Ride quality 36

Topic: Ride quality 36 (Read 1688 times) previous topic - next topic

Ride quality 36

June 28, 2013, 08:58:54 pm

Hello all,

We are looking to upgrade to a diesel coach. My research indicates that a FT may be the way to go. We have a 30 gas sob now and it is negatively effected by tractor trailers passing etc. I have found as part of my research that folks in general think the longer 40ft coaches ride better than the shorter ones. In our case it's just the wife and I and I wonder if the 36 FT rides better than others given the better suspension? Looking forward to your input. Chris

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #1 – June 28, 2013, 09:35:13 pm

It rides very well. I put 100K miles on mine. I also had a 34 foot. You will feel the truck come up beside you but you will not get buffeted. Now in my 42 footer I do not move at all. It is not just the length but the tag axle. you will not move at all in a 38 foot with a tag either.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #2 – June 28, 2013, 10:05:03 pm

My prior gas coaches.... a 36' Monaco rear gas pusher, and a 26' Challenger were horrible in the wind as I am extremely sensitive to balance. Both my 36' Foretravels, the old 1990 U280 and the current 2002 U270, each with the outboard 8 airbag system, eliminate all of my wind concerns. They are a dream to handle, comparatively.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #3 – June 28, 2013, 10:24:03 pm

Hi;

I purchased a 36' U270 this last Dec. Have since put roughly 5000 miles on it. All I can say is WOW. Depending on the truck that is passing me I seldom ever feel them go past. My previous coach (SOB) I felt like I was being blown off the road. When going off those curved highway ramps I would catch myself leaning in the opposite direction to keep the coach from falling on its side LOL. Going form the SOB to a FT is in my mind going from a Model T to a Cadillac. The FT is a joy to drive.

Norm

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #4 – June 28, 2013, 10:32:50 pm

Agree on the outboard air bags make for a very stable handling coach and with the new FSD shocks, there is no issue with trucks coming or going, and having had high winds in S.D., the stability was amazing. My 36' is a 2001 320 I have had it over 5 years and 50,000 miles. There is no other choice for me.
Dave M

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #5 – June 28, 2013, 10:48:37 pm

I have a 1992 36' U240 with the torsilastic suspension that I just upgraded to the 19,000# rear axle version. Going through Wyoming (you know--the place where if the wind stopped blowing all of the citizens would fall over) with a 40-50 wind from the west on I-25 going north from Cheyenne I had the wheel turned somewhat into the wind and was very comfortable going down the road at 60. I am not sure I could do that in anything else, and I have about 500,000 in 18-wheelers. Trucks passing are a non-event.

Would never consider owning anything other than an FT but cannot comment on the air bag versions. My suspension is rock solid. As far as length, the only advantage my DW and I would like would be a larger bath. Otherwise the 36' is great in all respects.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #6 – June 28, 2013, 11:00:53 pm

"I just upgraded to the 19,000# rear axle version" can you tell me a little about what was involved?
Thank you?

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #7 – June 28, 2013, 11:06:28 pm

We have two years in on our 36' FT. Ride is great, driving quite pleasant and better than anything we have had in the past. A 38' or longer with a tag axle might have more lateral stability, I haven't driven one. We are just the two of us as well. With a slide we have plenty of room for the two of us. We are not full-timers and seem to have plenty of storage room. An extra bay in a longer coach would be nice if we were traveling for much longer trips.

Chris, we spent a long time researching coaches and then Foretravels in particular and then a range of years that fit the budget. We found what we wanted and have been happy with our choice as I am sure you will be.

Roger and Susan

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #8 – June 29, 2013, 11:12:37 am

I think you will be pleased with a 36' Foretravel. In general, the longer the wheelbase the better the ride, and so a 40' should provide an even better ride. However, with the quality of the Foretravel suspension design, I don't think a 36' would disappoint you.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #9 – June 29, 2013, 11:19:48 am

That's exactly what I hoped for in comments. After a lot of review I really am impressed by the Ft quality. We can now enter the next level of Ft MH search. Very excited. Thanks to all of you! Chris

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #10 – June 29, 2013, 11:50:29 am

Chris, even my 34' "shorty" is a great ride compared to most SOB's. Given that wind gusts will have some impact even on the 45' coaches. I've seen stories of semi's blown away by large wind gusts on I-95 when we lived in Florida. When it's that windy...advisable to stay put and wait it out.
(edit)...Forgot...the best part of the air ride is the great feel down the road even with large roadway expansion joints. This is when using the correct air pressure on the tires pays off. If you are the type that uses sidewall max pressure...well...not so much.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #11 – June 29, 2013, 12:18:06 pm

Quote from: propman – June 28, 2013, 11:00:53 pm

"I just upgraded to the 19,000# rear axle version" can you tell me a little about what was involved?
Thank you?

