The Largest US RV Dealers – Should You Buy From Them?

This article is about the largest US RV dealers. And whether or not you should buy an RV from a large national dealership chain.

And yes, it’s true that the RV industry is in a big consolidation phase right now.

So most of the brands that you see out there are owned by just a few companies at this point.

And the largest US RV dealers are buying up local RV dealers at a record pace. So is this a good thing for RV buyers or not?

Watch my video on buying from the largest US RV dealers

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The #1 Pro Of Buying At The Largest US RV Dealers

Well not necessarily. So let’s talk about both the pros and the cons of national RV dealer chains, starting with the pros first.

And the number one pro we’ll mention is that they often have a very large inventory of RVs to look at.

Of course, that is great for newer RVers that often aren’t sure what kind of RV they should buy.

In fact, it can be a big help to visit a large dealer chain. Because with all those RVs, you can go through all the different kinds of RVs at one time.

You can also view lots of sizes and floor plans in different categories of RVs.

And that’s a good way to find out what works best for you and your needs.

So it’s good to have a large inventory of RVs for educational purposes alone.

RV Buying Pro #2

But the second pro is that you’re also often going to find several brands at one dealership too. And that can be a good thing too.

Because it can take a lot of time and effort to find different RV brands. And comparing them when they aren’t side-by-side can be a challenge too.

The Best Advantage Of Buying At The Largest US RV Dealers

But the number three pro of the largest US RV dealers is really the big one.

And that is that by design they are very convenient. So you can buy an RV there and even finance it all in the same place.

In addition, you can also trade your RV in and that saves the hassle of selling it on your own.

Also, you can access their parts department, their service department and so on.

And all of that is super convenient, since it’s all in one location at these large dealerships.

OK, so those are all pros of the largest US RV dealers. But now let’s talk about the cons as well.

A Big Con Of Buying From Large RV Dealer Chains

And the number one con is that these large dealership chains are not locally owned.

So there’s no local reputation that they have to worry about keeping up in the community.

Small dealers are often more concerned about their overall reputation
Small RV dealers are often more concerned about their overall reputation

Now when you have a smaller RV dealer, the owner is part of the community in many cases.

So the owner will often see and meet their customers as they go around their daily activities.

And that is an incentive to keep their reputation in good repute among the community.

But that’s not true with a large national dealer chain. Because they rely instead on large advertising budgets to get people in through the door.

Con #2 Of Buying At The Largest US RV Dealers

Than another con is that many of the largest US RV dealers have adopted selling tactics that’s been used in the car industry for decades.

And I think we all know how much fun it is to go buy a car from a car dealer, right?

Usually it’s not very much fun for most people. And that’s because they love to use high pressure tactics that people hate.

Well, many in the RV dealer community have adopted very similar tactics. Especially in these large national dealer chains.

Con #3 Of Buying At Large RV Dealerships

Now another con is that because of all of that you are just a monthly number on the sales projection board.

You see, at the beginning of the month most dealers will make a projection of how many sales they want to make that month.

RV dealers usually make sales projections at the start of every month
The largest US RV dealers usually make sales projections at the start of every month

And then, they do everything in their power to meet that projection. Whether or not in many cases it’s good for you as a customer.

And it’s often called the “turn and burn” mentality in vehicle sales. And it does not usually work in favor of the average customer.

The Sales Process – Con #4

OK, the next con is that these dealers have a sales process that they want to use on you. One that gives them full control in the entire process.

So they’re really not there to listen to you or to even educate you. Instead, they want you to fall into their process and do what they want you to do.

Con #5 – What About The Salespeople?

Now the next con is the salespeople that you are going to encounter at large RV dealers.

In fact, many of them may not even know very much about the RVs that they’re selling you.

In fact, very often they’re not even RVers at all. They are just salespersons.

Salespeople at the largest US RV dealers often use high pressure tactics
Salespeople at the largest US RV dealers often use high pressure tactics

So you may actually know more than the salesperson you are working with.

And what this means is that you can’t trust them as a means of learning about RVs. Or about what will work best for your particular situation.

Because many times the things they’re going to tell you are just to sell you an RV. And they will often say almost anything to get the sale.

So all of this makes it hard to trust a salesperson that you often find at large RV dealership chains.

#6 – What The Largest US RV Dealers Really Want

OK, the next con is that these kind of dealers want you to buy purely on emotion.

