2008 ufo handling problem

[BEETHOVIN5N9]

My 2008 Winnebago Adventurer LT on a UFO Chassis on occasion heaves violently when hitting a slight depression on the Interstate at 60 MPH. Sometimes this is so bad my Co-Pilot has to cling to the armrests to keep from being tossed from her seat. I am in my 39th year of RVing & have lots of experience with loose objects getting thrown about in various RVs (havn't we all?) but this is exceptional. Winnebago claim there is nothing wrong with the suspension. Anyone have any experience with the UFO Chassis doing this?

["007"]

Welcome Beethovin5n9 to irv2 thanks for posting your other two posts.
As for this one your problem was prevalent back in the 02-03 w-22 chassis and it was call porpoising, there was allot of denial by Workhorse as to the cause, but eventually the front shocks were changed out by WH.
Your new chassis should have Bilsteins shocks, and I'm not sure but they maybe adjustable.
My w-22 I change out the shocks as others did to the Bilsteins and WH started to put them on 2004 chassis.
Top going shock now are the Koni's.
Its a chassis problem and Workhorse should correct it for you, you should take them for a ride and find every dip in the road and tell them to put on their seat belt you don't need any dents in your new ceiling.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEETHOVIN5N9 My 2008 Winnebago Adventurer LT on a UFO Chassis on occasion heaves violently when hitting a slight depression on the Interstate at 60 MPH. Sometimes this is so bad my Co-Pilot has to cling to the armrests to keep from being tossed from her seat. I am in my 39th year of RVing & have lots of experience with loose objects getting thrown about in various RVs (havn't we all?) but this is exceptional. Winnebago claim there is nothing wrong with the suspension. Anyone have any experience with the UFO Chassis doing this?

When I drove the UFO test coach I felt the front end was falling away when we went down a slight decline and passed over a railroad track at a 45 degree angle. I had to admit that was not a pleasant experience.

If my memory is correct several UFO owners switched over to Koni shocks at the last Workhorse rally, they were experiencing front end porpoising.

Fred

[CraigA]

Beethovin5na,

Hello, we have a 2008 Forest River Georgetown 391 on a UFO chassis. Our coach did the same thing, I have had several motorhomes and none of them ever did that. The first time it happened to us we were only going 60mph and then we had to hold on for dear life, thank god we were not going any faster. I feel that it is unsafe but that is for another time.

I had Koni FSD shocks put on all around, and that does not happen anymore. I went over the same stretch of highway that almost slammed us to the roof at 60mph and WOW what a difference. I highly recommend the Koni's, they will really take care of that problem.

Craig

[EngineerMike]

I've had Bilsteins on my last rig & this one. They wear out. Apparently as OEM equipment, they are not lifetime guaranteed, but if you buy them aftermarket they are. My last two pairs wore out at about 10,000 and the porpoising started (not lethal on my rig, but eye-opening, and way noticeable as different from when coach was new). I have new Koni FSDs to put on when time permits.

[UFO Pilot]

Ditto what Craig A. said. I had my shocks replaced with the Koni's at the Workhorse rally in Bakersfield. Best thing I have done on my UFO so far.

[-Gramps-]

A lot of it depends on the balance of the coach, where the tanks are located and so on. I think my coach rides great, but I only have my old bouncy Bounder with its Monroe OEM shocks to compare it to. And it was pretty bad to the way it rides now with new Bilsteins (so the new owners tell me.)

[BEETHOVIN5N9]

Thank you all for your help! My chassis has Bilstein shocks all around. I'll have to take another look and see if they are adjustable. I havn't heard of 'KONI' shock absorbers before. Where would I find these devices?

[-Gramps-]

Precision Frame installs them at rallies and so forth. They are on the web as well.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEETHOVIN5N9 I haven't heard of 'KONI' shock absorbers before. Where would I find these devices?

Please call our sponsors, Brazels RV Performance Center or Redlands Truck and RV Performance for a price quote on the Koni FSD shocks absorber.

Tell them you saw this on iRV2.com. I'm sure you will get a the shocks at a fair price and perhaps a small discount to boot! Call Jon or Mike at Brazels "or" Keith at Redlands.

[BEETHOVIN5N9]

Thanks for the information!

[JCM]

You may also consider adding Firestone Ride Right air bags to the front if you still have some "bobbing" after installing the Koni shocks - great shocks.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCM You may also consider adding Firestone Ride Right air bags to the front if you still have some "bobbing" after installing the Koni shocks - great shocks.

JCM, I would not recommend that you add air bags to the front suspension components of the UFO chassis.

Air bags do not prevent a chassis from pitching but only add to the rigidity of the suspension. Air bags are primarily used to trim or level a suspension if they are required.

The Konis will reduce the effect of a pitch by attenuating the rebound forces which air bags are unable to deal with. Air bags operate predominantly in compression.

In my opinion there is no need to up the ante using additional hardware on the UFO. I am sure that other UFO owners may have the same opinion.

[-Gramps-]

Nope, don't need them not with this suspension.