Community Forums

iHoliday · 05-21-2014, 07:18 AM

I drove 800 mi from San Clemente Ca.To Moab Ut. in the "before" CHF mode. It got very windy near and around the 8000 ft summit. White knuckle grip only scratches the surface on that experience.
I did the CHF at the campground before the trip home to Harvard Il (another 1700 mi). The difference was like day and night! I had plenty of everything thrown at me for the trip home. There were moments but very manageable ones.
I did order front and rear track bars which will be installed before a 700 mi trip this weekend. Stay tuned.

SAS30 · 05-21-2014, 08:04 AM

Have been following this post since the beginning and thought I would make one last reply and put in my 2 cents before signing off on it. We have an '07 national Dolphin 5320(33 ft) on an '06 Ford chassis with the 22.5 wheels. Save your money(this is CHF) on the Hellwig links. The bushings and bolts do not fit like the OEM. On our unit the fronts were approximately 1 inch longer than the rear. I moved the fronts to the rear and lengthen the rear 1 1/4 inches longer and installed on the front. Unit now handles about as good as I think it is going to get without spending huge amounts of $.
Now that it is going to take huge amounts of $ for any more improvements, we decided the $ would be better spent on a new coach. Need a larger unit anyhow, 4 Grand kids. 2014 Meridian Ellispe 42QD, that should do it!

al2ride · 05-21-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAS30

Have been following this post since the beginning and thought I would make one last reply and put in my 2 cents before signing off on it. We have an '07 national Dolphin 5320(33 ft) on an '06 Ford chassis with the 22.5 wheels. Save your money(this is CHF) on the Hellwig links. The bushings and bolts do not fit like the OEM. On our unit the fronts were approximately 1 inch longer than the rear. I moved the fronts to the rear and lengthen the rear 1 1/4 inches longer and installed on the front. Unit now handles about as good as I think it is going to get without spending huge amounts of $.
Now that it is going to take huge amounts of $ for any more improvements, we decided the $ would be better spent on a new coach. Need a larger unit anyhow, 4 Grand kids. 2014 Meridian Ellispe 42QD, that should do it!

I believe you went about it all wrong. All you have to do to the Hellwigs is swap out metal bushings. You can't use the Hellwig's metal bushings or bolts because they have a smaller diameter than the holes on the frame. You can use the Hellwig rubber bushings with stock metal bushings and stock bolts. The only thing wrong with the Hellwigs is that the rubber bushings are not poly. Nothing wrong with them, but they won't last as long as poly. I have put 2k miles on them without any issues.

al2ride · 05-21-2014, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAS30

Have been following this post since the beginning and thought I would make one last reply and put in my 2 cents before signing off on it. We have an '07 national Dolphin 5320(33 ft) on an '06 Ford chassis with the 22.5 wheels. Save your money(this is CHF) on the Hellwig links. The bushings and bolts do not fit like the OEM. On our unit the fronts were approximately 1 inch longer than the rear. I moved the fronts to the rear and lengthen the rear 1 1/4 inches longer and installed on the front. Unit now handles about as good as I think it is going to get without spending huge amounts of $.
Now that it is going to take huge amounts of $ for any more improvements, we decided the $ would be better spent on a new coach. Need a larger unit anyhow, 4 Grand kids. 2014 Meridian Ellispe 42QD, that should do it!

BTW, it's still a CHF if you spend ~90 bucks for the Hellwigs. Your other option is to have the stock links extended or spend an arm and a leg on a beefier sway bar. I know, you can use the stock links and let the sway bar hit the leaf springs. Jus'sayin

colter · 05-23-2014, 04:36 PM

Changed the oil on my 2012 F-53 24k chassis and looked at what I need to do for the CHF. Looks simple enough. Will I need to loosen the bolts on the bar at the frame to be able to rotate the bar so it will reach the links at the new hole? Looks like just moving the link alone won't get it. Thx!

IdahoSRT10 · 05-23-2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colter

Changed the oil on my 2012 F-53 24k chassis and looked at what I need to do for the CHF. Looks simple enough. Will I need to loosen the bolts on the bar at the frame to be able to rotate the bar so it will reach the links at the new hole? Looks like just moving the link alone won't get it. Thx!

You may have to loosen the sway bar support bolts....try without first (depending on your age and bench press lbs. numbers).

You did use the Ford 820S oil filter and Mobil 1 5w-20 right? lol

colter · 05-23-2014, 04:50 PM

Thanks. I see that the torque at the links is supposed to be 66. If I have to loosen those support bolts does anybody know correct torque for those?

Oh I bench 400 or so so that won't be a problem! Lol, just kidding. Like that song says- I ain't as good as I once was!!

IdahoSRT10 · 05-23-2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colter

Thanks. I see that the torque at the links is supposed to be 66. If I have to loosen those support bolts does anybody know correct torque for those?

Oh I bench 400 or so so that won't be a problem! Lol, just kidding. Like that song says- I ain't as good as I once was!!

Snug and a tad.....its metal to metal so 60-70 ft.lbs If the link bolts have clearance issues loosen the center bar bolts and slide the bar to correct balance.

WOW 400! I'm 59, 6-3, 220 and can only get 250lb on the bench (4 times).....going downhill south fast!

colter · 05-23-2014, 05:04 PM

Cool thanks. Oh- I was just kidding. I'm 6'2" and 205, 38 yrs old but I haven't bench pressed anything in years. I do some 12oz curls on most weekends. Lol

colter · 05-24-2014, 12:48 PM

CHF complete!

Probably won't have a chance to check it out on the road until about a 400 mile round trip in a couple weeks. I'll report back then. Thx!

jmckinley · 05-29-2014, 05:31 PM

I just saw on another forum that Dunner, who has been very active on this thread almost since the beginning, passed away today. I never met him but I will miss him and his help leading people thru the CHF. He was more patient than me with naysayers on several occasions.

John McKinley
Genius Inventor, CHF

chboone · 05-29-2014, 09:32 PM

Very sorry to hear that. While I never met Dunner either, he was very active on iRV2 and he freely gave advise in his area of expertise. He will be missed by his family and fellow members of iRV2.

Chuck