Because they realize that emotions are very powerful. And they will get people to do something they don’t always want to do if they had time to think about it.

Large national RV dealers often like it when you by purely on emotion
Large national RV dealers often like it when you by purely on emotion

So they want you to buy quickly based on emotions. They want to move you through the sales process and get you out the door quickly.

And the interest is not in educating you as a consumer. Or in finding out what you want and need. Just on turning sales.

Con #7 For Buying At National RV Chains

Now the next con is about RV financing at large RV dealers. And it’s often not really the best deal that you could make for an RV loan.

In fact, the finance department of an RV dealership in many cases is the most profitable part of the whole dealer. Why?

Be careful with RV loans at large national RV dealerships
Be careful with RV loans at large national RV dealerships

Because they’re marking up their loans considerably to make profits for the RV dealer.

So financing is often not good for you as a consumer at these large dealer chains.

OK, the next con is that while you’re in the finance office they will love to sell you upgrades for your RV. But at very high profit margin!

Things like extended warranties, fabric protection, exterior protection and so on.

And they are all marked up very high to begin with. But when the cost is put in your RV loan, you really can’t tell how much it’s actually costing you.

Large US RV Dealers And Con #9

Then another con is that they often do very little if any pre-delivery inspection. And that’s true on both new and used RVs.

And as an RV inspector I can tell you this happens a lot, especially with large RV dealers.

So if they do a pre-delivery inspection at all, very often it’s a cursory one.

And very often, it’s done by someone who is not really qualified to do an RV inspection too. Many times by a very low paid employee.

Con #10 – What About RV Inspections?

Now moving on to the next con. And that is that a lot of the largest US RV dealers don’t like RV inspectors.

And they don’t want an RV inspection to be performed on their lot. In fact, more and more, they’re often refusing them all together.

Some of the largest US RV dealers deny RV inspections on their lot
Some of the largest US RV dealers deny RV inspections on their lot

Or if they allow them, they’ll make them very hard to perform. And why is that?

Well remember, their sales process means that they want to move you in and out of that dealership as fast as possible.

And they don’t want you thinking about things that could stop you from buying an RV.

Well, an RV inspection slows down that process. And it allows you to start thinking about whether it’s really a good buy or not.

So many of these large RV dealer chain stores don’t like RV inspections.

The Last Con When Buying From The Largest US RV Dealers

Now our last con that we’re going to talk about is an important one to consider.

So suppose they do allow you to inspect the RV you’re looking at.

Then suppose you take delivery of that RV before the quality issues that the inspector found are fixed?

Well you may have to wait weeks or even months to get those issues fixed. And this is common at these large RV dealer chain stores.

OK, those are a lot of cons about the largest US RV dealers to consider and mull over.

An Important Point About RV Dealers In General

Now let me say this. The cons that I mentioned here are not just restricted to large national RV dealership chains.

In fact, they can often take place with smaller RV dealers as well.

However I can say that in general they are more or less part of the fabric of these large national RV dealer chains.

Definitely, more so than most smaller local RV dealers that you come across.

Here’s My Recommendations To Protect Yourself

So here is what I recommend. If you’re going to buy from one of the largest US RV dealers, be careful every step of the way.

Watch what you’re doing and don’t just let them move you through in their sales process.

Always be careful about every step of the buying process and take nothing for granted.

So number one, know what you want before you buy. Don’t just go to the dealer and let them educate you.

Be educated about the RV you want to buy before visiting a large RV dealer's lot
Be educated about the RV you want to buy before visiting a large RV dealer’s lot

Because they’re often going to direct you where they want you to buy. To what they want to sell you because it makes them more profit.

Instead, be an educated RV buyer before you even start the RV buying process.

More Ways To Protect Yourself At Large National RV Dealers

Then number two, have your financing already set and lined up in advance. Don’t just blindly accept whatever the dealer offers you.

And don’t discuss financing in any way, or monthly payments, until the price for the RV that you’re buying is settled.

Number three, don’t buy your extras for your new RV from the RV dealer.

Because usually you can get extras and add-ons yourself with no problem. And you can usually get them at a much better price elsewhere.

Also, the upgrades you buy will often be better quality than what you will get at the dealer too.

For instance, let’s take extended warranties or service contracts after the sale.

Those can be very useful. And I personally have used them with good success on my RV.

