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06-25-2015, 11:26 AM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Anyone actually install a Kelderman System?
Has anyone actually installed the Kelderman air ride system on a Workhorse? If so, feedback please
https://kelderman.com/workhorse_moto...air_suspension
Specifically interested in what the front system does.
But first, the disclaimer. We love our W24 equipped RV and know with direct feedback from other owners that it has obvious benefits over the exact same (made to the present) and similar RV's running the Ford F53...so we are very happy with it.
What we are NOT happy with is the seemingly constant degradation of the roadways in the western US. We just finished a 2800 mile 'round trip from the Southwestern edge (San Diego) to the Northwestern corner (Seattle) of the US and can report - It is BAD out there!!!
Like, a 3 mile long strip of I-5 in central CA was left unfinished after the pavement mill machine had removed ALL the asphalt, leaving a rutted and rough concrete roadway of ALL Lanes in BOTH directions...and the 1-2 foot tall ramped ends of the work area. Us, like the Duke Boys making a jump in the General Lee At least on the southbound leg we expected it and slowed to 35mph
From reading the Ford Chassis Forum, it has rave reviews and the front kit reportedly provides the most benefit. Expect the same for the Workhorse kit(?)
Thanks in advance,
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06-25-2015, 01:03 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 42
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Not exactly what your after here but we have installed them on some armor plated Ford trucks for a military contractor and the kit itself is as nice as it can be. Directions were well laid out and the components themselves were top notch.
We installed 4 bags on the rear with a 4-link and then a set of bags on the front which got the truck where it needed to be.
__________________
Troy Wilson
2000 Fleetwood Discovery 37G
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06-25-2015, 06:08 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 78
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We experienced the same thing through that road construction 2 weeks ago. I was so mad and so was DW when she had to pick up everything off the closet floor. Made me respect those 45 mph road construction speed limit signs. I am following this tread as I am looking for improvements to the front suspension. I have installed Air ride bags on the rear they did improve the ride so much that I am think about some for the front too.
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06-25-2015, 10:38 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Anacortes, Wa
Posts: 264
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Have you upgraded your shocks to the Koni FSD? They made a world of difference in our W24's ride on lousy roads. They also got rid of that front end "bang" hitting the expansion joints on I-5.
If not, it's worth considering in lieu of installing the air bags.
__________________
2006 American Eagle 40L, Cat C9
2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (Last of the LJ's)
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07-02-2015, 12:19 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 7
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Just had the Kelderman bags installed on my 26P Winn. The install was a nightmare cost me a lot more than it should have (hundreds). Here is my mech.s report:
WENT TO INSTALL KIT, FOUND DIRECTIONS AND KIT TO BE VERY GENERIC.GOT AS FAR AS INSTALLING SPRINGS, BOLTS WOULD NOT GO THROUGH MFG INSTALLED BUSHINGS, THEY WERE PARTIALLY COLLAPSED, HAD TO REMOVE AND DRILL OUT FOR THE BOLTS,ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY HAD BEEN BUILT INCORRECTLY, WOULD NOT GO UP INTO REAR SPRING HANGERS.CALLED KIT BUILDER, HE STATED "THAT THEY HAD 48 OTHER KITS OUT THERE THAT WERE BUILT WRONG ALSO", HAD HIM SEND A COVER LETTER ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SPRING MODIFICATION HE SUGGESTED.REMOVED BOTH SPRINGS AGAIN, SPREAD SPRING PACK OPEN ENOUGH AT REAR TO CUT OFF MILITARY WRAP WITH METAL SAW, PAINTED AND INSTALLED BUSHING AND SPRINGS. INSTALLED KIT ''PAN HARD BAR ASSY" ONLY TO FIND THAT THE THROUGH BOLT BUSHINGS HAD COLLAPSED SOMEWHAT DURING THE MFG'S INSTALLATION OF THE BUSHINGS, CANNOT GET BOLT THROUGH, HAD TO REMOVE AGAIN TO DRILL OUT FOR BOLTS TO FIT.ON AIR BAG INSTALLATION, ATTEMPTED TO USE THE INSTRUCTIONS, THEY WERE WRONG AGAIN, THE'BOLT" TO MEASURE FROM ON THE FRAME DID NOT EXIST. HAD TO FIT EACH UP BY HAND AND DRILL FRAME TO MOUNT, AFTER CUTTING OFF 2 FRAME MFG HUCK BOLT THAT WOULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE BAGS (REPLACED THE CUT HUCK BOLTS WITH GRADE 8 FRAME BOLTS.REINSTALLED THE SWAY BAR PER INSTRUCTIONS, IT IS HITTING THE SPRING PACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, LOOSENED PIVOTS AND INSTALLED STRUTS INTO OTHER HOLE, WAS ABLE TO GET A MINIMAL CLEARANCE FROM THE SPRING WITH THAT MOD. (NOTHING ABOUT THIS IN INSTRUCTIONS)TEST DROVE COACH, OK.BASICALLY, THIS "KIT" WAS POORLY MADE AND ENGINEERED, COUPLED WITH POOR AND INACCURATE INSTRUCTIONS, HENCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME OUR SHOP PUT INTO IT TO MAKE IT WORK. "**THIS WAS NOT A "BOLTON KIT*** NO MATTER WHAT THE MFG SAYS.
