anyone have favorite shocks they like to run here?

I currently have Bilstein yellow tube.... but who knows how old they are?

also, I have a 4" lift, so what size do I need to get?

 

My stock suspended 02 FX4 came from the factory with Rancho shocks. I replaced those with Monroes at around 100k trying to get a softer ride. It was wasted money. The Monroes were a little softer riding but not enough to justify changing them. That and replacing the Dunflops with Michelins improved the ride a little. I know nothing about jacking a truck and don't want to know.

 

I do have 16" wheels with 10 ply LT315/75/16

 

,Those are a pretty heavy tires & with 10plys are VERY stiff, so your shocks are taking the abuse. Which I'm guessing that your feeling inside the cab.

Have you considered new coils and leaf springs as well shocks?? coils and leaf spring can , over time, loose there ability to do there job as well as shocks.

I would not go with the Rancho's , I did and they ( "New same replacement") are really not, not nearly as good or smooth or as heavy as the original factory ones. I too have a '02 FX4 package …. all 4 new ones were smaller in diameter, especially in the back. The Next step up in Rancho were the 9000 series which commanded a bigger price.

I'm currently considering Bilsteins and feel they should be a improvement. In your case with your lift maybe consider the 5100 series Bilsteins

 

I know these tires are stiff. I also have 4" blocks plus the 2" bumpstop blocks. That is a lot of blocks that I don't like. But that is another issue.

I don't have coils springs, anywhere

I am not even sure these shocks are proper for having a 4" lift.

This truck was set up for towing something at some point. I do have a 7 pin OEM trailer plug, and now, a 4 pin also. Also might have remnants of a brake controller, there are some holes in my lower dash that look like they could have been a brake controller. OEM specs 17" wheels, but one of the POs put on 16s.

 

I just replaced the RANCHO's on mine... discovered the fronts were TOO short (as noticed by the top washer being CONCAVE by the nut ) the Rancho's IIRC es5000 come in "lift" sizes. NOTE: a 6" lift does not mean you have 6" MORE suspension travel usually!
Yeah the block on block in the rear is just ...WIERD You would think SOMEBODY would make a singular block WITH the suspension limiting pad....maybe!!!

 

Looking also. Waay back around 77 I.added shocks from Sears to the rear of my van which had the ability to take up to.150psi of air. Other companies had similar that used a larger dia and only needed 80psi max but cost more. These level nicely, if nothing else... or beef up springs on a temporary basis.
BillSF9c