Roller coaster and chitty chitty bang bang ride

[MSHappyCampers]

I saw the other thread similar to this, but I think my problem is of a different nature.

My coach rides on 8 air bags, yet when I hit rough places on the highway it feels and sounds like the body of the coach slams against the pavement!

Another thing I've noticed is that when moving slowly over very uneven or rough ground that makes the coach move side to side, the body of the coach seems to shift on the chassis and it makes a clunking sound as it does this.

The third thing is that at highway speeds, normally 60 MPH, when going over dips in the road it floats up and down like I am on a roller coaster!

Having never owned a Class A I don't know if this is normal. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated!

[Davdeb1]

Shocks? That sounds like what used to happen when my shocks were gone in older cars I had.

[Dunner]

X10 on bad shocks.

[Robi.1014]

Joe,
If your rig is bouncing multiple times after hitting a road dip, then I'm voting with the previous responders. But just be aware that a bounce-and-a-half (or so) is not too far from normal.

I'd like to address your comment " yet when I hit rough places on the highway it feels and sounds like the body of the coach slams against the pavement". Your shocks (although aging) may have worn out their grommet -type connections and indeed you may be experiencing metal-on-metal when road conditions are rough. This can be confirmed by a visual check. Practice good safety procedures when crawling under your rig.

But if money is not a problem, just purchase new shocks.

[Dunner]

Bilstein, or if you can afford them, Koni.

[nodine]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I saw the other thread similar to this, but I think my problem is of a different nature.

My coach rides on 8 air bags, yet when I hit rough places on the highway it feels and sounds like the body of the coach slams against the pavement!

Another thing I've noticed is that when moving slowly over very uneven or rough ground that makes the coach move side to side, the body of the coach seems to shift on the chassis and it makes a clunking sound as it does this.

The third thing is that at highway speeds, normally 60 MPH, when going over dips in the road it floats up and down like I am on a roller coaster!

Having never owned a Class A I don't know if this is normal. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated!

Two things that you need to do and they can be done at the same time. I would highly recommend that you take your coach to Josams and have them install 8 Koni FSD shocks and adjust the ride height of your coach. Sounds like the ride height is way off and your shocks are wore out. Hold on to your pocket book because the shocks are not cheap but worth every penny. You will think you are driving a different motorhome. Other dealers can do the job but I don't trust them to adjust the ride height.

Thanks for the ride back in time when the kids were young and we watched Mary Poppins.

Bob

[wa8yxm]

I see they have told you about shocks,, I will tell you about other things RVs do

Rocking side to side ("Lean to the left, Lean to the right stand up sit down fright fright fright", ok, I changed that old cheer just a bit)

Sway bars fix this

Wagging,, This is where the tai (or nose) moves side to side, Trac Bar, also called Pan-hard bar, Fixes this.

Wandering.. (Actual steering issue) Steering stabilizer helps to keep you on the straight, alas I hope it's not narrow, Narrow is ... Hard on the underware.

These devices encourage the rig to go straight ahead, I use a Blue-OX True Center myself. (Along with a Davis (My name is Davis, no relation) Track Bar. The factory sway bars seem to do the job.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by nodine

Two things that you need to do and they can be done at the same time. I would highly recommend that you take your coach to Josams and have them install 8 Koni FSD shocks and adjust the ride height of your coach. Sounds like the ride height is way off and your shocks are wore out. Hold on to your pocket book because the shocks are not cheap but worth every penny. You will think you are driving a different motorhome. Other dealers can do the job but I don't trust them to adjust the ride height.

Thanks for the ride back in time when the kids were young and we watched Mary Poppins.

Bob

Bob, who is "Josams" Tell me more about the shocks you mentioned. Thanks!

[Dunner]

I'm obviously not Bob, but to answer you're question,

Josam - Truck Frame and Alignment Specialist Worldwide

[nodine]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Bob, who is "Josams" Tell me more about the shocks you mentioned. Thanks!

Joe,

Dunner has given you the link to Josams. They are considered the best in the business for the Monaco Roadmaster chassis and are located in Orlando, FL. I thought I had everything perfect on our coach until Josams set the ride height. I had previously had it set by Buddy Gregg once and Lazydays once. After Josams set the ride height the ride was improved 100%. The Koni FSD shocks are Frequency Selective Damping and automatically adjust to the harshness of the bump. If your coach has worn shocks, which it most likely does, any new shock will make a big improvement. In my opinion the Koni FSD works the best on the Roadmaster 8 bag chassis.

Good luck,

Bob

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by nodine

Joe,

Dunner has given you the link to Josams. They are considered the best in the business for the Monaco Roadmaster chassis and are located in Orlando, FL. I thought I had everything perfect on our coach until Josams set the ride height. I had previously had it set by Buddy Gregg once and Lazydays once. After Josams set the ride height the ride was improved 100%. The Koni FSD shocks are Frequency Selective Damping and automatically adjust to the harshness of the bump. If your coach has worn shocks, which it most likely does, any new shock will make a big improvement. In my opinion the Koni FSD works the best on the Roadmaster 8 bag chassis.

Good luck,


Bob

Bob, what is the approximate cost of having the Koni FSD shocks installed?

[nodine]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Bob, what is the approximate cost of having the Koni FSD shocks installed?

Joe,

I did my own so not sure what the labor charge would be. You are looking at about $1250 for 8 Koni FSD shocks plus labor. If you call Josams they could give you and exact price for both the shock install and the ride height adjustment.

Bob

[Papa_Jim]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I saw the other thread similar to this, but I think my problem is of a different nature.

My coach rides on 8 air bags, yet when I hit rough places on the highway it feels and sounds like the body of the coach slams against the pavement!

Another thing I've noticed is that when moving slowly over very uneven or rough ground that makes the coach move side to side, the body of the coach seems to shift on the chassis and it makes a clunking sound as it does this.

The third thing is that at highway speeds, normally 60 MPH, when going over dips in the road it floats up and down like I am on a roller coaster!

Having never owned a Class A I don't know if this is normal. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated!

Hi Joe,

I went through exactly the same thing after we bought our coach. Turned out that the original Bilstein shocks were the problem, plus the top rubber bushing was gone on most of the shocks. I installed the new Bilstein shocks, and all is good.

Some say that the new Bilstein shock is as good as the Koni. I don't know, I never tried the Koni, but our Bilstein shocks work just fine.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by jimkate

Hi Joe,

I went through exactly the same thing after we bought our coach. Turned out that the original Bilstein shocks were the problem, plus the top rubber bushing was gone on most of the shocks. I installed the new Bilstein shocks, and all is good.

Some say that the new Bilstein shock is as good as the Koni. I don't know, I never tried the Koni, but our Bilstein shocks work just fine.

How much were the Bilstein shocks and where do you get the top rubber bushings?