Can Sway Bar Upgrade on RV Cause Ride Quality to Get Stiff

Published 09/02/2021

Question:

I bought a 2007 Itasca class c on a e450 frame last year. I immediately wanted to make it drive and handle as good as possible so I upgraded front and rear anti sway to Roadmaster, installed Henderson supersteer rear trac bar, steering stabilizer and Koni shocks all around. Then replaced tires to heaviest duty 10 plys I could get. Rides like a tank but drives beautiful. Shaking the motorhome apart on bumps. First thing I thought was tires so I returned the ones I had and bought best Michelins. No change. Trac and anti sway arent supposed to cause this but can they? Can Koni shocks? Cant imagine shocks making this harsh. Didnt drive enough first to know if it was this stiff prior. It actually feels like all 11 leaves of the springs are welded together. Any ideas? Thanks,

asked by: Craig K

Expert Reply:

Shocks and sway bars can cause a stiffer ride. Especially if you went with a sway bar setup designed for a heavier GVWR than what your RV has. With heavier sway bars you can make the handling drastically improved but if you go too heavy/thick the ride quality will get harsh like what you described where every bump almost feels magnified. What is the GVWR of your Itasca and what sway bars did you order?

Depending on the shock valving that also can make ride quality rougher. So that would depend on the Konis you went with. The ones that greatly improve handling can make regular cruising stiff.

expert reply by: Jameson C