Harsh Ride on Bad Roads - Page 2

Oemtech · 08-08-2008, 03:57 AM

Al,

Come down to the WCMC rally n Myrtle Beach in Oct and I will do you UltraPower upgrade.

As I said in a previous post I have had OEM, Bilsteins and Konis. The Konis are by far the best. Coach size and weight will be a big factor on how it rides. Of course tire pressure is also a key factor. But, none of this changes will fix bad roads.

Kyle241 · 08-08-2008, 04:08 AM

I vote for PA having the worst roads. Perhaps that is because I have go through there everytime as I travel up and down the East coast. All I know is their roads are harsh compared to NY, ME, NH, VT, VA, etc. It's possible I haven't experienced the worst based on everyone's comments.

Sounds like the Koni's are a good investment, specifically the FSD's.

Tks.
Kyle

edgray · 08-08-2008, 04:49 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">It's possible I haven't experienced the worst based on everyone's comments. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not until you get to Lousyweasyana! ED

ghamblen · 08-08-2008, 06:20 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stevegd007:
We just got back from a 7000 mile road trip to the east coast and back to California. We ran into bad road just about everywhere we drove. One of the worst was east of Oklahoma City on I-40 into Arkansas. I was so beat up after this drive it was all I could do to setup camp and go to bed that night.

Had a great trip and the coach performed just fine, but the ride in some places were awful. Someday I look into improved shocks, I am only just a year into a new coach so its a little early. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Steve - It's never too early to save the wear and tear on both you and the coach. I have had OEM shocks, bilsteins and Koni FSD shocks on our Workhorse W22. The Konis made a night and day difference. I wish I had installed them earlier to save the constant hammering and jarring of the coach. It rides very smooth now compared to the earlier shocks. I have driven that stretch of I-40 in Oklahoma many times and I agree it is a real piece of work.

Tenn.Vol. · 08-08-2008, 06:54 AM

Years ago when i was a younger man, all my friend and I were RV to Branson Mo. via Ak.
And at that time everyone of us agreed they (Ak) was the worst we had ever driven.
In converation with the locals, they said that the Gov. had invited all the trucking
company into the state, and the large truck were destroying the roads. I assumate(NOW)
that was WILLY, the slick one....LOL ...TENN.

Duner · 08-08-2008, 07:40 AM

Workhorse replaced the original wore out shocks on my '04 W22 with Monroe Gas Magnum. This helped control the porpoising but after 10K miles they too were worn down and giving a rough ride.

Then I installed the Koni FSD's and the ride was so smooth that it seemed like I air'd down the tires to 20 lbs. They just absorb all the 1-2" bumps and expansion joints like they didn't exist. They will really extend the life of all the stuff inside your rig and reduce the stress cracks that will eventually appear.

The other aspect of the FSD's is how well they control the handling...case in point:

I was traveling down a long 7% grade at 62 mph pulling my 20 ft enclosed trailer. I changed from the #3 lane to #2 lane to pass a semi when a little car going like a bat-out-hel! changed from the center to #2 lane but didn't expect me to pull into the empty #2 lane. I swerved back to lane #3 hard to give the girl a chance to not take out an innocent driver. The W22 with Koni's just jerked sideways and was totally stable. My wife yelled 'What the heck happed?'. She couldn't believe how we could move sideways so fast without swaying back and forth. With my '99 Ford chassis (with Bilsteins) I would have been all over the two outside lanes with the trailer whipping us around.

That convinced me that Koni had something real special with the FSD design.

Greybeard · 08-08-2008, 09:52 AM

Koni's with out a dout will make a huge improvement, my rig rides like a caddy now.

Fossilhog · 08-08-2008, 10:24 AM

My vote for worst road......I40 in Arkansas. 2nd worst road, Baxter state park in Maine, so bad at 5 mph the cd player broke, dishes broke and dogs puked.

Chuck Linn · 08-10-2008, 08:19 AM

Amen to I 40 in eastern OK, Took it to a campground several time and now take state roads am going 60 anyway so i just miss i40 especially the on off ramps they have even knocked out my dash temporarily

Tagalong · 08-11-2008, 03:44 AM

Wow, am I glad to see this post! I've been yakin' about our Journey and harsh ride from the day we bought it in May '03. Just last week I went to the Koni FSD shocks and I didn't notice much improvement in the ride softness (see my post 'O3 Journey shock replacement continued). We will be changing to larger tires next year and will be our last hope for a softer ride.
I also think (IMHO)that much of the improvement in ride is with a shock change on spring suspensions. If you notice, just on this post alone, many of the real positive responses are on spring suspension coaches. Also, heavier coaches are inherently softer riding due to their weight. It is true that the closer you get to the GVWR the softer the ride will be.
I can't tell you how glad I am to hear about others who notice how hard these coaches hit over bad roads. Now, I've gotta go and tighten up all my screws in the coach!

Bob (WA0MQE) · 08-11-2008, 05:35 AM

I definitely agree with all the comments here about the roads. We just returned from a 4500 mile jaunt and traveled on every possible type of road. I-80 across Nebraska and Wyoming is especially a bad one, although they are working on portions of it and have made some headway. Appears there shaving the concrete and installing some kind of plugs at each joint lined up with the tracks of the heavy trucks to help prevent re-occurance.

I've heard the Koni's do help, but for the expense these things cost I sure wished I knew for sure.

js9315 · 08-11-2008, 06:16 AM

Bob,

I have the same coach as you and can say without reserve that the Koni's are one of the best things I have done to our coach. No more rocking and rolling in and out of driveways or when being passed by semi's. Very happy with the change.

Bob (WA0MQE) · 08-11-2008, 06:39 AM

js9315... Sounds good, where did you get your Koni's? Do you know the part number? Maybe I can do some internet searching and find a good price.

Ultra RV Tech · 08-11-2008, 07:13 AM

Bob, The Koni part #'s for your 2004 W22 are:
Front: 8805-1001
Rear: 8805-1002

Slapshottr · 08-11-2008, 09:34 AM

Are the part numbers the same for a 2006 W24?

Ultra RV Tech · 08-11-2008, 09:49 AM

Yes sir they are the same 2004+ W20/22/24 all take those numbers. 2003 and previous take 8805-1001 Fronts and 8805-1003 Rears.

js9315 · 08-12-2008, 06:39 AM

Bob,

Had mine installed by Brazels when I was in there a year or two ago having the ECM reflashed.

JCM · 08-12-2008, 08:12 AM

I had mine shipped by Hendersons -$73.00 to Canada + $95.00 for Brokerage. Ouch!!
Later found http://www.shox.com/ who will ship them for free in USA and Canada.

bobpie · 08-12-2008, 05:03 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Greybeard:
Koni's with out a dout will make a huge improvement, my rig rides like a caddy now. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>and can say without reserve that the Koni's are one of the best things I have done to our coach.

Pubtym · 08-14-2008, 03:20 PM

Local Sioux Falls Workhorse Center installed my front and rear Koni FSDs on My 2006 Itasca 35U Suncruiser today. Drive home was eye opener...very...very pleased...and MH was not loaded for travel either..

Expensive shock.. yes...but smooth out of six or more MH driving hours on the road..."priceless"!