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RE: Hellwig Sway Bars on 2021 24-footer
I did the same on my 27 ft class C and was towing a car. To help even more I added the rear trac bar from Helwig.The two sway bars helped a LOT but that trac bar made the rig drive straight and true.
Track Bar? What is that?
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jnoflane2
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09/01/21 10:07pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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Hellwig Sway Bars on 2021 24-footer
About 6 months ago, my 30 year old son called me, telling the story of driving the "new to them", 31' Class C that they had just purchased, from the Dallas area to outside of Houston. They got a really good buy on a 'garage-kept', 20 year old with the Ford V10. Anyway, he said the camper was all over the road and really difficult to drive.
He did some research and decided to add heavy duty sway bars. Hellwig was the company he purchased from and once arriving, he installed and reported that it was a HUGE improvement, improving the driving so much that his wife enjoys driving the motorhome.
Fast forward to a week ago, when the wife and I drove a 2021 24' Golf Stream Conquest off the lot for the 100 mile drive home. While the driving experience wasn't horrible, I hated how the front end kept trying to find itself. It was 24 short hours before I punched in the credit card number for a set of Hellwigs myself. For my E350, it was about $700.... and after the first test drive, likely to be the best money I will ever spent on this Class C. Even on rough, ground-heave roads of western Colorado, the chasis is solid and firmly planted.
Check out.... how much thicker and heavier the Hellwig's are as opposed to Ford OEM ****.
By the way, I did the whole job myself. The front took about an hour and the rear took about 2 hours. They only way I did it myself was with the help of zip ties I could snip off after I attached the bolts. It would be really handy, if you tackle this job to have a second set of hands.
https://i.imgur.com/v5L8f0O.jpg width=640
https://i.imgur.com/P9qkagG.jpg width=640
https://i.imgur.com/Axl3Ng3.jpg width=640
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jnoflane2
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08/28/21 01:53pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: photo size
Thanks....
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jnoflane2
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08/27/21 08:52pm |
Forum Posting Help and Support
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RE: We've had 8 years and 68,000 trouble free miles...
One week ago we purchased a 2021 Gulf Stream Conquest 6237LE, also a 24 foot Class C and plan to have it for the next decade, maybe longer. Man do we love it! We plan to use it a lot, including a 26 mile drive to the closest Sam's Club for monthly grocery shopping. And if the wife wants to shop... In the Class C we will go. I'll nap in the parking lot with the genset and A/C blowing.
Like others we wanted something 24' or less for ease of driving and navigation of cities and National/State Parks.
We also have the Ford and LOVE the new 7.3L V8. If I drive it nice, we are getting between 12-14 mpg.
Right away, I invest in some better sway bars and it is a HUGE improvement in handling. We will be pulling a 14' Cargo Trailer a lot, with motorcycles, bicycles and kayaks.... so am pleased we have that big V8, to pull the high mountain passes in Colorado.
https://i.imgur.com/Axl3Ng3.jpg width=640
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jnoflane2
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08/27/21 04:30pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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photo size
How do I post a photo where it isn't so darn big?
https://i.imgur.com/Axl3Ng3.jpg width=960
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jnoflane2
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08/27/21 03:18pm |
Forum Posting Help and Support
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RE: Chevy V8 vs Ford V 10
I'm an owner of the new Ford 7.3L V8 Gasser. It is in a Gulf Stream Conquest 6237LE, a little 24' Class C. Ever since we started shopping for a Class C about a year ago, I was infatuated with the new Ford V8 and wouldn't even consider anything else. After having owned it for a week now, I can report with complete satisfaction..... that engine is incredible. Zero to 60, it is nearly as fast as our FJ Cruiser and the mpg on the first 100 miles was an incredible 13.6.
Over Labor Day weekend, we will be pulling a 14' cargo trailer with motorcycles and kayaks in mountainous Colorado and I have no doubt it will do it with little effort.
https://i.imgur.com/sqdrUoG.jpg width=640
https://i.imgur.com/Axl3Ng3.jpg width=640
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jnoflane2
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08/27/21 03:11pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Specifications for the OPs TT
I am not a hater.
I do like to deal with facts though.
I am going to get some popcorn now.:B
Yep... as I said, 450lbs on my hitch.
I actually pay attention to load leveling, especially with a single axle trailer.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 06:28pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Direct TV revisited
I have Direct TV in the house and we get tons of SD channels.
We purchased the $100 dish on a tripod, and simply take the tuner from the house when we camp and everything has worked great.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 05:16pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Did you get rid of the squishey P tires?
Sorry I did not research.
Yeah, I am sure the haterz will come out of the woodwork on this topic as well.
I am running....
275/65R20's with a 127 weight rating, 10 ply.
When not towing, a full contact patch is achieved at 37psi and the tires ride great. When towing I up the psi to 65 and they do great.
The awesome thing about these tires... I have 43,000 miles on them and not a single flat. I tow this trailer WAY in the backcountry, usually having to engage 4x4 to get to some of the places I enjoy. Tires have been great.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:52pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Overloaded. Need a bigger truck to be safe and within numbers. No hate
Overloaded. Need a bigger truck to be safe and within numbers. No hate
NOPE.... not overloaded.
Trailer on the hitch is 450lbs, two bikes are 650lbs.
That totals 1,100lbs. I'm actually under.
