Koni FSD's on F53

[96 Wideglide]

Can anyone with these shocks on the Ford chassis, confirm for me that the pair with the full covers, belong on the front axle?

Cheers... Ben.

[LVJ58]

Hi Ben, just went out and checked mine, I have the Koni FSD shocks and yes the top is fully covered by the round metal shield.

Jim

[96 Wideglide]

Thanks Jim !

[LVJ58]

You're most welcome,

Jim

[Sequim Guy]

Jim,

I have a 2000 Residency 3790 body on a 1999 F53 chassis. Is your chassis a 2000 or a left over 1999 like mine.?
All my labels say Mountain High 3790, and it is 37' 9" long, but my title says Thor Industries 3650, because they didn't make a 3790 in 1999.
They were Thor up through 1999 and changed the name to Mountain High in 2000-2002, then went out of business.
Do the Koni FSD really make it ride better than OEM shocks???
I wonder if Bilstiens will work as well?

[Topflite51]

With 11 year old oem shocks on, almost anything will make it ride better.

Sounds like you and Jim have identical units. Jim also has air bags front and rear.

[LVJ58]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy Jim, I have a 2000 Residency 3790 body on a 1999 F53 chassis. Is your chassis a 2000 or a left over 1999 like mine.? All my labels say Mountain High 3790, and it is 37' 9" long, but my title says Thor Industries 3650, because they didn't make a 3790 in 1999. They were Thor up through 1999 and changed the name to Mountain High in 2000-2002, then went out of business. Do the Koni FSD really make it ride better than OEM shocks??? I wonder if Bilstiens will work as well?

Hi Sequim Guy,

The chassis on our coach was assembled in Mexico and reflects a build date of Aug 1999 for the 2000 model year coaches. Check your VIN, if the 10th digit is a "Y" then you have the 2000 model with the 310HP engine. If it's not a "Y" then you may have a 1999 model with the 275HP engine.

When we ordered our 2000 at the Pomona CA RV show in 1999, they had some 99 models, however the grill was different and not sure if there were any 37' 8" coaches in the 99 lineup.

Regarding the shocks, the factory OEM shocks were Junk and the coach rode like an old buckboard wagon. In Aug 2001 I replaced the front shocks with Monroe HD Gas Magnum shocks (cost for both $109) which greatly improved the ride.

In Mar of 06 I replaced the rear shocks with Koni Adjustable shocks, as the FSD's weren't available then.

After reading many posts where folks were heaping praises on the Koni FSD shocks I decided to give them a try, so Jan 06 I replaced the front Monroe's with the FSD's at a cost of ($300).

And yes, on our coach they worked great as the ride comfort in the cockpit area was significantly improved over that which we enjoyed with the Monroe's.

Not all who have installed the Koni FSD shocks on their coach have met with the same positive results in ride improvement for some reason or other.

Bilsteins are an excellent shock, but unless they've developed a comparable valved shock like the FSD, you may find them still a bit too stiff for the f53 suspension.

If cost is an issue, I would then highly recommend the Monroe HD Gas Magnum RV shocks as they're definitely and improvement over the factory shocks.

I believe you'll find the Residency a somewhat above average quality coach and the only coach of that vintage with a BMS (body mount system) where the coach frame is mounted on the chassis rail with large rubber body mounts.

Good luck and travel safe,

Jim

P.S. feel free to send me a PM if I can be of any help with information on the coach.

[Sequim Guy]

Jim,

It seems ours is a 275hp 1999 model, the 10th digit is an X, not a Y.
Is there some place I can find out what all the digits in the VIN mean?
Looked up the base retail price on NADA for a '99 3650 and a 2000 3790, and because the title says '99 3650, the value is $8600 less.
Even though it doesn't have Thor Industries on it anywhere, and has Mountainhigh Coachworks written all over it. Oh well.
Anyway, am going to have the Konis installed.

[LVJ58]

Re the Koni's, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Regarding the title error, is there anyway you can contact the state DMV where the title was issued and have it corrected to reflect the correct coach model?

Here's a link to the Ford VIN decoder, not sure how much it will help though:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

[Sequim Guy]

My guess is that DMV will grab their NADA book and tell me they can't change it because it doesn't exist.
And chassis is 1999, confirmed that using VIN decoder link, assembled in Mexico, F53/F-550 chassis.

Just looked at some photos of the big information sticker on the inside of the closet door, it says Model - 3790 Year - 1999. So I guess it isn't a 2000 coach.

I give up, I'm just going to enjoy it and not worry about it.

Jim, Sent you a PM.

[LVJ58]

I guarantee you, it's just as good as a 2000, might even be of a bit better quality as it seems like the manufacturers tend to cut a few corners on newer coaches to save a buck here or there.

You got a great coach for sure, enjoy,

Jim

[Sequim Guy]

Well, I now have put 1300 miles on my new Koni FSD front shocks.
WOW!!! What a difference they make. My wife is thrilled with the new ride.
The old shocks were the original ones I think, at least they were stock Motocraft shocks. I mean, who would put stock ones back on?
Probably would not have made as big a difference if I had taken Bilsteins or Monroes off.
Glad I took the advice of those here that highly recommended the Konis.
So thank you all for the good advice.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy Jim, It seems ours is a 275hp 1999 model, the 10th digit is an X, not a Y. Is there some place I can find out what all the digits in the VIN mean? Looked up the base retail price on NADA for a '99 3650 and a 2000 3790, and because the title says '99 3650, the value is $8600 less. Even though it doesn't have Thor Industries on it anywhere, and has Mountainhigh Coachworks written all over it. Oh well. Anyway, am going to have the Konis installed.

By Federal law the coach MUST be titled as of the motorhome manufacturers model year designation. RVIA used to have a page on their web site detailing it but I can't seem to open it anymore.
Now the problem is, some states get away with ignoring the law!
Sequim guy: I assume you're in Sequim WA? My daughter and her family live there, her hubby does mobile RV repair.

[Sequim Guy]

I thought I had read on the forums here that it had to be titled by the year the chassis was made, which in my case, was Jan. 1999.
The coach is a 1999 also but they don't list a 3790 for 1999 in the NADA book.

I lived around Sequim for my first 33 years and then moved away, still have friends and relatives there and return yearly.
In fact, we are working our way up there now.
We are in Idaho now and will hit Sequim in a couple of weeks.
PM me his business name, may have some work for him fixing a couple of things when I get there.