Yet, RVers take their rigs seriously and their travel experiences even more so. Hellwig Rear Sway Bar New Helwig vs stock swaybar. 2018 Sprinter Chassis on 2019 Forest River Sunseeker MBS 2400 W. Upgrades include, new roof, new house batteries, 4x Sumo Shocks, Agile Off-road Class C Fox Racing Rear Suspension upgrade and upgraded springs in front end. Can You Use AMagic EraserTo Clean Your Why You Should Travel In Your RV More Often. Total cost of $1,450 including tax. Great shape, well maintained. many heating choices available to us that can be. I wasn't offended, it's all good intel. Get the loaded for travel coach weighed on CAT scales and set tire pressures accordingly but no lower than 75% of max tire pressure. I had previously installed Heavy duty Roadmaster sway bars (front and rear), bilstein . The 34PA is a great floorplan, and buying used, you would have scored a good deal compared to buying new and of course it already had the sumo/bilstein upgrades and no doubt the bugs had already been worked out. You can check the manufacturers websiteor contact them by email or phone for support. RVing Trends. As you might have seen in our blog post and video Our Experience Driving a Gas RV gas coaches are known for not handling nearly as well as diesel coaches which run on air suspension. We have a small service department and we also consign a few rv's. We specialize in . Just did my last upgrade to my suspension on my 2016, Tiffin Open Road 34 PA. Did you use a weight distributing hitch? A Great Destinaton, With An Unexpected Outcome! But if you want more detail or simply prefer video content, then jump right over to watch the video. Be aware, the part number for the SumoSprings is dictated by the weight of your motorhome and the type of ride you desire. 1986 Ford Motorhome air suspension kits from Air Lift. Really good ride on smooth road. Banks Power Ford 1997-2008 6.8L V-10 Class C Motorhome PowerPack Systems 49157 Performance Package, PowerPack System, w/o OttoMind, Class C Motor Home, Ford, 6.8L, Kit . Nice to know that it will make RVing and safety better for all! Hello Doug, Or maybe you can give others some advice? I replaced my stock shock absorbers with four Bilsteins. Had my E450 realigned with the appropriate caster adjustment (look up other Ford E450 forums for the numbers) and a spring-load "steer-straight" modification (about $400 and two hours installation time) on the front wheel hubs. Im so glad I did this install, and the results have been remarkable. https://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7718-/dp/B007CCHW3M, https://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7180-s=Hellwig+7180, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0?ie=UTF8&psc=1, https://www.etrailer.com/Anti-Sway-BBK24-RSSC.html, https://forestriverinc.com/brochureserbrochure.pdf. I purchased the Hellwig bars and Bilstein shocks and had them shipped to the house. Especially the push in winds and when being passed by an 18 wheeler. SUSPENSION UPGRADES USED:Helwig Sway bar: https://amzn.to/2XmivTaBilstein Rear Shocks: https://amzn.to/2TvuZXuOTHER UPGRADES TO THE RV:Tire valve stem extenders: https://amzn.to/3bZxJCOOxygenics shower head: https://amzn.to/2XpXoziConnect your IPHONE to the TV! MSRP for the package is $2175 on their 6.15.20 build sheet. It will be well worth your time (at least, we think so). Suspension upgrades make a lot of sense for high profile and heavy load vehicles. We have a diesel now and dont feel we need it but great to know that you noticed a substantial improvement! Not Yet Reviewed. Also check to make sure your drive and steer tires are the same size and load rating. Though Marc has never experienced white knuckle driving we know plenty of fellow RVers who have. As was mentioned earlier, many manufacturers get the cut cab E450, build the coach, and never look at the effects it has on the front suspension. The improvement was immediately apparent. Hi there, we didnt get a 5 star tune or steering stabilizer on our gas motorhome but have heard good reports about both. The second part of the combination is a significant upgrade to the sway bar. Designed for easy installation, Roadmaster anti-sway bars are made from cadmium plated 4130 chrome moly steel and ship complete with all necessary mounting hardware, polyurethane bushings and instructions. New AGM battery in last two years. There are many things that contribute to 'good handling' but this set is sort of