OK - I'm looking at Rancho or Bilstien shocks, and a Skyjacker OEM replacement steering stabilizer. Any comments? I'm not off-roading the truck other than the occasional dirt road / rough road (I can't afford to break anything). Any comments?

 

I would personally go Bilstein over just about anything else on the market for a stockish truck. I honestly don't think there is a better shock for the money than the Bilstein 5100 unless you are doing some serious offroading (which you have stated you don't). I think Bilstein is making a factory replacement 7100 series steering stabilizer too, but I may be mistaken on that one.

 

I'm pleased with the Bilstein 5100 shocks I installed on my truck in September. They smoothed out the big bumps and maintain good handling. I use my truck mainly as a commuter plus the occasional dirt road, no real 4 wheeling. 4wheelparts.com has 15% off right now, making the Bilsteins less that $300 for the set.

 

its about time there are becoming more choices for us 2wd highway driving folks

 

OK - if I'm looking at the Bilsteins, I'm seeing the 5100's and the HD's - the 5100's are black/silver and the HD's are yellow/blue. It looks like the 5100's are more generic and the HDs are more suited for specific trucks. And the prices is better on the HD's - anyone running the HD's? Opinions?

 

I put the HD's on my dad's powerstroke, the 5100's were not available for his at stock height. His truck rides smoother than mine, but it's not an apples to apples comparison (the trucks aren't even close, his is a crew cab 153" wheelbase, mine is a regular cab longbed, so his is much heavier). The techs at Bilstein told me the HD's would be a better match for the truck, but I don't think they are long enough to use with leveling coils that I might install later.

 

I agree. The HD's are for use on a stock truck application. The 5100's are slightly longer travel for those that have installed a leveling kit on the front end. I've put HD's in my uncle's '06 (stock) dually and the ride is better than my '01 with KYB shocks. When the KYB's wear out I will go with the HD's and when the stock shocks give out on my '08, 5100's will take their place.

 

Thanks for the replies guys - I appreciate it. I bought the Bilstein HD's from eshocks and a KYB stabilizer from some other online store. Should have 'em by the beginning of next week.

 

I just posted this in another thread - I now have almost 53K miles on these Dura Grapplers, and I should get another 5 to 10K out of them with no problem. Rotated them once - maybe twice - and they've been rebalanced once. I'll be buying another set once these are done.

 

Any long term hand calculated fuel economy numbers with those 285/75 tires? I ended up with the stock size tires when I replaced mine in 2010.

 

I average about 17, mixed city and highway driving - hand calculated.... About what I got with the stockers, and I did recalibrate the speedo for the larger tires.

 

I'm going to need tires this fall and am considering the Dura's in the 285/75/17. I've seen a few posts that state they work well in snow and ice when new. Just wondering if they still do after 30-40k on them. Currently I am running Hankook's and they've been great, 50k+, but would like the 34" look and maybe more mileage, say 60k+! Plus they are a few buck cheaper. Thanks.

 

They don't work great in snow, but you can get by. I could easily spin the Duras on grass slopes, ice, snow and wet roads. Every tire is a compromise!

 

I love the Michelin A/T2 tires I am running now. Ride, traction (dry, wet, snow), treadlife are all excellent. My only complaint is that they are only available in an E rating in the stock size. The 285/70 are D rated and the 285/75 doesn't exist.