Question on after market suspension products.

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

I don't know that I ever found a really good side-by-side comparison back when I was looking. I saw the 2 products, determined that they essentially did the same thing, wasn't sure that it would help, so opted for the cheaper one.

Had I been sure of the benefits (of which I am sure now), I may still have chosen the Reflex, again based on price. I also looked at the S-T as perhaps being more beneficial on a larger rig like a Class A. I remember thinking I didn't need "that much" on my Class C? I dunno, it's been a while since I went through all that...

Yeah, I have to agree with you on that one. The reflex is the first thing I had installed on my C, but the only improvement I notice is the wheel doesn’t jump out of my hands as much on Ruddy roads. I really don’t think it did much for the sway to be honest. My track bar took care of the sway for sure!

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

Yeah, I have to agree with you on that one. The reflex is the first thing I had installed on my C, but the only improvement I notice is the wheel doesn’t jump out of my hands as much on Ruddy roads. I really don’t think it did much for the sway to be honest. My track bar took care of the sway for sure!

Oh yeah, for sure the Reflex didn't fix sway. And I never anticipated that to be the case. The Reflex was strictly for steering control. The Ford OEM damper they put in is another waste of steel (like the OEM sway bar).

The upgraded sway bar and Sumos I put in up front had an immediate and dramatic affect on body roll. No more lurching all over the place on a turn with a grade change (like a driveway or the end of my street). Of course, this translates to better road manners as well.

And all that is why I'm now turning my focus to some kind of extra suspension support in the rear and perhaps a Trac bar as well. I've calmed the front end down, and now it's time to get the rear under control.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

Yeah, I have to agree with you on that one. The reflex is the first thing I had installed on my C, but the only improvement I notice is the wheel doesn’t jump out of my hands as much on Ruddy roads. I really don’t think it did much for the sway to be honest. My track bar took care of the sway for sure!

I don't think the Reflex is designed for the sway, it's for exactly what you experienced, to calm down the steering and jerking.

The Hellwig sway bars help the sway... imagine that...

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

I don't think the Reflex is designed for the sway, it's for exactly what you experienced, to calm down the steering and jerking.

The Hellwig sway bars help the sway... imagine that...

I did the front sway bar, not the rear yet.But the rear air bags and the track bar really made it handle and ride nice. I found 70psi in the bags is perfect! I can’t understand why some say the steering damper alone solved their sway issue!

[Johnynorthland]

[QUOTE=Camper_bob;902316]Oh yeah, for sure the Reflex didn't fix sway. And I never anticipated that to be the case. The Reflex was strictly for steering control. The Ford OEM damper they put in is another waste of steel (like the OEM sway bar).

The upgraded sway bar and Sumos I put in up front had an immediate and dramatic affect on body roll. No more lurching all over the place on a turn with a grade change (like a driveway or the end of my street). Of course, this translates to better road manners as well.

And all that is why I'm now turning my focus to some kind of extra suspension support in the rear and perhaps a Trac bar as well. I've calmed the front end down, and now it's time to get the rear under control.[/QUOT

Camper Bob, does the front sumos equate to a harder ride in the front? I’ve read some people couldn’t stand the harshness and Immediately remove them. I could actually see that being an issue with the front lower control arms traveling up and compressing the sumo springs to the point where it feels like you’re bottoming out. That’s what I’ve been a little leery of putting them in. if I could install front airbags I would, but my front lower control arms on my 2019 do not have openings at the bottom of the spring seats to allow for the Schrader valve connections to stick out for the air inlet.

[Camper_bob]

[QUOTE=Johnynorthland;902346]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Oh yeah, for sure the Reflex didn't fix sway. And I never anticipated that to be the case. The Reflex was strictly for steering control. The Ford OEM damper they put in is another waste of steel (like the OEM sway bar).

The upgraded sway bar and Sumos I put in up front had an immediate and dramatic affect on body roll. No more lurching all over the place on a turn with a grade change (like a driveway or the end of my street). Of course, this translates to better road manners as well.

And all that is why I'm now turning my focus to some kind of extra suspension support in the rear and perhaps a Trac bar as well. I've calmed the front end down, and now it's time to get the rear under control.[/QUOT

Camper Bob, does the front sumos equate to a harder ride in the front? I’ve read some people couldn’t stand the harshness and Immediately remove them. I could actually see that being an issue with the front lower control arms traveling up and compressing the sumo springs to the point where it feels like you’re bottoming out. That’s what I’ve been a little leery of putting them in. if I could install front airbags I would, but my front lower control arms on my 2019 do not have openings at the bottom of the spring seats to allow for the Schrader valve connections to stick out for the air inlet.

