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05-23-2016, 06:25 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Spring Valley OH
Posts: 833
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OK. Here's the other side of the story. I did the CHF on my 2015 GT 364. As soon as I did, I got a clunk from the suspension in turns. Took it to a big-rig alignment shop. He undid the CHF and said he has undone them on GTs quite a few times for the same reason. Turns out, the front anti-sway bar end was hitting the frame in turns. Instead, I went with the Roadmaster heavy duty front and rear anti-sway bars, a TruTrac rear track bar and a steering stabilizer. All this has given me modest improvement. I just purchased Sumos, but haven't had a chance to put them on. I hear good things about them and am really looking forward to the end of constant, small steering inputs. Also, I finally took the leap and bought the 5-Star Tune engine chip. I got a small but noticeable power increase, along with a definite improvement in shifting as it brings 4th gear back into play (5-speed was programmed by Ford to skip 4th gear during downshifts, which resulted in the screaming 5,000 rpm excursions.) Freeway entrance and small to medium hills are now quite and I lose a lot less speed.
__________________
2018 Berkshire 38A
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05-23-2016, 10:58 PM
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#23
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 49
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Cheap Handling Fix - Any Regrets?
I installed front Sumo springs this past weekend on my 2014 351. I noticed a big difference just stepping into the coach - almost no rocking with the jacks up. Took it for a short drive and even pulling out of the drive way it didn't lean as much turning out.
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05-23-2016, 11:00 PM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 49
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05-24-2016, 09:54 PM
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#25
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Steelhorzz
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 235
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I added the Sumo Springs, (front and rear), and a steering stabilizer on my 2012 Georgetown 360, after my first trip!! NOT a CHF, but well worth it!!! MUCH better handling in windy weather, and cornering! Not sure why this isn't an option when you order it from the factory??!! I think I'll go back and try adjusting the swY bars. I'm getting my alignment next month before I head out. I'm at 22,000 miles now.
__________________
2012 Georgetown 360DS Fire Mist
2007 PT Cruiser Auto-stick (4 wheel tow)
Remco Trans Pump /Super Springs Sumo Springs
Blue Ox Tow System / U.S. Gear Unified Tow Brake
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05-25-2016, 06:51 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 153
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Thanks again for all of the great input regarding the CHF. I called Ford yesterday and they confirmed that the additional holes in the sway bars are there specifically for adjustment purposes.
I hope everyone has a great summer camping!
__________________
Thanks,
rkulbok
(Ron & Karin)
2015 Georgetown 328TS
Full time since October 2015
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05-25-2016, 08:32 AM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northeast Alabama
Posts: 227
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I did the fix and it improved handling but when rounding a curve on a mountain road I head a loud clunk from the rear of the coach. I found that a nut had completely stripped off the sway bar bracket bolt on one side and the bracket had bent so the sway bar was disconnected from the frame. I was able to straighten the bracket and replace the bolts with Ford bolts, but only a few months later the same thing happened when I hit a pothole except it stripped the bolts on both sides.
This time I replaced the bolts with tempered ones and returned the CHF bolts to the original position. I am not sure if moving the bolts had placed undue stress on the sway bar brackets, but I moved the bolts back as a precaution. I took the RV to a Ford truck shop to have it inspected. I was told that the tempered bolts I used were better than the standard Ford bolts and suggested that I leave it like it is. I have had no further problems in a year.
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05-25-2016, 12:23 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Bridgewater, NJ
Posts: 158
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Hi Steelhorzz,
What Sumo Springs did you use?
I have a 378XL 22,000 chassis.
Thanks
__________________
2012 Georgetown 378XL
Toad 07 Lexus RX350
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05-25-2016, 10:55 PM
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#29
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 79
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Quote:
Originally Posted by intercept
Hi Steelhorzz,
What Sumo Springs did you use?
I have a 378XL 22,000 chassis.