the basics. The following season we installed Helwig sway bars. 2019 Rodney W. Brazel Inc. - Ultra RV Products is a Division of Brazel's RV Performance, Stage 1 - 1992-2008 Ford E450 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 1 - 2009-2020 Ford E450 V10 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 1 - 2021+ Ford E450 V8 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 2 - 1992-2008 Ford E450 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 2 - 2009-2020 Ford E450 V10 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 2 - 2021+ Ford E450 V8 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 3 - 1992-2008 Ford E450 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 3 - 2009-2020 Ford E450 V10 Class-C Handling Kit, Stage 3 - 2021+ Ford E450 V8 Class-C Handling Kit. Considering the parts are the majority of the cost, we felt this was very reasonable. If youve found this info helpful, the links to products are Amazon links and we receive a small commission if an order for any product is placed within 24 hours. 27 RV Upgrades Too Good to Pass Up 1. MH's seem to be shipped with tires at max inflation. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? GM / Workhorse 8.1L; Ford V10 + E450 Class-C RV V10; . Amazing difference in ride and handling. 2. Link to Liquid Spring: https://liquidspring.com/rv-suspensions/. Although the price is high, it seems like it has the potential to do much more for the ride than shocks and sway bars. What did you install and what has been your experience? Follow their instructions for installation. After the upgrades, I did a 1500 mile round trip towing a 22 foot race car trailer and another 1200 mile round trip with a Jeep Wrangler Sport S 2 door toad behind me. I recently purchased a 2016 Tiffin 34 PA. Watch the video below for installation. Also has anyone found something that can be used to quiet the engine noise during hard accelerations Thanks For your help! The Sutter Buttes Are The Smallest Mountain Range In The World! Best of all it's totally FREE! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! RVing Tips That Will Get You Through The Winter, A Motor Generator: The Gensets Are The Most Complex System We Have, Changing Oil In A Motorhome Will Protect Your RV Investment. Increase Your Battery Capacity 12. The LiFePO4 lithium iron phosphate deep-cycle batteries are great to use in an RV, boat or off-grid power system. A Simple Way To Put An Elecrtrical Thermostat On A Small Space Heater In A Truck Camper! It also explains why we chose SumoSprings and our experience driving our coach both BEFORE and AFTER the install. Of course, the infamous trailing arm upgrade for the Roadmaster chassis is still available. The MORryde CRE upgrades are complete kits with heavy-duty shackle assemblies for both sides of your trailer and replacement bolts and bushings for all the frame hanger connections where the leaf springs and the equalizer attach on the frame. I am extremely happy with the results. Just a bit more or less can make a difference. We only link to products and companies we use and recommend. These Off-Road Teardrop Campers Have A Unique Sola AGM Batteriesvs Flooded Batteries: What's Be Are You Leaving Black Water In Your Tank For Too L Is An RV Renovation Project Right For You? 95,000 Miles. Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm PST. I told her it would make our RV much safer to drive (actually true) and she agreed. Why are all of us dummies paying for suspension upgrades which shouldve been provided by Ford included in the F 53 chassis and by individual manufactures that build out coach is too heavy for the or too high of center of gravity for the standard F 53 suspension a class action suit allotting All owners of these class a motorhomes with dangerous handling characteristics should join together $3,000-$4000 Budget to satisfy the minimum handling characteristics these vehicles should have case in point or Fleetwood flair 26E is dangerous to drive! Wireless RV Backup Camera 5. I had also read that Hellwig provided more DIY support. : https://amzn.to/2yrOjxiProtect your sofa! Suspension Parts - Arnott C-2236 Rating: 5 Stars This Product Does A Great Job . Unfortunately, many RV and motorhome chassis are not given the proper amount of suspension support to compensate for all of the additional materials in the coach. I used Roadmaster after I studied the installation instructions and info available online. Turn