what suspension mods to do first??
There are many suspension/handling mods out there. How to decide which ones to do first - which has the most bang for the buck. Just bought a 1999 33' Holiday Rambler gasser - shocks? sway bars? sumo ...
Forum Discussion
List potential changes out by price and if you can do the work yourself rather than taking the coach to a shop. Something like this-
Coach weight and tire pressure - $10/DIY
Replace rear sway bar bushings - $50/DIY
Cheap Handling Fix - $0/DIY
Wheel balancing - $50/Shop
Alignment - $150/Shop
Koni Shocks - $450/Shop
Safety T Plus - $500/Shop
Rear Trac Bar - $500/Shop
Sumo Springs (single axle) - $600/Shop
Airbags - $600/Shop
Work thru your list low to high cost making a single change and then drive the coach in as many different road, weather, loading,,, conditions as possible to determine if the coach performs to YOUR satisfaction. The more you drive the better you can assess the change. And by more I mean several hundred if not thousand miles. Something as simple as proper tire pressure, sway bar bushings and an alignment might be all you need to get the coach to perform as you want it too.
For my coach (2006 F53) the lowest cost changes had the largest effect and the associated bang for the buck. Correct tire pressure, rear bushings and CHF. Probably could have stopped there but couldn't help myself. Koni shocks were next in terms of effect followed by the rear track bar. The airbags didn't do much with regards to ride comfort but they also helped regain axle ride height after loading.
And somewhat related - Chassis and RV service center labor rates can be high, as in the $100+ an hour range, so expanding your mechanical skills and tool inventory will go a long way towards reducing the overall cost of ownership. Lots of information regarding anything you may want to do on the coach from resealing the roof seams, replacing the fridge to doing a transmission fluid flush. These things are not that difficult to maintain just a bit intimidating for some do to the size and weight but if you can memorize "lefty loosey, righty tighty" you just passed the entry exam to the RV University.
Good luck.
Coach weight and tire pressure - $10/DIY
Replace rear sway bar bushings - $50/DIY
Cheap Handling Fix - $0/DIY
Wheel balancing - $50/Shop
Alignment - $150/Shop
Koni Shocks - $450/Shop
Safety T Plus - $500/Shop
Rear Trac Bar - $500/Shop
Sumo Springs (single axle) - $600/Shop
Airbags - $600/Shop
Work thru your list low to high cost making a single change and then drive the coach in as many different road, weather, loading,,, conditions as possible to determine if the coach performs to YOUR satisfaction. The more you drive the better you can assess the change. And by more I mean several hundred if not thousand miles. Something as simple as proper tire pressure, sway bar bushings and an alignment might be all you need to get the coach to perform as you want it too.
For my coach (2006 F53) the lowest cost changes had the largest effect and the associated bang for the buck. Correct tire pressure, rear bushings and CHF. Probably could have stopped there but couldn't help myself. Koni shocks were next in terms of effect followed by the rear track bar. The airbags didn't do much with regards to ride comfort but they also helped regain axle ride height after loading.
And somewhat related - Chassis and RV service center labor rates can be high, as in the $100+ an hour range, so expanding your mechanical skills and tool inventory will go a long way towards reducing the overall cost of ownership. Lots of information regarding anything you may want to do on the coach from resealing the roof seams, replacing the fridge to doing a transmission fluid flush. These things are not that difficult to maintain just a bit intimidating for some do to the size and weight but if you can memorize "lefty loosey, righty tighty" you just passed the entry exam to the RV University.
Good luck.
