Cayman Ride Enhancement Kit

[nkwazi]

Last week I had not only the new trailing arms installed, but the ride enhancement kit as well. I had planned to have the arms installed before our trip south and called Scott at Source Engineering to ask when the ride kit would be ready so I could have both done at the same time and save a little extra on labor. When he found out I was local he asked if I would be willing to be a beta customer for the version they intend to go to market with. I could not refuse the offer and made arrangements to have both the arms and ride kit installed at the Roadmaster factory in Vancouver, WA by Wayne who has done a lot of work with both Jim and Scott.
Took the rig in on Monday last week so Wayne’s crew could start taking off the old arms (Wayne was still in Quartzsite and not due back till Tuesday. Tuesday to they replaced the arms, airbags and shock absorbers. On Wednesday they completed the installation by mounting a new ping tank up under the chassis and plumbing in the new air bags.
I am not expert and will defer to the three experts, but my understanding is as follows: the airbags give a softer ride, the ping tank and the larger diameter hose on the front bags allow for a larger volume and thus the air can go somewhere quicker when hitting a bump. The shock are Bilsteins with custom valving matched to the new airbags to minimize oscillations.
Took it for a test drive with the three of them and they agreed they have a winner and will release it as is.
I am now in central California and have over 700 miles with the upgrades. I am tickled pink and extremely pleased with the way the rig drives and handles. The back end seems tighter and no longer yaws when hitting a pothole at the wrong angle. Potholes and bumps no longer give bone jarring thunks that send stuff flying around the rig. Especially with bumps when going over an overpass. Hit a bump, the front end absorbs it and then the shocks really dampened it when the suspension unloaded. No more porpoising. No more stuff being tossed about. Even on the worst section of the CA freeways where a hovercraft couldn’t get a smooth ride the rig held it own.
Jim and Scott have a winner………..

[MonacoMama]

I am glad to hear that you have had such an big improvement! Congrats on being the guniea pig for another great product by Source!

[Up N Flames]

Sounds great. What was the cost?

[Nonno]

Thanks for the report on the kit. This sounds like a solution to a problem when hitting a dip at highway speed.

I'm on my first trip (1500mi so far) with the new trailing arms and I'm pleased with them but twice I've come out of my seat when one of those dips suddenly appeared. Having a rear closet all the clothes came off the rod too.

[Jim Stewart]

This was an upgrade that was offered by Monaco on all RR4R Chassis, after I believe 2003 model years. Most Monaco brands did not have the option installed. Most of the Safari Brand did have the option. At the time of purchase, it was about $700.00 I imagine it is a lot more as an upgrade to an existing chassis. The bags are a lot larger than the standard bags and not all RR4Rs had the room for the larger bags.

My 2005 Safari Cheetah had the upgrade as an option during production. My RR4R with the original factory upgrades, new Source Arms and the Super Steer MCUs rides as well as most other chassis. I also added the Blu-Ox steering control. SHe rides real nice!

[Nonno]

Jim,

I know the MCUs help /eliminate that side to side rocking but does it also help with the "out of seat experience" when hitting those dips in the road?

BTW- when is the sun and warm weather coming back? I'm at TGO.

[Jim Stewart]

Yes, it seems to make quite a difference. The problem with the dip is the same as the side to side rebound of parking lots, just in the other direction (front to back). It may just be in my mind, but it seems much better now.

[Tony2]

Funny stuff,

I just posted in the roadmaster section about this upgrade, I was speaking to Jim (seems like a good guy I might add) at Source in regards to this kit and he was mentioning they were doing testing on one last week...............well apparently that was on yours!! I am glad to hear that it helped as that is the only real complaint we have on our coach is the ride.

We are getting the trailing arms done in the spring as soon as the snow melts here in Calgary, we have a source dealer local and I am hoping to have the ride kit and the arms done at the same time!!

Please keep us in the loop on how you like the kit and any insight you can offer please.

Tony2

[nkwazi]

As to the cost, will leave that up to Source. Did get a break by being the guinea pig. Lucky I was local .
Our rig doesn't have a rear closet, but before the kit was installed, we could never leave anything on the bed (head at rear) and even had to push the mattress back into place.

[Jerry & Sydney]

We had larger rear airbags, koni shocks and ride control arms installed in Sep. '09 at Roadmaster in Vancouver, WA by the same team you had...they are great, and it made a big difference but the clothes still fly off the rear clothes closet rods. At the time, they didn't have a front air bag that would fit our '08 Neptune RR4R, so glad to hear it is available, we hope to have it done by Wayne, Scott and Jim this coming April in Vancouver, WA when we go to celebrate a grandson's birthday. We are at Lake Nacimiento, in Central CA, where are you guys?

[soberjoe]

Wonder if it states this upgrade in my rigs paperwork. Pretty hard to tell if they are up graded or not by just looking at them.

[nkwazi]

Sidney Cain
Was just down at Paso Robles/Morro Bay visiting DW sisters. We are about 10 miles N of the plant where Wayne works. Look forward to meeting up with you in April.

[LRuiz]

nkwazi - I have a 2007 Holiday Rambler Neptune XL which is the same coach as the Cayman. Did having the trailing arms, shocks, etc. improve the ride? The ride is one thing that I have hated with my coach. We have actually experienced "air time" when hitting a hole in the 101 freeway down by Ventura. It happened 2 times - the same place - different trips.
Did you get the work done in CA? I live near Pismo Beach in CA and the place that does the arms work is in Paso Robles. Thought it was a huge price tag to have the replacement done which, in my opinion should have been handled by Monaco but we all know what happened to them.

[Flagelpater]

FWIW Not completely On Topic. I put the clothes in the rear closet Backwards! Yes, Backwards. The opening on the hangar facing Forward. The clothes have never fallen off the rod over the past 3 years.