OK - so the subject line is worded a bit strongly. The tabloids do it all the time...
We own and live in a 2016 Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel which we like very much. In the year that we've been on the road, though, we've had to replace the tires. One took a piece of rebar through the tread on I-16 coming out of Savannah but, more importantly, another tire had worn the tread off the outer half due to alignment issues. After a full day of work at our dealer back in Augusta, GA, the alignment was about 70% improved, but it was determined that the front axle or the right front spindle is bent. Neither Lippert (NOT the best frame or suspension on the planet) nor Grand Design will replace the axle at their cost because I can't prove that I didn't "curb" the rig. Side note: for those of you that know about suspension geometry, the right front wheel has excessive toe-in. For the spindle to have been bent forward while in motion, I would have to have hit something large and solid enough while backing up at a significant rate of speed - and the rear wheel would have to have missed the obstacle! I've taken some razzing on the Grand Design owners' forum about working on my high-speed backing skills...
To make a short story even longer, since the axle replacement would be on my dime (or many thousands of dimes) and we would very much like to replace the non-self-adjusting drum brakes with electric-over-hydraulic disk brakes, we've decided to bite the bullet and head up to MORryde in Elkhart, IN, to have the MORryde independent suspension and disk brakes installed. This is where Howard comes in. Partially due to what Howard has written in his blog about their rig and experience with MORryde (there's also a lot of good discussion on the topic over on the GD forums), we feel that these upgrades will be more than worth the money as we continue our full-time journey. The suspension will make the rig more stable, eliminate undue tire wear (the IS can be accurately aligned at many locations across the country), and extend the life of the RV and its contents because of the improved ride. The disk brakes will increase stopping power and brake reliability (Lippert grease seals are known for failing) by orders of magnitude. Coupled with the Sailun load range G tires, I will have increased confidence as we head for even more back roads and mountain passes than we have in this first year.
So - thanks for the input, Howard.
Living "la vida buena!"
Rob (and Laura)
Rob_Fla said
06:29 PM Aug 7, 2016
I just has the MorRyde IS suspension and Disc Brakes installed on my Redwood 5th Wheel on 7/29 & 7/30. All the staff and techs at MorRyde were fantastic. I have been at the Redwood Rally about 15 miles from the MorRyde plant in Shipshewana IN this past week so I did not have much of a pull distance to evaluate the installation. I left Shipshewana IN this morning heading to Branson MO, I stopped tonight about 1/2 way in Springfield IL and will arrive in Branson MO tomorrow afternoon. The trip today was about 320 miles, my 5th Wheel pulled great, very smooth and stopped with ease. I am a happy camper today, except for the fact my Satellite Receiver crapped out this morning and now does not work at all, no lights on it, nothing.
-- Edited by Rob_Fla on Sunday 7th of August 2016 06:32:05 PM
hasanchez said
02:18 PM Apr 18, 2017
I am about to take the Leap and purchase either a GD Solitude or a Keystone Montana 5th Wheel. From all the information I read (and yes I did read Howard's "What Fifth Wheel Would We Buy Today?") ..... it's seems like the Suspension, Disk Brakes, Wheels, Tires, and Pin Box are huge factors in making my (our) decision. Without really knowing............is there 5th wheel trailers out there that already have the MORryde equipment (Suspension, Disk Brakes, & Pin Box) already on the 5th wheel trailers? Is there such a thing? Or is MORryde very much an "after market" item to add at a later date?
Your thoughts?
Henry Sanchez
Sacramento, CA
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:18:51 PM
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:19:34 PM
Second Chance said
03:19 PM Apr 18, 2017
hasanchez wrote:
I am about to take the Leap and purchase either a GD Solitude or a Keystone Montana 5th Wheel. From all the information I read (and yes I did read Howard's "What Fifth Wheel Would We Buy Today?") ..... it's seems like the Suspension, Disk Brakes, Wheels, Tires, and Pin Box are huge factors in making my (our) decision. Without really knowing............is there 5th wheel trailers out there that already have the MORryde equipment (Suspension, Disk Brakes, & Pin Box) already on the 5th wheel trailers? Is there such a thing? Or is MORryde very much an "after market" item to add at a later date?
Your thoughts?
Henry Sanchez
Sacramento, CA
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:18:51 PM
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:19:34 PM
Henry,
I'm sure others can address this better - and more completely - than I can. I do know that there are several "high end" makes of fifth wheels such as DRV Mobile Suites that can be had from the manufacturer with the MOR/ryde independent suspension and disk brakes. They tend to be extremely heavy units and cost north of $100K. Even more makes are available with dampened pin boxes straight off the lot (most of the Solitudes and Momentums I've seen on the lots already have dampened pin boxes).
Rob
Danny and Cheryl said
01:49 PM Apr 19, 2017
I had the MORryde IS with Disc brakes installed in March, we can't believe how much the ride has been improved as well as stopping power. It is a very worthwhile investment. The had new DRV Mobile suites there each morning for alignment, I am sure the folks at MORryde told me that all of the Mobile Suites came equipped withe their suspension. I don't think is is an option with any other manufacturer
Bill and Linda said
02:45 PM Apr 19, 2017
hasanchez wrote:
I am about to take the Leap and purchase either a GD Solitude or a Keystone Montana 5th Wheel. From all the information I read (and yes I did read Howard's "What Fifth Wheel Would We Buy Today?") ..... it's seems like the Suspension, Disk Brakes, Wheels, Tires, and Pin Box are huge factors in making my (our) decision. Without really knowing............is there 5th wheel trailers out there that already have the MORryde equipment (Suspension, Disk Brakes, & Pin Box) already on the 5th wheel trailers? Is there such a thing? Or is MORryde very much an "after market" item to add at a later date?
