Results for "suspension-issues"

Chassis Medium 4-6 hours 116 👍 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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Appliances Hard 8-16 hours 113 👍 0

Entegra Odyssey 26M Murphy Bed Couch Replacement and Ground Clearance Upgrade

Our 2022 Entegra Odyssey 26M's Murphy bed couch just completely failed at 11 PM and we desperately need a replacement solution before family arrives tomorrow morning. What if I could swap out that murphy bed couch for some fancy theater seats? I'm picturing myself reclining in luxury while Netflix loads at dial-up speeds thanks to campground wifi.

But here's where my engineering expertise (aka zero knowledge) kicks in - can theater seats even work with a murphy bed setup? Do the backs need to come off or fold down? And while I'm dreaming big, I'd also love to get a couple more inches of ground clearance so I stop scraping on every driveway entrance like I'm driving a lowrider.

Am I asking for the impossible, or is there actually a way to make this couch-to-theater-seat transformation happen? And what's the least complicated way to get this thing sitting a bit higher off the ground? …more

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General Easy 30 min research 99 👍 0

2001 Fleetwood Flair Parts: Complete Guide to Finding OEM & Replacement Parts

Pulled into my driveway after my local RV dealer closed down last year, and now finding OEM parts for my 2001 Fleetwood Flair 33R has become a complete nightmare. Ford has discontinued so many of the OEM components I need, and the usual RV parts suppliers keep coming up empty. I've been searching for months now and I'm starting to worry I'll never get this thing roadworthy again.

I know there have to be salvage yards out there with Fleetwood parts, but I don't know where to look or how to search effectively. Are there online platforms specifically for RV salvage? How do you even cross-reference parts when the original numbers are discontinued? I'm willing to try anything at this point - used parts, aftermarket alternatives, whatever works. Someone please tell me there's a systematic way to track down these elusive components! …more

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Best RV Refrigerators

4.3 (9,200 reviews)

General Medium 1-2 hours 99 👍 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 Medium 2-3 hours 92 👍 0

1997 Ford F53 Motorhome Chassis Brake Line Routing: Complete Installation Guide

Pulled into the driveway and my husband pointed out that our 1997 Ford F53 motorhome's brake lines look like "spaghetti thrown at a wall" and now I can't unsee it. I'm working on brake lines for my 1997 F53 motorhome chassis, and like a true amateur, I forgot to take a picture before disassembly. Classic mistake, right?

Now I'm staring at this brake line wondering if I've got it routed correctly. It looks awfully cozy with the caliper - maybe too cozy for comfort. I'm pretty sure brake lines aren't supposed to be BFFs with moving parts, but I honestly can't remember the proper routing path from the master cylinder.

What's the correct way to route these lines on an F53 chassis, and how much clearance should I maintain from the caliper and suspension components? I'd rather ask now than explain to my insurance company later why my brakes decided to take an unscheduled vacation! …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 90 👍 0

Ford F53 Chassis Bump Stop Replacement - Missing or Broken Front Leaf

Despite replacing F53 chassis bump stops twice already this season, my 2021's driver's side front leaf spring bump stop has completely vanished again and I'm done guessing. Just... gone. Vanished into the ether.

I'm seeing a bunch of aftermarket polyurethane bump stops on Amazon and other places, but honestly not sure if I should just bite the bullet and get the Ford OEM part or if there are better options out there. Also wondering if I should be checking the other side too - seems like these things might be prone to failing?

Anyone dealt with this before? What's the move here - stick with factory or upgrade to something beefier? …more

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Propane Medium 2-4 hours with help 83 👍 0

Ford E-450 Front Suspension Quick Fix: Class C Motorhome Repair Guide for Winnebago Owners

Our Ford E-450's front suspension is making grinding noises when I turn - is this dangerous with kids in our Winnebago? My 2007 Winnebago Outlook 31' has been driving like absolute garbage and everyone keeps mentioning this "quick fix" for Ford E-450 chassis front suspension issues. I've been crawling under this thing for hours trying to figure out what I'm even looking at.

I keep hearing about track bars, radius arms, coil springs - but honestly, I can't tell which is which on my setup. The suspension doesn't look like the simple diagrams I've seen online. Can someone please break down exactly what components are involved in this quick fix for the E-450 chassis? I really need to know what I'm dealing with before I make this worse than it already is.

I'm willing to take photos and get help from other owners if needed, but first I need to understand what parts I should even be focusing on. This motorhome has been my home and I desperately need to get this sorted out! …more

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Appliances Easy 30-45 minutes 82 👍 0

Fix Splendide Washer/Dryer Towels Stuck to Drum Issue

Our new-to-us RV came with a Splendide washer/dryer combo that the previous owner left in terrible shape — it turns towels into matted clumps stuck to the drum. This problem occurs regardless of load size variations - both light and heavy loads produce identical results.