Thanks
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etrailer has a parts finder where you put in your year and model and they show you what's compatible:
https://www.etrailer.com/suspension-enhancement.htm
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05-25-2016, 11:32 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 548
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim G
I did the fix and it improved handling but when rounding a curve on a mountain road I head a loud clunk from the rear of the coach. I found that a nut had completely stripped off the sway bar bracket bolt on one side and the bracket had bent so the sway bar was disconnected from the frame. I was able to straighten the bracket and replace the bolts with Ford bolts, but only a few months later the same thing happened when I hit a pothole except it stripped the bolts on both sides.
This time I replaced the bolts with tempered ones and returned the CHF bolts to the original position. I am not sure if moving the bolts had placed undue stress on the sway bar brackets, but I moved the bolts back as a precaution. I took the RV to a Ford truck shop to have it inspected. I was told that the tempered bolts I used were better than the standard Ford bolts and suggested that I leave it like it is. I have had no further problems in a year.
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It's not the CHF causing the loose bolts, there's a TSB (tsb-12-6-1) for the rear sway bar bracket bolts coming loose.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tsb-28238.html
__________________
2012 Georgetown 360
SHE wanted "a new motorhome"
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05-26-2016, 04:33 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northeast Alabama
Posts: 227
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Thanks for the info, my dealer did not know about it. I am glad it was not attributed to the CHF
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05-26-2016, 09:23 PM
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#32
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 49
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Thanks for the heads up - i just checked mine and the left rear bracket is missing! I did hear an odd thunk last year when turning on a trip and that must have been when it happened. I did do the CHF on the rears a few months before this happened.
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07-20-2016, 03:48 AM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 436
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Who in the Tulsa area can make some of these CHF's? Our new rig is from this area and our dealership thinks I'm
over reacting. So, finding an outside trustworthy source is critical.
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07-20-2016, 08:53 AM
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#34
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 40
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Cheap HANDLING FIX
can anyone send a picture if this fix???? I have a 30DS
thank yOU!!!!
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07-20-2016, 08:56 AM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Roth
can anyone send a picture if this fix???? I have a 30DS
thank yOU!!!!
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Just do a search for CHF and you'll find all the info.
__________________
former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0
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07-20-2016, 12:07 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 627
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CHF - Yours will be very similar to this.
Cheap Handling Fix – and then some | 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB
I strongly recommend making your front links longer ( I say 12 inches) If you scroll down through the article, you'll see a lot of photos and drawings that describe the CHF.
ALSO - If you have a newer chassis, the bolts and mounts for the rear torsion bar on the axle will be different.
IMPORTANT - Newer chassis F53 are notorious for rear torsion bar brackets breaking and bolts falling out, regardless if you do the CHF or not.. Inspect these often as they loosen, fall out, or break the axle attachments.
__________________
2001 Coachmen Mirada (Ford F53 6.8L V10) - Toad 2003 Saturn Vue
It won't do MACH 2, but I can get a sandwich and take a pee.
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07-20-2016, 10:42 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kentdavido
Who in the Tulsa area can make some of these CHF's? Our new rig is from this area and our dealership thinks I'm
over reacting. So, finding an outside trustworthy source is critical.
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Tulsa auto Spring? 21st and Sheridan
2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
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07-21-2016, 07:26 AM
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#38
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 436
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CHF
I just discovered Tulsa auto Springs yesterday but I had no idea who they were and if they were someone reputable to work with. Thank you so very much for that endorsement
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07-21-2016, 09:28 AM
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#39
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kentdavido
I just discovered Tulsa auto Springs yesterday but I had no idea who they were and if they were someone reputable to work with. Thank you so very much for that endorsement
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They are very good at what they do, they are the only place I would let do my front end alignment in Tulsa! Ask for a guy name John, tell him what your trying to achieve, they are very reasonable on price as well.
2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
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07-21-2016, 09:17 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 436
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Thank you and I spoke to John. I was going to have T and W do our alignment, is that not good? I'm printing off the Sumos springs information and meeting with him. Thanks for the confidence.
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