Community Forums

mtnxtreme · 07-22-2021, 11:04 AM

94 Gulf Stream, great shape, 40k original miles, but off highway a tug boat,, is there anything we can do to make it less boaty ? Also HW heater went out its a Suburban SW6D, do I have any options for an upgrade, can I adapt an on demand unit ? Has anyone ever done anything different ?

Skip426 · 07-22-2021, 01:41 PM

What chassis is you Class C built on ? Ford ? Chevy ?

mtnxtreme · 07-22-2021, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

What chassis is you Class C built on ? Ford ? Chevy ?

Ford Chassis 350 series.

NRR · 07-23-2021, 06:48 AM

Bilstein heavy duty shocks have been recommended on this forum.

I had a class A that was a boat till I put Koni FSD shocks on it. Very expensive, but they did the trick.

mtnxtreme · 07-23-2021, 07:40 AM

Any ideas on the HW heater.

Harvard · 07-23-2021, 08:20 AM

You probably have too little positive caster. You need +5 degrees or more for highway speeds.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...el-226353.html

mtnxtreme · 07-23-2021, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harvard

You probably have too little positive caster. You need +5 degrees or more for highway speeds.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...el-226353.html

Its not bad at all on the highway, its regular roads, back roads etc. its like being on the ocean cruise !

Skip426 · 07-23-2021, 10:14 AM

Have you weighed the coach loaded for travel; checked the weights against the chassis rating ; and set the tire pressures accordingly ?

wildtoad · 07-23-2021, 11:20 AM

There was a recent thread on demand water heaters. As I recall, the take was not all the great of an upgrade. Complaints were basically took too long for water to get hot, and then not all that hot.

mtnxtreme · 07-24-2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildtoad

There was a recent thread on demand water heaters. As I recall, the take was not all the great of an upgrade. Complaints were basically took too long for water to get hot, and then not all that hot.

hmmmmm really, do you have a link thanks

Ron Dittmer · 07-24-2021, 07:39 PM

Up to and including model year 2007, the Ford E350 motorhome chassis was NOT equipped with any kind of rear stabilizer bar, and the front stabilizer bar was the same one installed on an E150 van. That is a very inferior setup for a huge house and contents on that chassis which weighs close to GVWR 100% of the time.

I strongly advise to install heavy duty Helwig or Roadmaster front and rear stabilizer bars along with heavy duty Bilstein-RV shock absorbers. They will remove the worst of what I refer to as "Drunken Sailor" handling. If you are a perfectionist, also replace your under-rated Ford OEM steering stabilizer with a heavy duty Safe-T-Plus.

Been there, done that with our 2007 E350 chassis....and are very happy with the results.

mtnxtreme · 07-25-2021, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Dittmer

Up to and including model year 2007, the Ford E350 motorhome chassis was NOT equipped with any kind of rear stabilizer bar, and the front stabilizer bar was the same one installed on an E150 van. That is a very inferior setup for a huge house and contents on that chassis which weighs close to GVWR 100% of the time.

I strongly advise to install heavy duty Helwig or Roadmaster front and rear stabilizer bars along with heavy duty Bilstein-RV shock absorbers. They will remove the worst of what I refer to as "Drunken Sailor" handling. If you are a perfectionist, also replace your under-rated Ford OEM steering stabilizer with a heavy duty Safe-T-Plus.

Been there, done that with our 2007 E350 chassis....and are very happy with the results.

Makes sense, I never looked under. I bet just a rear stabilize would help.

mtnxtreme · 07-25-2021, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Dittmer

Up to and including model year 2007, the Ford E350 motorhome chassis was NOT equipped with any kind of rear stabilizer bar, and the front stabilizer bar was the same one installed on an E150 van. That is a very inferior setup for a huge house and contents on that chassis which weighs close to GVWR 100% of the time.

I strongly advise to install heavy duty Helwig or Roadmaster front and rear stabilizer bars along with heavy duty Bilstein-RV shock absorbers. They will remove the worst of what I refer to as "Drunken Sailor" handling. If you are a perfectionist, also replace your under-rated Ford OEM steering stabilizer with a heavy duty Safe-T-Plus.

Been there, done that with our 2007 E350 chassis....and are very happy with the results.

Does the stock E350 rear shocks and sway bar fit or is the camper special ?

Ron Dittmer · 07-25-2021, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnxtreme

Makes sense, I never looked under. I bet just a rear stabilize would help.

Yes, doing just that alone will make a big difference, but you really want to upgrade the front bar at the same time so that the load is stabilized appropriately throughout the vehicle to all 6 tires.

The original front stabilizer bar is nearly a decoration. It is severely under-rated for the application. Compounding the situation is the way the ends of the bar are connected. They pass through rubber grommets in the lower control arms which wear away quickly, creating a gap which translates to "play" within the wimpy stabilizer bar.

Emphasizing here, install both front and rear heavy duty stabilizer bars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnxtreme

Does the stock E350 rear shocks and sway bar fit or is the camper special?

You want the heavy duty stabilizer bars and shocks for the DRW (Dual Rear Wheel) E350 chassis.

I bought my Bilstein shocks from Tire Rack. They were just about the cheapest price I found anywhere. I have done business with them many times, sometimes involving returns or exchanges. They have exceptional customer service when something goes wrong so I was very comfortable paying just a little more to give them my business.

If working with Tire Rack, be sure to select the Bilstein shocks stated as "Performance for class C motorhomes".