Community Forums

bobthebob · 07-18-2007, 05:04 PM

Hello folks...,

Just to knoe if one of you ever tried the front air lift air bags and if it makes any difference.

I already installed the rear air bags and i really felt in love with them.....

Looking forward to hearing from you

Robert
2006 W18
Safari Trek

bobthebob · 07-18-2007, 05:04 PM

Hello folks...,

Just to knoe if one of you ever tried the front air lift air bags and if it makes any difference.

I already installed the rear air bags and i really felt in love with them.....

Looking forward to hearing from you

Robert
2006 W18
Safari Trek

Dave1885 · 07-18-2007, 05:47 PM

I put front and rear Ride Rite air bags on my 05 W-22. I also put on an inflation system from Ride Rite with a dash control. I put the air bags on mostly to gain a little clearance for rough dirt and gravel roads. I haul a tandem axle cargo trailer with ATV's down some rough roads to off road riding area.

The installation of the right front air bag was a little challenging. The Davis tract bar is in the way. I had to modify the mounting position slightly.

The overall effect has been positive. With 10-20 pounds in the front and 30-40 in the back, the body sway was notable reduced. Even though I had previously installed front and rear tract bars, the air bags did make an improvment.

The best benefit was when entering and exiting the road such as entering a gas station. I would at times drag my hitch slightly. With the air bags, I will raise the air pressure in the rear air bags to around 80-90 pounds just while crossing the curb area to avoid the unwanted draw bar ground contact.

max49 · 07-18-2007, 06:09 PM

I have an '04 P-32 and would love to find air shock absorbers for the front. Not just air assist but the kind that actually raise the vehicle. I have asked here before if anyone knows if they make them that will fit the P-32 but never got an answer.
If I ask at an auto parts store for something for a Workhorse they they think I'm talking about a Clydesdale. It seems there are very few non MH owners that have ever heard of Workhorse but if I knew of any other vehicle that had the same shocks, I could probably find them.
Does any one know any other vehicle has the same shocks as the P-32's .
With so many people not liking the way the P-32 rides low in the front and some changing their springs, I'd think someone else might have an interest in these.

DriVer · 07-18-2007, 06:40 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:
With so many people not liking the way the P-32 rides low in the front and some changing their springs, I'd think someone else might have an interest in these. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I believe the answer you are looking for would lie with after market springs.

Shock absorbers will do nothing for ride height. If you jobber doesn't know what a Workhorse is then you need to odrer from a WCC service center or "other" on-line resource such as Redlands or Brazel's.

eandy · 07-19-2007, 07:26 AM

FWIW the mfg of my coach said to maintain 80# in the ride rites which I do. Can't see how a low pressure will give any added clearance or ride improvement. But yes, I wouldn't want a coach w/o them.

DriVer · 07-20-2007, 02:54 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dave1885:
The best benefit was when entering and exiting the road such as entering a gas station. I would at times drag my hitch slightly. With the air bags, I will raise the air pressure in the rear air bags to around 80-90 pounds just while crossing the curb area to avoid the unwanted draw bar ground contact. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>My strategy was to go from a 6 inch drop to a 4 inch drop. I haven't had any groundings since. I use Blue Ox towing equipment available from RV Upgrades.com.

max49 · 07-20-2007, 07:52 PM

Driver, you are well informed about a lot of things but obviously there's a lot things you don't know. There most certainly are air shocks that will raise the ride height.
I had them on my Minnie Winnie. When I aired them up , I could watch the whole body raise, significantly. It was an E-350, very common.
I also had cars , in my younger days with "Gabriel Hijackers" shock absorbers. They did what they say, jack it high as you wanted, with air.
I have'nt even been able to even get a price from Brazels or Redlands for a fuel filter. I think they are more interested in selling higher profit margin items.
By far the biggest draw back to owning a WH and the reason I doubt I would buy another one is their parts availability for a New MH is worse than any thing I've ever seen. I can get parts for my lawnmowers, blowers, weed whackers, or any thing else I have motorized, way easier than I can get WH parts.
That is sad but true.
Our local tractor dealer lost his right to be a John Deer dealer because he refused to stock parts for the John Deer's that Home Depot and Lowes sells.
WH does'nt care if their svc cntrs stock any parts or not. And WH will not sell us parts or ship to our house or to a non WH shop.
Oh, I'm just not as forgiving as many of you guys.

DriVer · 07-20-2007, 08:07 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:
Driver, you are well informed about a lot of things but obviously there's a lot things you don't know. There most certainly are air shocks that will raise the ride height.. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Max, When you are pushing the suspension upward you are defeating it - you are not doing it any favors. Air bags have their place and when used appropriately they can level a motorhome quite nicely. Suspensions need to travel from a neutral position to the negative as well as positive amplitudes in order to deliver a ride that will give its owner both excellent control and ride comfort.

