Roadmaster - What's the Verdict?

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OK Guys,
Lets hear from you who have installed the kit. Waddya think? Does it ride smoother unloaded? How about sway with a cabover? Can I chuck my air bags? I've been trying to get through to Bob via the phone # posted but can't seem to get through. I'm most interested in unloaded ride improvment... Gotta love the TDR! Where else can we ask these questions and get straight answers #ad


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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Dane,

We had a gentleman at our gathering today who had the device you mention and he spoke highly of it. I may be trying it on my truck soon. Need to do something about the wheelspin in 3rd #ad

 

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I have had the Roadmaster system on my truck for about 2 weeks. I have notice an imrovement when I go over speed bumps or any other sharp type of bump or dip. However, I am very disappointed with the lack of improvement while I drive on the freeways here in S. California. I spend about 90% of my miles on the freeways (daily commuter), and am looking for something to help keep my internal organs in place #ad
. I am going to try another adjustment to the springs before I return them to Mr. Bob. So far, this product has NOT kept me from shake’n in the quake’n state #ad
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[This message has been edited by wheelinfool (edited 09-11-2000). ]

 

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Wheel, would you post a profile of your truck. What shocks and air pressure are you running? Going to Rancho 9000's, rear shocks on 1 and letting the rear tires down to 40psi and front's at 55psi made a world of difference in my old 3500.

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"95" 3500, 4WHD, Ext cab. SLT, 5 spd, 4. 10 LSD, Rancho 9000's PacBrake, running boards, Mopar mud flaps, Isspro EGT, 50lb. boost, TST #8, 215HP injectors,no cat, muff or turbo ring.

 

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Thank you WheelinFool! I wondered how the product could do anything about softening the OE springs. Looks like it doesn't. Looks like it willl only make things worse for the freeway hop if you put end pressure on the springs. Still think that the Monroe Sensitracs did more for my ride than anything else.

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99' Quad 4x4 A/T LB 3. 54 30K Miles.
26' Terry w/slide 7500GVWR
"KISS your truck and it will be forever faithful"

 

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Just returned from a 700 mile trip with my 13k 5er ,these things really smooth ,out those expansion joints and none of the spring slapping anymore when it bottoms out,very good product well worth the $$$!

[This message has been edited by wwcd2 (edited 09-11-2000). ]

 

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Ok, here's my profile

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Y2K 2500QC Long Bed. 4. 10 As stock as they get...

 

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I put mine on this wekkend. Overall I`m happy. They act like a rear sway bar. Also helps the rear axle from wanting to rotate during hard shifting. It makes for a 'Tighter' driving truck.

Man those springs have some tension #ad


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94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust,Autometer Pyro & Boost gauges, Bosch 215HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 BTDC, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit,Pschotty Air, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket, Synthetic lubes throughout.

 

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Dane, Hi I am the gentleman? HVAC mentioned. I have had the roadmaster suspension on for two weeks now. IMHO i feel they were worth the money spent. Also they got a thumbs up from the wife. A much better ride, driving around town also freeway hop is moderately to greatly improved depending on the spacing of the expansion joints. I run rancho 9000 on setting #2, and 40psi in the tires, my dad has the same setup as i do except he has velvet rides instead of the roadmaster. The velvet rides do not even come close to the roadmaster suspension. Just my $. 02 worth.

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1998 12V 2500 SLT Quad Cab Long Bed, 3. 54 limited slip, Geno's combo guage & trans temp, Prime Loc, Roadmaster Active Suspension,Truck Trunk storage box

 

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I've had the Active Suspension on now for about a week and these are my opinons. These are with the truck empty. The truck handles considerably better. It is a lot smoother and corners as good as my car.
I set mine at first to . 080 and then went to . 116 which is where I think I'll keep it.
I haven't had a chance to test with towing but I know it will not be a problem. I feel that this product is well worth the money spent and also got a approval of my wife.

Steve

Y2K 3500 2x4 auto

 

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Can anyone tell me if these would make a good substitute for traction bars? Will they reduce or eliminate axle windup and wheelhop when spinning in sand or snow?

I've gotten mired in the sand around here a couple times, got stuck once. Both times when spinning the axle hop was severe. Unless the Roadmasters work as good as a good set of traction bars I will probably go the traction bar route. The tracion bars I had on a Bronco you could preload them, I don't know how the Roadmasters work, but it may be possible to get the same effect with a good set of traction bars. The Roadmasters sound like a great setup but they look rather heavy (concerned about added unsprung weight).