If the ride is "harsher", I don't notice it. The SUMOs are "progressive" in nature, so it's not like you're putting a hard piece of rubber in there.

I understand the criticism by some that the ride can be harsh, but I don't see it being as bad as some reviewers made it out to be. It's not like the SUMOS are always compressed to their max. If that were the case, you either put the wrong ones in (too long or too hard), or you need new springs because your front suspension is worn out.

They're basically just longer bump stops; instead of the suspension traveling in open air up until it hits the OEM hard rubber bump stops and bottoms out, you have a more progressive movement cushioning the suspension for its entire travel. So if all else is equal, and you're bottoming out your suspension, you're going to get more of a cushion as the SUMO compresses instead of a thud when you hit the hard OEM bump stops.

[Vince Mack]

I have a 2017 GreyHawk 31DS and am planning on installing all three of these suspension units myself with the help of a friend and repeated viewings of YouTube videos on just how to do it....Proper safety gear and jack stands are essential but TOTALLY doable, even for me, Im 75....

[yatahay]

I have a 2000 jayco eagle 25' and just got back from montana. white knukles went blue. crosswinds of 40 plus plus class a passing. i have a rear sway bar that helped somewhat a few years ago. But this trip was extreme. So more to the rig. I have a oem front sway bar that is 1". I see that new sway bar is at 1 3/8. Is the 3/8" going to do much for me? Also I was going to install the Reflex Steering Stabilizer. Don't know if that would help? Lookin for opinions
Thanks

[2naEagle]

Originally Posted by yatahay

I have a 2000 jayco eagle 25' and just got back from montana. white knukles went blue. crosswinds of 40 plus plus class a passing. i have a rear sway bar that helped somewhat a few years ago. But this trip was extreme. So more to the rig. I have a oem front sway bar that is 1". I see that new sway bar is at 1 3/8. Is the 3/8" going to do much for me? Also I was going to install the Reflex Steering Stabilizer. Don't know if that would help? Lookin for opinions
Thanks

Just my opinion. Yes 3/8" does make a great difference. You will very happy with the Reflex.
Is your rear sway bar stock or aftermarket? If stock change it also.

[yatahay]

The rear sway bar is a blue ox th7085

[Johnynorthland]

Originally Posted by yatahay

I have a 2000 jayco eagle 25' and just got back from montana. white knukles went blue. crosswinds of 40 plus plus class a passing. i have a rear sway bar that helped somewhat a few years ago. But this trip was extreme. So more to the rig. I have a oem front sway bar that is 1". I see that new sway bar is at 1 3/8. Is the 3/8" going to do much for me? Also I was going to install the Reflex Steering Stabilizer. Don't know if that would help? Lookin for opinions
Thanks

Track bar, track bar track bar! You would think I have stock in it! LOL can’t stress enough that everything else you mentioned is going to help but the track bar By far you will notice immediately!

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

For us "older" guys, that crawling under the rig, specially in the rear, ain't all that much fun.. . I do it, because I like a challenge..

For me, getting down and under isn't the issue.
It's getting back out and upright.

[Atlee]

For me, unfortunately, it's both. Knees don't work well trying to get down, nor trying to get up.

Originally Posted by pconroy

For me, getting down and under isn't the issue.
It's getting back out and upright.

[Jim_in_WA]

After reading through the entire review went ahead and pulled the trigger through etrailer.com. Our 30XP comes with the JayRide Plus system so going to start with the steering and see how that works. Like to see folks with Prestige models provide opinions and mods they did to their rigs for better handling.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Jim_in_WA

After reading through the entire review went ahead and pulled the trigger through etrailer.com. Our 30XP comes with the JayRide Plus system so going to start with the steering and see how that works. Like to see folks with Prestige models provide opinions and mods they did to their rigs for better handling.

Good call.

There's not going to be a lot of difference (if any) between the chassis or the modifications thereto on the Prestige and the Greyhawk. The J-Ride Plus package is the same, the chassis are the same, the Prestige just has different options on the "camper" part of the mix.

So I would say that any improvements will translate equally between these two models.

The biggest difference is going to be whether the chassis is the "old" V-10 motor, or the "new" V-8 motor. From what I understand, there were some chassis modifications in that transition too. Length seems to be a factor as well.

But for virtually any E-450 chassis with the 6.8L V-10, it doesn't really matter what "box" is on top of that chassis, the suspension and handling modifications will have the same effect within length classes.