Can ride be improved?

[wam16]

Just returned from an across the country trip covering 5000 miles. We love our 2019 4369 Dutch Star and on most interstates the ride is very good. However, we hit some highways/interstates/bridges that were jarring to say the least. Has anyone changed out shocks or taken other actions to smooth out these jarring jolts from the highways?

Allen

[Tigerfan1]

Originally Posted by wam16

Just returned from an across the country trip covering 5000 miles. We love our 2019 4369 Dutch Star and on most interstates the ride is very good. However, we hit some highways/interstates/bridges that were jarring to say the least. Has anyone changed out shocks or taken other actions to smooth out these jarring jolts from the highways?



Allen

Changed my front shocks on my Freightliner chassis to Koni Evo. Much better ride. Smoothed out the jarring from bridge and pavement joints.

[ftharrisiii]

Just put Koni EVO shocks on the front and Koni FSD’s on the drive and tag axles on my 2016 4369. A noticeable improvement.

Search the Newmar forum for Koni and you will find several threads on the topic.

[10 fan]

I put Koni's on the front and noticed a big difference. (Spartan Chassis)

[Dutch Star Don]

Within months of purchasing both my 2014 DS and my 2019 DS, I replaced all the shocks with Koni's. FSD's on the rears and they only make Koni EVO's for the front.

You also need to get your coached weighed and get the tires down to the correct pressure for your coach weight. Just 5 psi can make your coach ride rougher.

[zzotte]

I replaced my front shocks with Koni Evos I found that travels a lot better still have issues ridges on bridges but in some cases shocks are. Or enough, next I’m replacing the rear shocks, I don’t think it hurt

Zzotte

[eastern1]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Within months of purchasing both my 2014 DS and my 2019 DS, I replaced all the shocks with Koni's. FSD's on the rears and they only make Koni EVO's for the front.

You also need to get your coached weighed and get the tires down to the correct pressure for your coach weight. Just 5 psi can make your coach ride rougher.

Don, I just took delivery of our new Ventana tag 4002 drove it 1000 miles back to VA from FL. The rig was great but as we got farther north the roads got worse and porpoising increased greatly. I read this thread with great interest on the Koni shocks and am considering it. You think it is worth replacing? Who would do the work as we not near a Newmar dealer. Thanks

[Dutch Star Don]

Originally Posted by eastern1

Don, I just took delivery of our new Ventana tag 4002 drove it 1000 miles back to VA from FL. The rig was great but as we got farther north the roads got worse and porpoising increased greatly. I read this thread with great interest on the Koni shocks and am considering it. You think it is worth replacing? Who would do the work as we not near a Newmar dealer. Thanks

The Koni's will help with the jarring ride, but you shouldn't be getting any porpoising with a tag axle.

If you're actually getting porpoising, they make inline motion control valves that go in the in the airline to the front air bags. They slow down the air both directions. They're about a $100.00 a piece and are easy to install. Jut cut the airline to each bag, a few inches from the bag, and insert the valve. It self locks.

[Capt. Bill]

Originally Posted by wam16

Just returned from an across the country trip covering 5000 miles. We love our 2019 4369 Dutch Star and on most interstates the ride is very good. However, we hit some highways/interstates/bridges that were jarring to say the least. Has anyone changed out shocks or taken other actions to smooth out these jarring jolts from the highways?

Allen

What are your tire pressures- front, duals & tag??? Weigh all four corners & the tag with the coach loaded with full water & fuel tank -add 10% as a safety factor then set tire pressures for correct pressure using Michelin Tire Loading charts.

Over inflated tires can give you a very hard ride on rough roads & bridge expansion joints.

Happy Trails

[Jabber Jaw]

Originally Posted by eastern1

Don, I just took delivery of our new Ventana tag 4002 drove it 1000 miles back to VA from FL. The rig was great but as we got farther north the roads got worse and porpoising increased greatly. I read this thread with great interest on the Koni shocks and am considering it. You think it is worth replacing? Who would do the work as we not near a Newmar dealer. Thanks

Not sure where you are in Virginia, but RV Services of Va., located in Ashland Va., on US Rt. 1, about 4 miles from Ashland Exit on I-95, provide great service. 804-798-1433 is their number. I'm sure they can install the shocks for you.

Also a little bird told me that effective October 1, 2020 that General RV of Va., right on I-95 near Ashland will become the new NEWMAR DEALER.
Camping World/McGeorge RV lost the Newmar franchise!

[eastern1]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

The Koni's will help with the jarring ride, but you shouldn't be getting any porpoising with a tag axle.

If you're actually getting porpoising, they make inline motion control valves that go in the in the airline to the front air bags. They slow down the air both directions. They're about a $100.00 a piece and are easy to install. Jut cut the airline to each bag, a few inches from the bag, and insert the valve. It self locks.

Being new to this I am not sure if the porpoising I am experiencing is abnormal. Talked to the salesman from North Trail, John Wicks who has been great and he said that the farther north you get the worse the transition at the bridges gets which is exactly what I experienced. The route 295 bypass around Richmond was the worst.

[eastern1]

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill

What are your tire pressures- front, duals & tag??? Weigh all four corners & the tag with the coach loaded with full water & fuel tank -add 10% as a safety factor then set tire pressures for correct pressure using Michelin Tire Loading charts.

Over inflated tires can give you a very hard ride on rough roads & bridge expansion joints.

Happy Trails

The total coach weight is 37,000 lbs. and I am running 120 lbs in the front and 85 lbs in the drive and tag per the placard and the Michelin chart for 305 R70 22.5 tires. Being new and bringing from FL to NoVa on first trip towing a 6300 lb pickup I did not want to under inflate.

Can you tell me where I can get corner weights? All I have been using are the Cat scales. Thanks

[Dav L]

If the front shocks are bad (or new with not enough dampening) then the RV will porpoise, even with a tag axle. New front Konis fixed that problem on mine. The original Bilsteins were worn out.

[wam16]

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill

What are your tire pressures- front, duals & tag??? Weigh all four corners & the tag with the coach loaded with full water & fuel tank -add 10% as a safety factor then set tire pressures for correct pressure using Michelin Tire Loading charts.

Over inflated tires can give you a very hard ride on rough roads & bridge expansion joints.

Happy Trails

Bill,
I have the four corner weights and the tire air pressure is set to the Michelin Loading charts. Since I initially posted I purchased the front Koni shocks and had them installed. I've only driven about 25 miles with the new shocks but surprisingly I noticed a difference in the coach before I was even out of the parking lot where the shocks were installed. I've never driven a King Aire before but as I was driving home I was thinking....this must be what a King Aire drives like. Needless to say I was impressed. We are heading to Michigan next week which will be a good test on the shocks. I'll provide my thoughts on the new shocks when we get back.

Allen