Isata 5 airbag suspension review

[caseymyers]

Originally Posted by Rrzasa

Well, picked up the rv today and all I can say is WOW!

Drove on I85, US 321 and I40 and it feels great. I now hear the cracks in the road but don’t feel them. Don’t even notice the transition from roads to bridges back to roads. Expansion joints in the concrete roadbeds are non existent now.

I thought it may porpoise but not at all. The front end is about 3” higher than it started out at with the bags set at 80 PSI.

Best of all, there are no more rattles and even the TV doesn’t rattle anymore.

The Kelderman dealer here charged me for 5 hours of labor and $ 150.00 for shipping so I have invested $ 2,081.30 and it’s money well spent.

One side note: they told me the reason I was experiencing a jarring ride prior to the air bag upgrade was that my front end was “down on the bump stops”. Don’t know exactly what that means unless it means the front shocks were bottoming out.

I did use the Cat Scale app on Sunday and my front axle weighed in at 7,250 lbs, so 250lbs over weight. Maybe the extra weight on the front axle was the explanation.

If Kelderman and Pat can figure out a way for the 4 link upgrade to work - that will be my next upgrade if it works as good as this upgrade has.

How many miles had you driven your coach before you did this conversion?

[Rrzasa]

[QUOTE=caseymyers;2092365]

Originally Posted by Rrzasa

Well, picked up the rv today and all I can say is WOW!

Drove on I85, US 321 and I40 and it feels great. I now hear the cracks in the road but don’t feel them. Don’t even notice the transition from roads to bridges back to roads. Expansion joints in the concrete roadbeds are non existent now.

I thought it may porpoise but not at all. The front end is about 3” higher than it started out at with the bags set at 80 PSI.

Best of all, there are no more rattles and even the TV doesn’t rattle anymore.

So the airbag kit is about $1,000 and you could do it yourself?

I left the receipt at my office it I believe it was $ 1,349.00 for the kit and I have no idea if it could be DIY. I leave these kind of things to people who do it for a living, that way if there’s an issue, I have someone to go back to.

[Whalenss]

Originally Posted by Rrzasa

Well, picked up the rv today and all I can say is WOW!

Drove on I85, US 321 and I40 and it feels great. I now hear the cracks in the road but don’t feel them. Don’t even notice the transition from roads to bridges back to roads. Expansion joints in the concrete roadbeds are non existent now.

I thought it may porpoise but not at all. The front end is about 3” higher than it started out at with the bags set at 80 PSI.

Best of all, there are no more rattles and even the TV doesn’t rattle anymore.

The Kelderman dealer here charged me for 5 hours of labor and $ 150.00 for shipping so I have invested $ 2,081.30 and it’s money well spent.

One side note: they told me the reason I was experiencing a jarring ride prior to the air bag upgrade was that my front end was “down on the bump stops”. Don’t know exactly what that means unless it means the front shocks were bottoming out.

I did use the Cat Scale app on Sunday and my front axle weighed in at 7,250 lbs, so 250lbs over weight. Maybe the extra weight on the front axle was the explanation.

If Kelderman and Pat can figure out a way for the 4 link upgrade to work - that will be my next upgrade if it works as good as this upgrade has.

Glad to hear it improves the ride for you.

The kit removes the stock bump stops which are big rubber pieces that mount in the lower A arm and contact the frame under heavy compression of shocks and springs. So if the front end was resting on the bump stops it will ride rough as the springs and shocks are fully compressed so no suspension travel to absorb bumps

My coach front axle weights about 7100 so agree part of the rough ride is heavy front axle weight. The air bag suspension increases front ride height and allows it to better absorb bumps in the road.

The air bags have built in bump stops at 5.5 inches. So if a bag where to fail or there is a leak it will ride on the bump stops. Also need to keep the bag inflated at least 6 inches if you decide to play with air pressure.

I run 95 and 107 psi which puts the bags at 8 inches The difference between the sides is to compensate for the natural lean do to left to right weight distribution.

Will update when I learn more about the 4 Link for the rear.

Happy modding.

[Whalenss]

[QUOTE=caseymyers;2092365]

Originally Posted by Rrzasa

Well, picked up the rv today and all I can say is WOW!

