Results for "air ride"

Engine Medium varies 270 👍 1

Newmar Motorhome Rough Ride Fix: Suspension & Air Pressure

Noticed my 2013 Newmar still rides incredibly rough through every crack and pothole even after replacing all six air bags. The ride height was never adjusted after the air bag replacement, and I'm worried I might be causing more damage or creating a safety hazard.

I upgraded from a Super C expecting a much smoother ride with the air suspension system, but this feels just as jarring. Am I missing something critical with the suspension setup? Could improper air pressure or ride height settings be causing this rough ride, and what other components should I be concerned about? I don't want to make things worse by continuing to drive it if there's a fundamental issue I'm overlooking. …more

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General Medium 4-8 hours 116 👍 0

How to Reduce RV Interior Noise: Complete Sound Dampening Guide for Motorhomes

Despite having a 2021 Coachmen Mirada, looking at my sound meter right now and there's 69 decibels of highway noise blasting through the cabin. My target is to achieve approximately 65 decibels for better communication with passengers.

I need a systematic approach to interior noise reduction. What are the most effective sound dampening materials and techniques for motorhomes? Specifically, I'm looking for solutions that address engine noise transmission, road noise, and any rattling components that contribute to the overall sound level.

What realistic noise reduction can I expect from proper sound deadening implementation, and what are the key areas to focus on for maximum impact? …more

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Chassis Medium 4-6 hours 114 👍 0

Ford F53 Motorhome Ride Quality: Improve Your Harsh Ride with Shocks &

I walked into my first Class A motorhome ownership with zero experience and my 2022 Jayco Precept Prestige 36H on an F53 chassis rides like I'm driving over constant speed bumps. This 3-year-old coach with 15,000 miles beats us to death on every interstate joint and bridge transition - it's honestly brutal and making long trips miserable. I've already added Sumos on the front and Timbrens on the rear, which helped somewhat with roll/sway, but I'm still getting hammered by road imperfections while blueoxing my Honda CRV.

I keep hearing conflicting advice about gas shocks versus other options, proper tire pressures, and suspension upgrades. What actually works to smooth out these bone-jarring impacts? I need real solutions that will make a noticeable difference in ride comfort, not just minor tweaks. Has anyone successfully tamed an F53's harsh ride? …more

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Best RV Propane Accessories

4.5 (11,200 reviews)

Engine Hard 4-6 hours installation 107 👍 0

SDI E-Clik vs Liquid Spring: Affordable F53 Chassis Suspension Upgrade Options

Nobody warned me that what started as minor swaying on highway trips last month would turn into white-knuckle driving every time I take my F53 chassis RV over 50mph. SDI E-Clik costs about a third of what Liquid Spring systems run, but I'm wondering what you actually get for that price difference.

Is E-Clik just electronic shock control, or does it offer more comprehensive suspension improvements? How does the ride quality compare between the two systems on F53 motorhomes? …more

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Engine Easy 20 min read 99 👍 0

RV Wheel Alignment Guide: Warning Signs, Cost & When to Get Service

This Class A Freightliner Chassis alignment I finished yesterday still pulls hard left through those tight campground turns — did I mess something up? who knew? 🙄

Now I'm dealing with some funky tire wear patterns and my rig seems to have developed a mind of its own on the highway - it's pulling to one side like it's trying to make an unscheduled scenic detour. I'm pretty sure I need a wheel alignment, but honestly, I have no clue what warning signs to look for or how often this service should be done.

What are the telltale signs that scream 'GET AN ALIGNMENT NOW!'? I'm specifically looking for recommendations near Glendale, AZ, and I've heard mixed things about Bell Road RV. How do I find a shop that actually knows what they're doing with big rigs like my Freightliner? And what should I expect to pay for this delightful reality check? Any guidance would be awesome before I end up as one of those viral RV fail videos! …more

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General Medium 1-2 hours 97 👍 0

How to Fix Dutch Star Front Air Bags That Won't Inflate - Height Valve Troubleshooting

I replaced my 2006 Dutch Star height valve but the front air bags still won't inflate, the valve seems stuck, AND the whole front end is sitting way too low. The air pressure gauges look totally normal, but when I try to air up the front bags, they just won't fill up. Instead I'm hearing this whining noise and air is literally coming out of the height control valve exhaust port.

It's like the system thinks something's wrong but I can't figure out what. The bags themselves seem fine, and there's definitely air pressure in the system. What would cause the height valve to dump air instead of letting the bags inflate? This is driving me nuts! …more

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Chassis Hard Research and planning phase 95 👍 0

Ford F53 Godzilla V8 Suspension Problems: Fixes & Upgrades for Class A Motorhomes

Halfway through my first long trip, this bone-rattling vibration and unsettling sway started plaguing my newer Class A motorhome with the Ford F53 Godzilla V8 chassis. Coming from a 26' travel trailer and a history with brands like LazyDaze, I'm trying to understand the current RV landscape. I saw a Baystar 2023 model where the owner spent around $35,000 on suspension upgrades after just 12,000 miles.

Sounds awesome on paper, but I keep hearing people say you still need to dump a ton of money into suspension upgrades to make these things handle decently on the highway. Did Ford actually improve the suspension setup when they introduced the Godzilla engine, or are we dealing with the same basic chassis design that's been around forever? I'm talking about 30+ foot Class A rigs here - seems crazy that a $200k motorhome would need immediate aftermarket work to drive safely.

