1992 Fleetwood Jamboree - 55,000 miles - Sweet!

[RM Art]

Hi Guys and Gals...

We recently purchased a Class C 1992 Fleetwood Jamboree - 54,800 orig miles. One owner girl, covered storage for all but last three years when sold to a couple that only put a couple thousand miles in her.

Great overall condition, really sweet E350 with smooooth running 460 engine! Interior has the "Party Layout" for plenty of tables and seating. We named her "Honey"! ... My really cool mother that passed.

Linda and I took her out for along weekend and loved it. Drives really nice, but we are confident she could drive even better!!

So... here's my question:

Best recommended shock absorber brand(s) - front and rear

Best recommended stabilizers - front and rear

Any other improvement suggestions you may offer will be well applauded and looked into closely.

Happy RV Daze! - Art and Linda

[RVfixit]

Hi, Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new RV! There are many opinions on suspension parts and upgrades but for me, I have used several different brands of shock absorbers and have settled on Bilstein shocks as the best performing truck shocks for me. They don't fade when they get hot from bumpy roads. Here's the link;

https://camper.bilstein.com/en-us/

As far as sway bars go, I will have to defer to others advice on that as I have a 5th wheel but a good resource for those is here:

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ant...RoCo90QAvD_BwE

Last, the 460 Ford drivetrain is very reliable as well as you keep it well serviced with regular oil changes and coolant replacement (every few years).

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[RM Art]

Thanks RVfixit... for reply and suggestions!

I had a qualified mechanic put new HD Bilstein shocks on front and super heavy duty [stiff coil spring assisted] Monroe "Ambulance" shocks on rear. The four old shocks had been Bilstein... all four were in sorry shape. He also installed many new parts on the front end that were worn from age... it's like new now. He says that both front and rear are well assisted by heavy sway bars previously installed.

Although I've not driven it since I'm sure it will be fine. He's taken care of my HD construction trucks for over two decades. I'm a masonry, concrete and tile contractor... over five [yup! - 5] decades experience.

Next items I'll do is front end alignment, rear end fluid change, brake checks, front bearing grease-packs, and cooling fluid flush. Engine oil change and trany flush/filter-change already accomplished. Orig gen set has only 80 hrs, oil looks like new. Both engines purr like kittens!

Cheers! - Art

After these many chassis improvement/maintaince tasks... I believe the running gear of this near perfect condition 55K mile, stored indoors 1992 Fleetwood Jamboree RV house and chassis will be a matched pair

Originally Posted by RVfixit

Hi, Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new RV! There are many opinions on suspension parts and upgrades but for me, I have used several different brands of shock absorbers and have settled on Bilstein shocks as the best performing truck shocks for me. They don't fade when they get hot from bumpy roads. Here's the link;

https://camper.bilstein.com/en-us/

As far as sway bars go, I will have to defer to others advice on that as I have a 5th wheel but a good resource for those is here:

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ant...RoCo90QAvD_BwE

Last, the 460 Ford drivetrain is very reliable as well as you keep it well serviced with regular oil changes and coolant replacement (every few years).

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[d23haynes57]

Originally Posted by RM Art

Hi Guys and Gals...

We recently purchased a Class C 1992 Fleetwood Jamboree - 54,800 orig miles. One owner girl, covered storage for all but last three years when sold to a couple that only put a couple thousand miles in her.

Great overall condition, really sweet E350 with smooooth running 460 engine! Interior has the "Party Layout" for plenty of tables and seating. We named her "Honey"! ... My really cool mother that passed.

Linda and I took her out for along weekend and loved it. Drives really nice, but we are confident she could drive even better!!

So... here's my question:

Best recommended shock absorber brand(s) - front and rear

Best recommended stabilizers - front and rear

Any other improvement suggestions you may offer will be well applauded and looked into closely.

