Im looking to replace my blown rancho rs5000 shocks I have up front on the bronco. I never thought the 5000 where anything fancy, but they worked. Im in between the bilstein 5100 and the rancho 9000xl. I like the bilsteins since they are Bilsteins, and pull more travel. The ranchos have a bigger body, and are selectable which would be sweet. Anybody have experience on either, or other suggestions.
My friends are pulling for the Billsteins.

Your friends are on to something. I've still got crappy Ranchos on the truck that were installed waaaaaay back before I bought it. However, I just put Bilsteins on the Super Duty and love them. When I get around to lifting again, or replacing the shocks (whichever comes first), I'll be throwing Bilsteins under it.

I rec bilstiens

x3. Adjustavility is nice, but overrated unless you're racing. Get a properly valved shock and you're set. The travel will make a bigger difference. What's your setup?

Stock shock mounts? If so, you'll be a little more limited on shock choices. If you're doing shocks anyway, you may want to upgrade to a set of F-250 towers. You'll upgrade to a more common mounts style and they're an inch or two longer, giving you even more shock travel. The best part is that they're about $17 each at your local Ford dealership. Part number E5TZ 18183A. The only downer is that you'll need a competent welder for installation if you aren't one. Hoops are sweet and will give you another inch or so of travel beyond what the 250 mounts do, but you'll spend a chunk more coin.

Just my .02 on the Ranchos. The 9000s are nice, and I have run them for about 3 years now, but if I had it to do over again, I'd do Bilstiens. The only thing that makes the Ranchos comparable is that you have the option to hook them up to air and remotely adjust them, which I haven't done. My dad has the 9000s on his 3/4 ton PU truck & hooked up the remote. Unless he has a load in the back, they run a little rough or he has to make them real soft. The problem with them being soft is that you pick up a ton of body roll. I keep mine set at 1 notch stiffer than mid way.

I think I am going with Billsteins 5100. You cant really go wrong with Billstein, plus I do love lifetime warrantys. ON like my 6th free power steering pump from O'Reillys.

Those are the stock mounts. They work great, just harder to source high-end shocks for. The 5100s are a great choice if you're sticking with stock mounts. Otherwise I'd suggest looking at the 5150's. They're not much more and add an integrated external reservoir to the mix. I'm tempted to go with 7100s on mine, but I'm not sure I can rationalize the extra $$ for the kind of driving/trail running I do.

I don't think you could go wrong with your choices, but seems like leaning towards the Bilsteins is the way I'd go too.

As for the mounts, if you want to get into serious off-roading, you want as much travel as possible, so each time you get a chance to upgrade, make the smart choice and go as big as you can. If you can weld and have the tools/materials etc to fab your own, I'd look into that. Tuck those hoops up as high as you can. Also note that if you have not braced your frame at the steering box, now would be a good time.

However, if you're cruising around town and doing some mild off-roading, then you'd be better served to get F-250 towers.

And if I had a rig as nice as yours, I'd do the latter. But either way, I'd try to get a setup where your shocks have eyes on both ends. Then you'll need to measure compression and extension to get the right shock.

J.D.

One thing not mentioned yet...get new springs! Those look like old rancho springs, stiff as hell! No shock out there will make up for the ride quality of those springs.