But I recommend you go to wholesalewarranties.com because they are a broker in RV extended warranties or service contracts.

They can find the extended warranty that’s going to fit best for you and your RV.

Wholesale Warranties is a great place to get a good deal on a quality RV extended warranty
Wholesale Warranties is a great place to get a good deal on a quality RV extended warranty

So just follow this link to learn more about what they have to offer.

One More Piece Of Advice For Buying At The Largest US RV Dealers

Now number four is always, and I mean always, insist on a full third party inspection of the RV you intend to buy.

And be sure to use a certified NRVIA RV inspector to do the inspection for you. Do not allow the dealer to talk you out of it.

Always get any RV you buy inspected by a certified NRVIA inspector
Always get any RV you buy inspected by a certified NRVIA inspector

Or allow them to tell you that their pre-delivery inspection takes care of all of that. And that it doesn’t cost you anything. That’s usually not true!

So always insist on that third party inspection. And if the dealer refuses, I can’t tell you what to do.

But I can tell you what I would do. I would leave, because that’s telling me everything I need to know about that dealer.

And about how much they value me as a customer. Or are interested in my having a positive RV buying experience.

OK, the final point I want to share with you is something very few buyers do.

The Final RV Buying Recommendation I Can Give You

And that is never take delivery of any RV before all the issues that the RV inspector found are resolved to your satisfaction.

Because if you take delivery beforehand, then you’re often going to be put at the back of the dealer’s service line.

And you’re probably going to experience a lot of frustration and anxiety trying to get all those issues resolved.

Or at least that’s the way it works for a lot of RV buyers who complain online about their buying experience.

Conclusion

Well if you follow the advice that I’ve given you here in this article you really can get the RV that you want.

Not only the one you want, but the one you also need as well. And you can make sure that it works like it should from the first day of ownership.

And all of this can be accomplished even at one of the largest US RV dealers.

Have safe and happy travels my friends!

RV Slide Out Repairs – How To Avoid Expensive Problems

In this article I’m going to be talking about RV slide out repairs. And the top five tips for maintaining and protecting your RV slide outs.

So that way you can avoid a lot of the slide repairs that can be very costly to fix.

Of course, one thing’s for sure. And that is that RV slides provide a lot more living space inside an RV.

RV slide rooms can increase living space dramatically
RV slide rooms can increase living space dramatically

In fact, RV manufacturers can extend up to 50% of an RV’s living space by using enough slides.

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RV Slide Outs Can Have Problems

But slide out rooms can have their problems too. And that’s especially true if they’re not maintained or operated correctly.

And that eventually often leads to RV slide out repairs becoming necessary.

In fact, there are many RVers these days that absolutely avoid slide rooms altogether.

Because of the potential problems that they have heard about or seen themselves.

But by following the tips in this article, you can avoid a lot of those issues and problems. Ones that can become very expensive to repair.

Not All Slide Outs Are The Same

First of all though, let me say this. Not all RV slide rooms operate the same way.

Yes, they all go out and then come back into the RV. But the mechanism that causes them to do that can be very different from one RV to another.

And there are four main kinds of slide out systems in use today in most RVs you’ll see.

RV Slide System #1

The first one we’ll talk about is the electric rack and pinion type of system.

Now rack and pinion just means that you have a circular gear that moves on top of a lateral gear. And moves the slide room in and out.

A typical rack and pinion RV slide gear
A typical rack and pinion RV slide gear

It’s the most common type of mechanism used because it’s very reliable. Also because there’s very few moving parts too.

So RV manufacturers love using that system and installing it at the factory.

Unfortunately, it can also be one of the more expensive systems to install correctly.

RV Slide Out System #2

The second slide system we’re going to talk about has a little bit of a bad reputation though.

It’s the Schwintek slide room system. And Schwintek uses worm gears at each end of the slide to move the slide in and out.

This is what a Schwintek RV slide system looks like on the outside of the slide room
This is what a Schwintek RV slide system looks like on the outside of the slide room

It’s actually a fairly reliable system overall. But some RV manufacturers these days have been using them in ways it was not designed to be used.

For instance, they may use it on very long and heavy slides often referred to as “super slides”.

But Schwintek is not designed for that. It’s best used for smaller slides like you find in an RV bedroom.

And as long as it is used in the way it was designed, it usually works just fine.

