Rough ride

[Rural-1]

I purchased a 2013 Thor Windsport 32A on a F53 ford chassis and it rides like a tank on any road other than a smooth top road---any suggestion as how to correct rough ride?

[Goldencrazy]

Daveinet wrote:
The F53 is know for a harsh ride. Supposedly the newer versions are much better, but maybe not enough to make a difference. One thing you have working against you is that you have a shorter chassis, which means less weight. It could very well be that your suspension is designed for a much longer, heavier coach. According to other F53 owners who have posted here, better shocks will help. Secondly, I would look into something like Morryde or Sulastic spring shackles. Sulastic may not list the F53, but last time I talked to them, they were willing to make anything. Sulastic will be fairly inexpensive compared to other solutions.

I installed mor/ryde on my 2010 Vista 30W. They were unable to supply the system for the front so only on the rear. I was not particularly impressed. I think the Koni shocks were the big improvement.

[ryanallie1]

Hi All.

What fixed our 1998 RexHall, was first to het it "weighted". Second, get a "Front End-Alligment". If it needs new tires or not, have all your tres "Balanced". Make sure all of your Shocks are in good working order.

Next, we put "AIR-LIFT", #5000 lb "AIR-Bags" on all four corners. On ours, our "Steering Stabilizer" was completely shot. No "Compression what so ever One very "Beautiful" things about Air-Ride, is that it can be adjusted in a mater of seconds. Another thing that Comes in real handy on really High Crowened Roads, is it only taks a few seconds to adjust your Air-Bag. I have from 10 PSI to 100 PSI to play with. As your soupposed to keep at least 10 PSI in your tires at all times.

The best thing we ever did for our 1997 F-53 Chassis on a1998 RexHall, was to get a "STEER-SAFE". Now high crowns in the road don't bother us. Passing Semis don't bother us. Nor does any side winds, with in reason. And all of my driving can be done with just one handed Steering.

We ride about the best you will ever get an F-53 Chassis to ever do. Even going down Hill and taking Sharp Corners, and not speeding, you don't feel like the Motorhome is tilting and ready to roll over. We have an older F-53 Ford Chassis, that will nver get another older F-53 Ford Chassis to ever drive any better than our. Its quite, and its comfortable, and a real pleasure to drive, no matter how long I choose to drive.

We both enjoy our comforts. And I would put up our 1998 RexHall, against any other Motorhome, any where close to our year Motorhome. Sorry, No Diesels allowed in this comparson. Lets keep it Apples to Apples

We were very Lucky, as we got our Motorhome for a "Once in a Life Time Buy". And I am a real nut case when it come to "Proventive Maintance Programs"

Start with all of the cheap stuff first, then work your way up from there.

You to can have a pretty darn good F-53 Chassis ride also. Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill & our to small "YORKIE KIDS", who love to travel as much as we do.

[427435]

While my F53 doesn't ride like a car, but it rides quite respectively. When I first got it, it crashed over bumps and tar strips were felt rather harshly. That all changed when I got rid of the worn out OEM shocks and replaced them with the Koni FSD shocks.

It is a truck chassis (and I have driven farm trucks since I was 13), so one's expectations must be reasonable. However, it is quite comfortable on normal roads.

[Daveinet]

The F53 is know for a harsh ride. Supposedly the newer versions are much better, but maybe not enough to make a difference. One thing you have working against you is that you have a shorter chassis, which means less weight. It could very well be that your suspension is designed for a much longer, heavier coach. According to other F53 owners who have posted here, better shocks will help. Secondly, I would look into something like Morryde or Sulastic spring shackles. Sulastic may not list the F53, but last time I talked to them, they were willing to make anything. Sulastic will be fairly inexpensive compared to other solutions.

[John_Joey]

The last time I looked the F53 still has leaf springs for suspension just like a horse buggy did. Then when you add in the quality of Louisiana roads (per your ID) I think you're just plain going to be out of luck. It was Louisiana where my dash broke off my 96 F53. Banged so hard that the screws pulled right thru the plastic dash.

[J-Rooster]

No offense to anyone, but I've been RVing since 1976 and never had a completely smooth riding RV. You have to keep in mind that driving a Class A or Class C you have a house mounted on a truck or bus frame and being a high profile vehicle your subject to wind and any bump on the road that you encounter is going to cause a rocking motion or a porpoising motion. There are expensive equipment that you can buy to limit these motions. And sometimes people forget that most roads are supered (angled for drainage) from the centerline to the shoulder. So your driving down the road at a slight angle. Good Luck in your attempt to get a smooth ride.

[427435]

OPPs

[427435]

First, correct tire pressure for actual load.

Second, put on Koni FSD shocks.

[Goldencrazy]

No question that on these shorter and lighter motorhomes a load helps the ride. Koni shocks can make a difference as they are not as stiff as Bilsteins and if you want to unload 6 grand the Kelderman air ride will make an enormous difference. These lighter shorter wheelbase motorhomes do not ride like the larger ones that have more weight so a lot of tweaking can get expensive to get them where you are comfortable. As had been indicated tire air pressure is critical. When the service rep put 95 into my tires instead of 80 even my Kelderman couldn't help it.

[wny_pat1]

You've been a member since 2004. What did you have before that rode so much better?

Is it empty, or do you have it loaded for traveling? Sometimes even filling up the fresh water tank will help hold down the back end.

[down_home]

Look, at the label, besides the Driver's position, or the door jam and adjust tire pressure to that, not maximum pressure, on sidewall.
If that doesn't do it, maybe you have too stiff, a tire, sidewall. Some run semi tires, stiff enough, for 50 tons. An RV spec tire will generally have more flexible sidewalls.
Look at shocks, are they gas? Gas units are stiffer.
Is the coach loaded yet? The weight affects it.

[crasster]

Describe what a tank feels like 🙂 Is it just bumpy? Vibrations? or?

[wolfe10]

Why not start with the free/inexpensive stuff:

What are your axle or wheel position (better) weights?

What tires do you have and what PSI is in them.

If well the tires are over-inflated, there is no silver bullet that will cure it.

[OpenRangePullen]

Why not an air ride system?