Class C Pros and Cons

ron.dittmer wrote:
When it comes to any kind of motor home, there is a delicate balance between "excess weight capability" and "quality of ride" which sometimes can influence "handling". Generally speaking, the more excess weight capability, the more harsh the ride will be, and the better it will handle. Less excess capability makes a softer ride, but might handle worse. An empty heavy duty van or pick-up truck, the harsh ride exists too, but you are not driving a house. There is a huge difference shaking up a house and it's contents, versus an empty heavy duty van or pickup.

That's why I put Koni Frequency Selective Damping shocks in the rear of our small E450-based Class C.

I wanted a shock that was extra stiff for better sway control of a big RV box, but I didn't want a shock's stiffness added to leaf spring stiffness otherwise (i.e. making the jolts from cracks and potholes worse).

To accomplish the above required a shock that automatically adjusted it's stiffness in real time depending upon the speed of the vertical forces being presented to it at the time. That's why a plain "heavy duty" shock with a constant amount of stiff damping in all situations would never have provided what I needed.

I have yet to add the automatic shocks to the front of our E450, however. For some reason the stock front shocks are still good and the ride in the front has always been fine - maybe that's just due to the difference in leaf springs and coil springs - I'm not sure.