Suspension upgrade

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

Ya Tony those are the ones. I'm not saying that they are a magic cure all, but I do consider this to be one of my more cost effective upgrades we've made so far. In addition to keeping things from rattling loose (so far), there is also less side to side roll on Off / On ramps. The 3500 is experiencing more chucking than the 2500 did, so next up is to order a Reese 5th Airborne this week. Almost went with a GooseBox, but can't bring myself to part ways with the B&W Companion hitch.

Lee I see you have the same model of trailer as I do. I replaced my entire suspension from the axles up and not having any problems with things moving around as they used to, but, I'm thinking the Sumos might dampen some of the harsher landings we encounter on some our "smooth" interstates. The approaches to the bridges in LA literally launch you and are pretty harsh. Thinking these might help cushion the "landings".

[Foldbak]

So thoughts on these upgrades combined?

https://www.amazon.com/MORryde-CRE2-..._t1_B00AZS84XC
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lea...tl/SS26MV.html


That puts me around $800. I can sell that.

[sourdough]

If you replace those equalizers don't do it without adding HD shackles and wet bolts.

Your trailer has the Road Armor equalizers I believe. They are a Lippert knock off of the MorRyde as best I've been able to tell. I pulled the Road Armors off of mine almost new for just that reason and went with the SRE4000 because I wanted the travel. In hindsight I'm glad I went with it but it didn't give me any sort of tremendous benefit. I don't have doors open as I did previously with the Road Armor and the trailer seems to "float" along vs "jumping" but that's about it....but a good thing.

I think the Sumos would be a good thing and here's why: your trailer has a gvw around 14k as I recall. You will have 6k axles I believe. I don't ascribe to the theory that your suspension only has to support trailer weight less the pin weight...it just doesn't work for me. So in essence, IMO, a suspension is provided that provides the very minimum to get by. My axles were, and are, Dexter and I hope (believe) yours are as well. The Sumos will help those 3k springs on harsh rides and buffer some of the bending they would be taking - a good thing. The Sumos have a progressive type of composition so that not much effect is felt until they start to compress quite a bit, another good thing that helps regular, smooth surface towing feel smooth.

In the end, as you try to justify costs, the difference between the MorRyde and Road Armor is there but I don't know if it will be the improvement you are looking for. Sumos? Sure. Shackles and wet bolts? Absolutely. Maybe do those first and see where you are.

[dieselguy]

There will always be pin weight give or take a few pounds sitting on your truck unless you launch off a cliff. Those 1/2" pins would not hold your bed hitch in place for any length of time without the weight holding the head to the base and the base to the bed.

[Lee-CI]

I've not seen Tony's rig, but since it is a 2022 model, I suspect that like us he doesn't have HD spring hangers. The new ones do however seem to have had an angle iron brace installed welded inside the hangers to help with lateral twisting. The vote is still out on this one. Time will tell.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by dieselguy

There will always be pin weight give or take a few pounds sitting on your truck unless you launch off a cliff. Those 1/2" pins would not hold your bed hitch in place for any length of time without the weight holding the head to the base and the base to the bed.

There will always be "some" pin weight yes. There absolutely will not be the full pin weight on the hitch at all times in all circumstances. When you have a suspension that is made to support the almost exact weight of your RV minus the pin weight you are at a disadvantage, pure physics. I hit too many heaves, ramps onto bridges, whoop de doos etc. to think that that suspension never carries more than it was designed for. Anyone can believe what they want and do as they please.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

I've not seen Tony's rig, but since it is a 2022 model, I suspect that like us he doesn't have HD spring hangers. The new ones do however seem to have had an angle iron brace installed welded inside the hangers to help with lateral twisting. The vote is still out on this one. Time will tell.

I've seen those. I think they are trying to accomplish what the MorRyde Xfactors do as far as minimizing the twist.

[Lee-CI]

Tony - you might measure the thickness of your shackles. I'm thinking you already have HD shackles installed for your year model.

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Lee I see you have the same model of trailer as I do. I replaced my entire suspension from the axles up and not having any problems with things moving around as they used to, but, I'm thinking the Sumos might dampen some of the harsher landings we encounter on some our "smooth" interstates. The approaches to the bridges in LA literally launch you and are pretty harsh. Thinking these might help cushion the "landings".

Danny - the new Montana and MHC units have the Dexter "Gladiator" axles with 50% thicker tube wall thickness. Though our 331RL came with 6K axles, it was also spec'd out with 3500 lb springs on each side. Again this will be a another time will tell matter as far as longevity goes.


I'm not affiliated with SumoSprings in any way shape form or fashion but I have nothing but good to say about their product.


By the way - I had to look up where Lamesa is located as it was bugging the beejebers out of me not being able to remember. I swear that I've got "sometimers"......