I'd like to know this too. I was going to PM in order to not derail the thread, but now that another person is asking it seems like it might be nice to have the information in the main forum. I don't know how to split these posts off into a separate thread though.

At any rate, when I was considering a U-240, I looked into the upgraded (19,000#) Torsilastic suspension because I tow a trailer. I followed the trail I found here (as I understood it the remaining parts were bought by X person when they went out of business, then he sold to Y, who sold to Z, etc.) and ended up at the highly regarded Brazel's RV suspension shop in Washington who was the "Z" who had ended up with the remaining inventory of NIB Torsilastic parts . They told me they had sold out of the 19,000# "springs" (or whatever they are called, I forget). So that was a bit of a dead end. I was thinking that surely there must be some available used, since they had been used on Safaris, buses, etc., but wasn't sure how interchangeable they might be with a FT, and before I had a chance to delve into it, the prospect U-240 sold, so I (at least for now) stopped researching and decided to concentrate on U-280 or Unicoach.

Still, it would be nice to know whether/if/how the beefed up Torsilastic parts were available, for future reference and other FT folks.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #12 – June 29, 2013, 12:39:23 pm

You're doing the right thing now, Alex!!!!

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #13 – June 29, 2013, 01:09:49 pm

Our first DP coach was a 37' 1997 coach on a Freightliner XC chassis. It had four inboard air springs, drum brakes, exhaust brake, Cummins engine, and Allison transmission. The Freightliner XC chassis is a very popular chassis that is used in many motorhomes. We put about 12,000 miles on the coach during the eight months that we owned it. We installed Koni FS shock absorbers (dampers), Henderson Motion Control Valves, and Henderson Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer. The improvement in handling was significant. However ... the ride and handling of the 36' Foretravel of the same year is far superior.

On the Foretravel, we have installed Koni FSD shock absorbers and had the front end aligned. We recently had the alignment done again by the same person, but with more experience and input on our part. This alignment included some repairs and adjustments to the travel height system. We also added Centramatic wheel balancers. I was pleased with the changes during our brief 180 mile trip home.

We have also traveled I-25 north of Cheyenne, WY. The wind BLOWS there. We have driven into Billings, MT, in winds of 40-60 mph. Fortunately, it was predominately a head wind. I don't recommend driving in winds like that, but the Foretravel will handle it.

We have also driven in construction zones near Waco, TX, with Marilyn at the wheel. I looked at the trucks on either side of us in the relatively narrow lanes, and was pleased with my driver and coach. Mirrors within a couple of feet of each other at 60 mph can provide enough excitement in stable vehicles. I don't want to be there in anything less stable than a FT.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #14 – July 01, 2013, 06:59:12 pm

We roadtested our '89 u280 on a section of straight road that was wavy and bouncy. No rutted or potholed, but the kind of road surface that would have our old 27' p30 chassis RV bounding all over it, with constant babysitting needed at the steering wheel. The Foretravel on the other hand... 75MPH down this stuff and it just took it all in stride. No drama at all. These rigs have astonishing road manners. Go roadtest one, I think you'll be impressed.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #15 – July 01, 2013, 09:04:37 pm

Torsilastic Upgrade

I upgraded on the advice of Brett Wolfe because my old suspension had simply run out of shims to pull to get the correct ride height (32 1/2"). NOTE: Pulling shims raises the ride height.

On Brett's advice I got the suspension and parts from Pioneer Metal in Washington state Pioneer Metal Works (will have to look up the exact address if anyone wants it). I don't know how many they have left but have the impression of less than 24.

