Poor ride on the E450 platform

pauldub wrote:
I considered the Sulastic shackles awhile back but when I asked Sulastic specifically about their function with my rear axle weight, they said they would be fully compressed. I've pretty much decided to live with the E-450 harshness on my 24' moho, at least for now. MORryde has "shackles" that will work with the load.

Interesting comment. It appears Sulastic shackles function only on empty box trucks, otherwise bottom out and function as standard shackles. I'll have to check out the MORryde shackles.

I considered the Sulastic shackles awhile back but when I asked Sulastic specifically about their function with my rear axle weight, they said they would be fully compressed. I've pretty much decided to live with the
E-450 harshness on my 24' moho, at least for now. MORryde has "shackles" that will work with the load.

A 26 foot Phoenix Cruiser is likely model 2551 or 2552. That is just the other side of the E350/E450 line. You have more than enough CCC but at the sacrifice to "ride".

If you are up to experimentation at a $420 price and your own labor, I would try Sulastic Shackles SA-06HDD HERE.. I like their simplicity, easy installation, non-evasive to the chassis, easily put back to original if you don't like them, and they just "Make Sense" to me in how they work.

I was thinking of trying them on our Phoenix Cruiser 2350 on a 2007 E350. The ride is fine, but smoother yet would be better yet. I would surely try them if we had a short E450 model.

Some people special order model 2350 on an E450. I'd be afraid of chipping my teeth driving one like that.

I have a 2001 E450 with a 23 foot CoachHouse on it. Ride was just terrible - - it also had the Firestone air bags on the rear.

Bit the bullet and TOTALLY removed the rear leaf springs and air bags. Replaced that with Reyco Granning TRUE air suspension. Big air bags on a swing arm suspension with a sizeable air compressor and ride height valves on each side. Then added Koni shocks on all four corners. In hindsight, I think I maybe should have stuck to the OEM shocks which were softer than the Koni's.

Overall ride is much better and it tolerates the bomb craters a lot better. Still, does not ride like a Town Car (I have one), but a big improvement over stock. About three grand for the kit not including the Koni's. Installed it ourselves and a lot of work. Before considering ANY of the true air suspensions, examine carefully to see if the parts and pieces are gonna fit around gas tanks, waste tanks, etc., etc. Relocating stuff like that can be a huge additional task.

We've weighed all four corners separately several times. Oregon leaves their scales turned on 24/7 so you can always go to one during the off hours and weigh for free. Translation of the pressure charts for my tires (Toyo) yields 50 psi front and 65 psi for the duals. Not very hi compared to what many report but it is a small coach. I suspect a much larger "house" like a 26 or 28 footer might ride a lot better on the E450.

Your proper tire pressures are likely to be around 65 in front and 75 in rear duals. Leaf springs in rear have to be quite stiff to support the varying amounts of weight carried in the rear. Some weight to flex the springs a little should soften the ride a little. I hate washboard concrete highways where sections are cupped from heavy trucks and weather. Usually the left lane is in better condition than the right lane. I like to stop every hundred miles or so to let mind and body relax after the pounding and noise. Prolonged pounding on hot days can help tires with sidewall cracks to fail IMHO.

Saw a smallish Class C, 22- maybe 24-feet, had a carrier on the back for TWO motorcycles. They weren't cruisers, more of a light road bike. Still, two? It was an E350. I asked the guy how it steered. "Like it has two motorcycles on the back..."

I've owned three MHs on the Ford E-450 chassis. Things to do:

Have front end aligned by truck alignment shop that understand the quirks of the Ford front end. It takes special treatment on toe and caster.

Get weights on your front and rear axle, follow tire inflation charts not manufacturer charts. Inflating to max causes rough ride and handling problems.

Add heavy duty front and rear sway bars (i.e. Helwig, etc.)

Don't overload rear axle with rear hitch spare tire, cargo boxes, heavy tongue weight trailers, etc. Most "C's" don't have enough weight on front axle.

Without air suspension it will still ride like a truck but improvements can be made. There is a difference between "air bags" and air suspension.

AndyW wrote:
There are charts, but you'll need to provide front/rear axle weights and then the make/model of your tires first.

For clarification not published weight but the actual weight loaded as you would be as if your were on a trip and to do that you have to go to a truck scale.

My unit has airbags that I run at 80psi. I find that if I run with the fresh water tank at least half full (located behind rear axle), it soaks up the bumps a little. The front end also seems to track a little better with a little extra weight out back. These are heavy duty truck platforms that are meant to carry a lot of weight and work hard. They were never intended to ride like a town car.

^^^ Eggs-Act-Lee!!! And 80-PSI Rear multiplies out to the GAWR of the Rear Axle.

No E-Series 2007 and earlier should carry more than 60-PSI front, 75 for later models.

I may have mentioned, I specifically requested 60-PSI front but the tire shop did 80 all around. We nearly lost control on a down grade from a high rise bridge in a cross wind. I actually stopped on the shoulder and dropped the pressure. Running all 80 in the rear doesn't do much but worsen the ride a little.

Those who run "extra pressure" as some kind of "safety measure" are playing a game called "Outguess the Engineer."