Community Forums

jwc500 · 02-05-2008, 04:12 PM

Just purchased an 08 Cayman (4 airbags). Any tips on improving the ride? I was surprised at how harsh it took the bumps and dips on the highway. Bags average about 115psi. I have not checked the tire pressure yet, that will me my first step. I am not opposed to spend a few bucks to improve the ride, but will not be upgrading to an 8 bag coach.

jwc500 · 02-05-2008, 04:12 PM

Just purchased an 08 Cayman (4 airbags). Any tips on improving the ride? I was surprised at how harsh it took the bumps and dips on the highway. Bags average about 115psi. I have not checked the tire pressure yet, that will me my first step. I am not opposed to spend a few bucks to improve the ride, but will not be upgrading to an 8 bag coach.

Letsgoagain · 02-05-2008, 04:36 PM

jwc500,
Welcome to the iRV2 Monaco owners forum. You'll find a great deal of friendly and helpful fellow rver's here.
The first thing I would do is check the tire air pressure. Dealers are notorious for putting the max air in a tire. Weigh the coach at each wheel and then check the tables in your manual and inflate that tire according to how much weight it is carrying.
The second thing I would do is check the ride height. This is a measurement of the front and rear air bags when fully inflated. Your manual should give you the inches between the upper and lower mounting plates on the air bags. If the ride height is off it can affect the quality of the ride considerably. Just be warned that unless you know what you are doing that making adjustments to the ride height yourself can be hazardous as it will raise or lower the coach pretty quickly so you have to be very careful if your underneath. Since your coach is new I would just have your dealer check it.
We have a 2004 motorhome with the four air bags and like you have not been to happy with the harshness of bumps. I did put Koni shocks on the front which helped the rebounding from dips in the road but they really didn't take the jolts out from the bumps in the road.
I'm hoping that this isn't just something we have to live with on the four air bag coaches but I think at this point there is not much else I can do to alleviate our problem.
Good luck to you on yours and let us know how it turns out.
Letsgoagain

MonacoMama · 02-06-2008, 02:30 PM

jwc500...
I also wanted to welcome you to iRV2 and to the Monaco Forum!

I feel this forum happens to be the friendliest & most knowledgable RV forum around.

I am sure others will chime in and let you know what they have done to improve their rides once this gets bumped back up top.

I hope you will say "Karma Please" ...and we can then add "Monaco Owners Forum Member" over to the left side under your log-in name

Again..welcome to iRV2... I hope you hang out here a little more...and post often!

MM

Sixpack98 · 02-06-2008, 03:06 PM

In addition to the ride height you should have your coach weighed with water, fuel etc and adjust the air pressure according to the manufacturers charts. I add about 5 to 10 lbs over their recommendation. If possible, have each corner weighed since there can be considerable difference between the right and left wheel. Often, dealers max out the air pressure to 120 lbs and, in most cases, way too high.

mark