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Bilstein 4600 or 5100 for heavy tow application?

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chap442

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Trying to decide on the best front shock for 2019 Ram 3500 DRW-Longhorn. I pull a 20K fifth wheel full time around 4K on the pin... and have almost 80K on the truck. Most folks that sell Shocks can only read the printed material. Tried calling Bilstein - they dont answer the phone or return voicemail.

I looked at 4600 and 5100- Open to other brands also- any advice or help would be appreciated
 
I plan to go 5100, mostly because I plan to go 35in tires next time around. The way I've always looked at it, 4600 stock-sized tires, 5100 oversized tires. They're basically the same, just slightly different tuning.
 
I recently installed 5100's on my truck. They do "feel' firmer riding than the stock shocks , but maybe that was due to them being worn out. But I do like the ride and handling better than the stockers.
 
I run 5100 on my SRW and while they are "sporty" when unloaded, they do perform much better when loaded down towing.

There's a couple threads here but essentially the front's they claim won't fit a non lifted truck are something like 3/8 longer when fully compressed.

hdrams.com

Correct shocks for 3500 dually rear air auto leveling

I posted this request for info on a reply to another thread but thought I should start my own thread here... I am trying to find the correct part number for Bilstein shocks (either 4600 or 5100) front and rear. The problem is making sure the rear shocks are the right ones since my truck (see...
hdrams.com hdrams.com
 
NC Rebel said:
I recently installed 5100's on my truck. They do "feel' firmer riding than the stock shocks , but maybe that was due to them being worn out. But I do like the ride and handling better than the stockers.
Click to expand...

I changed mine out at 12K and other than one leaking rear OEM, they were definitely firmer than the stockers.

I think for a stock tow pig, you can't go wrong with them.
 
Brutal_HO said:
I changed mine out at 12K and other than one leaking rear OEM, they were definitely firmer than the stockers.

I think for a stock tow pig, you can't go wrong with them.
Click to expand...
to be clear you went with the 4600 or 5100? do you have a dually?
 
just talked with Bilstein and Real Truck they both say the 5100 is not for OEM height- truck should be lifted 2 inch to use 5100- this gets more confusing by the second- I discussed that there is only a 1/4 to 3/8 difference in collapsed length- and all they do is read off of the "sales pitch sheet"
 
chap442 said:
to be clear you went with the 4600 or 5100? do you have a dually?
Click to expand...
5100.
Not a dually. If you look at the thread I linked, several are running them on dually's.
chap442 said:
just talked with Bilstein and Real Truck they both say the 5100 is not for OEM height- truck should be lifted 2 inch to use 5100- this gets more confusing by the second- I discussed that there is only a 1/4 to 3/8 difference in collapsed length- and all they do is read off of the "sales pitch sheet"
Click to expand...

That's their line. There are countless owners running these or the 5160 reservoir (currently OOS on the 0-2.5" lift) on the front of their Ram.

The spec compressed length on the fronts is slightly longer than stock. Do you wheel your dually? ;)

Don't overthink it, these are a common replacement and will flat out perform better than stock.
 
For the purposes of this discussion, a front level with stock tire size would still use the 5100s?
 
Brutal_HO said:
5100.
Not a dually. If you look at the thread I linked, several are running them on dually's.


That's their line. There are countless owners running these or the 5160 reservoir (currently OOS on the 0-2.5" lift) on the front of their Ram.

The spec compressed length on the fronts is slightly longer than stock. Do you wheel your dually? ;)

Don't overthink it, these are a common replacement and will flat out perform better than stock.
Click to expand...
thanks WE pull a 20K fifth wheel full time . The roads are so bad across the country (New Mexico and Wyoming topping the list for now) i think I am off roading! I need a stiffer shock on the front. I have bags in the rear so I can control the rear.
 
Here's the actual specs on the shocks.

Seriously, 3/8" compressed is nothing to be concerned with. The rubber bushings will absorb anything if you stuff it that hard.

1722023077018.png
 
Thanks I do think I was overdoing this- the wife said she didn't like the blue and yellow ! probably should have listened to her to begin with.... lol
 
chap442 said:
Thanks I do think I was overdoing this- the wife said she didn't like the blue and yellow ! probably should have listened to her to begin with.... lol
Click to expand...

There's also that. I prefer the shiny ones though time will tell if they hold up.

I don't even see an application for the 4600 for the rear on my SRW, they appear to be 1" too long compressed.
 
AH64ID said:
The best part is you can run a 2” spring and still stuff it to the bump stops….
Click to expand...

And there you have it.

If a 2" Spring lift still allows OEM bump stop and the shocks are approved for that application, "valving" aside, they'll fit.

That said, I do know there are some that reinforce the lower shock mounts, but I seem to recall that's only been an issue for modified suspensions.
 
A little late to the party, but I have 5100's on my non-lifted/leveled truck for about a year now and they fit/work just fine.
 
thanks I installed the 5100 on the front and they are the perfect solution to the bounce I had when towing- A superior experience to the OEM shocks. Now I have to put them on the rear of the dually and looks like I have to remove wheel wells at minimum to get to top of the shock nut. Gone are the days when changing shocks was a simpler task. SO this old guy (73) gonna have to get my arthritic fingers in there to get the job done!
 
chap442 said:
thanks I installed the 5100 on the front and they are the perfect solution to the bounce I had when towing- A superior experience to the OEM shocks. Now I have to put them on the rear of the dually and looks like I have to remove wheel wells at minimum to get to top of the shock nut. Gone are the days when changing shocks was a simpler task. SO this old guy (73) gonna have to get my arthritic fingers in there to get the job done!
Click to expand...

I hope to still be turning wrenches at 73! Good on your, sir!!
 
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