sjn7708
illinois
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Joined: 05/02/2010
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i have a 32 foot forest river and am thinking about adding helper springs for better suppport of the overhang behind the rear axle. will they stiffen the ride significantly? i searched the forum but could not find information on the class c specifically. Already has rear sway bar and Bilsteins. Thanks.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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sjn7708 wrote:i have a 32 foot forest river and am thinking about adding helper springs for better suppport of the overhang behind the rear axle. will they stiffen the ride significantly? i searched the forum but could not find information on the class c specifically. Already has rear sway bar and Bilsteins. Thanks.
I have had them added to our 32' Class A but have not driven it yet because the shop is waiting for warmer weather to put on the new parking brake cable that I had to get a shop to make.
They had better stiffen up the rear a bit but mainly we did it for a ride height adjustment. Hopefully I will get it back soon but see some 65F days forecast a couple weeks down the road at least.
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tpt. man
colorado
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Joined: 11/23/2011
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Have you thought about external air ride support? Less money and will do the same as the springs
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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We did but having just ditched the dead front air bags that failed due to age and were replaced with the air bag elimating Super Steer coil springs I did not want to add air bags on the rear. We lost a new $300 front tire and damage to the other one because I missed the air bag problem. I aired them up but a leak had developed and I did not hear it. Need cab gauge if air bag usage is required I learned the hard way.
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deltamaster
Middletown, New york
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Joined: 04/23/2004
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I do not know about helper springs but I had a shop add a couple leafs to the rear spring sets. Between that and the Michelin XPS ribs it really stiffened things up and I have virtually no more side-to-side sway.
 I ride it like I stole it! 
.......and I just may have.......
I'm on "CB-13", are you?
2004 Fun Mover -- 2002 Sportster -- 1997 Road King
All being pushed down the road by a 1997 "Ram Tough" Dodge Dakota
TSgt(Ret.) USAF
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oldtrucker63
Harlan Kentucky
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Joined: 12/10/2009
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tpt. man wrote:Have you thought about external air ride support? Less money and will do the same as the springs I would think the air bags is better than the steel springs.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's
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oldtrucker63
Harlan Kentucky
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Joined: 12/10/2009
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Gale Hawkins wrote:We did but having just ditched the dead front air bags that failed due to age and were replaced with the air bag elimating Super Steer coil springs I did not want to add air bags on the rear. We lost a new $300 front tire and damage to the other one because I missed the air bag problem. I aired them up but a leak had developed and I did not hear it. Need cab gauge if air bag usage is required I learned the hard way. Yes anytime Air bags in used The cab gauges is a must.
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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I like the permanent approach of spring leaves. Did that on our first coach with 1983 E350 chassis, but it was actually sagging in the rear when we bought it. We used a very basic approach with generic "repair leaves" which are bought by width, length and thickness then drilled and cut to fit where they need to go. It worked very well BUT we ended up with the coach a little rear-high. Could have been because the front coils were sagged a little, but in an RV that means you don't sit level on a level site. We always had to use an extra leveling two-by in the front. Small price to pay, but thought I'd mention it.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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Just IMO, but I like the adjustablity of rear air bags. I've got 5,000 lb Air Lifts on my Tiger (a C, but truck camper-sized). With an onboard compressor and dash controls, I can change the rear ride height a couple of inches, and it really rides smoother sitting just off the short thick bottom leaf. They may require better shocks, tho', since air has no self-damping characteristics unlike steel.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory') www.tigervehicles.com
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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Firestone air bag system works very well. Much better than than the air bags inside the coil springs. You can have them installed so you can control them from the cab. I had them on my one class A and they are on this class C.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008 Type C
Ford Flex SEL 2010
There is no B+
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