I didn't see where you upgraded the parts that actually do the work, the axle shafts and bearings. Sorry but I cannot understand how adding more weight to the vehicle can increase the payload. All you are doing is compensating for the overload. Not any safer at all! I don't think the parts that actually do the work are overloaded. Just the soft springs. That's the case for my similar setup anyhow.
Yeah, the boys above don't understand, but you clearly do. The OEM Ram springs are weak and compress easily with even 1000 lbs in the bed.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:48pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Question, since you’ve now used 2 different types of the inside the springs airbags.
How much actual load capacity do you think they provide?
Aka, were the old ones pumped up in the first pic?
I’ve now got a coil spring Ram 2500. Brodozer lookin thing. Don’t really need more suspension capacity for most of what I do but it’s got a 6”/4” lift. The rear coils are OE sitting on 4” spacers and truck is leveled. Being rather cushy for a 2500 it also gets a little Carolina squat just hooking my enclosed trailer. Handles great but looks ghey.
Don’t really want the expense of adding real bags and spacers for what little extra support I need. And these bags may be the ticket if they increase the initial spring rate enough
The first set of bags were the basic 1000lb'ers from Air Lift and they made a HUGE, positive difference on my little 1500, but it still wasn't enough. This second set of airbags are the Air Lift 1000HD's, that supposedly provide additional carrying weight by 2,500lbs. Both air bags are the exact same size and the material looks the same, as well as the thickness, so I don't really know what they have done to make the HD so much stronger.
I really can't answer your question, cause I haven't towed the trailer with a full load yet.
I do think it was important for me to add the HD Progressive springs, as I am not confident that only air bags would have given me the firm foundation I was seeking.
I do think a set of 1000HD's on your truck would definitely eliminate the squat. It did on mine.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:41pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Jnoflane2, nice work! I’m sure will be a Uuuuge improvement!
PS, don’t mind the haterz...
Interested to hear your take after loading it up on a trip.
Cheers!
I also can't wait to load it up to max GVWR, with two bikes in the bed and see how she does.
Yeah... I have way too many years towing and experience to pay attention to the haterz. I know what I need and doing my setup the way I want it.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:35pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
I didn't see where you upgraded the parts that actually do the work, the axle shafts and bearings. Sorry but I cannot understand how adding more weight to the vehicle can increase the payload. All you are doing is compensating for the overload. Not any safer at all!
I've already said I'm not going to overload the truck.
At lunch today, I picked up the TT out of storage to bring to the house to install heater pads on all three of my tanks, so that we can use the camper for a ski cabin. (It is now a true four season camper.)
Anyway, pulling the camper the 10 miles home was a dream. The truck and the stability and the ride are way, way better.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:33pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
I am NOT buying a 3/4 or 1 ton that rides rough when empty.
No comment on what you did, but wanted to address this... Have you driven a modern 3/4 or 1 ton truck? My coil spring 2500 rides very smooth when empty and tires aired down to 65ish. One of the guys that we camp with has a newish Ford F350 dually that rides smooth as glass... it was almost unbelievable how compliant the ride was.
20 years ago there was a huge disparity in ride comfort. You'd be hard pressed to tell a significant difference in ride comfort with modern trucks.
Back to your topic though...
Yeah, I traded in a 2 year old, 2012 Ram 2500 for this 1500, because the rough ride..... My old man worked on cattle ranches until the day he died and all the cowboys wanted one ton trucks... Pop would never drive anything over than a 1/2 ton. Being over 50 now... I understand.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:29pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
The thing that jumped out at me was all the ice on the ground! It takes a determined man to work on his truck when it is that cold.
Your solution looks great to me. I hope that you are happy with it. You might want to upgrade the shocks at some point to help handle the heavier loads.
Yeah, yesterday and today were the first days since early December we have had temps above 50 degrees and I took advantage of it.
Yeah, I thought about new shocks. I have Billsteins on the front. Wonder if I should spend the dough on those for the back, or is there a more cost conscious solution?
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 04:26pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Yeah... nearly all other forums I frequent, auto size pics.... this forum should start doing the same.
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 07:31am |
Tow Vehicles
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Ram 1500 at Load Maximum Woes
Everyone knows that the Ram 1500 has very low GVWR. Well I would go a step further after towing with it for four years, when close to the maximum, it is under-sprung and sometimes dangerous.
I did end up adding air bags, but simply wanted a more stable platform, and I am NOT buying a 3/4 or 1 ton that rides rough when empty. I should also say that I have no intentions to exceed the maximum allowed by Ram.... I just want more firmness and stability.
So...... I added HD Progressive Springs and the Air Lift 1000HD.
Here is what our rig normally looks like when leaving for a camping trip.
https://i.imgur.com/gYlJyAB.jpg
Here are the pics of what I did.......
The pic of the truck is a little dark and hard to see, but the Billstein's up front raise the truck 1.8" and the TTC-1223VT Springs raise the rear 2". Those are 34's on those 20" rims.
Can't wait to hit the road on our next camping trip. Since I have added the necessary bits and pieces to our camper to make it "Four Seasons", we will take it up to the mountains a couple of times in February and March, as a base camp for a long weekend of skiing.
https://i.imgur.com/plTeuXn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bLO3pa8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/YpCmuUv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oOnBRba.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AUZ25qt.jpg
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jnoflane2
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02/03/21 07:11am |
Tow Vehicles
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