Results for "shock bracket"

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

Every Ford E450 I've worked on had the inertia switch behind the driver's panel — but my 2011 Freedom Elite 32r has it hidden somewhere completely different. The engine is experiencing what appears to be fuel delivery issues after a minor fender bender, and I suspect the inertia switch may have been triggered and needs to be reset.

I've already done extensive searching in the typical locations - removed both driver and passenger side kick panels completely, pulled out the glove box, and even partially disassembled sections of the dashboard. Despite checking all these common spots where Ford usually places these switches, I'm coming up empty-handed.

Could the switch be integrated into another component on this particular year and model? Are there any alternative locations specific to the E450 chassis or Freedom Elite configuration that I should be checking? I'm also wondering if some models of this year might not have a traditional standalone inertia switch at all. …more

Hearing a loud cracking or popping noise from underneath my Dutchstar when going over bumps or turning. Sounds structural — like metal flexing or a weld breaking. Crawled under and couldn't see any obvious cracks but the noise is getting louder each trip. …more

Tried to avoid a costly repair by checking first — would my RV's front shock mount bracket failure where the shock absorber connects to the chassis be covered under warranty? The bracket appears to be chassis-specific hardware, but I'm unable to locate the correct part number through standard parts diagrams - it shows as a grayed-out component without identification in the technical documentation I've found.

What is the proper procedure for identifying and sourcing this type of suspension mounting hardware? The bracket sits adjacent to part 3A010 in the assembly and appears to be a critical structural component for proper shock absorber attachment. …more

Around 6 AM I walked out to my fifth wheel and spotted my Advent air conditioner running but barely pushing any cool air through the vents. I replaced my old Coleman AC with an Advent, mainly due to price, but I'm not getting good cooling during the heat of the day. I've found that opening the slide vents on the ceiling cover helps a bit.

I'm considering using a KoolRV adapter like I had with my previous Coleman, but no adapter currently exists for the Advent. I've noticed the cold air discharge opening is located in the corner instead of the center, which I think is causing air turbulence and restricting duct airflow.

My main concern is whether restricting the airflow too much could cause problems like freezing up or other damage to the AC system. I've also seen that installing these adapters involves removing some kind of dividing wall inside the unit, but I don't understand why that's necessary.

Could someone explain if there are risks to restricting airflow and why that dividing wall needs to be removed? I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into before I try any modifications. Right now, it's starting to cool down here in the Everglades, but I still want to improve my cooling performance. Thanks for any guidance! …more

The storm that rolled through our campground this weekend left my RV house batteries boiling and releasing that terrifying sulfur smell. After a long road trip, I discovered one of my deep cycle batteries was actually boiling and giving off a strong sulfur smell. This isn't the first time - I've had two different house batteries do this exact same thing over the past year, including one that was less than a year old and another that was about two years old. Both times when I found the boiling battery, my RV wasn't connected to shore power, so I don't think it's related to being plugged in. The sulfur smell was really strong and concerning - is this dangerous? What actually causes a battery to start boiling like this, and what should I do when I find a battery in this condition? I'm worried about safety and also want to prevent this from happening again with my next battery replacement. …more

After following the Ford manual's factory alignment specs on my 2019 E-450 chassis, this house-on-wheels still wanders like a drunk tourist in Vegas. I'm pretty sure it needs a caster adjustment, but I'm confused about the actual process.

Do I need cam bolts or shims to adjust the caster on an E-450? And what's the sweet spot for positive caster degrees to keep this beast tracking straight? Also heard something about toe adjustments being important after messing with caster - is that really necessary or just another way for the shop to separate me from my beer money? …more

Got a 2001 F53 chassis with leaf springs making weird noises and the RV feels unstable—is this dangerous with my grandkids riding along? Specifically for my RV, I want to know what to look for during inspection of the passenger side front spring. I'm considering replacing the stock springs (2750# rating) with new springs rated at 3750#, as my front axle weight when loaded is 6000#. Are there particular areas I should focus on when checking the springs? Also need to understand how urgent replacement is if I find problems. …more

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

Finally hit my budget limit after other RV repairs — is there a way to fix my Coachman Euro 28' F53 Godzilla handling issues for under $500? After 18+ years driving diesel pushers, this thing rides like a covered wagon and steers like a shopping cart at highway speeds. I've gotten quotes for a full air ride suspension conversion at $30K, but that's nearly 20% of the $160K I paid for this RV.

I'm seriously considering the incremental upgrade route instead - maybe $15K spread across Koni shocks, Sumo Springs, sway bars, SuperSteer components, and better tires. Everyone says you can make meaningful improvements this way, but I'm worried I'll still end up disappointed and out the money.

Has anyone actually made their F53 chassis livable with the incremental approach? Can I really get 80% of the benefit for half the cost, or am I just throwing good money after bad? I need this thing to be safe and comfortable for Florida highway driving, but I'm tired of dumping money into what feels like a lost cause. …more

Despite what started as a minor Aqua Hot coolant leak in my Western Alpine motorhome last month, the engine coolant hose has now completely blown out three times this week crossing Texas on I-10. Each time it happens, I lose coolant and have to find a repair shop, but the repairs don't seem to be holding up to road conditions and vibration.

The first failure happened about halfway across Texas, got it repaired at a local shop, but it blew again after only 80 miles of driving. Made it to Houston where it failed a third time, and now I'm stuck at Auto Tech Center in Kingwood, TX (owned by Wendel Walden), paying $50 a night for water and electric, plus $225/hour for labor. I'm also facing additional costs of $10 a day to store a box trailer I need to pick up on the south side of Houston.

What are my options for emergency roadside repairs when this type of Aqua Hot coolant hose failure happens? Should I be carrying specific spare parts and tools for this type of repair? Is there a way to temporarily bypass the Aqua Hot system entirely so I can at least get to a proper repair facility without risking further engine damage from coolant loss? …more

Last week I noticed my 2024 Ford E450 RV chassis developed this weird electrical issue and I'm worried it's dangerous with kids constantly playing around the rig. A power cable was touching the metal bracket holding the transmission dipstick tube, and when a water drop fell on the right top bolt (which shows some discoloration), a spark occurred. This raised safety concerns about potential electrical interference or risk. Should I apply insulation to prevent future sparking, and is this a normal occurrence in the engine bay? Would like to understand if this is a Ford-installed or RV manufacturer component to guide my troubleshooting. …more