On the plus side, the ride is much much better and the coach is far quieter than before. So the bags are worth it but be prepared for sticker shock on the install. And unless you are a chassis shop don't think you can do this yourself.
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07-02-2015, 12:25 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 7
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Re, teh roads out there. I have driven my 26P from Savannah to Vegas to Charleston to Seattle and the interstates are a horror. Alabama was the worst. I40 wasn't as bad and I90 is mostly OK with patches so rough it made my jacks alarm from the vibration. Scared the &^&^% out of me the first time that happened. :-) That'e when my wife said we're selling or getting air bags. It is a lot cheaper to get the air bags since depreciation on my unit is crazy.
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07-02-2015, 12:51 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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JJGuild,
Thank you for the feedback.
But, there is some confusing points to your post. Like "...would not go up into rear spring hanger" and "...installed kit pan-hard bar assy"?
I saw you have posted in the CHF threads...
...Did you install this kit on a Workhorse or Ford Chassis?
The Kelderman kit for Workhorse reportedly removes and does not reuse the rear spring hanger:
See Before
And After
And there is no pan-hard bar on a W24 in OEM set-up and reportedly none added in the kit(?).
https://kelderman.com/sites/default/...orse_front.pdf
Thanks again.
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07-02-2015, 05:11 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 7
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I'm on a ford F53 chassis. I didn't do the work, I had a pro chassis shop do it. They only do trucks and RVs but they were shocked at the kit and teh extra effort needed to get it installed.
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07-02-2015, 05:17 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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JJGuild,
That makes sense...thank you.
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07-02-2015, 06:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba
Posts: 685
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I'm following this topic with interest. I would also like to hear from someone who has installed the Kelderman Kit on a Workhorse W22 or W24.
__________________
Ellen & Greg
08 National Dolphin DL-35Ci, RoadMaster Rear Sway Bar, Rear Trac Bar, Koni Shocks Front,
Workhorse W22, Kelderman Air Ride, Towing 2016 Smart Car
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07-04-2015, 07:24 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,363
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um if you want "air ride" ... get an RV equipped with an Air Ride chassis.
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07-04-2015, 07:46 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeatherTodd
um if you want "air ride" ... get an RV equipped with an Air Ride chassis.
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Thank you for the sage advice.
Could you please provide a brand/make/model for our needs that has OEM air ride (see requirement list below):
1. A Toy Hauler - Need at least a 10 foot deep garage.
2. Capable of towing a car AND providing the garage space (see above).
3. Capable of starting/running/idling the engine without waking the dead.
4. Capable of idling for any length of time we desire without having to worry that the engine will De-Tuned while it runs through a Re-Gen process to clean a Particulate Filter.
5. Uses only a single consumable (fuel) with no need for an additional emission required additive (like Urea).
6. Capable of stopping at ANY gas station - ANYWHERE for fuel.
7. Routine maint. is as easy as any automobile built since the turn of the last century - Oil, Oil Filter and maybe plugs or fuel filter once in a Blue Moon.
Safe travels
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07-04-2015, 07:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 539
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We went through the "Goat Trail" on I -5 where you were and the only way to get through that is to fly over it. That was the roughest stretch Iv'e ever been on! So I don't think any suspension would make that stretch of road smooth out. It was horrific!
__________________
07 Meridian 34H 350 Cat
2010 Subaru Forester Tow
Home Port is Kingman,Az
KA7UYZ NRA Endowment Member Retired Fire Service
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07-05-2015, 07:32 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scarab0088
Thank you for the sage advice.
Could you please provide a brand/make/model for our needs that has OEM air ride (see requirement list below):
1. A Toy Hauler - Need at least a 10 foot deep garage.
2. Capable of towing a car AND providing the garage space (see above).
3. Capable of starting/running/idling the engine without waking the dead.
4. Capable of idling for any length of time we desire without having to worry that the engine will De-Tuned while it runs through a Re-Gen process to clean a Particulate Filter.
5. Uses only a single consumable (fuel) with no need for an additional emission required additive (like Urea).
6. Capable of stopping at ANY gas station - ANYWHERE for fuel.
7. Routine maint. is as easy as any automobile built since the turn of the last century - Oil, Oil Filter and maybe plugs or fuel filter once in a Blue Moon.
Safe travels
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you know I really like the Outlaw setup. If I could find one equipped with a WH chassis... Id be all over one! For now I just roll around in my 35' W22 lapalma with 18' toybox hitched outback.
I drove my friends 2012 Duramax diesel pickup with 30' enclosed trailer from Seattle to Salinas, CA on 1 tank of fuel. Granted it was a 75 gallon auxillary tank mounted in the bed to supplement the existing 26 gallon one. But man did we make some time. If I had an Outlaw... that 6.6 diesel motor would be mated to my Allison. And an auxullary fuel tank would be installed some where. That would be a mile gobbling combo if there ever was one!
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