Community Forums

JoeC23 · 05-15-2025, 05:56 AM

We have a 2021 Thor 36 foot motorhome. We just took our first trip and thought that it rode pretty good until we got to some of the roads through Alabama and we realize we need some shocks and maybe a safety t for steering. I guess my question is what is are best shocks for the ride and the money? We might also get a safety t for the push we get one big trucks passes. Any suggestions on what are the best brands of shocks to get or a different steering stabilizer please let us know.
Thanks, Joe C

Jim_HiTek · 05-15-2025, 09:22 AM

Koni's are often suggested as the best RV shocks. I've never had a Class A that was new enough to justify the cost so I go with Bilsteins. But, note that your RV is on a truck chassis so a rough ride is not that unusual for a mid value RV. And Thor is not known for building luxury coaches.

As far as the wind and passing vehicles pushing you around, there is a low cost solution, and that is Airtabs or V-spoilers or Ecofins (eBay carries the Ecofins in multiple colors). I discuss their use in great detail on my ad free blog, here: V-Spoilers. I had originally investigated all those expensive handling fixes but could not justify the cost...plus the issue of not knowing for sure if they'd improve handling. The V-spoilers solved the problem.

They work so well to smooth out my 36 foot Class A on the road that if I replace this RV, the first thing I'll buy for the new one will be V-spoilers or equivalent. I still get a kick out of watching trucks weave as they pass me while I stay solid in my lane.

Flyer15015 · 05-15-2025, 09:41 AM

Joe,
X 2 on the Bilstein's.
Is yours on air?

For us big (38') gassers with a solid front axle, and leaf springs, the fix for "expansion joint hits" is to add Sumo bump stops and gas-charged Bilsteins all around, per Yeloduster's research. I did, and I drive mine like a hot rod. The ride is firm but not harsh, and the rear track bar settles down the rear end.
I've learned to drive on the RH side of my lane to lessen the push from passing trucks.

Mike in Colorado

**Lt Dan** · 05-15-2025, 11:39 AM

I just had Koni EVOs installed and the ride is much smoother than the factory shocks, which I assume were Bilsteins.

1972VWbus · 05-16-2025, 01:12 AM

What chassis?

Replaced the OEM ones on my P-30 with KYB and rides far better.

SandiaMan · 05-16-2025, 10:55 AM

Koni seems to get the most fanfare from those looking to improve their motorhome comfort level and driving experience when going down the roadway. Bilsteins appear to be what many motorhome manufacturers install at the factory and is what we have installed on our coach, probably a decision made based on cost since Koni shocks are priced considerably higher.

If you peruse RV forums long enough you will find that many have dumped a lot of cash in an attempt to improve their motorhome's comfort level and driving experience when coming or going to their favorite campgrounds, as each coach can have varying levels of driving comfort some methods work better while others only provide marginal improvement for $$$ spent.

As you have surmised there is a plethora of suspension upgrades and steering mods available aftermarket, which one will dramatically improve your driving experience and comfort level can be hit or miss. It's hard to totally defeat physics when commandeering a 40' long, 13' high, nearly 9' wide rectangular box down a highway at interstate speeds towing a midsize SUV.

Getting tire psi sufficient to handle coach weight without overfilling which can exacerbate driving stability issues, and having alignment checked/dialed in are both simple and cost effective solutions to begin with. For our coach just adding a rear trac bar significantly improved coach manageability at interstate speeds, although we also installed blue Safe T Plus that didn't help much.

For us our coach rode quite well on our 900 mile trek back home after purchase from private sellers in TX. We had 3 decades of RVing in travel trailers and fifth wheel RVs prior to getting our current motorhome. It was rare that my DW would drive more than an hour in those days, going on 5 years now with current class A and DW still loves piloting our 40' coach.