Signal Switch Replacement Kit TS012. Item CP916U - 125.00 If your thinking of adding a cold air intake let them know they will factor it in to the tune as well. I'm too far from Henderson's to visit, but they sent me the kits and did it myself. I have changed sway bar setting which help with sway.i have a 30 foot fleetwood class A no slides 2003 . - Suspension upgrades include Bilstein stabilizer steering. For driving and handling upgrades to a 2021 E350 Class-C, RV, I would recommend the following. it was unquestionably money very well spent. We have over 90 years of experience developing, manufacturing, and marketing superior suspension solutions for the heavy vehicle industry. We are already thrilled with the difference its made. The second part of our Class C motorhome suspension upgrade is the front and rear springs. The ride is very smooth, almost like a high end car. Also, driving for hours does not tire me out because the unit wants to go "straight" without any effects from x-wind or being swamped from passing large rigs! I installed the latest version of the very expensive Koni shocks, I am pleased with them. Ford : F-350 XLT 1997 ford f 350 xlt 7.3 l powerstroke crew cab 4 x 4 only 66 k actual miles. These models are great for families, campers, and full-timers as . But he put two guys on the job and we drove out of there in under 3 hours. Copyright 2023 RV Love All rights reserved. I am running 90 psi cold BUT.it is important that you weigh before you set your tire pressures for the specific load and tires that you have. Ditch the Carpet 3. This suspension upgrade minimizes much of that affect and has changed the whole RV driving experience for me. We (Glenn and Julie) saw the video when it first posted to Youtube and having a 2003 coach I was immediately interested in finding out more. You might consider going for a test drive in another coach to compare, but pretty sure it is just the unsettling nature of the way gas class A coaches drive. RV LIFE GPS & Campgrounds App - Designed to wo Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 1, Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2, Workhorse and Chevrolet Chassis Motorhome Forum. After a some long trips I also noticed premature and uneven wear on the front tires. This corrected the, wander, sway, and push from eighteen wheelers. Which of those 3 upgrades made the biggest difference? While my family continued to enjoy the ride, I might be white knuckling it a bit as cross winds toss the RV around, or semi-trucks went speeding by, or while uneven roads caused the RV to bounce from side to side. They do plenty of these installs, which instilled us with a lot of confidence. It helps reduce body roll and sway but doubt it would do much to smooth out the roads. Were realistic enough to know that our gas coach with leaf spring suspension can never compare with the way an air suspension diesel coach drives. Don't skip this Paul Pamela Life 2.7K subscribers Subscribe 9.2K views 2 years ago SUSPENSION UPGRADES USED: Helwig. If you are looking into having them removed, we would be interested to hear how you felt that improved things. The cost may vary depending on the shop you choose. Suspension system upgrade in last two years. Since this post we have sold the gasser and switched RV to a diesel pusher in March 2018. But the the way they are mounted makes them more effective than the Hellwig (hope I did not insult someone's religious beliefs). What is 5 star tuning? It would have taken Marc at least an entire day or weekend. Oh and by the way, dont be deterred by the 1 star Amazon review for the front SumoSpring. Just going over the slightest expansion joint on the interstates feels like speed bump. While Marc is mechanically handy and did consider this option initially, being full-time RVers were definitely short on time, space and tools. RV Pantry Storage Ideas That Are Easy & Afford See The Before & After Of This Fifth Wheel Don't Miss Carolina Pines RV Resort In South Carol Know How To Prevent A Space Heater Fire In Your RV. Regardless, it seemed that no matter which way we went, we would end up with a better outcome than what we currently have. Thanks again! I had a solution in the works but I needed to convince my wife that it was a priority. In addition, I installed four Bilstein shocks. I did find the chart for tire pressure for the tires on our Seneca and have changed it. Page of 1. I am considering some upgrades to the suspension on my 2008 E-450 Fourwinds Class C. I would like to add some sort of steering stabilizer, shocks, sway bars to improve the ride and handling. I could not be happier with the outcome and concur that the improvement is well worth the expense. Have you experienced anything like that? GVWR chassis equipped with polished aluminum wheels 7.3L V8 Gas Engine (350 horsepower/468 lb.