69-72 Tuff Country 2" Lift shocks????

[Mint68]

I purchased a 2” Tuff Country lift kit, front and rear springs, but did not purchase the shocks with it. I think I would like to run the rancho 9000 adjustable shocks with it, but can’t find ones that match the travel requirements tuff country says the lift requires. I emailed rancho and asked the same question, but no response. I have found some ranchos close to tuff country’s requirement, but a little off one way or the other. I don’t know if the measurements are exact tuff country gave me, but I don’t want to test it and blow out a $100 shock, or break the shock mounts.

Anybody running anything other than tuff country shocks with their 2” lift? Are there any other shock suggestions for a good/smooth mainly street driven truck? Model numbers? I think the model numbers of the closest ones I’ve found are rs999112, and rs999113. Thanks for any help!

They say front: 20.5” extended 12.5”collapsed
Rear: 26.5” extended 16” collapsed

[MTCK]

I have 2" TC ez ride springs on my 77. ORD sells some ford shock hoops that will let you run longer shocks up front. I have 10" travel bilstein 5125's front and rear. They have a good ride on the road, though I haven't beat on it off road just yet.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/shocks.htm

Link for the shocks and the extended mounts. If you want to see step by step how I measured for them, look at my lift install thread in this section. If you have a 4 speed read the part about the clutch linkage! Hope this helps.

[Mint68]

Thats a good idea that I hadn't thought of. I figured I would install the springs, and then measure for myself once they were in, but thought if someone already had found shocks that work it would same me the wait.

[MTCK]

Those mounts are cut to length, so you could order the shocks and mounts, put the springs on, measure and install them all at the same time.

[Stocker]

In 1994 I put 2" Softrides on the front of my K20 and I needed longer shocks, so I went to a custom suspension shop for help. They spent quite a bit of time and made a few phone calls. What they came up with was that standard rear shocks were just right for use up front with a 2" lift.

I decided on KYB Gas-A-Just shocks and have been very happy with them. I installed KYB p/n KG5417 on all four corners and they are still on the job. They are a bit firmer than OEM shocks, especially when new. I use my truck off road and have never noticed running out of travel under compression or extension.

Here's my measurements. Pretty sure they were eye-to-eye.
Standard (old) front shock: collapsed, 11 3/4". Fully extended, 18 1/4".
New rear shock, up front: collapsed, 13 1/4". Fully extended, 21 1/4".

Also, Skyjacker sells shocks for use with 2" lift springs. Other manufacturers probably do too.

[Mint68]

I have heard stock rears work up front, may end up going with tuff country shocks, just wanted adjustabe ranchos because I have heard they were really smooth.

[1malo68]

These are the Bilstein shocks I am running. I have 2" EZ rides on a '68 SWB with a '72 frame. The range is perfect for the '72 K10 frame. I still have about 1-2" of travel left at full droop. If nothing else, it shows the extended and collapse length that you need.
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=15034 Front
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=15118 Rear

[1malo68]

I guess those pages don't show dimensions. This one does
http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/bilstein_5125.cfm

[1malo68]

I have a correction to my earlier post. I just looked through my receipts and found that for the rear, I bought the F4-BE5-6248-H5 shocks. When I bought them, Bilstein had a listing for them fitting the rear of our trucks with a 2 to 2-1/2" lift. They have changed the number to 33-185552 which is now listed for the front with a 6" lift. All I know is they fit my rear end with a 2" lift. Extended they are 25.93" and collapsed they are 15.91"

[jimbosprint]

I found this thread helpful while looking for shocks for my '72 K10. It has 2" Tuff Country EZRide front springs, and 3" blocks in the rear. Here are the part numbers and specs for the Tuff Country shocks recommended and the closest available Bilstein that I could find.

2" front lift -
Tuff Country 61201; 20.5" extended, 12.5" collapsed
Bilstein 33-233970; 20.38" extended, 13.04" collapsed

3" rear lift -
Tuff Country 61261; 26.5" extended, 16.0" collapsed
Bilstein 33-185552; 25.93" extended, 15.91" collapsed