Happy RV Daze! - Art and Linda

Regarding ride, first thing to look at is the rear springs. This year originally came with a 3 leaf parabolic. After I almost lost control and rolled my 1992 Tioga Arrow I added rear air bags only to have them bottom out. Found out problem was the rear springs, and Ford had a TSB on them. The replacement was a nine-leaf pack. As I was not the original owner Ford would not cover. I purchased and installed them. The other thing to find out ir if the fuel pump and sender has been upgraded. The pump has a problem that in warm weather and long drives the pump heats up and will stall or vapor lock. Left me stuck on I95 near Ft Pierce in Florida. My first RV tow experience. That was a few days after replacing the rear tires in Virginia.
The 460 is a great engine. Just bring gas! A good day at reasonable speeds 7 to 7.5 mpg.
Have front ball joints checked. The uppers go bad. Front brakes good for a few panic stops. Warped and glazed rotors.
Check rear axle for oil level and condition. These vehicles eat them and break shafts.
Tires! Check age! Conditionl Upgrade.
Pay very close attention to payload. You do not have much capacity.
Don't plan to tow anything heavy. Do not store a lot of stuff in rear, behind rear axle.
I bought mine in 1997 with 34K miles on it. Traded in 1999 with ~62K.

[4x4van]

Congrats on the new ride! My second RV was a 1988 Jamboree S26 model of the same layout. That "party" plan was great; dinette, couch, 2 swivel chairs w/ table; plenty of seating, and plenty of sleeping. We loved it and it did us great for 12 years! As others have said, the 460 is a great engine; keep the oil and filters changed and she'll do you good for a long time. Post some pics when you can!

[RM Art]

Thank you both for input.

Accomplishing improvements as the weeks go on. Using "Honey" occasionally for relatively short jaunts as the improvements lock in. Next is new rear end fluid and new front bearings... with all four bake checks too.

Interested about the rear springs. Wonder if same 9 leaf spring package is still available on the market for 1992 E-350 chassis??

Front end has had most everything new already installed.

"Edit" - I just searched google and found the 9 leaf springs! Will do measurements and purchase/install as/if capable. Also will speak to my mechanics regarding fuel pump. Thanks, Again!

Cheers!

Art

[d23haynes57]

I purchased the springs from Ford, dealer parts counter. Call and have the VIN.
For the rear I would suggest synthetic oil and go to a 75w-140 or 85s-140.
I mentioned brakes as being a bit of a weak spot. Check condition of fluid, age of brake hoses. Fluid should be changed out a very few years. Upgrade a bit to DOT 4 or the newer DOT 5.1. Note, 5.1 is not a silicone-based fluid like DOT 5. Higher boiling point and less moisture absorption.

[RM Art]

Does anyone know where I could search to locate plastic white lens covers for interior lights on a C Class 1992 Fleetwood Jamboree that sits on 1992 E350 chassis?

I've exhaustively searched Google and called many parts suppliers... with no luck at all.

Thanks!

Art

[d23haynes57]

Even years ago, we would just replace the fixtures as the lens designs changed so often. Look for some nice surface mount LED fixtures. You want as much energy efficiency as you can get with the limited battery capacity.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+lighti...over_k0_2_10_0

[RVfixit]

Can you post a picture of one from your RV?

[RM Art]

Originally Posted by RVfixit

Can you post a picture of one from your RV?

Here ya go RVFixit

They are 4.5" x 3.25" with two fairly large tabs on each of the long sides. All are frosted white. Different colors in one photo represent different color bulbs.

Cheers! - Art

PS: Two in the full-light photo are the only two burned out. I'll buy enough for some extras too.

[RVfixit]

Hi Art,

So that appears to be a Progressive Dynamics light fixture. Inside the cover should be a tag that gives the model number. It would start with "PD" like PD770. I have found the part number but its out of stock at the moment, I just want to confirm the model number,

Thanks

[RM Art]

Originally Posted by RVfixit

Hi Art,

So that appears to be a Progressive Dynamics light fixture. Inside the cover should be a tag that gives the model number. It would start with "PD" like PD770. I have found the part number but its out of stock at the moment, I just want to confirm the model number,

Thanks

Hi RVfixit! - Will attempt to soon locate the part number. - Thanks! Art

[RM Art]

Originally Posted by RM Art

Hi RVfixit! - Will attempt to soon locate the part number. - Thanks! Art

RVF - Here's photo of light sticker. Sorry for upside down photo... Cat # PO [maybe D] 772