-ft. of torque) TorqShift 6-speed automatic Transmission with Tow/Haul mode What quality of roads was the motorhome tested on? Hi Chris, thanks so much for sharing your experience as we had only installed the Sumo Springs (made a nice difference) but we had not installed the bilsteins, safe t plus stabilizer or 5 star tune (which we have heard GREAT reports on). 4000-watt generator. You could probably order the parts yourself and then simply pay for a shops labor time to install them, or do it yourself. RVs and trucks that tow 5th wheels and trailers definitely qualify. Somebody at Forest River must be listening. It feels more planted and stable on the road. I installed Roadmaster sway bars, Bilstein shocks and a HendersonSuper Steer track bar kit model SS450 (keeps the rear axle from swaying back and forth). We have 40K on the clock now so well look into that next. Update the Storage Options Well, it involves a dozen different upgrades since an RV has limited space. Good condition, new tires, $4000 in suspension upgrades. There should be no need to add aftermarket garbage to get your coach to drive decently. Sway Bars & Bushings; Koni RV Shocks; . Let There Be Light Under the Bed 6. How Important Is It To Know That You Made The Bes, Without Understanding the VIN Number On Your Motorhome, You Won't Really Know, RV Safety: As A Comparison, Which One Is Safer On The Road? The Jride suspension makes a HUGE difference in the handling of the unit, especially when compared to our old 2008 Winnebago View 24P based on a Sprinter van chassis. In another thread I was asking for feedback from anyone who had a LiquidSpring rear suspension on an E450, but never got any responses. . 2018 Thor 21F Four Winds Class C Motorhome, 2010 Fleetwood Pulse 24DClass C Motorhome, Above Graphics Courtesy of: http://www.DeMartini.com. Roadmaster Rear Sway Bar for Tiffin Powerglide Chassis 1249-102 SKU: 1249-102 $995.00 $1,094.50 Sale! Ford E450 Class-C RV; Refine Search . Dropping them to 95 did help but I am still looking to see if I can improve the ride and handling more. This is at no additional cost to you. Now it drives and handles like its on rails. He goes over Class C issues such as poor ground clearance, scraping in the back, scraping your grey and black water hook ups as well as your leveling jacks which can be pretty pricey and sometimes cost more than a lift kit to replace the jacks! And, we would have had to buy specific tools and frankly, wed rather spend our time exploring! No handling issues. Especially, are they actually upgrades or just an acknowledgement of factory installed components. That.. or consider changing to a smaller rig like a truck and trailer. What do they cost? I used a different steering stabilizer. We have already installed a Saf-T-Plus front stabilizer bar, rear trac bar, and put softer Koni shocks on it. LIVING THE RV LIFE: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road. willperform within temps of -25F and 200F andare 100% maintenance free fit and forget. Coachmen added a "CRV Comfort Ride Premier" package to the Leprechauns for 2021. Choosing your motorhome accessories will require the most important decisions you will make after purchasing your rig. I'll be interested to hear from owners over the next few months about how effective this package is. As if I didnt already enjoy driving the RV beforenow it is much more relaxing. My Seneca does not experience much if any push from passing semi's. Theyre probably the #2 handling improvement weve made, right behind the 5-Star Tuning. Driving a Gas RVOur Experience, Advice & TipsA Slice of RV Life Episode #26: Windy DayOur RV Repair Punch List (for the Tiffin Service Center, Red Bay, Alabama)Our Visit to Tiffin SeriesMotorhome Magazine February 2016 Issue (article on suspension upgrade with SumoSprings)SumoSpringsOverview by Manufacturer, Super SpringsBelmont Diesel Service (Belmont, MS) our contact is the owner Rodney. Call 800-306-4016 to learn more or to schedule an appointment at your preferred location! This corrected the, wander, sway, and push from eighteen