Simply pushing the box up artificially affects either control or comfort but it rarely if ever can do both. The P Series suspension is designed to ride at a nominal height. Change that arbitrarily and it's a toss up whether you are doing yourself a favor or a disservice.

Bucky1 · 07-21-2007, 04:43 AM

I didn't know that air shocks were available for the front of any vehicle. I had them on my Camaro rear in high school. Then, I properly fit the tires, tossed the air shocks, put the ride hight where it should be, and enjoyed more hook and a better ride.
I have air lift air bags in the front of my MH, because that is how the chassis was designed to achieve proper ride hight. You either need the bags or the after market springs to get the correct ride height on my Workhorse. Most of all, if you change the ride height, you have to get it aligned. Ride height changes alignment significantly. Basically, you need to get proper ride height one way or another, with springs or bags.

max49 · 07-21-2007, 06:20 PM

Driver , that's just bull. I already said my Minnie Winnie had air bag shock absorbers that would lift the whole box. It rode and handled just fine. According to Brazels my ride height in the front is already a little on the low side. So what do they suggest? Doing away with the airbag coil springs and put in aftermarket springs. Much more expensive than air shocks. But I'm sure you endorse this product , maybe because they are sponsors.
I've always said you pick and choose which aftermarket products you endorse and are quick to criticize others , even when you know nothing about them. The chassis does'nt know nor care if proper ride height was attained from aftermarket springs or aftermarket air shocks.
I know they make air lift shock absorbers, I just asked if the P-32 shocks are the same as any other vehicle. Like maybe a Chevy truck then the part would be easy to find.
It does'nt seem like that difficult of question.
Bucky, you may be right about air shocks in the front. All mine were in the rear too, but if they can be built for the rear, they could be built for the front. Don't know if anyone does tho.
OK I have a question for anyone who knows but Driver, Brazel or Redlands surely should know. Mike from Brazels once posted the correct ride height for the P-32. (I think he said 2 1/4") Anyway as soon as I read that, I went and checked mine and it was about 3/8" low.
Since it is still under warranty, what will WH do to fix this? Aftermarket springs? The airbags have already been replaced twice. I guess they should pay to realign it too after they get the correct ride height.
At any rate , the way it is now, my alignment seems close to perfect, except my steering wheel is at either 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock (can't remember which), when going straight.

NeilV · 07-22-2007, 01:05 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max49:
The chassis does'nt know nor care if proper ride height was attained from aftermarket springs or aftermarket air shocks.
I know they make air lift shock absorbers, I just asked if the P-32 shocks are the same as any other vehicle. Like maybe a Chevy truck then the part would be easy to find.
It does'nt seem like that difficult of question.
Bucky, you may be right about air shocks in the front. All mine were in the rear too, but if they can be built for the rear, they could be built for the front. Don't know if anyone does tho. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It is one thing to put them on a car or pickup truck however putting them on a 20,000Lb + chassis could be very unhealthy if the shock mounts shear off. The additional loading could cause extreme forces to be put into play that probably were not considered by the chassis engineer and if it does hold up it would most likely be only by happenstance. Air shocks most always stiffen up the ride to an extreme by the time they deliver any substantial results and the extra jarring and impact again would be less than desireable also.

Yes they do have their places but the front of a Cass A Motorhome may not be the best choice. A Timbren unit would be a better choice but even they recommend getting your springs and other suspension problems fixed, not patched over, first.

Oemtech · 07-22-2007, 02:28 AM

Let me jump in and toss in my 2 cents.

I had air shocks on a 65 Chev. Looked cool but rode like a brick. Once I put the suspension back the way it was designed with a good set of shocks, added a different set of springs, larger sway bars and boxed the lower control arms I had a real mover and shaker. A bone stock 396 cu/325 hp ran 13.9 at the drags and would go around corners with ease.

I am not sure why GM went with the air bags on P30's. If I owned one I would dump them for the correct rated springs, a good set of shocks, poly bushings and some heavier sway bars.

I am sure you can find some air shocks that will fit. But, ultimately you will probably not be statisfied. The alignment will change and I bet you will have front tire ware. Also, when you pop one of the bladders you got no warranty.

max49 · 07-22-2007, 05:16 PM

I guess I would like to find a cheap fix for it since WH went cheap with the stock front suspension.
When you buy a new MH, you already take such a loss on it, I really have no desire to sink a bunch more money into new springs, sway bars torsion bars and other stuff.
So if my ride height is about 3/8 to a half inch low at the bumpers, do you guys think WH would warranty it?
I'm thinking , I'd probably be wasting my time and gas taking it to a svc cntr expecting themto warranty it. But maybe some of you guys have some experience with this.
Mike @ Brazel's or Redlands, if someone brought you a P-32 with a low front end ride height, would you try to get it fixed under warranty? Any experience with this?