RV Slide Mechanism #3

Now the third type of system we’ll talk about is hydraulic. It uses a motor and a pump and somewhere there is a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid.

A hydraulic slide system using an arm to drive the slide room in and out
A hydraulic slide system using an arm to drive the slide room in and out

Now if you know anything about hydraulics you know that you can use it to move really heavy things around.

So a hydraulic slide mechanism works very well for those bigger and longer super slides I mentioned earlier.

And the other thing that you’ll notice is that as you operate a hydraulic slide it moves in and out usually a lot faster too.

Especially when compared to the electric rack and pinion type of slide system. In fact, it can move so fast that it’s almost scary to some people.

RV Slide Out System #4

Now the last system we’ll talk about today is a cable slide room system. It’s a little more expensive and therefore it’s not used quite as often.

But it uses cables that bring the slide out and then cables that pull it back in.

A typical cable slide out mechanism on the outside of the slide
A typical cable slide out mechanism on the outside of the slide

Usually you only see a couple of cables outside but there are more that are inside the mechanism.

And once again, this kind of system is best used on smaller slides.

Although it is more robust than the Schwintek system mentioned above.

OK, those are the four most commonly used types of slide systems in RVs these days.

But remember that maintenance is going to be required on all of these systems to some degree.

So here are my five top tips for maintaining RV slide rooms to get the best service from them.

RV Slide Out Repairs – Maintenance Tip #1

And the number one tip is make sure that you lubricate any moving metal parts that are touching one another.

You’ll want to do that to keep them moving smoothly and cut down on friction.

However, it’s important to use the right lubrication too. So don’t use anything other than a dry lubrication like you see here.

To help prevent RV slide out repairs use a dry lube like this on moving metal parts
To help prevent RV slide out repairs use a dry lube like this on moving metal parts

Because if you use something else, very often dirt or debris will be attracted to that lubricant.

And that can even gum up the system instead and make it worse.

So lubricate moving metal parts and use a dry lube for that task.

Slide Out Tip #2

Now the second tip is to also lubricate your slide seals very often as well.

And slide seals are the rubber seals that go all the way around your slide room.

The purpose of them is to keep any kind of weather and debris out of your RV.

But especially to prevent water from penetrating in and around the slide room.

And replacing a slide seal when it’s damaged can cost you thousands of dollars. So you really want to pay attention to your slide room seals.

And the number one thing that breaks down rubber slide seals is ultraviolet rays from the sun.

So while your slide is extended it’s a good idea to lubricate and protect the seals.

And the best kind of lubrication you can use in my opinion is a high quality ultraviolet inhibitor. Like 303 Aerospace Protectant.

Preventing RV slide out repairs involves protecting slide seals with a UV inhibitor
Preventing RV slide out repairs involves protecting slide seals with a UV inhibitor

I have used this product for years now. And it keeps my slide seals supple and protected from UV damage.

Prevent RV Slide Out Repairs – Tip #3

OK, the third tip for today is also about slide seals. And that is that you need to keep them flipped into place when the slide is extended.

Now this is one of the most common problems I see as an RV inspector.

And that is that that some of the slide seals don’t completely flip out when the slide is extended.

Slide seals not flipped out when the room is extended
Slide seals not flipped out when the slide room is extended

So when you have the seal not flipping out like it should, water can penetrate into your slide room easily.

And when it does, it can start rotting walls, ceilings and floors away quickly. And that’s a very expensive repair.

So you need to keep those slide seals flipped out when the slide is extended.

And keep them nice and tight against the wall of the slide to protect the slide interior.

A Couple Of Suggestions On How To Do This

Now there’s a couple ways you can do this. First of all, you can do it manually.

So you go around after you set up your RV and put your slides out. And you check and make sure that all the slide seals did flip correctly.

But if they didn’t, you could take a ladder and then run your hand up behind the seal and flip it back into place manually like you see here.

Use your hand to manually flip out the slide seals
Use your hand to manually flip out the slide seals

But there’s a way to do it automatically too. I know because I had a very stubborn slide seal on my kitchen slide.

It just would not flip out and back in no matter what I did. So I found a suggestion from another RVer that works really well for me.

And that is that he used these little small half inch plastic furniture bumper stops that you can find for sale almost anywhere.

But you can find them pretty cheap on Amazon at this link.

