also use this vehicle to do some recreational off-road, nothing to serious and I also use this vehicle to go various properties where I hunt, again nothing too serious.

So there's the backround on my Jeep's use: I want to get a good shock for road use that will also do just fine off-road. The RS5000's were recommended to me, I don't want to end up with a shock that will beat up my front-end because it's too stiff. Right now I have the original shocks and they are terrible.

What about the RS5000's or would you all recommend something else?

Also added a K&N kit which is nice, what kind of upgraded plugs and plug wires should I get? Performance is key but gas mileage even more critical.

All comments welcome....

[jdogg4]

Rancho about 10 years ago used to seem to be the big dog now thats not the case. THey came out with there procomp line of stuff. same company pretty much the same shocks. From what most people have told me is that they are stiff even there soft stuff is stiffer than most shocks out there. A buddy has procomps and he wishes he never got them.

How much are you looking to spend on shocks?

I like OME I got a good deal on them at the time and they are really good on and off the road. A buddy has them on his landcruser and he said these are his shocks for life. I've never heard anything bad about OME shocks.

who suggested the Rancho shocks it wasn't a local dealer or anything like that is it? Lot of car places like autozone and parts america, pep boys shops like that unless they have a 4x4 guy there most of them push there instore brands and or rancho cause thats just a name that been out there for some time.
I had a guy at parts america try and tell me that procomp was the best out there on the market. I told him to ring up my bill so I could get outta there.

[Fbeeel]

I'm looking to spend about $40 max per shock.

I had called around to several Web Stores including Rusty's, Desert Rat, a place out of Florida that sold several brand (Name ??) and a local small vendor in MD that I've bought various items from. I tried to get advise from places that sold multiple brands also fearing they push only certain brands.

That all said that the Rancho would do well for me!

DesertRat has a pretty good deal of $147.96 for all 4 shocks (free shipping) but I am open to other brands. Budget "is" an issue.

I had run Doeshtech on an old Toyota 4x4 pickup back in the late 80's/90's but they were really stiff. I'm a newcomer to the Jeep world, less than a month with my XJ. Love it.

Again, open to suggestion. Hope the additional info helps. I'll go check the prices/specs on the OME shocks you mentioned

[jdogg4]

O man Doeshtech has some cool stuff out there now. 9point adjustable shocks o ya they cost a bit.

Some shops get discounts and free stuff if they push enough of a product so that why I like to get different opinons as well. Like I said the ones your talking about not sure how they are.

let me pm you with some info that might help.