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07-27-2014, 02:54 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 2
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F-53 Shocks
Hi...I'm trying to upgrade the ride and handling of my 1999 HR Vacationer...it has a Ford F-53 chassis ...thought I would start with shocks since it probably has the original OEM shocks on it..would like to get everyone's opinion for the best brand to buy before I spend the cash...
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07-27-2014, 05:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: summer-Cuba Mo./winter Somewhere in South TX.
Posts: 480
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I just bought my Monroe Gas shocks at Oreilly's for $40.00 per, & will install them on the front next week. Then I'll replace the rear end and tags. I previously installed them on an '87 Pace 34' with good results. Eddie Elk.
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1998 Pace Arrow Vision 36' w/460, '03 Honda CRV, FMCA #388823, Gateway Getaways RV Club
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07-27-2014, 05:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,296
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Expect many and varied opinions on which is the best shock for your f53. For us, the Koni FSD shocks worked excellent on our 2000 coach significantly improving ride comfort.
They're very expensive but we found them well worth the $$$ spent.
I believe Bilstein now has a new shock series called Comfort Track that are comparable to the Koni FSD's.
Good luck with your choice of shocks and safe travels...
__________________
Jim & SherrySeward
2000 Residency 3790 v10 w/tags 5 Star tune & Banks system Suzuki XL7 toad
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07-28-2014, 05:50 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 360
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Good luck on the hunt for the perfect shocks. On our 2000 model motorhome I went from whatever the original shocks were to Bilstein. At times I wished I had never changed as the old shocks, wore out I'm sure, were much softer. The Bilstein were like they had no give at all. Then I went from the original Bilstein to Koni on our 2008 motorhome at 12,000 miles. Did the fronts first, Koni were better riding at slow speeds up to 25 mph, but above that there response time is to long and the ride is near the same as the Bilstein. About 2 months later I put Koni on the rear and could see no difference between the old Bilstein and the new Koni. I have tried to move weight forward in hopes of a better front end ride, but you can only shift so much weight forward. There has to be a softer more responsive shock for the front end, but at what point do you stop replacing shocks?
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07-28-2014, 06:16 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 3,940
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I have the Monroe RV shocks front and rear and am happy with them. I however realize I am essentially driving a truck and don't expect it to ride like a car.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C F53V10 Handicap Equipped
1999 Jeep Cherokee, 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
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07-28-2014, 11:08 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: N. Central AZ
Posts: 548
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I installed Monroe Gas-magnum RV Shocks, DIY, $61.36 each, That was four years and ~30K miles ago. Originals were worn out, you could hear them bounce! Ride was much better with new ones. They are still a good ride. I have since installed front air bags to help deal with battery (6) weight that sat near one wheel and that added to the comfort. I know others love Koni's, and that's OK, I just could not justify the cost/comfort ratio. http://www.irv2.com/forums/images/smilies/nonono.gif
YMMV
H
__________________
'01 National RV Tropi-Cal, Ford V10, '01 Suzuki GV 4X4 Blue Ox Tow Bar,300 Watts Solar, 2500 Watt '458' Inverter, NO TVs, Most light fixtures upgraded to LEDs
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07-28-2014, 01:02 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: texas
Posts: 2,420
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Kent paid just over $100 each
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07-28-2014, 08:57 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 60
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I installed KYB in front on my 2013 hurricane 33g and love it. I also did installed air bag all around with individual pressure. Planning to change my rear shock with KYB.
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07-28-2014, 09:23 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 681
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How can one tell if they still have the original factory shocks?
Sent from my iPad2 using iRV2 - RV Forum
__________________
1998 Thor Windsport 33SL
2007 Chevy Uplander toad (tow master dolly)
1985 Yamaha Virago XV700
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07-29-2014, 09:03 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,965
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I'm sure your shocks are long past their life expectancy. We replaced the shocks on our 2001 F53 chassis at 22,000 miles. 3 of the 4 had no resistance what so ever, and the 4th was leaking. We replaced them with Bilsteins. When we traded it off it had over 100,000 miles on it and the shocks were still good.
__________________
Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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08-05-2014, 10:49 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL
Posts: 1,945
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Jeepers..a Koni is $195 EACH?!!! That's ridiculous! The Bilstien is $100 each..that's still a bit steep. The Monroe is $60 but looks like a generic shock. (Amazon prices)
Gosh...this shouldn't be so difficult. Maybe I should see what's installed on it, although I have looked and can't really tell. They have a rubber boot on top so it's hard to see any labels or logo's, but maybe I just have to bring a rag and wipe things down and hopefully be able to see something. I have no idea if the previous owner replaced them or not.
Oh well..I'll keep hunting and watching these threads.
Thanks.
TriMoot
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08-05-2014, 11:25 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TriMoot
?.....a Koni is $195 EACH?!!! That's ridiculous! The Bilstien is $100 each..that's still a bit steep. The Monroe is $60 .....
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I wonder how much difference there really is between them.
Sent from my iPad2 using iRV2 - RV Forum
__________________
1998 Thor Windsport 33SL
2007 Chevy Uplander toad (tow master dolly)
1985 Yamaha Virago XV700
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08-05-2014, 11:33 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 3,940
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KYB is a little more than Bilstein, but look like a good shock
Shock Warehouse F53 motor home shock pricing
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C F53V10 Handicap Equipped
1999 Jeep Cherokee, 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
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08-05-2014, 01:45 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,965
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Digger293
Hi...I'm trying to upgrade the ride and handling of my 1999 HR Vacationer...it has a Ford F-53 chassis ...thought I would start with shocks since it probably has the original OEM shocks on it..would like to get everyone's opinion for the best brand to buy before I spend the cash...
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The original shocks were from Ford. They were black and didn't have any identification as to who made them. The ones on our 2001 F53 chassis were shot at about 20,000 miles. 3 of the 4 had no resistance whatsoever and the 4th was leaking. In 2003 or 2004 Ford went to lifetime Bilsteins from the factory. We replaced our originals with Bilsteins. They were still good when we traded it off with over 100,000 miles on the odometer.
__________________
Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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