Community Forums

Bury · 02-07-2025, 10:37 AM

Am considering upgrading from a Jayco Precept 31UL to a 2020 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 34pa. Would like opinions on problems users may have had with the Tiffin. Also, the one I'm considering has the LIQ spring suspension. Is that really worth the expense, and have you had any maintenance problems with it? Thanks

HighDesert · 02-07-2025, 04:07 PM

I can only speak to having the 24K, F53 chassis on a Tiffin 32S that was stock, when purchased new in 2019. Suspension and handling was terrible. Had Henderson's Lineup do a rod test, then install new, heavier front sway bar, added additional rear sway bar, rear trac bar, and quad Koni FSD shocks all around (total of 8 shocks) and steering stabilizer. Cost was around $8K. Road and handled better, but was still not great. Traded for a Tiffin DP, and never looked back. Stock DP performed significantly better than upgraded F53 chassis. Now, is Liquid Springs worth the cost - if you only want a gas RV, Then yes, I suppose it is if you can afford the upfront costa at the purchase price. One the other hand, if you are looking for an improved ride, heading toward an air suspension, why not just look at a DP?

RRR · 02-07-2025, 04:40 PM

Are you talking about the liquid spring suspension. https://liquidspring.com/

High Road Travelers · 02-07-2025, 09:28 PM

I had a Tiffin gas 32SA and it was very good, except for the suspension. It gave such a harsh bone jarring ride that we traded for a truck and fifth wheel. Turns out that was a wise and correct decision for us.
I think I would have loved the gas coach if it had Liquid Springs Suspension. I have never heard anything bad about the LS suspension, only good; but I don't have first hand information.
Thanks,

Shadow5501 · 02-08-2025, 09:25 AM

I had a 2021 34PA with Liquid Spring suspension front and rear. No problems and no maintenance required in the 3 years/20k miles that I kept the coach. Ride comfort and the driving experience are very good (better than a Freightliner chassis, on par with a Powerglide). It can also be lowered when parked and raised for higher ground clearance when driving. While it is expensive, I think it is well worth the price if you want a nicer gas coach.

Galvanizd · 02-08-2025, 10:15 AM

It depends..... on what you want. I owned a 40 Ft diesel. Great ride. 89k miles before we sold it. I did most of the maintenance. We were traveling long distances back then. (Alaska , east coast, mexico etc) More maintenance , more expensive to operate. I didn't mind. Then ... Bought a gasser , 2016 34pa. Added front steering stabilizer, rear trac bar, koni shocks. Did them myself. Now different style of travel. Ride is good. Shorter trips. Easier /cheaper maintenance. Will it ever ride like my diesel? ...nope but not bad and doable.

Depending on your pocket book and traveling styles, if you're taking long trips, get a diesel pusher . I would say test drive the gasser one with the liquid springs and see what you think. The liquid springs will probably improve the ride. I have no intention of adding them to my 34pa gasser, I can live with this ride.

If your goal is to eventually own a diesel. Don't wait . Go for the diesel now. You can make improvements to the diesel with a front stabilizer and new shocks and make it an even better ride.

Most of it is personal preference. Test drive them all.

On another note, when I was looking for my 34pa, I was disappointed with the fuel filling location on the rv.. (Drivers side rear) It wasn't a deal breaker but I had grown used to fillers on either side of the ride on my diesel and using truck stops for fueling. We fuel with care now at truck stops that only have rv islands. I do miss the 100 plus gallons vs the 80 gallons and being able to use truck diesel fueling islands. Much easier with a diesel. Small negative.

So far (1 year) good experiences with Tiffin.

Donhdm · 02-08-2025, 11:10 AM

Can't speak to the Tiffen BUT I have a 2022 Newmar Bay Star (35' gas) and I had Liquid Springs installed after 10K miles. Suspension before Liq. Springs was not very good, smooth road ok rough road very poor, shook things loose, wife had a tough time on rough roads. Have 8K miles with Liquid Springs and nice difference, my wife much more comfortable, it's more of a float than a jolt, for me it was worth the price of installation but understand a pot hole is still a pot hole, the ride on rough roads is much better and eliminates much of the severe shaking & rattling and handles most poor road conditions but don't expect the ride of a million dollar coach.

TWO THINGS: You want front and back, Liquid Springs on all 4 corners. AND my Newmar was 24K but the Liquid Springs are designed the same for both 24K and 26K chassis'. Because of that, my 24K suspension is now unofficially rated 26K.

blueridge-fl · 02-09-2025, 04:37 AM

We had liquid springs on our previous MH. Not a Tiffin a Winnebago. Liquid springs turned what was a horrible ride into a very nice ride. If you really plan to stick with the coach you are looking at for a long (5+ years) time, and you travel significant distances, they are well worth it. If you are a weekend warrior then probably not.

Having said that, we have since sold the Winnebago and moved up to a Tiffin DP. So I kind of wish that we had sold our Winnebago before the LS upgrade. Even with the liquid springs our DP still has advantages over a gasser:

1) Heavier and longer so it drives better on the highway.

2) Quieter with engine in the rear.

3) Better torque. The gasser had better initial acceleration but the DP is great pulling up steep grades.

4) Able to get fuel in the truck lanes. Don't underestimate this. Its pleasure not having to scrounge for a pump with enough room and deal with the many knuckle heads in cars.

Bury · 02-09-2025, 05:58 AM

Thanks to all for the information. Definitely will help me make my decision.

shepardmike · 02-09-2025, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bury

Thanks to all for the information. Definitely will help me make my decision.

Let us know the outcome!

Mike8253 · 02-09-2025, 08:56 AM

I'll add one more reply... I've driven F53 chassis MHs since 2004 and have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of RVing in them over that time. Our 2nd is the Tiffin 34PA which we purchased new in 2016. I've never owned a DP and none are in my future. I upgraded my 34PA in 2022 with LS (4-corner) and now have over 25K miles all across the USA and Canada in it. The MH now has over 76K miles on it. The suspension itself is wonderful: smoother, super controlled in very adverse wind and weather conditions, and maybe even more importantly, transmittal of poor/rough road conditions thru the chassis to the "house" are significantly reduced, thereby helping to extend the useful life of my MH. I say this because the vibration induced failures we were experiencing have stopped altogether. I recognize this is not a panacea, but for sure, the useful life of my MH is being extended. I truly believe this was one of the best investments in our RVing lifestyle I could have ever made.

Holland2017 · 02-12-2025, 05:59 PM

Just like Galvanized said it depends on what kind of traveling your gonna do. Long distances DP is the ticket. Me personally after retired from trucking I didn't plan on knocking out thousands of miles in retirement. Gasser was my choice. 7 quarts of oil and no diesel smell. Works for me. Only drive 4500 miles a year. Being at the destination is priority over getting to the destination

Poorbutrich · 02-18-2025, 04:33 PM

Big difference you're going to notice is the 34PA has a 2' longer wheelbase which alone will improve your travel. AS many have said, have never heard anything negative about the liquid spring system (All around) besides the cost. If we keep our 36UA we plan to add it. Just curious why you're changing from the 31UL? Hear alot of people really like them because of the floorplan and features in a small class A

Ragsland · 02-20-2025, 05:38 AM

When we ordered our 2019 36LA Open Road we got the liquid spring option and it worked better than what we hoped for. It is only on the rear but does a great job. The motor home we had before was on a Ford chassis and the difference in handling is hard to believe, on the first sharp turn after we picked it up my wife said that was much better. When a gust of wind blows us around the liquid springs react before I can move the steering wheel. For us it was well worth the price.