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CC38EL · 07-27-2021, 07:49 AM

While I wait on Timbren to respond, I thought I'd ask the experts here about my situation.

I have a 2018 F53 22k chassis under a 2019 Coachmen Mirada Select 37LS. We lean to the passenger side. Springs, shocks, bolts, bushings, connectors, wedges etc. all look good and seem to be 'normal' for this rig. Driving is normal for this rig....we sway, we get blown around, we get crappy mileage, etc. All normal.

I installed Timbrens on the rear both sides and Sumos on the front. Not F53 Sumos, Ford Ranger Sumos...the bump stop kind. Ride improved, we sway less, don't get blown around as much, crappy gas mileage. And the Timbrens both sit on the axle when stationary. So far happy......but.

We still lean. Not as much because the TImbrens do what they are supposed to, but still lean.

My question....I think the right side Timbren now fights not only the suspension/weight lean, but also fights the driver side Timbren. I think the passenger side, as it resists the downward force, is getting some resistance from the driver side because it does not compress. So the passenger side now must overcome the weight/force AND the opposite Timbren.

I am thinking about taking the driver side out to remove that resistence and level the RV. That would make the added support unbalanced on the axle....although the weight on the suspension does not change.

Thoughts?

wolfe10 · 07-27-2021, 07:58 AM

I would rather see the "root cause" addressed by the original suspension.

Tell us your side to side weights front and rear-- this will help take you to the better of the two solutions below.

Obviously, move any of your personal gear you can from heavy to light side.

Basic fixes to the original suspension are:

Adding a leaf to the low side.
Adding a shim to the low side.

I have no issue with you using after market devices to fine tune it, but get the basics correct first.

CC38EL · 07-27-2021, 08:40 AM

Things I left out:

We are under GAWR weight on the axles and under on GCWR. There are no 4 wheel weigh facilities near me (or within 500 miles).

Balancing has been done...what could be moved was moved. CHF has been done in the front. Didn't see the need in the back.

I have money, but I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on something that is basically 'correct' from the factory. Spring pack or spring block is upwards of $1500. Those things add no monetary value and the return on investment is measured in terms of happiness behind the wheel. And I'm not unhappy now....I could live with the $500 improvement I've already made and the lean to the right.

I'm just looking for an opinion on removing the driver side Timbren.

wolfe10 · 07-27-2021, 08:44 AM

Adding a leaf or block/shim should be under $500 at an OTR truck suspension shop.

Been there, done that.

And, yes, depending on floor plan, there can be significant side to side imbalances.

Said another way, the interior designers take priority over the engineers in coach layout. Galley slides are the poster child for this. Weight of the slide, appliances, galley storage all on one side, offset on the other side by a table and chairs!

jomo · 07-27-2021, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC38EL

Things I left out:

We are under GAWR weight on the axles and under on GCWR. There are no 4 wheel weigh facilities near me (or within 500 miles).

Balancing has been done...what could be moved was moved. CHF has been done in the front. Didn't see the need in the back.

I have money, but I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on something that is basically 'correct' from the factory. Spring pack or spring block is upwards of $1500. Those things add no monetary value and the return on investment is measured in terms of happiness behind the wheel. And I'm not unhappy now....I could live with the $500 improvement I've already made and the lean to the right.

I'm just looking for an opinion on removing the driver side Timbren.

I'd do the CHF on the back. It will help the sway.

CC38EL · 07-27-2021, 09:03 AM

Brett, I don't know where you shop, but my 3 phone calls to our local guys were nowhere near $500.

I may have to relook at the CHF in the back.....but I have the sway bar that uses splines in the bolt pack. And I don't have the tools to press them out. I did eyeball swapping sides......

But I didn't feel energetic at the time....

HarryStone · 07-27-2021, 09:40 AM

Absolutely do the rears as well. It made an amazing difference in sway control. You might think about chucking the timbrens and the Sumos as well and put air bags on. You can then adjust the amount of air side to side and eliminate the tilt.

CC38EL · 07-27-2021, 02:30 PM

Well , as I expected, Timbren does not recommend flying solo. They have seen some handling issues when only 1 spring is installed on an axle.

Going to take a hard look at the CHF in the rear, swapping the 2 rods.

Thanks

DFord · 07-28-2021, 08:51 PM

Without knowing the weight on all 4 corners of your MH, you're just blindly throwing money at your problems and hoping it fixes them.

The CHF shouldn't cost anything more than your time and is highly recommended. My MH felt "top heavy" before I did the CHF and now feels great. It made a HUGE difference in handling. I had to follow up by replacing the bushings with the blue polyurethane ones because the originals couldn't take the added loads.

Removing just one side of your TImbrens would surely cause a handling disaster when you needed the most control.