Airbags do they really help??

[Billy kxdad31]

Our new Winnebago feels like it is going to break in half when hitting obstacles like small potholes and just bad pavement or concrete on the interstates. Do air bags help enough to install them? I am looking at the Firestone ride-rite.


2008 Winnebago Access 31J Ford E-450 Chassis

[Billy kxdad31]

Our new Winnebago feels like it is going to break in half when hitting obstacles like small potholes and just bad pavement or concrete on the interstates. Do air bags help enough to install them? I am looking at the Firestone ride-rite.


2008 Winnebago Access 31J Ford E-450 Chassis

[Tenn.Vol.]

I know they did not help on my Workhorse chassis when I instlled them on the front.
I installed them because of the porposing effect on the W-20/22 chassie.....
I wanted to install the KONI shocks, but with the Bills I have no side to side sway.
And the KONI may be too soft and bring back the sway!!!!!Tenn.

[Fakrwee]

Hi Billy. What you are describing sounds more like over inflated tires than anything else. Sometimes dealers will fill tires to the max even if not needed.

First weigh your rig, and then check the tire pressure. Once you have this info go to the tire mfg. website and see what PSI is recommended for your load and inflation combinatition.

Below is the michellin chart. Hope that's your tire brand and problem.

Michellin Load & Inflation Table

Good luck
Tom

[Duner]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Billy kxdad31:
Our new Winnebago feels like it is going to break in half when hitting obstacles like small potholes and just bad pavement or concrete on the interstates. Do air bags help enough to install them? I am looking at the Firestone ride-rite.
2008 Winnebago Access 31J Ford E-450 Chassis </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

My Mon's 2001 Mini Winnie 31' on a Ford chassis has Firestone airbags in the rear as standard equipment by Winnebago. It had stock shocks. Wife & I took a 6000 mi trip with my folks. We didn't have a lot of time so I drove most of the 14 hr days except for a couple of hrs while my Mom drove & I slept in the back. In the driver's seat, it rode like a limo. In the rear bed, you'd get thrown up in the air of some of the rougher spots on I-40. Just couldn't sleep there, had to use the couch towards the front to get a decent ride.

Better shocks will make the biggest improvement. I put Bilsteins on my '99 Ford F53 chassis and it made a huge improvement over the stock Monroe's. It felt like I had twice as much up/down travel. I did add Firestone Ride-Rites airbags to get the MH to ride level since it was low in the back when I hooked up my enclosed trailer.

Now I have Koni FSD shocks on my '04 Workhorse and they are one big step better than Bilsteins. The FSD's give a nice limo ride on the concrete freeways, but yet they are very rigid in the driveways, side winds and trucks passing. You can get Koni's for $127 here: LTB Motorsports

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tenn.Vol.:
..... I wanted to install the KONI shocks, but with the Bills I have no side to side sway.
And the KONI may be too soft and bring back the sway!!!!!Tenn. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Don't think so Tenn. Having had both, I don't think they're too soft for handling purposes. But softer on the expansion joints reduces the harsh vibrations that makes everything rattle. I think all the stuff inside the coach will last a lot longer because of less vibration, IMHO.