Then he placed them about halfway down the sidewall of the slide about 18 inches apart from top to bottom.

Keep slide seals flipped properly automatically with these small furniture stops
Keep slide seals flipped properly automatically with these small furniture stops

Now when you do that, you just stick them right on the slide side wall after prepping it with alcohol.

Then as the slide goes out, it flips the seal right out. And likewise as the slide goes in it flips it back in automatically.

The good news is that these furniture stops have been on my slide sidewall for years now. And they work great!

Prevent RV Slide Out Repairs With Tip #4

Now tip number four is to get to know your RV slide out rooms very well.

And what I mean by that is you should listen to them carefully as they operate in and out. Get to know the sounds they make in normal use.

Now all slide out rooms make sounds of various kinds. And very often there’s little squeaks and maybe a slight moan or two.

But what you don’t want to hear are loud sounds. Like pops or grinding noises.

In fact, usually loud sounds of any type that means something is not right.

So when you start hearing that, you need to give that attention right away.

Slide Repairs That I Made on My RV

In fact, let me tell you about another one of my slides that I had this kind of issue with. And that’s my living room slide.

Now it’s operated fine for years going in and out without any trouble. But I always listen very carefully to all my slides for anything out of the ordinary.

And this one started making some funny noises that it hadn’t made before.

So I went online and did some research on the noise I was hearing. And I learned about an issue that these electric rack and pinion systems can have.

And that’s where the slide motor housing loosens up over time. The bolts that hold it together just loosen up through use and vibration.

One of my RV slide out repairs included tightening my slide motor housing bolts
One of my RV slide out repairs included tightening my slide motor housing bolts

And therefore that causes problems with the slide that you can begin to hear. Before it gets really serious and needs repair.

So I went out there to check the motor housing bolts. And sure enough, they needed tightening.

So I tightened them all back down and now my slide moves in and out just like it should. And it doesn’t make that unusual sound anymore.

So know your slides and the sounds it makes that can be considered normal. And take action when you hear sounds that aren’t normal.

For me, I would have never prevented slide damage if I hadn’t been listening to my slide very carefully.

Then if you find anything that’s out of the ordinary, do research on it and get it fixed.

You can do it yourself or get an RV service tech in and get it fixed before it becomes a major issue.

Conclusion

Now here’s my fifth and final tip. Maintaining your RV slide outs is going to take dedication and effort on your part.

So you need to schedule regular maintenance to protect your RV slide out rooms.

But it will pay you back many times over in fewer costly repairs and less stress and frustration.

And these tips that I’ve given you will help you keep your slides in great shape and operating smoothly for many years to come.

Have safe and happy travels my friends!

Motorhome Suspension Upgrades – Improve Ride And Handling

In this article I’m going to be talking about motorhome suspension upgrades.

And how to use them to make ride and handling improvements for your RV.

This is especially important information for owners of gas class A RVs and class C RVs.

Watch my video on motorhome suspension upgrades

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What RV Chassis Needs Motorhome Suspension Upgrades?

And primarily I’m going to be referring to Ford chassis suspensions in this article. Because they are used an awful lot in RV motorhomes.

Now with Class C RVs you’re going to see a lot of Ford E350 and E450 chassis setups.

A typical Class C RV
A typical Class C RV

And with gasoline-powered Class A RVs you’re going to see a lot of the Ford F-series chassis being used.

A typical gas-powered Class A RV
A typical gas-powered Class A RV

So the question is – why are they so popular and in such widespread use?

Well, one reason is because they have been pretty reliable and trustworthy overall. And they have a proven track record through the years.

Chassis Problems That Require Motorhome Suspension Upgrades

But they do have problems! And there are lots of RV owners out there complaining of undesirable ride and handling issues.

And it’s so prevalent among motorhome owners that I felt the need to write this article. So let’s cover the issues that these RVs have.

And one undesirable characteristic is a tendency to ride rough. In fact, some motorhomes built on the Ford chassis are just awful to drive.

And when you hit even small bumps in the road, it just jars you hard inside the RV.

Sometimes it almost feels like it’s going to knock the fillings right out of your teeth. And that makes for a very poor RV travel day!

Other Chassis Issues That Are Unpleasant

Now another characteristic is that sometimes they can exhibit rocking and rolling tendencies. Especially in the wind, or when going around corners.

