Community Forums

PADDLEDOC · 07-20-2020, 01:14 PM

We have a 2019 Nexus Super C (Wraith 33 W) on an International Harvester Durastar chassis w Cummins diesel and Allison trans 2500 6 speed
theavy duty chassis w 22.5" wheels but only shocks and springs for suspension.
freeway transitions and frost heaves feel like a roller coaster w suspension bottoming out , and jolting the whole rig . Motorhome does not wander or drift or need constant adjustments side to side but veritcal road defects are hard on everyone..
I have looked at Air lift, Firestone air ride, Liquid springs ($$$$) and Koni or Bilstein shock upgrades.

Is there anyone who has gotten improved ride that can recommend a self installed fix ? or even a suspension package from a shop on the west coast AZ, NV or CA ??
Thanks for any ideas
Paddledoc

WorldCat25 · 07-20-2020, 02:38 PM

Paddledoc,

Sorry for your rough riding. Our Ghost has air suspension in the rear which I think makes our ride a lot better than yours.

Since you note that you don't get a lot of side to side movement while driving it sounds like you have your tire pressures set for your load. We had that problem. Following suggestions on here, I weighed the rig and reduced my front pressures to 95 cold and rear to 85 cold. That helped immensely with sterring and handling and also the ride.

Sorry I am of no help to you.

Good luck,

WorldCat

PADDLEDOC · 07-20-2020, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldCat25

Paddledoc,

Sorry for your rough riding. Our Ghost has air suspension in the rear which I think makes our ride a lot better than yours.

Since you note that you don't get a lot of side to side movement while driving it sounds like you have your tire pressures set for your load. We had that problem. Following suggestions on here, I weighed the rig and reduced my front pressures to 95 cold and rear to 85 cold. That helped immensely with sterring and handling and also the ride.

Sorry I am of no help to you.

Good luck,

WorldCat

That might help. We run 95 # rears and 100-105# front tires these are the 22.5" tires all around..

I am looking at Bilstein or Koni RV shocks first and air bags for the rear if that doesnt fix the problem...

oldecmech · 07-20-2020, 07:30 PM

Kelderman Suspension lists an air ride conversion for medium duty International. They are in Iowa, but their conversions can usually be installed by aftermarket shops. Might be worth giving them a call.

TXiceman · 07-20-2020, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldecmech

Kelderman Suspension lists an air ride conversion for medium duty International. They are in Iowa, but their conversions can usually be installed by aftermarket shops. Might be worth giving them a call.

X2

Ken

jasonleigh · 07-20-2020, 08:27 PM

Might want to check out the Nexus Facebook page. From what I’ve read, if your rear axle is bottoming out in a Wraith, you have limited options

1 Liquidsprings at 11k
2 upgrade your 11 leaf package in the rear to a 14 leaf package.

That will keep your axle off the bump stops.

Sumosprings are basically extended bump stops that carry some load.

Don’t quote me, but I don’t think they have an air ride package that works on the Wraith. Most upgrade to the Ghose for air suspension and exhaust brake.

Shocks will help with the porpoising, but they won’t do much if your rear end is slamming on the bump stops or wheels are rubbing in the wells. 4 corner weigh and find out if you are over.

I don’t have a wraith, that’s just what I remember reading. Someone on the Facebook forum did a complete write up on the liquid springs upgrade for a wraith.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

tankcj · 07-20-2020, 09:47 PM

You might these guys....both have extensive truck and RV chassis and suspension experience,

:: COLTON TRUCK TERMINAL GARAGE ::
https://www.redlandstruckservice.com/

38Chevy454 · 07-26-2020, 06:20 PM

Do you have air seats? Doesn't fix the suspension issues and the road bumps, but makes it more comfortable for you driving.

WorldCat25 · 07-27-2020, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 38Chevy454

Do you have air seats? Doesn't fix the suspension issues and the road bumps, but makes it more comfortable for you driving.

Not answering for the OP but neither the Wraith ro Ghost come from the factory with air ride seats. I could add them to the Ghost since it has air brakes but the Wraith uses hydraulic brakes. The Ghost, with air suspension in the rear, rides good enough for us.

Marty1096 · 05-14-2021, 12:56 AM

Has anyone actually replaced the oem shocks on their Ghost?
What did you use? Part no. Please. TIA

OldracerJim · 05-14-2021, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PADDLEDOC

We have a 2019 Nexus Super C (Wraith 33 W) on an International Harvester Durastar chassis w Cummins diesel and Allison trans 2500 6 speed
theavy duty chassis w 22.5" wheels but only shocks and springs for suspension.
freeway transitions and frost heaves feel like a roller coaster w suspension bottoming out , and jolting the whole rig . Motorhome does not wander or drift or need constant adjustments side to side but veritcal road defects are hard on everyone..
I have looked at Air lift, Firestone air ride, Liquid springs ($$$$) and Koni or Bilstein shock upgrades.

Is there anyone who has gotten improved ride that can recommend a self installed fix ? or even a suspension package from a shop on the west coast AZ, NV or CA ??
Thanks for any ideas
Paddledoc

Your post brought back a memory of when I went in to buy a MH. I had researched all C's and decided it was between the Wraith and an Entegra. When I went in to make the final decision I told the Salesman which two I wanted to test drive and he said "both are great MHs but the Wraith will beat the hell out of you going down the road". I ended up buying the Entegra but that Wraith was a beautiful machine.

arcaguy · 05-15-2021, 07:47 AM

Call your local International dealer. I had a conversation about this very issue with mine and from what I recall there were two options. The first was an air suspension where you had to put air in the suspension from an external source. I think this one was around $1.000 to maybe $1.500. The second was a full air ride with a compressor etc, this one was around $5,000 as I recall. The Wondering Wagners on youtube did the spring upgrade. I want to say it was about $3,000 at a shop, someone else did the upgrade themselves for about $1,700 in parts as I recall. Mike Wagner is on the Facebook Nexus group and I think he talks about the spring upgrade on there too. Good luck and let us know what you figure out.

bhammond1980 · 05-15-2021, 08:02 AM

I had a m2 chassis on our last rig with air rear. It still beat us up as you described, maybe not a severe since we had air ride seats. I used to keep the seat belt tight otherwise you felt somewhat out of control. One thing that really helped our rig was to run as light as possible. No water in any tanks and keep weight between the axles as much as possible. Maybe not what you were hoping to hear but every rig has limitations, plusses and minuses.

DirtRider · 05-18-2021, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhammond1980

I had a m2 chassis on our last rig with air rear. It still beat us up as you described, maybe not a severe since we had air ride seats. I used to keep the seat belt tight otherwise you felt somewhat out of control. One thing that really helped our rig was to run as light as possible. No water in any tanks and keep weight between the axles as much as possible. Maybe not what you were hoping to hear but every rig has limitations, plusses and minuses.

That's disturbing to hear on the M2 chassis you used to have. What model was it? I've test driven an older Dynamax M2 with full air ride on the rear axle and thought the ride seemed very good over rough roads/expansion joints. But, of course, this was like a 10 mile test drive--hardly real knowledge.

I always assume full air ride in the rear will make everything ride like a pusher, and maybe that's just incorrect.

Sorry for the semi-highjack, OP.