The installation was basically straight-forward. A heavy truck shop dropped the old out and installed the new. The issue became the number of shims they had to put in to get the ride height close to the desired, ten on one side, seven on the other and were still 1 1/4" too high. However, I pull a car hauler with a Jeep Cherokee and towing gear plus spare fuel so when I was all hooked up and ready to go down the road Brett measured the ride height and it was exactly 32 1/2".

The coach is now very stable (also replaced all of the sway-bar bushings) and I would not trade the ride for anything I have ever driven. More important, the DW loves the new ride.

If you have any further questions just shoot me a PM as I am up to my ears in the alligators and am not always looking at the current postings.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #16 – July 01, 2013, 10:13:45 pm

Quote from: J. D. Stevens – June 29, 2013, 01:09:49 pm

. We also added Centramatic wheel balancers. I was pleased with the changes during our brief 180 mile trip home.

I'm curious about these balancers. Do they have some other dynamic effect other than correcting out of balance tires? Wouldn't a good spin balance do the same thing?

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #17 – July 01, 2013, 10:20:59 pm

arwilson: Thanks for recapping your suspension upgrade - much appreciated.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #18 – July 01, 2013, 10:49:27 pm

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – July 01, 2013, 10:13:45 pm

I'm curious about these balancers. Do they have some other dynamic effect other than correcting out of balance tires? Wouldn't a good spin balance do the same thing?

[DISCLAIMER] Results, preferences, and opinions will vary! [/DISCLAIMER]

I figured the Centramatic balancers might help and probably wouldn't hurt anything.

A good spin balance might do the same thing. I expect spin balance would correct for the conditions on the balancing machine at the time of balance. A spin balance would not deal with changes due to wear, variations due to pressure and temperature changes, other components turning with the wheel, etc.

The balancers may be snake oil or a great improvement. I polled a few people who have provided information on various issues that I thought was thoughtful and reliable. Several thought the balancers smoothed the ride and contributed to even tire wear. They based their opinions on their experience or the experience of someone they know. I was favorably impressed by a video of a balancer at work on a severely unbalanced wheel. I've heard claims of other benefits from dynamic effects, but the benefit I expect is a smoother ride on good roads.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #19 – July 02, 2013, 08:39:50 am

Thanks for the explanation J.D.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #20 – July 02, 2013, 04:00:16 pm

Our coach has the Centramatic balancers, which were installed by the prior owner. I've never driven one without them, so I have no frame of reference - other than to say that the coach rides so smoothly I sometimes can't believe it myself. When we installed new Michelins last year we had them spin balanced as well, but the coach rode great on the old tires before.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #21 – July 02, 2013, 04:22:12 pm

My coach has Centramatic balancers on the rear and new rear tires were installed without balancing. The front tires were spin balanced. It rides very smooth.

I had Equal balancing powder in all six tires on my previous coach. It became so smooth that I wondered if the wheels were rolling. That is the good. The bad happened after hitting a pot hole in the road (ie California I5). The steering wheel would shake violently for a few revolutions, then get smoother and smoother until the next pot hole. I have never felt shaking from the rear tires of my Foretravel, even though the rear tires were not balanced.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #22 – July 02, 2013, 05:59:00 pm

"Centramatic balancers " I understand that for back 4 tires one installed on each side between the two tires. Take out outside duly tire install centramatic balancer install outside tire back on.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #23 – July 02, 2013, 06:34:30 pm

Quote from: propman – July 02, 2013, 05:59:00 pm

"Centramatic balancers " I understand that for back 4 tires one installed on each side between the two tires. Take out outside duly tire install centramatic balancer install outside tire back on.

Yup! There are a couple of holes in the device that provide plenty of clearance for valve stems.

Re: Ride quality 36

Reply #24 – July 02, 2013, 07:07:24 pm

I have had Centramatic's for half of the 10 years I have owned the coach. The first five years were OK no real problems and handling was so good compared with some others that I did not worry about it. Got the Centramatics and noticed only a slight improvement, nothing earth shaking but over the last five years have had no tire problems or anything else. I did have a situation where I ran over a piece of steel, at the time I found no damage but 1500 miles later I found a chunk about the size of my hand missing from the inside of the RF tire. The balancers took care of the imbalance and I never noticed it. Would routinely have Centramatics on any coach I owned.
Gary B

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