1992 Scotty motorhome D350 dually w/1st generation cummings

[DickB]

My question is regarding shocks, I have a 92 Scotty motor home w/1st generation diesel
Built on a D350 dually frame
Weight front Steer axle --3300 lbs
weight rear drive axle -- 5360lbs.
Truck rides very rough.
Would like to know if shocks (which) would help?
Or air bags (which)
I might be in the wrong forum
Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Simplysmn]

I would go with Firestone Ride rite's they are Easy to self install and work well .

 

[RWherley]

It's a 350 first gen no matter what you do it will never ride smooth.

 

[RSchwarzli]

It's a 350 first gen no matter what you do it will never ride smooth.

LOL There is some truth to this!

Air bags do not replace shocks. Airbags help with weight support like a spring. It does not stop bounce when you hit a bump like a shock would. Think Semi truck. They have air bags and shocks. If you add a air bag to your current set up, it will make things worse than it is already.

Basically if you want softer ride, it is a spring change. The shock will help somewhat though. The key would be to stay away from the HD off road shocks like the 5100s that are designed for heavy working under off road or towing conditions. Maybe a simple set from NAPA will do the job. I had their sensitrac ones for a while. They were softer than my current ones, but I did not have the anti roll rigidity that I wanted for towing so I went heavier/stiffer Bilstein shocks.

Remember, the softer the shock, the more jellow-y the vehicle will be as the damper compresses faster when you turn the steering wheel for a corner or you get sway in the wind. It however is less jarring on bumps as it allows the spring to deflect a bit quicker. In the end though, the general rule is it is the spring that takes the bulk of the impact on our trucks. The shocks stop the Uncle Buck from happening. Even with no shocks on my truck, the truck was brutal harsh.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I bought a 99 that I thought rode rough empty and it was bouncy with the 5th wheel when it had very few miles on it. I bouoght a set of those adjustable shocks and it really improved the rid, both empty and loaded. I would back the adjustment all the way off when empty and it made the shocks were less bone jarring. bg

 

[DVolk]

For shocks if you have the $$$ Bilsteins

 

[Regcabguy]

You could contact Deaver Spring in Santa Ana,Ca. They'll ask a series of questions regarding front and back axle weights and wet load etc. They could then build you a custom spring pack that'll do the job.