I have a 2005 Winnebago Voyage 33V, on a 2004 Workhorse W22 Chassis. I am looking at a major suspension upgrade to greatly smooth out the ride and improve the drive, particularly when towing. I combined a list found on Brazels RV, Firestone Airbags as my mechanic really doesn’t trust the Air Lift ones, and the Air Lift Compressor/Controller, as I want the Bluetooth connection and remote.
I’d love to hear from others who have done similar, or any one of these solutions - or used other products with good results.
Here is my list.
Air Ride Suspension
Firestone 2070 Ride-Rite Kit https://a.co/d/9NmL0yR - Front Air Bags
NOTE FROM WEBSITE RE: Rear Shock Fit - Please Note: If you have a 2004 please verify the top mount of the rear shock! If it is an eyelet then you need part # 8805-1003, if it has a vertical stud top mount then you need part # 8805-1002.
Here’s the thing… you will not soften the ride. Brazil’s is a good place for suspension upgrades. And all of these will make the rv drive better, much better, but not ride better.
The “air suspension” is not really that at all. The air bags are attached between the leaf springs and the chassis. They increase the spring rate. A better term for them is “helper springs” not “air suspension.”
The suspension is still a solid axle with leaf springs. And that’s the issue that causes the rough ride.
Your RV will never have a soft ride. Spending $5,000 or more on a 16-yr old RV trying to get a soft ride will only cause you disappointment and you’ll never get that back at resale.
It WILL make driving easier and more controlled just not less jarring or smoother.
You can get similar results with about 1/2 of those upgrades. Steering Stabilizer and rear roll bar, are good starting places. Shocks might help due to the age of the Coach. Many swear by the rear track bar instead of the rear roll bar, but I’d say it’s one or the other not both.
Brazel’s is not wrong. It’s good stuff installed by a good company. And it will make it drive much better with more controll. But it’s likely to be overkill on a RV of that age and won’t “greatly smooth out the ride.”
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2017 Winnebago Adventurer 37F
2016 Lincoln MKX Toad
Thanks - not looking for major soft ride, and I understand how air bags work - have put them on other vehicles and installed myself. I believe the shocks will improve the ride as I am getting major bounce and the shocks are old and the bushings are nearly gone.
I am eliminating several things - likely doing just the sway bars, shocks, and air bags. See how things go from there.
ETA: I am not concerned about resale at all. I am outfitting this older rig to be as safe and comfortable for full time living as I can. If I like the lifestyle as much as I think I will, I will likely invest in a few years in a new, or much newer used diesel pusher.
I have the same chassis and year. The tiger Track bar and Safe-t stabilizer with Koni Shocks and Sumo Springs in the front does it for me - really a huge improvement - the ECU and TCU tunes from UltraRV finished it off.
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2005 Winnebago Voyage 33v (2004 W22), Rear trac bar, Safe-t Steering stabilizer, Koni shocks all around, SumoSprings in the front, UltraRV ECM and TCM tunes + 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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