E-350 Hard Ride

klutchdust wrote:

Photomike wrote:

pnichols wrote:

Photomike wrote:
I think I would be opening myself up to failures in extreme cold.

What does extreme cold do to air bags?

Don't E450 based shuttle buses have air suspension systems ... and I assume some them are used in harsh climates.

I have been told that there is a higher failure rate at -30 & 40C. I will check into this and see for sure.

All the big rigs use Firestone air bags . I would assume there are such around your area. Having been around heavy equipment as a career i have seen few air bags fail. Always maintain just a few pounds of pressure to keep the wrinkles out and you should be ok.

Funny I texted my brother tonight and asked him as he has a number of semis that they run and got the same reply. I will have to look into airbags now.

Photomike wrote:

pnichols wrote:

Photomike wrote:
I think I would be opening myself up to failures in extreme cold.

What does extreme cold do to air bags?

Don't E450 based shuttle buses have air suspension systems ... and I assume some them are used in harsh climates.

I have been told that there is a higher failure rate at -30 & 40C. I will check into this and see for sure.

All the big rigs use Firestone air bags . I would assume there are such around your area. Having been around heavy equipment as a career i have seen few air bags fail. Always maintain just a few pounds of pressure to keep the wrinkles out and you should be ok.

pnichols wrote:

Photomike wrote:
I think I would be opening myself up to failures in extreme cold.

What does extreme cold do to air bags?

Don't E450 based shuttle buses have air suspension systems ... and I assume some them are used in harsh climates.

I have been told that there is a higher failure rate at -30 & 40C. I will check into this and see for sure.

Photomike wrote:
I think I would be opening myself up to failures in extreme cold.

What does extreme cold do to air bags?

Don't E450 based shuttle buses have air suspension systems ... and I assume some them are used in harsh climates.

pnichols wrote:
Mike,

Your 19G underloads the E350 chassis, so it' going to ride rough. I experienced the same thing with our 24 foot Class C on an E450 chassis.

Lowering rear tire pressure helps, and so may Koni FSD shocks in the rear - but they are expensive shocks. We have a set of Koni FSD shocks in just the rear ... our front shocks are still stock. Less expensive but high quality soft shocks in the rear - like the Bilstein soft shocks - may also help in your situation.

The next to ultimate solution is to have a leaf removed from each spring in the rear and then have air bags installed back there. Pump up the air bags just enough to counter-act the sag that results from the single leaf on each side being removed. That will get the rear end riding less on stiff steel and more on air.

The ultimate solution (expensive) is to have the entire rear suspension converted over to full air suspension.

So you are saying I should carry more junk :B

Thought of going air bags or full air but don't like the idea for what I use it for, I think I would be opening myself up to failures in extreme cold.

Thanks,

Mike,

Your 19G underloads the E350 chassis, so it' going to ride rough. I experienced the same thing with our 24 foot Class C on an E450 chassis.

Lowering rear tire pressure helps, and so may Koni FSD shocks in the rear - but they are expensive shocks. We have a set of Koni FSD shocks in just the rear ... our front shocks are still stock. Less expensive but high quality soft shocks in the rear - like the Bilstein soft shocks - may also help in your situation.

The next to ultimate solution is to have a leaf removed from each spring in the rear and then have air bags installed back there. Pump up the air bags just enough to counter-act the sag that results from the single leaf on each side being removed. That will get the rear end riding less on stiff steel and more on air.

The ultimate solution (expensive) is to have the entire rear suspension converted over to full air suspension.