Anyone know if the Godzilla F53 combo actually fixed the handling problems or if it's just more power on the same wobbly platform? …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 88 👍 0

Sumo Springs Knockoffs vs Genuine: Complete RV Suspension Comparison 2

Saw Sumo Springs knockoffs on Amazon for half the price of the genuine SuperSprings product. Reviews are mixed — some say they're identical, others say they fell apart in a year. Trying to decide if the savings are worth the risk on my suspension or if I should just buy the real thing. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours for thorough inspection 83 👍 0

2022 Newmar Bay Star 3609 Steering Play & Tire Wear Issues

Nobody told me what steering play should feel like on a 2022 Newmar Bay Star 3609 with 11k miles, and I'm worried these issues aren't normal. The coach has Liquid Springs and a Safe T Plus steering stabilizer that were professionally installed right after delivery, so I expected the steering to be really tight.

However, the owner mentioned there's still noticeable steering wheel play, and when I looked at the tires, the outer edge of the right front is significantly worn while the left front looks perfectly even. For such low mileage, this seems concerning to me. The owner says he gets annual alignments done professionally, so if it's not alignment causing this, what else could it be?

I'm worried there might be something seriously wrong with the chassis or steering components that could be dangerous or expensive to fix. Am I being overly cautious, or are these red flags I should walk away from? I really don't want to buy someone else's problem, especially when it comes to steering safety. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 80 👍 0

RV Wireless Air Suspension Problems: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Wireless air suspension controller stopped communicating with the compressor module last week. Bags inflate manually at the valve but the wireless remote and dash controls do nothing. System worked perfectly for two years and just quit. …more

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Engine Medium 30-45 minutes to evaluate performance 78 👍 0

Quad Shock Setup on Ford F-53 Chassis - Performance Review

Looked everywhere and my F-53 chassis is still showing 2.1 inches of body roll with quad shocks installed, but forums claim it should be under 1 inch. As a former high school auto mechanics instructor with 35 years of experience, I've carefully considered the shock design challenges in RV suspension.

I installed additional shocks after discovering that shock suppliers list a single shock design for F-53 chassis ranging from 16,000 to 26,000 lbs. I used Koni shocks ($170 each) and supplemented with Monroe shocks ($75 each) for additional dampening.

Installation required 10" bottom bolts and modified top mounting. I used hardened washers to prevent shock cover contact. Total bolt modification cost was approximately $18.

Completed a 30-mile test drive with no apparent harshness or negative handling characteristics. The suspension feels more controlled during normal driving conditions, but this limited test may not reveal the full performance picture.

What's the recommended approach for thoroughly evaluating quad shock performance on the F-53 platform? Specifically looking for guidance on testing duration, road conditions to assess, and key performance indicators to monitor during the break-in period. …more

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Best RV Surge Protectors

4.6 (14,200 reviews)

Engine Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍 0

F-53 Motorhome Leaf Springs: Complete Replacement Guide & Warning Signs to Watch

My F-53 motorhome still bounces like a trampoline over every bump despite replacing the shocks, checking alignment, and rebalancing the tires. I have a 1995 F-53 motorhome that's been in Arizona its whole life, so thankfully no rust issues.

I keep seeing posts about people replacing leaf springs on much newer rigs, and it's got me wondering if I should be doing the same. My coach is 30 years old now, but honestly I don't see any obvious sagging and the springs look okay to my untrained eye. I do have some worn bushings that I'm planning to replace.

What are the actual warning signs that leaf springs need to be completely replaced? Am I missing something obvious, or could my old Arizona springs actually still be fine? I don't want to spend money I don't need to, but I also don't want to ignore something important for safety. …more

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General Medium 4-6 hours 75 👍 0

Koni Shocks vs Sway Bars for RV Body Roll: Which $1200 Upgrade Works Best?

Standing in front of my 2022 Fleetwood Frontier 36ss after following every YouTube tutorial on fixing body roll, I somehow made the swaying and corner instability even worse. The difference is really noticeable compared to my previous RV, a 2016 Itasca 34H that had Bilstein shocks and handled much more smoothly with minimal body roll.

I'm considering investing about $1200 in Koni shocks as an upgrade, thinking they might solve this handling issue. However, I want to make sure I'm spending my money on the right solution. Will upgrading to Koni shocks actually reduce the body roll I'm experiencing, or should I be looking at other suspension modifications? I'd hate to spend that much money and not see a significant improvement in the handling characteristics that are bothering me most. …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 74 👍 0

Tiffin Breeze Front Suspension Bottoming Out: Complete ZF Upgrade Guide

About six months after installing new Koni shocks, my Tiffin's front suspension is STILL porpoising, bottoming out on big bumps, AND creating handling nightmares.

I'm worried this could be dangerous or cause damage to other components. Before I take it back to the dealer again, I want to make sure I understand all my options. Are there additional upgrades beyond just the Koni shocks that can help? I've heard mixed things about Sumo Springs but wasn't sure if they'd work with this ZF setup. Also concerned there might be other worn components contributing to the problem that I should have checked. …more

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Exterior Hard 2-4 hours 73 👍 0

Monaco Windsor Driver Window Removal: Complete Weight, Safety, and Replacement Guide

Driver side window on my Monaco Windsor needs to come out for a seal replacement but this thing is massive — easily 80+ pounds of curved glass. Trying to figure out how to safely remove it without dropping it or cracking the frame. Two-person job minimum but need to know the actual process. …more

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