We just recently purchased a 2016 Forest River Georgetown 335DS from Lazy Days in Tampa Fla. It was a used coach with only 3,000 miles. We love our coach however we were very disappointed driving back home to North Georgia. On a smooth road it glides along fine and couldn't ask for a better ride but when you get in bumpy road conditions the ride is horrible. It almost reminds me of the ride on a city bus or a trolley. With this being our first motorhome I just wasn't sure if this is normal in a Class A or not. We have previously owned travel trailers and a 5th wheel. Surely the shocks aren't bad already. Wondering if we have made a mistake.

Have you called Lazy Days? Does it have air bags? Have you checked the air pressure in the tires? There are a lot of things you can do to improve the ride of a class A.

I drive a lot of different motorhomes at work and all of the Class A gassers are terrible on rough roads, you feel every bump. They ride like trucks. Get yourself a diesel pusher with the airbag suspension for the best and smoothest ride. Even the entry level diesels float down the road.One other thought, was your new rig empty? It will ride better when you put some water in the tank and add the weight of the stuff you'll be carrying with you.

Yeh, we have just gone through the having the same epiphany ourselves. After getting used to the stable ride and (comparatively) nimble cornering of our diesel pickups hauling fifth wheel campers, it was an eye opener to drive a Class A gas coach on the Ford F-53 chassis.Do some research on the "Cheap Handling Fix" as a good start. To me, the next best bang for your buck is a rear track bar (or Panhard bar). There are also SumoSprings and oversized sway bars. Try one thing at a time, starting with the least expensive and working your way up.

rjf7g wrote:Have you called Lazy Days? Does it have air bags? Have you checked the air pressure in the tires? There are a lot of things you can do to improve the ride of a class A.It does not have air bags I never thought of that. Are those beneficial? No I did not call Lazy Days but we won't go there becaus it's useless. However the front tires have a Tyron band installed to aid in blowout safety but I wouldn't think that would cause it.

Bumpy roads and 20,000 lbs don't play well together. You may want to get the coach weighed and adjust the air pressure in the tires accordingly. that will help. Ruff roads are no fun for my pusher either, so I just try to slow down when I get on one. Your chassis has Bilsteins shocks, they are some of the best and they are probably not the issue.

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rjf7g
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
Have you called Lazy Days? Does it have air bags? Have you checked the air pressure in the tires? There are a lot of things you can do to improve the ride of a class A.
azdryheat
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
I drive a lot of different motorhomes at work and all of the Class A gassers are terrible on rough roads, you feel every bump. They ride like trucks. Get yourself a diesel pusher with the airbag suspension for the best and smoothest ride. Even the entry level diesels float down the road.

One other thought, was your new rig empty? It will ride better when you put some water in the tank and add the weight of the stuff you'll be carrying with you.
DryCreek
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
Yeh, we have just gone through the having the same epiphany ourselves. After getting used to the stable ride and (comparatively) nimble cornering of our diesel pickups hauling fifth wheel campers, it was an eye opener to drive a Class A gas coach on the Ford F-53 chassis.

Do some research on the "Cheap Handling Fix" as a good start. To me, the next best bang for your buck is a rear track bar (or Panhard bar). There are also SumoSprings and oversized sway bars. Try one thing at a time, starting with the least expensive and working your way up.
David658
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
rjf7g wrote:
Have you called Lazy Days? Does it have air bags? Have you checked the air pressure in the tires? There are a lot of things you can do to improve the ride of a class A.

It does not have air bags I never thought of that. Are those beneficial? No I did not call Lazy Days but we won't go there becaus it's useless. However the front tires have a Tyron band installed to aid in blowout safety but I wouldn't think that would cause it.
chuckftboy
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
Bumpy roads and 20,000 lbs don't play well together. You may want to get the coach weighed and adjust the air pressure in the tires accordingly. that will help. Ruff roads are no fun for my pusher either, so I just try to slow down when I get on one. Your chassis has Bilsteins shocks, they are some of the best and they are probably not the issue.
mike_brez
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
Trade it in for a DP ;)
hostage
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
David658 wrote:
We just recently purchased a 2016 Forest River Georgetown 335DS from Lazy Days in Tampa Fla. It was a used coach with only 3,000 miles. We love our coach however we were very disappointed driving back home to North Georgia. On a smooth road it glides along fine and couldn't ask for a better ride but when you get in bumpy road conditions the ride is horrible. It almost reminds me of the ride on a city bus or a trolley. With this being our first motorhome I just wasn't sure if this is normal in a Class A or not. We have previously owned travel trailers and a 5th wheel. Surely the shocks aren't bad already. Wondering if we have made a mistake.

don't compare a 5 er or pull trailer please those are pulled by smooth riding trucks and SUV etc two completely and incomparable animals
a gasser of the caliber you bought are cheap shocks and heavy springs
with straight axles and no they do not ride very good on poor roads
watch your air pressures as they play a heavy roll in ride in these conditions
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 02, 2017
wet or dry, loaded or unloaded
what is the tire pressure ?

MAX tire pressure with an empty coach, no load on the suspension, can be rather jolting
hostage
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
mike brez wrote:
Trade it in for a DP ;)

even higher end DP rides crappy on a rough road Own one and been there
path1
Explorer
Aug 02, 2017
MrWizard wrote:
wet or dry, loaded or unloaded
what is the tire pressure ?

MAX tire pressure with an empty coach, no load on the suspension, can be rather jolting

Yes, my class C rides real rough with tires at max air pressure.
I looked up my tire manufacture inflation charts and then got RV weighed. Then I put air pressure in tires to the min pressure for the load (per inflation chart) then added plus 10%. Lots better for us. So good that when we forget to pick up doggy's water bowl, very little splashes out. Even on our lousy roads.

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