3170 Suspension Mods

[BigPoppy]

I'm wondering if anyone here has done suspension mods on their 3170?
I'm looking down the barrel at $3k to add heavy front and rear sway bars, steering stabilizer (all road master) and Bilstein shocks all around and the alignment.
My question, if you've done all or any of these mods do you feel it was worth the investment? Did the road manners markedly improve? Do you find long runs to be a more relaxed drive with less constant counter-steering? I guess in the end what I'm hoping for is that someone will tell me that the $ spent will make the rig handle more like a clumsy SUV than an RV.
I drive it as is with no problems but a long run can get fatiguing. I'd also like it to have a bit more predictable handling so the wife would feel more comfortable giving me a break here and there.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[A32Deuce]

You don't have both bars on yours? Mine did. I added the track bar and Bilsteins up front and run 100 lbs in rear bags.

[BigPoppy]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

You don't have both bars on yours? Mine did. I added the track bar and Bilsteins up front and run 100 lbs in rear bags.

I do but have seen some videos and read some reports that claim the stock bars don't cut it for RV's and that the aftermarket bars are much heavier/thicker and help with roll/sway. I'm looking for verification on that, of course.

[A32Deuce]

What I did to mine made a big difference on mine. Have about 60000 miles on it and tow a car trailer with a WDH. Really windy has a affect but normal driving is much better than when we got it. Trucks are not as bad either. Going for the Bilsteins in the rear next.

[jst3]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

You don't have both bars on yours? Mine did. I added the track bar and Bilsteins up front and run 100 lbs in rear bags.

I tow a car trailer with mine and the trucks on the highway make it a handful. Windy days are brutal. Mine is a 2015 2700 28' pulling a 24' box.

What do you mean by the track bar?

I don't understand how front shocks can make a difference? Wondering what made you choose a shock upgrade?

[A32Deuce]

Track bar attaches between frame and rear seat bar. There is side movement in leaf springs. It was bouncing up and down in the front. Stock shocks were gone. I tow an open trailer so its not affected by side/wind forces. Two boxes together, unknown to me with one of these units.

[jst3]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

Track bar attaches between frame and rear seat bar. There is side movement in leaf springs. It was bouncing up and down in the front. Stock shocks were gone. I tow an open trailer so its not affected by side/wind forces. Two boxes together, unknown to me with one of these units.

Thanks, makes sense about the shocks if old ones were worn out.

I'll have to check out the track bar idea.

[A32Deuce]

I had tried Monroe's, but they only lasted about 25000 miles.

[benagi]

Did some suspension upgrades to our 3171. Same as a 3170. For less than a grand we did the Helwig sway bars front and back, bilstein stabilizer and a front end alignment. Still running stock shocks. Don't think we need to do more . Drives much better than stock. The wife is even comfortable driving it.

[A32Deuce]

If you have over 25000 miles on your rig, you need shocks.

[BamaGrad]

We did the same as benagi on our 2015 3170DS. First trip in stock setup to Badlands, Yellowstone, and back through KS was white knuckle in the wind. After upgrades, second trip to Grand Canyon, Dinosaur, RMNP, and back through KS was much better. Still some white knuckles in side winds but much less swaying.

Ordered the helwig front and rear from eTrailer. Installed myself. Warning the stock front sway bar was difficult to remove because of LocTite-like material. The rear sway bar was easy enough but needed two folks to help with getting it in place.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Upgraded to Bilstein shocks and steering stabilizer, Helwig front and rear sway bars and proper alignment. Fought heavy winds coming back to LA from Grand Canyon last week. Made a huge difference in handling. Stayed relaxed!

[Brian217]

Quote: Ordered the helwig front and rear from eTrailer. Installed myself. Warning the stock front sway bar was difficult to remove because of LocTite-like material. The rear sway bar was easy enough but needed two folks to help with getting it in place.

I had the same difficulty with removing bolts because of lock tite on threads. A friend that is a mechanic told me to heat it up first. It will break loose much easier. Not so much to heat the bolt, but he said lock tite is almost like honey and will melt with the heat.

[DaGrinch]

After a couple white knuckle rides and sawing on the wheel, I replaced the rear sway bar (Blue Ox) and also installed a Blue Ox track bar. These, in conjunction with the Roadmaster Reflex steering stabilizer cured 99% of the issues. I now don't feel the effects of passing 18 wheelers and going through curves I don't feel like it wants to topple over. Looking at doing the alignment sometime soon.

[Shredder]

I did the bilstien shocks and steering damper it made a world of difference. Try that mod forist it cost me approx 700 canadian i changed them myself but it should cost you about 300 US..


Bob

[Chrisc40]

I have a 3050s and changed out the sway bars and added the return to center steerinh stabilizer. The sway bars dampened the sway and the steering stabilizer stopped the wheel jerking. Seems to ride much better than before.

[rvrobocop]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

If you have over 25000 miles on your rig, you need shocks.

I was shocked in early 2016 with only 15,000 miles on mine were shot. Had heavier ones put on. We'll see how long they last.

[Fisher72]

We just picked up a new 3170 this April
The drive home was down right scary
2 hands on the wheel with 5-6 inch wheel
Saws . Had a shop install all are upgrades
We purchased . All I can say is night and
Day difference ! Now in heavy cross winds
Tractor trailers passing us only requires
One hand on the wheel with occasional 1/2" to 1" mini sawing the wheel at times .

Front rear helwig sway bars
Super steer rear track bar
Bilstien shocks
Reflex road master steering stablizer
Set my air bags at 80 psi
Front tires 75 psi rears 80 psi
Then had the recommended alignment

Only charged us $300 to put in all upgrades
I took pics of the coach after they were
Done will post them on here to share
For others considering doing the upgrades .

[BigPoppy]

Just picked up the coach. Whoa!!!!!!
Bilstein Shocks!!!! Why did I even wait the 4,000 miles !?! Holy crap what a ride improvement... I mean WOW!!!
I will never own another coach without them.
The road master bars and stabilizer are doing their job and doing it well.
Ride and handling is so improved...
Smooth, tight, solid, quiet (less rattles and thuds) even the braking is very noticeably improved with less nosedive on firm and hard braking.
If you're on the fence like I was....
DO IT!!

[A32Deuce]

I said that before!