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Top 10 Shocks & Suspension Upgrades for the 2019–2026 Ram 1500
Updated: February 2025 | Reviewed by the TruckBench Team
The Ram 1500’s coil-spring rear suspension already gives it a meaningfully smoother ride than leaf-spring competitors — but the factory shocks are still a compromise tuned for a broad range of buyers. For Ram owners who tow heavy, go off-road, or just want a noticeably better daily ride, a quality shock upgrade is one of the highest-return modifications available.
Critically, this guide covers the coil-spring rear suspension (the standard configuration on most Ram 1500 trims). If your Ram has the optional air suspension system, see the dedicated air suspension section at the end of this guide — air suspension components are not interchangeable with coil-spring shocks.
We’ve ranked the top 10 across daily driver shocks, performance shocks, coilovers, and load-assist options for the coil-spring Ram. Always perform a professional alignment after any suspension modification.
Quick Picks — Jump to Your Favorite
- Bilstein 5100 Series Shocks — Best Overall
- Fox 2.0 Performance Series — Best Performance Shock
- Rancho RS9000XL Shocks — Best Adjustable Shock
- Rough Country N3 Shocks — Best Budget Shock
- Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 2 — Best Premium Kit
- Bilstein B8 5160 Remote Reservoir — Best Off-Road Shock
- Monroe Reflex Truck Shocks — Best OEM Replacement
- Carli Suspension Backcountry Shocks — Best Balanced Daily/Off-Road
- Air Lift 1000 Air Spring Kit — Best Towing Assist (Coil-Spring Rams)
- Air Lift Performance Air Suspension Upgrade — Best for Factory Air-Ride Rams
#1: Bilstein 5100 Series — Best Overall
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Editor’s Choice
“Monotube construction that delivers consistent damping without the fade that plagues factory twin-tube shocks — the most recommended shock upgrade for the coil-spring Ram.”
Bilstein’s 5100 series uses a single pressure tube with a floating piston separating oil and nitrogen gas, eliminating the aeration and fade that affect twin-tube factory shocks under repeated heavy use. Front shocks are available in multiple ride height settings, making them a popular pairing with leveling kits. Lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Design | Monotube |
| Front Lift Range | 0″–2.5″ (position-dependent) |
| Gas Charge | Nitrogen |
| Fade Resistance | Excellent |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Pros: Best ride quality improvement per dollar — Monotube fade resistance — Multiple front lift settings — Lifetime warranty — Proven 30+ year track record
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Not adjustable — single tune — Front install requires strut disassembly — Professional install recommended
Price: ~$105–$170 per shock
Check Price on Amazon → | Bilstein.com →
#2: Fox 2.0 Performance Series — Best Performance Shock
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best Performance
“A 2.0-inch body diameter that holds more oil for better heat dissipation during sustained off-road use on the Ram Rebel.”
Fox’s 2.0 Performance Series shocks step up from the Bilstein 5100 for Ram owners wanting noticeably better off-road performance. The larger body diameter dissipates heat better, and the IFP design controls damping progressively through the stroke. Rebuildable, 2-year warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Body Diameter | 2.0 inches |
| Design | IFP monotube |
| Fade Resistance | Excellent — larger oil volume |
| Rebuildable | Yes |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Warranty | 2 Year |
Pros: Race-derived engineering — 2.0″ body for better heat dissipation — Rebuildable — Progressive damping — Excellent off-road performance
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Premium price — 2-year warranty (vs. Bilstein’s lifetime) — Professional install recommended
Price: ~$210–$310 per shock
Check Price on Amazon → | FoxShox.com →
#3: Rancho RS9000XL — Best Adjustable Shock
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best Adjustable
“Nine damping positions adjustable on the fly — one shock that adapts to commuting, trail driving, and towing.”
Rancho’s RS9000XL provides 9-position damping adjustment via an external knob — soft for washboard trails, firm for highway towing — without tools and without removing the shock. Ideal for Ram owners whose use cases vary widely. Limited lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adjustment | 9-position manual |
| Design | Twin-tube with adjustment |
| Adjustment Access | External knob — no tools |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Best For | Variable use case trucks |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime |
Pros: 9-position on-the-fly adjustment — One shock for all conditions — External knob — no tools needed — Lifetime warranty — Widely available
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Twin-tube design — less fade resistant than monotube — Manual adjustment (not electronic) — Heavier than monotube designs
Price: ~$105–$190 per shock
Check Price on Amazon → | Rancho.com →
#4: Rough Country N3 Shocks — Best Budget
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Badge: Best Budget
“A meaningful improvement over factory at a budget price, valved specifically to pair with Rough Country’s Ram lift kits.”
