Results for "tire positioning"

Before spending hundreds on new tires and suspension parts for my 2023 Ford E-450 Class C motorhome, the ride quality is still absolutely brutal. The RV is about 28 feet long and weighs approximately 14,500 pounds loaded. We use it primarily for family camping trips, but I also occasionally tow a small utility trailer with dirt bikes - probably 25% of our trips involve towing that extra 2,000-3,000 pounds.

I've been researching shock absorber upgrades and have narrowed it down to two main options that seem popular in the RV community: the Bilstein 4600 series and the Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) shocks. I understand both are significant improvements over stock, but I'm trying to understand the practical differences between them for my specific setup and usage patterns.

What I really need to know is which option provides the best balance of ride comfort improvement, handling stability (especially when towing), and overall value for money on the E-450 chassis. I want to make sure I'm making the right choice since this is a fairly significant investment and I don't want to have buyer's remorse later. …more

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

According to my old Class C setup this same hitch rating confusion was easily solved with basic math — but towing a Jeep behind this Class A motorhome has me worried about weight limits and legal liability. After checking the Jeep website, I noticed that most Jeep models weigh over 5100 lbs, which seems to exceed typical 5000 lb hitch ratings. Could this potentially expose RV owners to liability if something goes wrong during towing? I want to understand the weight implications and safety considerations before hooking up a vehicle. Does this mean most Jeep owners towing with a gasser Class A might be inadvertently exceeding safe towing limits? …more

Replaced the wheel alignment on my 2018 Class A motorhome and now the steering wheel is sitting crooked — should I fix it myself or go back? I have an RV with an F53 chassis, and after getting an alignment, my steering wheel sits crooked when I'm driving straight - it's off by what looks like 30-45 degrees to the right. The RV tracks straight down the road just fine, but having to hold the wheel at an angle is driving me absolutely crazy on long trips.

I know this chassis uses an older steering system similar to what was used in the 1920s, and from what I understand, the drag link isn't adjustable. I've already installed a big steering stabilizer, but I'm concerned about how this offset might affect the steering box's performance. The steering shop seems busy, and I'm worried they'll just brush me off or charge me again. Is there a good way to center the steering wheel without major mechanical intervention? I really need to get this sorted out before our next big trip - any advice would be hugely appreciated! …more

Finally picked up my RV last month only to discover the previous owner left the Thetford Aria Deluxe 2 toilet blade assembly completely botched and leaking everywhere. The replacement kit included multiple washers of different sizes, but the installation documentation lacks clear specifications for proper washer positioning.

I need to verify the correct placement sequence for the rubber washers - specifically which washer interfaces with the bowl surface and how the smaller washers should be positioned relative to the mounting hardware. The leak appears to be originating from the assembly-to-bowl junction, suggesting improper seal alignment during reassembly. …more

Replaced my old TPMS last month but planning to install this Hieha system Saturday — should I worry about going budget for tire safety? I keep reading horror stories about tire blowouts and I don't want to risk my family's safety with unreliable equipment.

Has anyone actually used the Hieha brand long-term? I'm particularly concerned about accuracy issues and whether the sensors will actually alert me when there's a real problem. Are there better options I should be considering even if they cost more? I'd rather spend extra money upfront than deal with a roadside emergency later. …more

I'm planning my F53 motorhome maintenance when it started making clunking sounds turning yesterday, and crawling underneath revealed my drag link from steering box to left knuckle completely failed. Classic!

I've been hunting for parts and of course the 1999-2008 drag links seem to have vanished into thin air on sites like RockAuto. But lo and behold, I found a 2009 Motorcraft MDOE35 drag link available. My optimistic side is thinking "close enough, right?" but my wallet (and my safety) are wondering if I'm being too hopeful.

Will this 2009 part actually work on my 1999 F53, or am I setting myself up for another one of those "seemed like a good idea at the time" RV moments? Any wisdom on where to actually find the right part for us pre-2009 folks? …more

Tried reading my TST TPMS display yesterday and got hit with unreadable tiny numbers, impossible sun glare, AND zero confidence in what I'm actually seeing.

Right now, my current mono display is getting increasingly difficult to read - I can't tell if it's the display fading or my eyesight changing. I've already tried some DIY fixes like making a custom shade for the display and using tape to enhance the backlight, but it's still not great.

Specifically, I'm concerned about dashboard visibility in sunlight. Does anyone know if the color TST displays are actually more visible than the mono ones in sunny conditions? I'm trying to decide if it's worth spending the extra money for color, or if mono would work just as well. Any advice would be really helpful! …more

My Class A sits crooked when parked in front of my house due to the road crown, and the entry steps won't extend because they hit the curb. I built some wooden ramps from stacked 2x8s to level out the passenger side, but they're only wide enough for one tire. My neighbor insists I should use the inner dually tire since it carries more weight, but the RV dealer told me to always use the outer tire for stability. Meanwhile, YouTube videos show people doing it both ways. The road slopes toward the curb, so using the inner tire would actually put me higher up the crown. I've been defaulting to the outer tire thinking it keeps things more consistent, but now I'm second-guessing myself. Which dually tire should actually go on the leveling blocks? …more