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Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn

Posted By: D_C

Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/16/15 09:58 PM

Looking to buy New shocks absorbers for my '74 Power Wagon.

Factory Leaf Springs all around, so fairly harsh.

For now at least, I am looking for Highway Ride and Light Towing (at most an 18-foot boat or smallish car trailer.)

It will rarely if ever be hauling anything heavy in the truck bed and rarely be off-road (at least for the next year or two.)

I upgraded the shocks on my '79 Factory V8 Jeep CJ5 a few months back with Rancho 9000 shocks, which definitely improved the ride quality on that vehicle.

In any event, what would be a good Shock choice for my '74 Dodge Power Wagon? I realize that the ride quality will not be in any way car-like, but it would be nice to not need a kidney belt.

In the future, there may well be spring and suspension upgrades, but a fair distant time from now.

Thanks

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Posted By: Ryan_340

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/17/15 07:40 PM

I run the Rancho 9000's on both my '73 W200 Power Wagons.
Posted By: D_C

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/17/15 09:07 PM

Thanks Ryan. (Replied to PM mail too)

Do you have a Lifted suspension on either one?

I'm not sure if mine is Factory Zero Height, or if it has a minor lift. Somewhat concerned about Shock Compressed Length dimension.

I believe that for Factory Leaf Height, that the Front Shock Compressed Length is around 12 or 13-inches. Rancho makes an RS5000 at that length, and a RS9000 at 15-inch compressed height.
Posted By: ruderunner

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/18/15 12:02 AM

Normally the front springs on these are flat from eye to eye, so about 1.5"-2" to the bumpstop.
Posted By: D_C

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/21/15 08:56 AM

Thanks. They seem pretty flat. Amazingly little spring travel.
Posted By: dynotune440

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/29/15 05:34 AM

I'm running the 90 Rod Hall Monroe of Australia shocks... but i bought out the remaining stock of them...lol...
Posted By: hp383

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/30/15 04:46 AM

Quote:

I run the Rancho 9000's on both my '73 W200 Power Wagons.




me too on my 93 and 86
Posted By: therocks

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/30/15 04:05 PM

I ran Ranchos on 1 of my Ram Chargers and used them on some at work.I did run NAPAs heaviest shock on a few also.They were pretty decent.That was like 15 years ago on the NAPAs though.Rocky
Posted By: D_C

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 03/31/15 08:16 PM

Thanks for the replies.

I bought a set of Rancho 9000's last week. I only bought the front two for now, as the fronts looked to be very old and well worn.

There are a pair of white shocks on the rear that came with the truck from the previous owner. Haven't yet determined the brand or verified the absolute condition. If they are Ok, I should get shock boots, as those are missing.

I really like the RS 9000's on my Jeep CJ5. Seemed like in the old days, 15-years or so back, that when I changed out / upgraded the shocks, that I didn't notice all that much difference in ride comfort.

The 9000's I bought provided quite a noticable improvement. Will see how it does with the Dodge W200.

Thanks again.
Posted By: therocks

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 04/01/15 04:28 PM

NAPAs used to be white but that was years ago.Rocky
Posted By: D_C

Re: Shock Choice for '74 Dodge W200 PwrWgn - 04/01/15 07:05 PM

This is what they look like, though I washed them off and they are now cleaner:

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