[ingalmi]

Tony, do the pin box, it will help with lateral movements, secondly do the Xfactor, it will really beef things up for you and be cost effective. Call morryde and ask if the xfactor will work on your 22 Monty. Recommend that if you do the xfactor do all three (front hangers, rear hangers and center cross member. Oh and by the way once you’ve spoke to morryde about fit and which part numbers, you may be able to buy from Amazon.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

Danny - the new Montana and MHC units have the Dexter "Gladiator" axles with 50% thicker tube wall thickness. Though our 331RL came with 6K axles, it was also spec'd out with 3500 lb springs on each side. Again this will be a another time will tell matter as far as longevity goes.


I'm not affiliated with SumoSprings in any way shape form or fashion but I have nothing but good to say about their product.


By the way - I had to look up where Lamesa is located as it was bugging the beejebers out of me not being able to remember. I swear that I've got "sometimers"......

Thanks Lee. Hopefully they did upgrade the axles and springs on the new models - it was needed along with upgraded shackles. IMO that is too much trailer for the lightweight shackles that were on mine. I've not got to look at a new MHC as the dealer has started carrying all kinds of brands that they didn't before and he has lots of Montanas, just no MHC on my last couple of visits.

Lamesa is on the edge of nowhere...along with most stuff going out into W and far W TX. It's the place to be if you like sand, wind, heat, cotton and oil...primarily sand, wind and heat. I would have been long gone when I retired 16 years ago but DW told me she wasn't going anywhere. I was convinced so just bought me a burial plot here...in the sand, heat and wind.

[Foldbak]

So now that I know what I'm looking for I inspected more closely, wet bolts on the Road Armor equalizers and spring hangers. The spring hangers are heavy duty and it is the 6000 lb Dexter Gladiator® thick wall axles with upgraded springs . I think I'm going to start by adding the Sumo springs and see how that affects the ride.
This was interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lJsF6PiGg

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

So now that I know what I'm looking for I inspected more closely, wet bolts on the Road Armor equalizers and spring hangers. The spring hangers are heavy duty and it is the 6000 lb Dexter Gladiator® thick wall axles with upgraded springs . I think I'm going to start by adding the Sumo springs and see how that affects the ride.
This was interesting.

I watched that video prior to removing my Road Armor suspension and installing the MorRyde SRE4000. Like he said, there's not a lot of difference in the performance of the two and I think I mentioned that putting MorRyde on to replace the Road Armor would be sort of a "low gain" type of upgrade. I have had failures of Lippert components (not Road Armor) and none on MorRyde. I had the CRE3000 system on my last trailer for 6 years and really liked it. Bottom line I don't think a person could go wrong with either system and they are light years better than the previous equalizer types.

[MandK]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

I've not seen Tony's rig, but since it is a 2022 model, I suspect that like us he doesn't have HD spring hangers. The new ones do however seem to have had an angle iron brace installed welded inside the hangers to help with lateral twisting. The vote is still out on this one. Time will tell.

Maybe it was a mid-model year addition. The picture I posted back in post #11 was a 2022. They often do that. My 2021 for example has the raised kitchen slide and there was a 2021 on the dealers lot that was built a month and a half later that had the “new” flush floor slide. I’m not sure if one could install x-factors on a unit that has that spring hanger gusset upgrade.

[team bradfield]

Who do I contact for IS, my local dealer won't do it

[77cruiser]

https://www.morryde.com/contact-us/


brian.hosinski@morryde.com Brian was in charge of installs 3 yrs. ago.


Probably gonna be a long waiting list.

[team bradfield]

Thanks, it's that or a new MH. Getting tired of the junk suspension, etrailer loves my wet bolt purchasing, every trip one breaks

[smkn454 Mike]

I've added Sumosprings on our 2018-3791 because the 7k springs just aren't strong enough. My springs were replaced a year ago under extended warranty due to going flat. A year later they would be flat too if I hadn't put the Sumosprings on it. I have noticed less bounce going over railroad tracks with them installed.
I also added 2 X-factor crossmember bars to the front & back spring hangers for more support.
To totally take care if the suspension I want to replace the axles & springs next year with 4k springs & 8k axles. But for now the Summo's will be sufficient to get me by.

[Foldbak]

Thanks all for your input. This has been a valuable conversation.

[mhs4771]

I well add this: Yes the MOR/Ryde IS is expensive, but follow some of the threads here and on other RV forums and look how much money people have spent on Band Aides for the Horse & Buggy suspension. Spring hangers, wet bolts, springs, even axles yet end up with basicly what they started with.
Our unit is coming up on 7 years of near full time use with approx 60K road miles. IS and Disc Brakes we installed when new. Last year we replaced one Sheer Spring and the Disc Brakes Pads, that is the total expense on upkeep of our suspension.
Sort of like the old add "Pay me now, or Pay me latter"