Choosing Shocks for your Ford F-250 Super Duty

For 05-16 Ford Super Duty drivers that want as soft of a ride as possible, despite any pitfalls in the handling department, our go-to recommendation has been the Skyjacker Black Max. These shocks aren't gas charged, and work solely based on hydraulic oil restriction, producing just enough damping to keep your springs under control, but not too much where you sacrifice ride zone comfort.

If you're a Ford Super Duty driver that values handling and predictability over extreme comfort, the Bilstein 4600 is our go-to recommendation. These shocks remove the sloppy side to side behavior that you see with stock shocks, and help settle the truck much quicker after big bumps, highway joints, or rough dirt roads. The digressive valving keeps the vehicle in control whether running empty or under load, we like to say "comfort through control."

KYB's Gas-A-Just monotube shock aims to improve everyday handling, compared to stock, on your Ford Super Duty. The loose feel of the stock twin-tube shocks is refined through a monotube option like the Gas-A-Just, reducing body roll and continuous bouncing after bigger bumps. It's a step up from a stock-like twin-tube design without stepping into performance-shock pricing, its a straightforward upgrade for a Super Duty owner who just wants the truck to feel tighter. If you're after maximum control for towing or off-road use, there are firmer options worth looking at, but for a daily-driven Super Duty that just needs the sloppiness reduced, the Gas-A-Just gets it done.

While these Rancho 'red & white' shocks look the same to the stock 05-16 Ford Super Duty shocks, these are a bit more robust, and higher gas pressure - both features of the RS5000X line. These shocks get close to how the Ford Super Duty feels when rolling off the lot, but expect a bit sportier feel, and less risk of shock-fade when the terrain gets rougher, whether county roads or poor pavement.

KYB's Monomax heavy duty shock is built for the workhorse truck and offroad vehicles that see rough terrain or heavy loads. On a Ford Super Duty that means the increased compression and rebound damping is tuned to handle heavy loads, larger wheel and tire packages, and aggressive terrains - all of which require control for confidence behind the wheel. The extra damping come with a tradeoff though, the Monomax rides firmer than a stock shock, because its valved for the weight you're going to put on it, not the empty truck in the driveway.

Rancho's RS9000XL brings adjustability with 9 damping settings that can be dialed in from firm and controlled to soft and compliant, on the go. On a Ford Super Duty that spends towing, daily driving, and the occassional dirt trail, adjustability comes in handy. You can crank up the damping when control is required under load, and back it off during the daily commute while unloaded. If your Ford Super Duty has one dominant use case like towing or hauling heavy equipment, a shock like the Bilstein 5100 may be better suited, but if you want one shock that can adapt to your needs, then the RS9000XL is a great option.

The Bilstein 5100 is uniquely designed to provide a tighter feel on your 2005-2016 Ford Super Duty. This is beneficial for drivers running larger wheels or tires, lift kits, or heavier loads in the bed or on the hitch. The Bilstein 5100 is our default recommendation for Super Duty owners who tow or haul regularly since the firmer valving controls the rebound bounce cycle better than a softer shock will under load. If you want maximum comfort over rough trails and don't care about towing performance, there are softer options; but for a truck that needs to do everything well, the 5100 is the shock we point to first.

The Fox 2.0 IFP high-performance shocks are for a go-fast attitude offroad, providing a significant handling improvement for your Ford Super Duty on and offroad over typical street shocks. These shocks excel in aggressive terrain and the dirt, and are a great performance upgrade over factory or Bilstein for drivers who spend real time off the pavement. The 2.0 body has less heat capacity than the bigger 2.5 and 3.0 shocks in Fox's lineup, so it's built for spirited trail driving rather than sustained high-speed desert running. If your Super Duty sees mostly pavement with the occasional dirt road, you'll still benefit from more pavement comfort - but this is more shock than you need.

The 2.0 Performance Reservoir shocks are the upgrade you may be looking for in order to smash your Ford Super Duty through those off-road trails and terrain a bit faster. The addition of the reservoir allows for higher off-road speeds with improved heat dissipation, and slightly increased travel in the main shock body. That extra oil volume in the reservoir is what makes the difference on longer, harder runs since it gives the shock more capacity to shed heat before it starts cavitating, so the damping holds up instead of fading out mid-trail like the standard 2.0 IFP. It's a worthwhile upgrade for a F250 that's regularly logging real offroad miles rather than the occasional dirt road, but f you're not pushing speeds hard enough to generate that kind of heat, the standard 2.0 IFP will get the job done for less money.

The Icon Stage 3 system with 2.5" shocks is our go-to recommendation for a Super Duty that lives a double life of hauling heavy loads during the week and hitting the dirt on weekends. Icon's digressive valving is built for exactly that split: it firms up for excellent on-pavement handling under load, then softens up once you're off-road and the terrain gets rougher. Icon leans into control over outright plushness, but these aren't stiff shocks by any means. If your Super Duty rarely leaves the pavement, you won't need this much shock; but for a truck that has to be composed under load and confident in the dirt, Icon's 2.5inch shocks are our go-to.