And excessive lean in the corners can also be experienced. But another undesirable trait is having “tail wag” in the back of the RV.

This is where the tail is drifting from side to side on the road. But up front the steering is wandering too.

So what that results in is the driver going back and forth with the steering wheel just trying to keep the RV going straight down the highway.

Now some of the issues that I just mentioned can be very different from one RV to another.

And a lot depends on the manufacturer and the way they put the RV onto the chassis at the factory.

How Serious Are These Chassis Problems?

Sometimes the issues I’ve mentioned here are just a little annoying. But at other times they can be very serious too.

And that often results in “white knuckle driving”. Grabbing that steering wheel with the grip of death.

Because you’re afraid that it may get out of control at any point. And that’s a very unpleasant experience to have!

But now let’s talk though about another reason why these chassis are so popular. Even despite their undesirable handing characteristics.

And that is that the class C and the gasoline-powered Class A are the least expensive of the larger motorhomes. At least that is often the case.

Now we’re not talking about Class B RVs here. They’re not in this discussion at all as they are smaller motorhomes.

But what we are talking about here are larger motorhomes instead.

And if the cost of the RV is important to a buyer, most often it’s going to be a Class C or a gas Class A that they choose.

So as a result, the manufacturers want to keep the price down as much as they can.

And one of the ways they do that is in the cost of the chassis. And the Ford chassis is a fairly inexpensive one for RV manufacturers to use.

But they just simply do not have hardly any advanced or updated technology in them.

So as a result, they often ride just like the heavy truck chassis that they really are.

But the good news here though is that you actually can make them ride better than they do. With better handling characteristics as well.

And this can be accomplished with just a few adjustments or motorhome suspension upgrades.

What To Do Before Making Suspension Upgrades

But before we get to that, let me mention something that is important to keep in mind.

And that is something you need to do before you start modifying your chassis in any way.

You need to make sure that you have the suspension already in good shape. That way any modifications you make will actually work.

For instance, before you do anything, check your tires first. Believe it or not, they can impact your ride and handling in very significant ways.

So make sure that they’re in good shape. Make sure that the tire pressures are adjusted correctly for the weight you have in your RV.

The next step is to look carefully at the stock suspension that came with the RV.

Do you have any broken parts in the suspension? Are there excessively worn parts or equipment that needs attention?

If so, then make sure that you get those issues fixed first before you make any modifications to the RV’s suspension.

Now once you have your tires and suspension in really good shape, how does the RV handle?

If you still notice there are some ride and handling issues, then it’s time to think about motorhome suspension upgrades.

The Reason Why I Installed A Steering Stabilizer Bar

Now interestingly, about a year and a half ago I had a steering stabilizer bar installed on my motorhome.

It’s called the “Safe T Plus” steering stabilizer. That’s the name of the company that makes the stabilizer bar I had installed on my rig.

I had the Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer Bar installed at their facility
I had the Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer Bar installed at their facility

And the reason I had it installed on my diesel pusher motorhome was not for an improvement with ride and handling.

But actually, I installed it mainly for safety reasons rather than ride characteristics.

Because I’m very conscious about the possibility of a tire blowout on the front end of my motorhome.

And one of the suggestions for helping in that area is a steering stabilizer bar. So I got the Safe T Plus bar installed.

And I went to their facility in Tallapoosa, Georgia to get the job done by their professionals.

What I Learned At The Safe T Plus Facility

While there, I found out that they have a whole array of suspension upgrades that are available as well.

Safe T Plus has a whole array of motorhome suspension upgrades available
Safe T Plus has a whole array of motorhome suspension upgrades available

And many of them are especially for the Ford chassis problems that are so common.

So I talked to them quite a bit about it while I was there getting my stabilizer bar installed. And here is what I learned while I was there.

First of all, they’re always going to recommend a Safe T Plus bar installation for most RVers.

The Safe T Plus steering stabilizer bar
The Safe T Plus steering stabilizer bar

Because it really does help with RV steering and it’s a safety issue as well. So that’s a great place to start.

What Motorhome Suspension Upgrades Are Best?

But what if your coach is exhibiting “tail wag” and wandering around in the steering?

For that they recommend “radius rods” for the front. And a “trac bar” for the rear of the motorhome suspension.

Motorhome suspension upgrades - Radius rods for the front of your motorhome
Radius rods for the front of your motorhome
Trac bars for the rear of your motorhome
Trac bars for the rear of your motorhome

That combination will lock down the suspension going forward. And keep it moving in a straight line down the highway.