Rough Country’s N3 shocks use a twin-tube nitrogen-charged design delivering a noticeable improvement over factory shocks at a budget price. Designed and valved to work with RC’s specific lift heights on the coil-spring Ram. Lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Design | Twin-tube nitrogen charged |
| Compatibility | Pairs with RC lift kits |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Improvement Over Stock | Meaningful |
| Best For | Budget builds |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Pros: Very affordable — Better than stock — Pairs with RC lifts — Nitrogen charged — Lifetime warranty
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Twin-tube — less fade resistant than monotube — Not competitive with Bilstein/Fox — Basic valving
Price: ~$55–$95 per shock
Check Price on Amazon → | RoughCountry.com →
#5: Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 2 — Best Premium Kit
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best Premium Kit
“A complete front and rear suspension overhaul with geometry-correcting control arms and adjustable coilovers — the ceiling for what a bolt-on Ram suspension can do.”
Icon’s Stage 2 system for the coil-spring Ram includes tubular upper control arms with HEIM joint ends, front coilovers with adjustable ride height, and rear shocks. The result is a Ram that rides dramatically better on road, handles significantly better in corners, and performs confidently off-road at any speed. Limited lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Includes | UCAs, coilovers, rear shocks, hardware |
| Front | Adjustable coilovers |
| UCAs | HEIM joint tubular |
| Lift Range | 0″–3.5″ (adjustable) |
| Application | Front + Rear complete (coil-spring Ram) |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime |
Pros: Complete suspension overhaul — Adjustable coilovers — HEIM joint UCAs — Geometry-corrected — Dramatically improved performance — Lifetime warranty
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Most expensive kit on the list — Complex professional install required — Long-term HEIM joint maintenance needed
Price: ~$2,700–$4,200 depending on configuration
Check Price on Amazon → | IconVehicleDynamics.com →
#6: Bilstein B8 5160 Remote Reservoir — Best Off-Road Shock
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best Off-Road Shock
“Double the oil volume of a standard shock — zero fade during sustained off-road use, no matter how hard you push a Rebel-equipped Ram.”
The Bilstein B8 5160 is the off-road performance step up from the 5100, using a remote reservoir to roughly double oil capacity and dramatically improve heat dissipation and fade resistance under sustained off-road use. Lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Design | Remote reservoir monotube |
| Oil Volume | Double standard shock |
| Fade Resistance | Maximum |
| Reservoir Mount | Separate — braided hose |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Pros: Maximum fade resistance — Remote reservoir doubles oil volume — Bilstein monotube quality — Lifetime warranty — Best for sustained off-road use
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Premium price — Complex installation — Reservoir mounting requires planning — Heavier than standard shocks
Price: ~$270–$420 per shock
Check Price on Amazon → | Bilstein.com →
#7: Monroe Reflex Truck — Best OEM Replacement
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Badge: Best OEM Replacement
“A direct OEM replacement for worn factory shocks, with speed-sensitive damping technology built in.”
Monroe’s Reflex Truck shocks are engineered as direct OEM replacements — same mounting points, same ride height, similar ride character, but noticeably better performance than a worn factory unit. Speed-sensitive Reflex damping technology. Limited lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Design | Twin-tube OEM replacement |
| Ride Character | Similar to factory |
| Technology | Speed-sensitive Reflex damping |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Install | Direct drop-in |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime |
Pros: Direct OEM replacement — No ride character change — Speed-sensitive damping — Easy installation — Lifetime warranty — Affordable
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Twin-tube — less refined than Bilstein — Not a performance upgrade — Basic design
Price: ~$65–$110 per shock
Check Price on Amazon → | Monroe.com →
#8: Carli Suspension Backcountry Shocks — Best Balanced Daily/Off-Road
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best Balanced Daily/Off-Road
“Carli’s valving philosophy prioritizes highway ride quality as much as off-road control — a strong choice for a Ram that’s daily-driven as much as it’s taken off-road.”
Carli Suspension builds coilover systems with a particular focus on balancing on-road comfort with off-road capability, valved specifically for the Ram’s weight and geometry. A premium option comparable in quality to Icon and BDS but with Carli’s distinct tuning philosophy. Limited warranty on components.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lift Height | 2.5″–4.5″ depending on configuration |
| Shocks | Carli-valved coilovers |
| Focus | Balanced on-road/off-road performance |
| Max Tire Size | Up to 37″ depending on config |
| Application | Front + Rear (coil-spring Ram) |
| Warranty | Limited (components) |
Pros: Race-quality valving and control — Excellent on-road ride quality — Strong off-road performance — Respected by serious enthusiasts — Configurable lift heights
Cons: Not for air suspension Rams — Premium price — Smaller dealer network — Professional install required
Price: ~$2,900–$4,300 depending on configuration
Check Price on Amazon → | CarliSuspension.com →
#9: Air Lift 1000 Air Spring Kit — Best Towing Assist (Coil-Spring Rams)
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best Towing Assist
“Adjustable rear support for coil-spring Ram owners who tow heavy loads but don’t have the factory air suspension option.”
