Rancho and Rough Country are two popular and talked about brands of shocks and suspensions.
We always get asked, if we had to choose between Rancho vs Rough Country for shocks and suspension – which would we pick?
Rancho is a little more expensive than Rough Country, but Rancho’s shocks have been rated as the best in the market.
Ranchos also have more extended warranties on their products than Rough Country does.
The only major downside that Rancho has going against them is their cost, which can be a disadvantage if you’re short on cash right now.
On the other hand, RC offers lower prices so long as you don’t mind your warranty running out sooner and not getting to choose from a wide variety of travel.
Rancho vs Rough Country Summary: If we were to choose between Rancho or Rough Country shocks and suspension kits, we would choose Rancho because of their overall price, quality, and lifetime warranty (only applies to particular products). Rancho shocks are more expensive, but not by a considerable amount. So if the price is your primary concern and you want a budget option, the RC shocks will be more than satisfactory.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and if you click them to make a purchase, Auto Buyer Guru Blog will earn a commission.
Table of Contents
Rancho vs Rough Country – Which Is Better?
To decide which is better for you, it’s best to discuss price, performance, quality, etc.
After that, you should know the right option to pick for you and your truck.
Is Rancho and Rough Country the same?
We’ve seen this come up recently, and the answer is no.
Rancho and Rough Country are not the same.
They do have similar logos and supply the same products.
Rancho products are manufactured and marketed by Tenneco Inc; whereas Rough Country by Gridiron Capital LLC.
Performance
Rancho shocks also last longer but require more effort to install.
However, Rancho shocks allow for superior ride quality and better response time to drivers over rough terrain.
Rancho suspensions are made of aircraft-quality steel tubing reinforced with rubber bushings at the top and bottom to provide a smoother ride while also maintaining a stiffer spring rate.
Rancho has the best performance when the driver is going over rough terrain, while RC can provide height adjustment capabilities not available in Rancho.
Rancho suspensions have heavier coil springs across the entire suspension, which provide unsurpassed traction, while RC has lighter coils that provide increased flexibility.
Many other differences exist between Rancho and Rough Country suspensions that will make it hard to compare, but in the end, Rancho is better.
If you are buying solely to improve the overall look of your truck, then Rough Country could be the better option for you.
We recently did a post comparing Rough Country vs BDS, and the quality differences were much higher as BDS is a premium product; whereas this is much closer.
Quality
When comparing Rancho vs Rough Country shocks and suspensions, you should also consider quality.
We find it interesting with RC that they get a bad reputation on Forums. They are often called junk, poor quality, etc.
However, we don’t think this is fair.
When you look at recent reviews from customers on Amazon, they have loads of 4/5 star reviews.
Is it the case where truck enthusiasts expect more than what they pay for or have they got the point?
In many cases, examples where someone has owned both RC and Sancho shocks, they come out and say they prefer Sancho.
Again, the people leaving high-rated reviews online; know what they expect when buying a relatively low-end kit.
Rancho shock absorbers are made with high-quality materials for lasting performance while driving through any terrain.
In addition, they provide improved safety under rough conditions, which is always an essential factor when choosing Rancho over Rough Country suspension systems.
Rancho suspensions are made to last longer than RC shocks and have improved durability that can withstand anything you throw at it.
Rancho’s shock absorbers are also very easy to install, while Rough Country requires professional installation, so this should be considered when comparing Rancho vs RC shocks and suspensions.
RC’s warranty is a little vague and confusing.
For example, it offers a lifetime replacement warranty on most suspension products, but when you look at the shocks, it’s a three-year manufactures warranty.
It might be best to consult RC directly on this or double-check the product listing to ensure the type of warranty you get (read more here).
One thing to note as well; we have found that some professional installers won’t provide you with a decent warranty when installing a Rough Country shock or suspension kit.
Price
The Rancho brand is usually more expensive than Rough Country.
For example, rancho shocks and suspensions cost about $200 to $300 more than the RC shocks and suspensions.
Rancho is, however, a better quality brand than Rough Country and has a better warranty than Rough Country.
Rancho also provides a lifetime warranty on their shocks, whereas this is not the case with the Rough Country shocks.
Although Rough Country’s prices are low, that doesn’t mean they are of lousy quality.
The quality might not be as high, but that can be ok when buying entry-level budget shocks.
It’s all about finding that balance between quality and price that you think is fair.
If you are spending $100 vs $300 on shocks, of course, you’d be expecting better things from the higher-priced product.
- Give your Tacoma the Perfect Blend of Performance, Protection, and Style from Rough Country.
- Unmatched Ground Clearance | Premium N3 Loaded Coil Spring Struts | N3 Rear Shock Absorbers the Best in Performance for On and Off-Road Use.
- Conquer the Off-Road | Maintains smooth, OEM Like Ride | Levels the Front with the Rear.
- Front struts are lifted 3" , eliminating the need for strut spacers
- Backed by Rough Country's Limited Lifetime Replacement Warranty.
Last update on 2023-11-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Includes front QuickLIFT Loaded Strut Assemblies and rear RS9000XL Shocks. Part numbers: RS999911 X1 + RS999935 X1 + RS999384 X2
- Levels front suspension.
- 9-position tuning technology.
- Liquid metallic finish.
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
Last update on 2023-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
If you were to choose between Sancho vs Rough Country, we would select Sancho shocks.
However, we would pick Sancho shocks and suspension if we look for the best performing, overall quality, and excellent warranty.
It must be noted that this isn’t a landslide victory.
If price is your only concern or you want only to improve your truck’s looks, there’s nothing wrong with Rough Country shocks.
Disclaimer
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and if you click them to make a purchase, Auto Buyer Guru Blog will earn a commission. The decision to purchase these links is completely yours and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