Have any of you with the Roadmasters gone "off road" yet? Does the axle bound around and pound more on rough roads? Is the ride improved or worsened? Just being a little skeptic I guess #ad


Vaughn

 

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Vaughn,
Simple solution to your problem - air down & shift into 4wd #ad


Brian

 

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Brian, that'll be hard for Vaughn to do... he sold his '98. 5 2500 QC LWB 4x4 and purchased a '00 2500 QC SWB 4x2 earlier this year.

 

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I'm with Vaughn, my main concern is axle wrap. I'm planning on going with ladder bars as I've seen those work before, but they are a pain to integrate with the swap bar on the rear. I watched the install on TNN and I can't see where it would help much with axle wrap, at least not in extreme off-road situations with a high torque bombed truck. I take my truck on the Silver lake sand dunes and when the sand is rough I get BAD axle wrap, I hardly ever get past 1/2 throttle because of it. Also, we have stutter bumps on dirt roads around here that the truck is all but uncontrollable over - you just have to put it in neutral and coast over that area. Anyone experienced these situations yet?

-Steve St. Laurent

 

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Okay... has anyone installed the Roadmasters that hauls a 3000lb camper and tows a horse trailer behind? How do these things affect the handling and load capability of the truck? How much, if any, does the roadmasters reduce your load capacity and in reference to taking too much weight off of the front end?


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Rob Hanson
1999 "Big Red", 3500 SLT QC 4X4 6 spd, 4. 10 LSD, Braided SS fuel lines, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins E-Brake, Blue Box, Bosch 275HP injectors, All-steel Cowl Induction Hood, Rhino, Rosewood Kit, Scotty System, SportComp Gauges, TorkLift SuperHitch, Teshonka Brake Controller, Rear Flood lights, Cobra CB, DeeZee Running Boards, and a Geno's "I tromped a Ford" decal. Member of BOMB! (WW NW Chapter)

MyPics.com (pics updated 8/21/00)

I'd rather be... .
Cummin than Strokin.

 

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Okay - I stand corrected. At least Vaughn can air down #ad
I've seen Class 8 tractors going down the beach at Pismo Dunes w/o any problems. I've also driven our old '72 Winnebago down the beach - soft sand above the water line - w/o any problem. Just air down and keep a light steady foot.

Traction bar - design/install a true 4 link rear suspension. Or check out the traction bar shown on Sam's OffRoad http://samsoffroad.com/samsoffroadsto/Specialty.htm#Traction Bar

Brian

 

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I installed the Roadmasters last Sunday and have been comparing them on my usual roads using "known" bumps. I had installed Edelbrock IAS shocks the week before and while the Edelbrocks did a great job on the small bumps, the large bumps that usually bounced me up against the seatbelts were no better or worse. After installing the Roadmasters I am very pleased! The bounce on large multiple bump sections is very much reduced. Other types of road conditions that used to upset the rear suspension are now much more controlled and smooth. The rear suspension is now doing a better job than the front. My only problem now is the rebound dampening of the shocks both front and rear. Heavy vehicals with stiff springs need lots of rebound dampening to keep the springs from "launching" the vehical when the right (wrong?) combination of bumps and dips is encountered. The limit on rebound dampening is when there is so much dampening the suspension "pumps down" over a series of bumps and dips. I wish the shock companys would take a tip from the motorcycle race shock companies and offer shocks that are adjustable for compression, rebound and are rebuildable. I'd go with the Roadmasters and Bilsteins if I had it to do over. All in all the Roadmasters are a "must have" and should be installed from the factory imo...

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Dane, I know there are rebuildable shocks used in off-road racing, but I don't know if they're adjustable.
Andy

 

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My brother-in-law and I put a set of Rancho traction bars on his 95 Nissan. They worked really well at reducing axle wrap and also eliminated most all wheel hop when off-roading and such. He also said he could go more places in 2X now because of improved traction. The truck didn't want to spin as easily. They were easy to install. They required no welding. You simply unbolted the U Bolts and replaced the stock keeper plate with a new one that accepted the traction bar. It also provided an additional mount for a second shock on each side if so desired. The only problem I encountered was the frame bracket came with 3/8 self tapping bolts. These bolts pulled or loosened from from stress and were soon replace with 3/8 grade 8 bolts all the way through the frame. The only thing I didn't like was that it didn't have any kind of pivot to allow for easy axle articulation. This really doesn't matter for most of us though because of the stiff suspension that we all have limit axle articulation anyhow.

I also would like to know if the roadmaster decreases load capacity. I do most of my hauling in the bed and utilize the overloads quite often. 3-4 ton is not out of the question for me.

Oh yeah... I forgot... ...
They look really cool on the truck! #ad
#ad
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[This message has been edited by Diesel Doug (edited 10-05-2000). ]

 

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Dane> So have you used your cabover camper with this setup? How does it do with mass weight in the bed? How much weight of a camper do you have??
John