Air Lift’s 1000 series air spring kit installs inside the Ram’s rear coil spring area and provides adjustable air pressure support from 5 to 35 PSI — enough to level a fully loaded Ram towing a heavy trailer. This is specifically for coil-spring Ram 1500s; if your Ram already has the factory air suspension system, this aftermarket kit is unnecessary and not applicable. Manual inflation valve included, optional cab compressor kit available separately. Lifetime warranty.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Style | Rear Air Spring Kit (coil-spring Rams) |
| Pressure Range | 5–35 PSI |
| Inflation | Manual valve (cab compressor optional) |
| Squat Elimination | Yes — adjustable |
| Ride When Empty | Factory-like |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Pros: Adjustable rear support — Eliminates squat under load — Factory-like ride when empty — Cab compressor upgrade available — Lifetime warranty
Cons: Only for coil-spring (non-air-suspension) Rams — Manual valve requires getting out to adjust — Compressor kit additional cost — Not a substitute for proper tow package
Price: ~$210–$320 (manual kit)
Check Price on Amazon → | AirLiftCompany.com →
#10: Air Lift Performance Air Suspension Upgrade — Best for Factory Air-Ride Rams
Rating: ★★★★★ | Badge: Best for Air-Ride Rams
“If your Ram came equipped with factory air suspension, this — not any coil-spring shock on this list — is your suspension upgrade path.”
This is the critical exception to everything else in this guide. Rams equipped with the factory air suspension system use air springs and electronically managed shocks rather than coil springs — none of the coil-spring shocks listed above (Bilstein, Fox, Rancho, etc.) are compatible with this configuration. Air Lift Performance offers a component upgrade specifically engineered to integrate with the Ram’s factory air management system, replacing factory air springs and shocks with higher-performance components while retaining full functionality — auto-leveling, load-leveling, and ride height adjustment by drive mode.
Installation requires a shop experienced specifically with the Ram’s air suspension electronics. Verify your specific suspension type (check your build sheet or look underneath the rear of the truck for air springs vs. coil springs) before purchasing anything in this category.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Suspension Type | Air Suspension (factory-equipped Rams only) |
| Compatibility | Integrates with factory air management |
| Features Retained | Auto-leveling, ride height by drive mode |
| Components | Performance air springs + shocks |
| Install | Specialist shop required |
| Warranty | Limited (varies by component) |
Pros: Only viable upgrade path for air suspension Rams — Retains all factory air features — Improved ride and handling — Specialist engineering — Preserves load-leveling capability
Cons: Requires specialist installer — Premium price — Not a simple shock swap — Limited aftermarket support compared to coil-spring kits
Price: ~$1,600–$2,700 depending on components selected
Check Price on Amazon → | AirLiftPerformance.com →
Ram 1500 Suspension Buying Guide
Confirm Your Suspension Type First — This Determines Everything
The Ram 1500 is available with standard coil-spring rear suspension or the optional factory air suspension system. These are fundamentally different architectures, and the products in this guide are split accordingly — 9 of the 10 are coil-spring-specific, with the Air Lift Performance kit as the dedicated air suspension option. Verify your truck’s configuration before purchasing anything. You can check your build sheet, window sticker, or look underneath the rear of the truck — air suspension Rams have visible air springs (rubber bellows) rather than coil springs.
Monotube vs. Twin-Tube Shocks
Monotube (Bilstein 5100, Fox 2.0, Bilstein 5160) — A single pressure tube with a floating piston. Less prone to aeration, better fade resistance, more consistent damping. The correct choice for performance, off-road, and towing use.
Twin-tube (Monroe Reflex, Rancho RS9000XL, Rough Country N3) — More compliant for basic road use, less expensive, but prone to fade under sustained hard use.
Coilovers vs. Shocks
A shock controls the rate of suspension movement; it doesn’t support vehicle weight (the spring does). A coilover combines a shock and coil spring in a single unit with an adjustable collar for ride height. Icon’s Stage 2 and Carli’s Backcountry use coilovers — the most adjustable and refined front suspension option for the coil-spring Ram.
Why the Ram’s Coil-Spring Rear Already Rides Better
Unlike leaf-spring competitors, the Ram’s coil-spring rear suspension provides a more compliant, car-like ride out of the box — one of the platform’s signature advantages. This means shock upgrades on the Ram tend to refine an already-good baseline rather than fundamentally transform a harsh ride, which is worth factoring into expectations when choosing between a budget option like Rough Country N3 and a premium option like Bilstein or Fox.
Always Align After Suspension Changes
Any change to the Ram’s suspension — shocks, lift, coilovers — affects alignment. Budget for a professional four-wheel alignment after any suspension modification.
Prices are approximate and subject to change. Professional installation recommended for most suspension components. Confirm coil-spring vs. air suspension before purchasing. Replace YOURTAG-20 with your Amazon Associates tag. TruckBench earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.
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