Best bang for the buck E-450 suspension upgrade

Shocks and an extra leaf in the rear springs. I added timbrens to replace the broken air bags.

Hellwig heavy duty sway bars front and rear.
The only mods on my 2019 450 and it drives fine.
About 4 hours in the yard for my installation so a shop
should be much quicker.

I just upgraded to Hellwig front and rear sway bars on our E-450 chassis. WOW -- what a difference. Our first big trip I was all over the road. Now, I'm not constantly trying to keep her straight -- she tracks straight at highway speeds now. I installed them myself -- drove up on blocks for the front but rear was fine as is. Easy enough -- but can be cumbersome without air tools. Total cost: about $650.

For the other items mentioned in this thread:
Our coach is a Jayco and they already put extra leaf springs in.
I have not considered shocks -- but may in the future. We only have 4k miles on the unit.
Alignment -- something on my list. Steering wheel looks like I'm turning right when driving -- and as others said, the camber might be tuned in better.

Overall, the E-450 chassis is a good one, and with a little help it should last a LONG time.

Tiring? Slow down. Driving fast makes to tired faster.... Get out of the vehicle more often. Blood circulation does wonders for fatigue.

mleekamp wrote:

Alignment -- something on my list. Steering wheel looks like I'm turning right when driving -- and as others said, the camber might be tuned in better.

FYI - Ford will cover your first alignment under warranty, because they know the MH builders are not doing it after completing the builds.

jdc1 wrote:
Tiring? Slow down. Driving fast makes to tired faster.... Get out of the vehicle more often. Blood circulation does wonders for fatigue.

The truck speed limit on most of the freeways I drive on is 60mph, and that's my max speed. I don't want to drive slower than that and become a rolling roadblock. I'll typically find a truck going my speed, then stay 5 or 10 seconds behind him.

That truck also alerts me to road conditions ahead, if I see him change lanes to the left, then I know that either that lane is ending or there's something on the right-hand shoulder (or in the lane!), so I prepare to move too. If I see him brake, then I know traffic is slowing ahead, so I brake too.

pianotuna wrote:
Shocks and an extra leaf in the rear springs.

I second the extra leaf, especially as the chassis ages.

rlw999 wrote:

jdc1 wrote:
Tiring? Slow down. Driving fast makes to tired faster.... Get out of the vehicle more often. Blood circulation does wonders for fatigue.

The truck speed limit on most of the freeways I drive on is 60mph, and that's my max speed.

Adding caster will help it track straighter and you will be less fatigued.

I found the suspension to be the biggest weakness of the E450 platform. After reading everyones advise I went about making every upgrade in the book to my Class C and now she rides/handles like a dream. Thanks to all the advice I found on this forum. I figured I would give by by making video of the top 7 mods for improving the suspension on the Ford E450 platform. Hope it helps you and others. YouTube E450 Suspension Video

I wonder if my new to me 2018 22J has had the caster changed.
I bought it last Friday at New Port Richey. Drove home Sunday and Monday. I drove at 60 to 63 mph. I was surprised at how well it tracked. So, either the original owner actually had the caster fixed, or I got the rare unicorn RV.

In any case, when I get it loaded for travel, I plan on going up to the commercial truck tire center and let them do an alignment. I will insist that the caster be set at about +5.5 to +6.0

theoldwizard1 wrote:

rlw999 wrote:

jdc1 wrote:
Tiring? Slow down. Driving fast makes to tired faster.... Get out of the vehicle more often. Blood circulation does wonders for fatigue.

The truck speed limit on most of the freeways I drive on is 60mph, and that's my max speed.

Adding caster will help it track straighter and you will be less fatigued.