Straight axle front ends

Gjac wrote:
I am looking at newer gas MH's with the straight front axles and they look a lot simpler that the IFS system that is on my P-30 chassis which cost me a small fortune to maintain. The only issue that I have noticed on these front ends is that half of the MH's that I have looked at both Ford and WH between 2006-2012 have no or very little ride height just looking at the rubber bumper to the frame gap. I think an $800 spring replacement will correct this issue. Is there any other issues with these front ends that one should be aware of? I don't notice a harsher ride over the IFS system when I test drive these newer MHs, of course they are only short rides.

I added the four corner air bag system to the front and rear of my WH chassis. This has a compressor that is controlled on the dash to inflate or deflet the air bags from the driver's seat for the front or rear as we travel. I will pump them up to 80psi or so on windy days and lower the pressure to maybe 20 psi on calm days. On the WH W chassis there is not a solid rubber bumper. It is almost identical to a Sumo spring type of a cushion that compressors when the spring approaches the frame. Mine is now approaching 100,000 miles and has all of the original suspension components. I can adjust the ride or ride height with the air bags and have never had a problem with them bottoming out. These run less than $300 for the front or rear plus the cost of the compressor and dash control. Maybe $800 total at SD Trucks online.

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Gjac wrote:
I am looking at newer gas MH's with the straight front axles and they look a lot simpler that the IFS system that is on my P-30 chassis which cost me a small fortune to maintain. The only issue that I have noticed on these front ends is that half of the MH's that I have looked at both Ford and WH between 2006-2012 have no or very little ride height just looking at the rubber bumper to the frame gap. I think an $800 spring replacement will correct this issue. Is there any other issues with these front ends that one should be aware of? I don't notice a harsher ride over the IFS system when I test drive these newer MHs, of course they are only short rides.

I added the four corner air bag system to the front and rear of my WH chassis. This has a compressor that is controlled on the dash to inflate or deflet the air bags from the driver's seat for the front or rear as we travel. I will pump them up to 80psi or so on windy days and lower the pressure to maybe 20 psi on calm days. On the WH W chassis there is not a solid rubber bumper. It is almost identical to a Sumo spring type of a cushion that compressors when the spring approaches the frame. Mine is now approaching 100,000 miles and has all of the original suspension components. I can adjust the ride or ride height with the air bags and have never had a problem with them bottoming out. These run less than $300 for the front or rear plus the cost of the compressor and dash control. Maybe $800 total at SD Trucks online.

100,000 miles and has all of the original suspension components. That is good to know in 100k miles on my IFS I have spent over $5000 for maintenance. I would imagine those bags help in controlling the sway also.

With the air bags you can pump them up and almost eliminate most swaying. When we are traveling in the Great Plains and it is windy, I just pump them up to 80-90 PSI and I have felt comfortable driving with gusts around 50 MPH.
The downside of that is that when the air bags are pumped up, the ride does get a little harsher and I only do that on smoother interstate highways. Once we get off the highway, I can lower to air pressure and regain the smoother ride.
With the W20-22-24 Workhorse chassis, it comes from the factory with front and rear square tube anti-sway bars that are attached steel to steel, so there are no rubber bushings to wear out or to get sloppy.

The front leaf springs on my coach have started going into negative arches from years of overloading by the previous owners. Last year I couldn't find a shop that would replace the springs for me so for an intermediate fix, I added the Ride Rite air bags and an on-board wireless-controlled compressor. Except for very uneven road surfaces, you'd never know there was anything wrong with the springs after I added the air bags. I can inflate them individually, so since the driver's side spring is more worn that the passenger side, I inflate it with a higher pressure and the ride height evens out nicely. There's still a significant lean with the bags deflated and as I said, on uneven road surfaces, you definitely know something's not right, but I'm sold on the airbag helper springs.

This year, I've finally found a local shop that can replace the springs for me so I'll have that done before we head out on the road again, but will leave the air bags in place to assist the ride and the sway. I also have rear bags that I haven't installed yet, so I'll probably put them on at the same time as I replace the springs.

Thanks for the info Ron. My preference is the WH chassis in searching for a newer MH. I have not been able to find one with everything I want. The one that meets most of my reps that I found so far is a 2009 Monaco Monarch just north of Orlando. I had the owner take some photos and that bumper stop or Sumo type spring is resting on the frame.

Gjac wrote:
Thanks for the info Ron. My preference is the WH chassis in searching for a newer MH. I have not been able to find one with everything I want. The one that meets most of my reps that I found so far is a 2009 Monaco Monarch just north of Orlando. I had the owner take some photos and that bumper stop or Sumo type spring is resting on the frame.

Since mine has had the air bags since new, and since I park it with the front wheels off of the ground and hanging loose, my normal ride height puts the frame about 1 1/2" above the bumper stop with the air bags deflated. I would guess the springs are worn out on that coach. You can have them replaced or re-arched.

Gjac wrote:
Thanks for the info Ron. My preference is the WH chassis in searching for a newer MH. I have not been able to find one with everything I want. The one that meets most of my reps that I found so far is a 2009 Monaco Monarch just north of Orlando. I had the owner take some photos and that bumper stop or Sumo type spring is resting on the frame.

My understanding is the Sumo's do ride on the I beam, the factory ones on my W24 look like Sumo's but there is about a 3" gap. These were offered with Tiffin as an option, so it wouldn't surprise me if Monaco offered, or in some cases they might be stock.
I was considering going Sumo's, but now thinking the air bags might be a better choice.

The WH sumo type rubber bumpers(Workhorse calls them "Like air") come from the factory in different colors(gray, white, or yellow), depending on the front axle weight. My Monaco came with the factory Like Air rubber bumpers and I did not see them as an option.

Check with Deaver Springs to see if they have an aftermarket set. On the DieselPlace forum many have posted they upgraded to Deaver Springs and Bilstein shocks and have seen a big improvement in ride quality.

My last MH, a 2001 Tropical 36 ft was 15 years old when I traded it. The front suspension worked just fine. Too many folks wind up their underwear in a knot over nothing.