But what about those body roll issues? Where you’re rocking and rolling and leaning going around corners?

Well, the recommendation in that case is to consider installing “Sumo Springs” on your RV.

Sumo Springs for motorhome body roll
Sumo Springs for motorhome body roll

And Sumo Springs are very popular with a lot of Ford chassis owners out there. So they can make a big difference with RV body roll.

But also consider “sway bars” for your rig too. They will also help lock down the chassis suspension so it can’t move side to side too much.

Sway bars can help with body roll too
Sway bars can help with body roll too

Can You Really Improve Harsh Ride In Your Motorhome?

Now the final point I want to talk about is what about the harsh ride characteristics of the Ford chassis?

Well, I wish I had a whole lot better news for you on that particular issue.

But the truth is that with the Ford chassis, you’re only going to improve it so much.

And it may never get to the point where you have the same kind of ride that air suspension in a diesel pusher motorhome provides.

A Very Costly But Effective Upgrade To Consider

At least not without investing in a costly major suspension overhaul. Like the Liquid Spring aftermarket product.

I made a video about that suspension modification that really does seem to get the job done. And you can view the video on it here.

Click here to watch my video on Liquid Spring motorhome suspension upgrades
Click here to watch my video on Liquid Spring suspensions

But just bear in mind that it will be far more expensive than the modifications we are talking about in this article.

However, you can make the harsh ride of the Ford chassis better without going quite that far.

A More Economical Way To Improve Your Harsh Motorhome Ride

And the place to focus on more than any other is often the suspension’s shock absorbers.

So make sure you get a good set of shock absorbers on that chassis to improve the ride.

And what Safe T Plus recommended in that case is “Koni shock absorbers”.

Koni shock absorbers can help a lot with harsh motorhome ride
Koni shock absorbers can help a lot with harsh motorhome ride

In fact, when I talked to them about it I was very impressed with what they had to say.

So much so, that I went ahead and put Koni shocks on my diesel pusher as well. Especially since the shocks on it were kind of old.

And you know what? I was very pleased with the results of the changes they made. And I’m very happy with everything that they installed.

Now here’s one thing that I do want to mention after going through all of these suspension upgrades though.

A Very Important Piece Of Advice

They made sure to tell me to not to recommend throwing everything at your chassis or suspension all at once. That’s a big mistake!

In fact, sometimes you can actually make things worse when you do that.

So what they recommended is incremental changes to your suspension instead.

In other words, make some changes and see how it works out. And if something needs to be adjusted, you can do that afterward.

Then move on and make another change if you still need help with ride or handling.

So the final point I want to make here is don’t do too much at one time!

Instead, here’s what I recommend. If you have ride and handling problems or suspension issues, then give them a call first.

Tell them what your issues are and what what chassis you have with your RV. Then just discuss it with them for a while.

As you do, they can make recommendations to you for upgrades on your particular suspension. Upgrades that can make a real difference.

How To Get Your Motorhome Suspension Upgrades Installed

And then they can ship the parts right to you if you are very handy and good with tools.

In fact, they say that you might be able to install these parts yourself in that case.

But honestly, for most of us, we’re going to need to find a local repair shop to do the work instead.

One that’s familiar with RV suspensions. Then you can have them install the parts for you to be sure that the work is done right.

And very often truck repair facilities can work very well for that kind of installation.

But if you want to, you can do what I did and just go to the Safe T Plus factory.

You can get your motorhome suspension upgrades installed at the Safe T Plus factory
You can get your motorhome suspension upgrades installed at the Safe T Plus factory

There you can have them install the upgrades you need in Tallapoosa, Georgia. Then you know it’s done right the first time!

And you know what? I was very pleased with the work that they did for me on my motorhome suspension.

Now let me say that I am not affiliated with Safe T Plus or compensated by them in any way.

I am just a believer in the products they sell and the work they do.

Conclusion

OK, those are the suspension upgrades that I wanted to suggest for you in this article.

Now we all wish that that the Ford motorhome chassis had a lot better ride and handling than it does.

But wishing will not make it happen. However, you don’t have to travel in your motorhome these days feeling either unsafe or uncomfortable.

And the suspension upgrades I have covered in this article can help make sure of that.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

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