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historyljc · 07-26-2008, 08:50 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The torture test for me is I49 in Louisiana </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Is this worse than the LA I-10 from the Mississippi line to New Orleans? If it is, it's got to be god awful.

Had Koni's installed about 2,000 miles ago (replacing the original Sach's after 15,0000). Had Henderson's SS Motion Control Units installed in March. Adjusted the air pressure in the tires to the actual load after weighing the coach. Unbelievable difference.

If I didn't know better, I would think it was a different coach. Smoother more silent ride. Better handling and control - I no longer have to concentrate on driving but can relax and often drive with one hand easily maintaining control. No more aching arms at the end of the day (and we usually do short days of about 5 hours). My Koni's and SS MCUs - money well spent.

Why didn't it come that way from the chassis manufacturer?

quikduk · 07-28-2008, 06:58 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Why didn't it come that way from the chassis manufacturer?

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because Bilstein does a better job Schmoozing...er...I mean "marketing" their product to the chassis MFR's. I am sure there is a bit of boardroom back-scratching as well.

Koni's come as original equip., along with Sachs, on a lot of european cars and they market a lot to HP drivers etc.

FWIW, I think if the RV chassis MFR's new how much better the Koni FSD's were compared to even new Bilsteins (and assuming they could get out of bed with each other), either they would switch or Bilstein would re-design for this market.

OAN, Vanhool bus shocks are some of the best...but of course they only fit the Vanhool buss chassis...

Sixpack98 · 07-29-2008, 06:47 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by historyljc:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The torture test for me is I49 in Louisiana </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Is this worse than the LA I-10 from the Mississippi line to New Orleans? If it is, it's got to be god awful.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jim,
Man, it's a toss up. Both are horrible but I think 49 is worse. With the old Monroe's there were several times I thought the coach front end would leave the pavement. That said, I think the motto for both roads should be "That's good enough". The Koni's really tamed the front end of the coach. They also helped dampen all but the worst of the concrete highway segments.
Still the ride is not as smooth as a friends Alegro Bus with the IFS Spartan chassis. It really rides nice. I'm not sure if its the IFS or the coupling of the airbags to the coach but it has a much better ride than the straight axle on our coach. I don't know if it's the straight axle or the smaller bags that cause the harshness.
All said and done though, the Koni's are worth the money.

mark

mark

quikduk · 07-29-2008, 02:34 PM

IMHO, IFS always rides nicer than a straight axle due to it having a better ability to "independently" soak up paving "irregularities". It also has a tighter feel when driving and is better at resisting side loads (wind, semi-trucks etc.).

Tony2 · 09-29-2008, 08:31 AM

Ok with all the rave reviews you have all suckered me into purchasing some of the Koni FSD shocks!! Lol With us not being 100% happy with the ride on our 2007 Monaco Cayman 36PDQ with the RR4R chassis even after ride height adjustment and after reading reviews we have decided to break down and purchase a set of the Koni FSD's..........was either that or purchase a new unit with an 8 or 10 bag chassis (The shock upgrade seems cheap now). Like others with the RR4R chassis we have had issues with a rough ride causing shower door to pop off, and on the kitchen cupboards you can see where the caulking is cracking between it and the wall, all of which I can only contribute to the rough ride!!

Now the problem I had when ordering was the fact that all of the fit guides were pretty vague, so after a couple of emails directly to Koni as well as Shox.com I ordered...........
8805-1021 for the front
8805-1022 for the rear

Our motorhome is at the dealership for some odds and ends (Including the shower door and caulking issues mentioned above) so I ordered up the shocks from Shox.com and they had them to me in Canada in 3 days!! I am dropping the shocks off later today and will have the dealer put on for us and hopefully everything will be done over the next several days and I will post back an update!! I am trying not to get my hopes up too much as I don't want to be disappointed but I sure hope these help!!

Tony2

Nonno · 09-29-2008, 06:04 PM

Tony2,

Welcome to iRV2.

I've got the HR version of your MH so Im looking forward to your report on the Koni FSD's. Bought it new with about 1200 mi last Apr and have about 4500 now. Next week heading out for about a 1200 mi roundtrip to PA. Been wondering if I should change the OEM's so I'll be paying close attention to the ride. Recently had the shower door fixed. Wasn't aware of cupboard problem so I'll have to check mine out.

Dutch Star Don · 10-12-2008, 07:34 PM

Bob Russo...I started this thread and have the Koni's on my coach. I wasn't sure how much they would help the RR4R chassis. I installed a set on the front end of our friends Cayman (RR4R) and they immediately bought the rears. I'll probably install those for them next week.

Their coach was very rough riding and they really like the Koni improvement.

Tony2 · 10-13-2008, 04:06 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome all! I still have my unit at the dealership getting some final warranty work done, they are putting on the shocks for me as well so I unfortunately do not have any updates for you all. Stay tuned and I will let you know how the help......providing I dont trade it in! lol

Tony2

nodine · 10-25-2008, 02:38 AM

Add me to the list of Koni fans. I have always been annoyed by how harsh bridge joints can be on the highway when we cross them in the Diplomat. Based on positive comments by Diplomat Don and others I decided to purchase 8 for our coach. I put them on last weekend and traveled about 150 miles on them yesterday. As soon as we started out of the driveway I noticed how much better the Koni's controlled the rock-n-roll. Our driveway comes down a hill and meets the level road at the same time we must negotiate a 90 degree turn.

Out on the road I noticed the coach handled much better and you mostly heard the bridge joints and did not feel them. With the Monroe's it sounded like the surround sound was going to come down on my head.

Bob

Sixpack98 · 10-25-2008, 03:13 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nodine:
Add me to the list of Koni fans. I have always been annoyed by how harsh bridge joints can be on the highway when we cross them in the Diplomat. Based on positive comments by Diplomat Don and others I decided to purchase 8 for our coach. I put them on last weekend and traveled about 150 miles on them yesterday. As soon as we started out of the driveway I noticed how much better the Koni's controlled the rock-n-roll. Our driveway comes down a hill and meets the level road at the same time we must negotiate a 90 degree turn.

Out on the road I noticed the coach handled much better and you mostly heard the bridge joints and did not feel them. With the Monroe's it sounded like the surround sound was going to come down on my head.

Bob </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

As ours have broken in it seems the ride is improving. Well worth the money.

mark

Happycarz · 10-25-2008, 06:54 PM

I had a 93 Dynasty that I replaced the Monroes with Bilstiens. No more porpoising. Next was my 99 Dynasty that came with Bilstiens that still controlled porpoising and roll after 90,000 miles. One did leak and I replaced it. Now my 08 Camelot came with Monroes which porpoise a little and rolled a lot, especially going over a rolling curb at a angle, ie my driveway. After reading all the post about the new Konis, I installed 8 of them instaed of the Bilstiens. No more porpoising and no roll, but the ride was definitely harsher over bumps. I lowered my air bags 1/2" under specs and the ride is the best ever.