Drove on I85, US 321 and I40 and it feels great. I now hear the cracks in the road but don’t feel them. Don’t even notice the transition from roads to bridges back to roads. Expansion joints in the concrete roadbeds are non existent now.

I thought it may porpoise but not at all. The front end is about 3” higher than it started out at with the bags set at 80 PSI.

Best of all, there are no more rattles and even the TV doesn’t rattle anymore.

So the airbag kit is about $1,000 and you could do it yourself?

You can do the install yourself. I posted basic instructions in my original post on the air bags.

[caseymyers]

Pat, how many miles have you got on your rig since your mod? Anything you'd do differently?

[Rrzasa]

Originally Posted by caseymyers

How many miles had you driven your coach before you did this conversion?

40,420 miles

[Whalenss]

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Pat, how many miles have you got on your rig since your mod? Anything you'd do differently?

About 6,000 - 7,000. Nope. Great mod to improve ride.

[sseaner]

I just returned from a 1000 mile roundtrip and I have to say that the Kelderman front airbag mod is not only worth it but its the best mod I have done so far. #2 is Battleborn LiPo's.

[caseymyers]

Thanks for the update, sorry to hear, now I have to spend even more money.

[Rrzasa]

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Thanks for the update, sorry to hear, now I have to spend even more money.

#MeToo - i'm ordering 2 Battleborn LiPo's today.

[4XGLMPR]

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Thanks for the update, sorry to hear, now I have to spend even more money.

Took the plunge today and having them installed. Looking to make the great ride even better.

[caseymyers]

Originally Posted by 4XGLMPR

Took the plunge today and having them installed. Looking to make the great ride even better.

Who's doing the work for you? Where?

[Whalenss]

I think you will like the improvement in the ride.

I hope to have an update on the rear 4-link kit soon. [emoji3]

[sseaner]

Originally Posted by 4XGLMPR

Took the plunge today and having them installed. Looking to make the great ride even better.

You wont regret it!

[4XGLMPR]

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Who's doing the work for you? Where?

I am having Extreme Motorsports in Brentwood, Ca do it. They are doing the build up on my Rubicon and are only 5 minutes from my house which makes it a win-win.

[4XGLMPR]

Originally Posted by Whalenss

I think you will like the improvement in the ride.

I hope to have an update on the rear 4-link kit soon. [emoji3]

Thanks for the updates but PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME. I keep running out of money with the great modification you guys find.

[caseymyers]

Originally Posted by 4XGLMPR

Thanks for the updates but PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME. I keep running out of money with the great modification you guys find.

Ditto. I can't afford you guys!

[dannko]

well I have ordered mine. I will let everyone know. I know you all recommend the airbags but again budget budget budget. I look at it this way. I got the front Sumo's for $128, so even if I go air in the front, the Sumo's can stay as the glorified bump stops or if the air bags fail. The four point rear is $5600 in parts with the leveling option, so in the future if the Sumo's work well, I may add the air in front, but cannot justify the extra 5600 for the rear unless I personally ride in Pat's and feel like I am on a cloud.

[dannko]

Pat, without reading your instructions, did you remove the battery boxes or as some have done cut out a "triangle" in the box to access the shock mounts? They say it saves about 3 hours of work.

[Whalenss]

Originally Posted by dannko

Pat, without reading your instructions, did you remove the battery boxes or as some have done cut out a "triangle" in the box to access the shock mounts? They say it saves about 3 hours of work.

No. Battery removal or cutting required.

Installation overview: figure 3 hours per side

Jack up the front end, put on jackstands and remove wheels

Remove the plastic inner fender

Remove the top nut on the swaybar end link

Remove the shock

Remove the spring mounts and spring (no spring compressor needed)

Remove the bump stop

Install the lower mount with airbag

Install the upper airbag mount

Install the new Rancho shocks (set at 3)

Install air lines (used a manual fill system with each line routed to engine bay for easy access)

Reinstall nut on sway bar endlink

Reinstall inner fender

Restall wheels

Lower unit to ground

Inflate bags to 7-8 inches measuring from bottom of mouth to top.

Test for leaks