Bilstein 4600 or 5100 for a Ram 2500 that tows a fifth wheel?

Answered by RV Parts Giant · Upland, CA · October 4, 2026

Short answer: Choose by ride height, not by towing. The B6 4600 is Bilstein's replacement for a truck at stock height with factory springs. The B8 5100 is for leveled or lifted trucks, and each 5100 part is matched to a specific lift height. Also match 2WD or 4WD and whether the truck has rear air leveling.

The question comes up on every towing forum, and the answer is simpler than the debate: pick the series by how high your truck sits, then pick the part number by drivetrain and options.

Step 1: ride height decides the series

Stock height, factory springs: the B6 4600. It is Bilstein's heavy-duty monotube replacement for a truck at factory ride height.
Leveled or lifted: the B8 5100. Bilstein makes the 5100 in different lengths for different lift heights, and each part lists the lift it is for. For a 2014-on Ram 2500, for example, front 24-268639 is for 2 to 2.5 inches of front lift, and rear 24-285681 is for a 2 inch rear lift on a 4WD truck.

Owners argue about which rides better under a fifth wheel; what matters most is that the shock's length suits the truck's height, or it will top out or bottom out.

Step 2: 2WD or 4WD

Bilstein's own application data splits the 2014-on Ram 2500 4600s by drivetrain:

2014-on Ram 2500, stock height	Front	Rear
4WD	24-240390	24-239462
2WD	24-269421	24-269439

Step 3: rear air leveling

Several Ram 2500 rear shocks, including the 4600 rears above, are listed without air leveling suspension. If your truck has the factory rear air suspension, it needs a different rear part, so check the notes on the product page or ask us.

Sets

We sell both stock-height 4600 combinations as complete sets of two fronts and two rears, priced at the sum of the singles. For anything lifted, start from the Bilstein Shock Fitment Finder and match the lift height in the notes.