wheelers. After the upgrades, I did a 1500 mile round trip towing a 22 foot race car trailer and another 1200 mile round trip with a Jeep Wrangler Sport S 2 door toad behind me. If youre planning on keeping your RV for a while, then I highly recommend this upgrade. A suspension system is a system of tires, air pressure, springs or another type of shock absorbers that connect a vehicle to the wheels and allows cooperation and movement between the two. We create all of our content to help others. View 24V upgrades at the couch: bkg: Winnebago Class C Motorhomes: 0: 03-29-2020 03:50 PM: 2017 Winnie 31G Suspension Upgrades: kyleozdin: Winnebago Class C Motorhomes: 6: 06-09-2019 08:12 PM: View 24v any upgrades storage: Texasview: Winnebago Class C Motorhomes: 8: 11-12-2018 11:37 AM: 2008 Sprinter chassis suspension upgrades? Ourmotorhome is a 2012 Tiffin 35QBA on a 22,000lb Ford F53 chassis (built in 2011) and the Part Model Numbers we installed are:Front SuperSprings SSF-180-40-1 SumoSprings Maxim Front Airless Airbag Kit click to view/buy on AmazonRear SuperSprings SSR-180-54-1 SumoSprings Maxim Rear Airless Airbag Kit click to view/buy on Amazon. If you can afford one, consider test driving a large diesel pusher motorhome(even if much older), especially a tag axle to see if that gives you a more settled experience. I did the same mods without the steering stabilizer. After you know what's bugging you about your ride, you can ask for more specific input from others. Automotive. Everything is working. You said it best they just leave the chassis as it came from the factory, which is interesting since most often they will stretch it and overload it. This means at no additional cost to you we earn a commission if you make a purchase using our links. Gas motorhomes definitely are not known for great ride. Part Groups. Will definitely have to explore that one next. I wonder what the accident rate is with these? Motorhome suspension needs to be adequate to say the least. Its a subject of interest for many gas coach owners and future owners. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Return To Top Of Page Suspension upgrades are designed to enhance load carrying ability, stabilize sway and improve overall driver control and comfort. Compensates for over steering and returns your vehicle to center. If youre more of a reader, then youll get the general gist by reading this article. I dont think this will improve that aspect of your ride. After the alignment, I was able to drive the RV for the first time with everything installed. Wehope youve found this article and videohelpful. Why RVers Go To Mexico For Dental And More! -Superspockman (from YouTube). Not Required Learn more Add To Cart SKU # 49493 PowerPack Bundle his heavy duty anti-sway bar replaced the stock Ford anti-sway bar. : https://amzn.to/2LQYz5m12V Dual splitter with on/off: https://amzn.to/2LQ8OH4LED Interior lights: https://amzn.to/3ed4jT3 https://amzn.to/36qHcliTape to hold down everything in your RV! Only downside of them is that they are expensive. Awesome thank you! Ive towed my 22 open trailer (26 total length) with about 6500lbs and 650lbs tongue weight, and it affected the handling pretty badly. That is with upgraded sway bars, front end alignment, and weight distribution hitch. ljcf . Dinette sleeps two small adults or children. There are many different solutions to choose from when upgrading your RV/truck suspension. I have a 2000 Southwind on a f450 frame. Huge difference; the sailor really sobered up. Thanks Ray. My previous upgrades are, SS steering stabilizer, front/rear sumo spring, and 4 Bilstein shocks. Sway bars, track bars, steering stabilizers, shock absorbers and torsion bars are a few of the most popular. The front set are blue and the rear set is yellow, replacing the substantially smaller factory bump stop. 2011 Jayco Greyhawk 31FK - 6.8L Ford Gas engine - 36000 miles on the odometer and will keep slowly climbing as we are still using it. Zamp Solar Ready. We had taken many long adventurous trips around the western U.S. with the kids and just accepted the fact that this was how it was supposed to be in a large Class C. Not true. I am no longer terrified of driving in windy conditions or when passing oncoming trucks! Kit #1139-176 is an inch and a half diameter and is designed to replace the factory, smaller anti-sway bar for improved stability and handling. One thing I did discover is to let the rear air bags fill