Do I need new shocks?

[blkcloud]

Just returned from a short 600 mile trip.. while traveling on new asphalt my mh just glides.. like it's on air, older asphalt.. ( which is about 75% of the time) it feels like I have octagon tires.. not comfortable at all, it's like blam blam blam going down the road .. just put on a new set of tires.. no noticeable difference between those and the old set.. don't have anyone I can ride with to compare rides.. wondering if new shocks would help or is this the norm? I don't know how old my current shocks are.. Thanks!

[BFlinn181]

If you wonder if shocks need replacement, especially in a 17 year old RV, they probably do. You might check tire pressures. Have the RV weighed then look up proper PSI to carry that weight. Tables of inflation are usually available on tire manufacturer's website.

[twinboat]

The dealer may have inflated them to the tire sidewall PSI.

As a test, without weights, charts and math, set the pressure to the manufactures tag, found somewhere in the MH. Usually near the drivers area. I found one in my cabinet, behind my head.

If that makes a difference then you can do the weight thing if you want.

[Percival6]

I think it's standard practice for tire dealers to set the tire pressure of any tire they work on to the maximum pressure on the sidewall.

I had dually extended valve stems put on last year, when I asked, the commercial tire dealer told me they always put max psi in, unless otherwise told.

When I told him about getting a 4 corner weigh and setting the pressure per standard load inflation tables, I think he was amazed that a motor home owner would know about that. Then the first thing asked about was, aren't you concerned about gas mileage at that pressure? I told him, it's a 11 ton motorhome, it gets 7 mpg, I'm far more concerned comfort than gas mileage!

Long story short, get a 4 corner weigh and set your pressures according to the standard load inflation tables. Google it and locate one that has pressures for both single and dual tires. I'm running 90 on the fronts and 75 on the each of the rear tires.

[MSHappyCampers]

We bought the 2002 Windsor in 2012. It rides on 8 air bags. I was happy with the way it handled and the feel of "gliding" over smooth pavement, but like you, I was disappointed in the feel of hitting potholes or the divider lines on concrete highways! I also had "porpoising" so I knew I needed shocks. I chose to go with the Bilstein shocks. They stopped the porpoising, but I was still not happy with the way it felt on rough roads!

It seems that over a long period of time that it got better, or maybe I just finally accepted that a 40' box was gonna rattle when hitting a rough place!

I wonder if this is true for high-end coaches such as Prevost, Newell, etc?

Anyway, my advice is not to expect the shocks to cure all of the rough-riding problems!