Koni shocks

[Tbonz]

We have recently made a trip west on Interstate 40. The road condition is a disgrace!! I am wanting real life input on Koni shocks. We have Sumos front and rear. Tires at 95 psi. Factory Bilstein shocks.. If Konis are really wortg it we will buy some especially for the front.

[bclinton]

Originally Posted by Tbonz

We have recently made a trip west on Interstate 40. The road condition is a disgrace!! I am wanting real life input on Koni shocks. We have Sumos front and rear. Tires at 95 psi. Factory Bilstein shocks.. If Konis are really wortg it we will buy some especially for the front.

Keep up posted. I am in the same boat. We have hit some roads in the south where I thought our MH was going to fall apart. It was like driving non stop over rail road tracks. Slowing down to 45 did little to help. I also have Sumos front and rear, rear add on sway and a steering stab up front. It's much better but have wondered about basically the only thing left which was shocks.

[Iggy]

It should be that harsh of a ride.
Is it possible you have your tires over inflated?
Have your rig weighed and adjust tires accordingly by manuf weight/psi chart.

I have a 378TS and its GVW is 26,000 but with everything packed up with full tanks I only weigh 20,000 lbs.
I don't ride smooth but a lot more comfortable and less bang, bank, bank.
I standardized all my tires at 80 psi.

Here is my weight distribution chart for my 378TS and hope it helps you understand more about weigh distribution and tire pressure.

[JimF]

Good info, thanks

[Iggy]

My message above I goofed.
It should say "It shouldn't be that harsh of a ride"

[Tbonz]

Originally Posted by Iggy

It should be that harsh of a ride.
Is it possible you have your tires over inflated?
Have your rig weighed and adjust tires accordingly by manuf weight/psi chart.

I have a 378TS and its GVW is 26,000 but with everything packed up with full tanks I only weigh 20,000 lbs.
I don't ride smooth but a lot more comfortable and less bang, bank, bank.
I standardized all my tires at 80 psi.

Here is my weight distribution chart for my 378TS and hope it helps you understand more about weigh distribution and tire pressure.

Thanks for the chart..I had it weighed a while back and will get to checking on that..i have 90lb in front and rear. Tire monitor is showing good heat ranges. Heat is what I try to watch closely ..Thanks again.

[Tbonz]

Apparently nobody uses Koni shocks....wonder how they stay in business!!

[MarkDNC]

Lots of people use Koni's.
Race cars, race wanna be cars, off-road trucks, wanna be off-road trucks.

Used Koni's for my race cars.

I don't think your vehicle is their target market.
The shocks may fit and work, but don't expect a lot of feedback for your application.

Now if you were towing a lowered Honda Civic .

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Tbonz

Apparently nobody uses Koni shocks....wonder how they stay in business!!

We have many Georgetown owners here that have installed Koni Shock.
Hang loose and a few will show up.
Many do say that they notice a difference.
Now how much is a judgment call of the user/driver and the road.

If I had any of my Ford OEM shocks go bad I would consider them as a better replacement shock.

Here is one thread for you to read.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ks-142306.html

[georgew48]

I installed Koni FSD shocks on my 2015 377XL last year and the ride was so much better then what I was getting with the Blistiens. I am a believer.

[Tbonz]

Originally Posted by MarkDNC

Lots of people use Koni's.
Race cars, race wanna be cars, off-road trucks, wanna be off-road trucks.

Used Koni's for my race cars.

I don't think your vehicle is their target market.
The shocks may fit and work, but don't expect a lot of feedback for your application.

Now if you were towing a lowered Honda Civic .

They do have some built specifically for RVs.

[RELHUB]

I have just under 48,000 on our MH
I installed KONI shocks last year and only put about 4,000 miles on them. I have not noticed any great improvement at all.

[RELHUB]

I expected Koni shocks would improve the ride but they have not so
I just purchased front and rear AIR BAGS $751.56
I plan to install ASAP and will update you if they help smooth out the ride at all.

[bclinton]

Originally Posted by RELHUB

I have just under 48,000 on our MH
I installed KONI shocks last year and only put about 4,000 miles on them. I have not noticed any great improvement at all.

That's good to know. I have spent about 2000 on upgrades and installed myself or it would have probably been double that. The Sumo's made the most difference and provided the best bang for the buck. I think I will table my shock upgrade thoughts

[bclinton]

Originally Posted by RELHUB

I expected Koni shocks would improve the ride but they have not so
I just purchased front and rear AIR BAGS $751.56
I plan to install ASAP and will update you if they help smooth out the ride at all.

Are you installing yourself? Would be interested in hearing your experience on that too.

[Benny1953]

Originally Posted by Iggy

It should be that harsh of a ride.
Is it possible you have your tires over inflated?
Have your rig weighed and adjust tires accordingly by manuf weight/psi chart.

I have a 378TS and its GVW is 26,000 but with everything packed up with full tanks I only weigh 20,000 lbs.
I don't ride smooth but a lot more comfortable and less bang, bank, bank.
I standardized all my tires at 80 psi.

Here is my weight distribution chart for my 378TS and hope it helps you understand more about weigh distribution and tire pressure.

Iggy I have been trying to find scales where I could pull off to one side so I can get each side weight.
Thanks
BennyChaney

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Benny1953

Iggy I have been trying to find scales where I could pull off to one side so I can get each side weight.
Thanks
BennyChaney

Benny
Weighing each wheel is not that critical.
Some people think so but I use my front and read axle weights and divide it by how many tires on that axle.
In most cases like my numbers they are so close I decided to maintain the tires on the axles the same psi.

Just pull off at a truck stop and have your front and read axles weighed for $8 -$10.
Then you will know and how to adjust the psi accordingly.
I was at a RV rally in Louisiana that the State police did it as a training exercise (for FREE) for their new Troopers and they used portable scales.

Good Luck

[Benny1953]

Originally Posted by Iggy

Benny
Weighing each wheel is not that critical.
Some people think so but I use my front and read axle weights and divide it by how many tires on that axle.
In most cases like my numbers they are so close I decided to maintain the tires on the axles the same psi.

Just pull off at a truck stop and have your front and read axles weighed for $8 -$10.
Then you will know and how to adjust the psi accordingly.
I was at a RV rally in Louisiana that the State police did it as a training exercise (for FREE) for their new Troopers and they used portable scales.

Good Luck

Iggy
That is what I have done took the front and divided by 2 and took the rear and divided them and used the tire chart for Single and dual wheels for the rear.
Thanks

[RELHUB]

Originally Posted by bclinton

Are you installing yourself? Would be interested in hearing your experience on that too.

Yes I will install them and I will take pictures.
I will try to post if I can figure how to do that.
I went with a company called AIR LIFT.
I have never used their products before
so I hope the Air Bags are as good as they claim.

I have a 2013 ...F53 ...22,000 lbs frame
FRONT part # 88240
REAR part # 88344
They did inform these part numbers will NOT
work on 24,000 or 26,000 frames

[Tbonz]

We installed the Konis on the front.Went on a 900 mile trip and the difference was quite noticeable. I just ordered Konis for the rear.BTW , I run 80 psi in all tires. I am anxious to get the new Konis in and installed for the next trip..I stated that I run 80 psi but according to my tire monitor, within 60 miles they are mostly around 90 psi.I mainly keep an eye on temperature. OOHH and the good news on the last leg of my last trip I got EIGHT mpg!!!!!!!! It has been improving as the engine gets broken in..Maybe in another 50,000 miles I will be getting 20mpg..!!!LOLOLOL