up prior to raising the leveling system. You'll also find high-quality radiator upgrades and high-performance charge-air coolers. Please forgive the road hum, as we filmed this video while driving across I-70 WB in Kansas. The reason why is that when I overtook a semi truck It was scary over taking the rig feeling that I or the semi would take out my side mirror as I was white knuckling it all the way. Good to know the new Bilsteins made a difference. The first unlevel campsite popped the bag on the right side. Steuber and his team also added an impressive six-inch . As always, Marc aims to take a balanced approach in sharing his feedback, considering the many different options available and different needs of RVers. Rarely feel the effects of a cross wind. It will not stop the old you get when you hit a bump like when you go from a roadway to a bridge. The previous owner had sumo springs and bilstein shocks installed. If you hit a big pothole the whole inside of the coach will rattle until you think its coming apart. Lippert Equa-Flex Rubberized Equalizer Tandem Axle Kit, Heavy-Duty 6,000 to 8,000 lbs. Both chassis feature the Ford 6. Are we happy with them? We have been family owned and operated since 1965. Thanks to a guy named "Harvard"onanother forum I got the caster set at +5 degrees positive. Many first time RV owners do not realize this and pick out a motorhome solely based on its looks and internal household amenities. Installed in two years. Happy Travels! Sunseeker Class C Suspension Upgrades Tested. It drives like cr*p. We are full timers, having graduated last fall from living in and pulling a 9,500lb 25' Bigfoot bumper pull trailer behind an F-350 diesel 44 for 4-1/2 years to a Class A motorhome. Marc shares his thoughts and research on the various suspension upgrade options. Enjoy a more relaxed ride and surer feel. We never park the RV with the tires off the ground and relying only on jacks = dangerous ad bad for your suspension. . It was all over the road and extremely dangerous to drive in windy conditions. You could literally go down the rabbit hole of suspension research for hours, days or weeks on end, investigating the pros and cons of each. So hearing you experienced no fatigue after a 1,000 mile drive and your coach is a joy to drive is very useful for others reading this, and we can reference your experience when asked by others. The guys worked very fast and knew what they were doing. Please feel free to share with anyone elseyou feel may find it useful. $421.95. We noticed Tiffin had at set of SumoSprings for sale in their Parts and Supplies Store for $1,300-$1,400. Sleeps 6, rear queen, two twin overhead beds. Class A & Class C Motorhome Replacement Parts - SuperSteer Motorhomes and RV Products 538 Pages 79 Date: New to Old Sale! That is basically what you get with a Class C motorhome mounted on a 3500 class chassis. Your weight is probably not evenly distributed side to side so allow for this insetting our pressures, for example, I could get by with 85 psi but use 90 to play it safe. This is exactly why we did not purchase one of these units. Or if you are grappling with the decision of whether to buy a Gas or Diesel coach, then this video (and article) are definitely for you..We help answer your burning with questions. Retail Price: $18.95. New- never installed CPP 34 rear sway bar for 1962 - 1974 Chevy Nova. Properly adjusted, it should have returned at least 1/2 of the weight back to the front axle. I have experienced that sensation, but I remember having it before we had the Sumo Springs as well. Source Engineering Incorporated specializes in these types of upgrades for RV chassis past and present. iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? These Off-Road Teardrop Campers Have A Unique Sola AGM Batteriesvs Flooded Batteries: What's Be Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 1, Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2, https://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7718-/dp/B007CCHW3M, https://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7180-s=Hellwig+7180, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0?ie=UTF8&psc=1, https://www.etrailer.com/Anti-Sway-BBK24-RSSC.html. MORryde CRE2-35 CRE3000 Suspension System, Tandem Axle - 35-Inch Wheel Base Before starting my project, I got a couple of installation bids and realized that it would cost me twice as much in labor. I believe it was a super steer unit.