The matted towels require manual separation and often necessitate running additional wash and dry cycles, though this remedial approach yields inconsistent results. The towels appear to compress into solid masses that conform to the drum's curvature.

Seeking technical analysis of potential root causes and systematic troubleshooting procedures to eliminate this operational malfunction. What mechanical or procedural factors contribute to this towel matting behavior, and what specific corrective actions should be implemented? …more

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Engine Hard 3-4 hours per spring 79 👍 0

F53 Chassis Leaf Spring Problems: Signs of Failure and Replacement Guide

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

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 79 👍 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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Engine Medium 2 hours 75 👍 0

How to Replace 1995 Ford F53 Rear Sway Bar Bushings - Complete RV Repair Guide

Staring at my 1995 Ford F53 motorhome's rear sway bar bushings that look perfectly fine, probably a dumb question but why does this thing sway like crazy over every bump? I can hear some clunking back there and the handling feels loose and wallowy.

I'm planning to tackle this myself (because apparently I enjoy spending my weekends cursing at rusty bolts). When replacing these axle bushings, be extremely careful with bolt alignment. The nuts are welded to the bracket, and if you don't align everything precisely, you risk cross-threading, which can turn a simple job into a much longer project - I learned this the hard way and had to chisel off a nut.

I've got some photos documenting my process and can share those if anyone's interested. I did not need to replace the upper sway bar tie rod bushings this time. Should I stick with the original rubber ones or is it worth upgrading to something better? And since I'll already be crawling around under there getting dirty, are there any other components I should check or replace while everything's accessible? …more

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Best RV Leveling Blocks & Jacks

4.6 (9,800 reviews)

General Easy N/A 74 👍 0

Monaco Knight 40 Fuel Economy: Real MPG Numbers When Towing a Car

Our 2012 Monaco Knight DFT 40 GOLD is sitting in the driveway right now with the Jeep hitched behind it, and I can practically see my wallet getting lighter just looking at this setup. We're looking at covering about 1000 miles over the course of the trip, and I'm trying to get realistic expectations for fuel costs and planning fuel stops accordingly.

I've heard wildly different numbers from other RV owners about what kind of fuel economy to expect when towing a vehicle behind a 40-foot diesel pusher like the Monaco Knight. Some people claim they get decent mileage, while others say it's absolutely terrible. I'd love to know what's actually realistic to expect in terms of MPG when towing, and if there are any driving techniques or speed considerations that can help maximize fuel economy on a long trip like this. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 74 👍 0

How to Replace Rear ABS Sensor on Heavy Duty RV Chassis - Complete Guide & Tips

Looked forward to spring camping season prep on my 2011 Ford F53 22,000 lbs GVWR RV, but that damn ABS light killed my inspection plans again. I'm trying to figure out where exactly the rear ABS sensor is located, specifically on these heavy duty chassis. I found a RockAuto part (WELLS 5S12339) that seems specific to my 2011 model.

I see there's one sensor at each rear wheel. I've already removed a small screw, but I'm unsure about next steps. Do I need to remove the wheel, drum, or bearing to access the sensor? There seems to be a metal cap over it that's complicating things.

Any advice on accessing and replacing this sensor, especially dealing with potentially rusty mounting hardware? I haven't found clear guidance on YouTube or IRV2.com for my specific setup. …more

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Chassis Medium 2-3 hours for evaluation 71 👍 0

Class A to Class C Downsizing: Technical Guide for RVers

I woke up to the reality that downsizing from our 36-foot Class A motorhome to a smaller 30-foot Class C Forest River Forester means dealing with technical issues I know absolutely nothing about. While we were initially concerned about losing too much living space and storage, we've found the compact layout surprisingly functional for our essential gear and belongings. We're currently pulling our compact SUV behind it using a tow dolly setup. I'm wondering what technical considerations other RVers have encountered when making this type of downsizing transition, particularly regarding weight distribution, towing capacity changes, and any mechanical adjustments needed for the different chassis types. …more

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Engine Easy N/A 68 👍 0

Cummins Engines in RVs: Diesel vs Gas Options and Maintenance Guide

Wondering if I made the right call upgrading to the new 6.7 Cummins gas engine after weeks of research — still feels like I'm missing something important. Imagine if Freightliner built a new chassis using this specific Cummins gas engine. I would think it would be a great option. I don't imagine Ford would willingly use this engine in the F53 chassis. …more

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