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torsilastic suspension

December 23, 2013, 01:23:30 am

Time to replace my Torsilastic suspension springs on my 92 unihome.  Has anyone successfully replaced theirs with air bags?

Is anyone familiar with a company in Texas, Sulastic Rubber Springs (Sulastic), that sells new torsilastic springs imported from Mexico?

Appreciate any information anyone can offer.  Thanks.

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Re: torsilastic suspension

Reply #1 – December 23, 2013, 08:50:03 am

I am not aware of anyone who has installed Sulastic replacement springs. Certainly worth a call to them to ask for references.

Let me know if they have customers who either have a Foretravel OR a Safari that has used their springs.

Assume you have checked with Pioneer Metals to see if they have any springs left in your size.

And, I know Pioneer Metals has an air over torsilastic for the Safari coaches-- I have seen the installation and it is a good one.

But, we are still waiting for someone with a torsalistic Foretravel to go by their shop in Washington state to see if the kit will work on the Foretravel or would need different brackets for the upper air bag attachment.

Assume this is for the rear only and that you are out of adjustment shims and ride height is still too low.

Brett

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Re: torsilastic suspension

Reply #2 – December 23, 2013, 11:15:31 am

Wolfe, I did call a while back when working on Geoff and Pats U240 for possible Bag install but never really heard back from Pioneer on it. Now that we have a 95 with only 2 shims left in rear I will call again and may take a trip down in summer to see if they can do it. I gather all of the Torsilastic systems are the same no matter what year-correct?
John H

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Re: torsilastic suspension

Reply #3 – December 23, 2013, 11:30:29 am

I have spoken to Pioneer Metals about their air add on system for the safari torsilastic suspension.  They are not sure if it matches with a Foretravel, but would probably be able to make adjustments.  The just build the system.  They suggest a suspension shop in Washington or Hendersons Line Up in Oregon to do the install.

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Re: torsilastic suspension

Reply #4 – December 23, 2013, 11:32:09 am

I think I'm only 35 miles from the Pioneer Metals shop in Quincy, WA but I've had some issues getting away from here with my U225. My fall workload increased tremendously which meant that getting away with the RV was not in the cards. I had assumed that they'd need a couple of days to measure things and with temps down into the single digits I'm not comfortable with leaving the rig somewhere without 50A (we use the motor home in the winter so keep heat on it all season long).

As soon as I can get a couple of days without freezing weather I'll shuttle over there and see if their airbags will fit. I like the idea even thought our torsilastic suspension seems to be in good working order at the present time.

I know that the airbag systems on the higher-end FTs is pretty good but, frankly, I don't see how it could be much better than the torsilastic system in good working order. We continually find things we've left on counters after a long, bumpy, trip and they're always in the same place. Kids sleep just fine back in the rear bedroom while we're underway, too. Our son said that the only thing that woke him up from a 7-hour sleep cycle back there during a long cross-state trip (he works 'til 5am) were sudden stops and the really bad bumps.

However it is on my do-list to get over there with the rig. Honest.

Craig

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Re: torsilastic suspension

Reply #5 – December 23, 2013, 01:36:56 pm

Craig,

I wouldn't think it would take over an hour or so-- pull out the bracket/kit for the Safari and see if it aligns with the frame rail above the Foretravel torsilastic beam.  If not, measure the off-set needed to center the bag over the torsilastic bream.  The beams ARE exactly the same, so the bottom part should fit.

John,

If your ride height is below 32", you might remove the remaining two shims to keep driveline in alignment, shocks centered, etc.

Brett

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