ron.dittmer wrote:
Hi Brooks,
Everything available helps to some degree all by itself, Everything in combination will help a lot. It is very hard to say if one upgrade by itself will make enough difference. That is why when there is a handling issue, people like myself create a list in priority. If you want to do one at a time, do it in that order. If like me, just spend $2000 installing the list of items yourself, and make the rig handle as best as possible, as soon as possible.
1) Put in the proper amount of air in your tires, per the load carried during a trip.
7) Get a front wheel alignment with your rig loaded as if on a trip.
5) Replace your rear stabilizer bar with a heavy duty version
6) Replace your front stabilizer bar with a heavy duty version
4) Replace your shock absorbers with heavy duty Bistein RV versions
2) Replace your stock steering Damper with Saf-T-Plus steering
stabilizer.
3) Add a rear trac bar
8)Add Front Sumo Springs
I have no personal experience with Sumo springs or air tabs. They might also help. All I know is that items 1 thru 7 together, are very effective for our particular rig HERE. Not only from passing trucks, but the suspension upgrades also improve handling and control, especially appreciated when driving on curvy mountain and canyon byways. The upgrades keep all six tires better planted on the pavement for improved handling and braking. Regardless of where you are driving, the suspension upgrades also reduce driver fatigue and improve passenger comfort.
It is also worth mentioning that none of the upgrades I had done affected the harshness of ride. Our rig always drove a bit harsh until I did THIS. I understand Koni-FSD RV shocks can also improve the quality of the ride, but they are quite expensive.
I changed the order the way I did the upgrades of Ron's list in his post above on my 2011 Aspect 28B.
I did each upgrade one at a time and did a test drive on a designated route I drove before doing the upgrades. (city streets, freeway , curvy backroads)
It gave me the opportunity to see/feel what each upgrade did .
I had the Alignment and Trac Bar installed at an alignment shop (wished I'd installed the tac Bar myself)
The biggest change we noticed was from the Rear Trac Bar and Sumo Springs.
No more "the tail wagging the dog effect" when the Trac Bar was added, being passed by a semi.
We still got pushed by a passing semi just not as bad.
Sumo Springs , no more front end dive hitting dips in the road.
