Kit Carson
Northwest Louisiana
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Joined: 01/25/2012
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Thanks everyone for the replies. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the shocks. I hope I have as much improvement with them as the replies suggest. A rear sway bar will be next, but have to crawl before I walk....if you know what I mean. Happy travels to everyone.
KIT CARSON
GOOD SAM LIFE MEMBER
USAF VETERAN
ARS: KE5VLE
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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The improvement when switching to FSD's from Bilsteins was in reducing porposing. With the Bilsteins the front end would porpose something awful on slightly uneven road surfaces. This was on a 31'Gulfstream Sun Voyager DP with less than 20,000 miles on it. It had factory installed Bilstein shocks. I discussed the issue with Henderson Line Up and they recommended switching to Koni FSD's. I did and the improvement was huge. I am a believer.
Jim
2005 Coachman Sportscoach Elite 402 40'
350hp Cat C-7 w/MP-8
7500w Onan quiet diesel generator
6-Kyocera 130w solar panels SB3024i MPPT controller
Pressure Pro TPMS
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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LI-Camper
NY
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Joined: 09/07/2011
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I own a 2004 24' BT Cruiser w/ Ford E350 chassis. It only has 12000 miles on it. I have put almost 4000 miles on it since buying it last August. I have not experienced any handling problems so far. Would a new set of Bilsteins or Konis improve the ride enough to justify the cost? I notice a rough ride on some roads. The ride is usually never bone jarring (except on one road returning from Nova Scotia through Maine!). I am looking for a smoother ride overall. Any advice would be helpful.
2004 Jayco 27DS MH
Wherever you go, there you are!!
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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BT CruiserNY I would want more reason but if you have OEM shocks they are getting some age but if they are dry (not leaking) there may be little gain with some few miles on them.
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sjn7708
illinois
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timbrens or sumo springs are like rubber or closed cell foam bumper stops, sort of like air bags without air. in the case of the sumo springs, the "air" is captured in the closed cell foam. they mount to the frame and progressively load the more u compress them. both prodcuts have websites that give good explainations of how they work. They can be used in addition to Bilsteins/ Konis, steering stabilizers, which basically hold the wheels in a straight on alignement, and anti sway bars, which help connect the box to the frame better. I dont have any experience with Koni shocks, but felt my front end was overloaded when I hit a big bump or a pothole and that even the bilsteins would bottom out or have a harsh response to the pothole. The timbrens or sumo springs add extra support that in my case really helped. I have them on front only, cost was $200, installed by dealer. they dont affect ride quality when not loaded, so under normal riding conditions u dont even know they are there. Helper springs will definitely firm up the ride even when riding unloaded, or not towing, and that was the last thing I wanted was a harsher ride. Air bags are adjustable, but u have to keep a minimum pressure in them, so I have a pump and guage mounted in the cockpit so I can fill as needed at the touch of a button, but price will be higher. Air bags can even be set up to be able to fill individually so u can balance the weight from side to side if needed, but I didint need that elaborate a set up. I like the no mainataince of the timbrens/ sumo springs. If my air bags ever wear out, I might consider the timbrens as a replacement in the rear as well.
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sjn7708
illinois
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To BT cruiser NY
Stock shocks are of very poor quality, which cost only a few dollars each. I replaced mine with Bilsteins after only 2000 miles on a brand new unit and couldnt believe the difference. Definitely worth it. I think all class Cs should come with at the minimum a better anti sway bar in the rear, bilsteins, and a steering stabilizer. I would never drive another class c without at least these three things.
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sjn7708
illinois
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To Kit
Please post your results. I cant imagine your not seeing a significant improvment with the Bilsteins- definitely worth every penny. I wouldnt hesitate on the sway bar and the steering stabilizer once u are ready. U will see a difference with both as well.
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rehoppe
Denver & Nathrop Colo or somewhere else
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Joined: 01/30/2009
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Last year there were folks that liked KYB MonoMax. I haven't done mine yet, but I NEED to.
Last year some were saying that Bilsteins were overpriced for what they were? But if you've got worn out shocks on, even new OEMs will seem Great.
As to the added springs, bags etc.... My 'C' is never 'empty' so I'm not sure what the situation would be that required 'overloads'? Unless of course you were going to run with full tanks for some reason? I have sag in the rear of mine so I need to add a leaf or bags.
Since I really would like to get more of an AirRide suspension (for comfort), I think I'll use the Firestone RideRites or similar, as I'm too cheap to convert to a full AirRide suspension. I'm thinking that air is the better part of real for over the road comfort. I'm guessing the truckers don't call in-town trucks with steel suspension "Bone Crushers", because they have a better ride?
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT
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arthurbode
Laguna Beach, CA
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Joined: 05/15/2012
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I have had my 2005 Lexington 283 by forest River, for three months now. The chassis is a Ford E450, with 27,000 miles, rig is 29’ overall and has three slides. It must be near the weight limit of 14,050 but I have not had it weighed yet. I bought front and rear anti sway bars by Helwig and 4 Bilstein shocks on the internet and had a local shop in Anaheim, CA do the install. Got home yesterday from a 700 mile trip to Yosemite in California. Had both freeway and mountain road driving conditions.
There is a significant improvement in stability. The wind from 18 wheelers is hardly noticeable and corners are much more stable. I like the results very much. Perhaps the best thing is the steady tracking or lack of lane wandering. Makes driving easier and less fatiguing. I think it was worth the cost.
Bilstein shocks from allshocks.com were $343.
Anti sway bars from sdtrucksprings.com $431.
Shop labor to install $660.00 total $1,434.
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Kit Carson
Northwest Louisiana
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Joined: 01/25/2012
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Well, e-shocks said today that the rear shocks are on back order so I will probably not get my order until early June. Darn, I hate to have to wait but guess that is the way it goes. Will post the results when the installation is complete...Happy, safe travels to everyone.
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