Your thoughts?
Henry Sanchez
Sacramento, CA
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:18:51 PM
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:19:34 PM
Henry: New Horizons puts the IS on standard with their products although they will put on a spring suspension for a trailer just to get it to its parking space if it will be "static" - and reduce the price accordingly. I guess you could technically say its an option.
But to the point, the IS can certainly be installed on almost any trailer after the fact, even bumper pull trailers. If it is not offered as an option then order the trailer with the least expensive suspension possible and have the IS installed at MOR/ryde. I know this sounds sort of crazy, but you would be surprised at the number of trailers I've seen come to MOR/ryde brand new with new owners and have the springs, axles, etc. removed, thrown in the "spring and axle pile" and have the IS, disc brakes, etc. installed. Also a good time to lift the trailer if necessary to make it ride level with the truck and have good truck bed rail clearance. That's easy (inexpensive) during IS installation and is not a big deal to do it right. Pretty simple actually.
BTW, it is possible to use existing disc brakes on a retrofit IS suspension if they are disc. We did that on the last trailer and that can same some money is and perfectly acceptable. Lots of possibilities. Call and ask for Rob Kolean. He won't try to up-sell you. Just answer questions and provide options.
Bill
hasanchez said
04:13 PM Apr 24, 2017
Thank you for your valuable advise Bill. Much appreciated!
OK - so the subject line is worded a bit strongly. The tabloids do it all the time...
We own and live in a 2016 Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel which we like very much. In the year that we've been on the road, though, we've had to replace the tires. One took a piece of rebar through the tread on I-16 coming out of Savannah but, more importantly, another tire had worn the tread off the outer half due to alignment issues. After a full day of work at our dealer back in Augusta, GA, the alignment was about 70% improved, but it was determined that the front axle or the right front spindle is bent. Neither Lippert (NOT the best frame or suspension on the planet) nor Grand Design will replace the axle at their cost because I can't prove that I didn't "curb" the rig. Side note: for those of you that know about suspension geometry, the right front wheel has excessive toe-in. For the spindle to have been bent forward while in motion, I would have to have hit something large and solid enough while backing up at a significant rate of speed - and the rear wheel would have to have missed the obstacle! I've taken some razzing on the Grand Design owners' forum about working on my high-speed backing skills...
To make a short story even longer, since the axle replacement would be on my dime (or many thousands of dimes) and we would very much like to replace the non-self-adjusting drum brakes with electric-over-hydraulic disk brakes, we've decided to bite the bullet and head up to MORryde in Elkhart, IN, to have the MORryde independent suspension and disk brakes installed. This is where Howard comes in. Partially due to what Howard has written in his blog about their rig and experience with MORryde (there's also a lot of good discussion on the topic over on the GD forums), we feel that these upgrades will be more than worth the money as we continue our full-time journey. The suspension will make the rig more stable, eliminate undue tire wear (the IS can be accurately aligned at many locations across the country), and extend the life of the RV and its contents because of the improved ride. The disk brakes will increase stopping power and brake reliability (Lippert grease seals are known for failing) by orders of magnitude. Coupled with the Sailun load range G tires, I will have increased confidence as we head for even more back roads and mountain passes than we have in this first year.
So - thanks for the input, Howard.
Living "la vida buena!"
Rob (and Laura)
I just has the MorRyde IS suspension and Disc Brakes installed on my Redwood 5th Wheel on 7/29 & 7/30. All the staff and techs at MorRyde were fantastic.
I have been at the Redwood Rally about 15 miles from the MorRyde plant in Shipshewana IN this past week so I did not have much of a pull distance to evaluate the installation.
I left Shipshewana IN this morning heading to Branson MO, I stopped tonight about 1/2 way in Springfield IL and will arrive in Branson MO tomorrow afternoon.
The trip today was about 320 miles, my 5th Wheel pulled great, very smooth and stopped with ease.
I am a happy camper today, except for the fact my Satellite Receiver crapped out this morning and now does not work at all, no lights on it, nothing.
-- Edited by Rob_Fla on Sunday 7th of August 2016 06:32:05 PM
I am about to take the Leap and purchase either a GD Solitude or a Keystone Montana 5th Wheel. From all the information I read (and yes I did read Howard's "What Fifth Wheel Would We Buy Today?") ..... it's seems like the Suspension, Disk Brakes, Wheels, Tires, and Pin Box are huge factors in making my (our) decision. Without really knowing............is there 5th wheel trailers out there that already have the MORryde equipment (Suspension, Disk Brakes, & Pin Box) already on the 5th wheel trailers? Is there such a thing? Or is MORryde very much an "after market" item to add at a later date?
Your thoughts?
Henry Sanchez
Sacramento, CA
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:18:51 PM
-- Edited by hasanchez on Tuesday 18th of April 2017 02:19:34 PM
Henry,
I'm sure others can address this better - and more completely - than I can. I do know that there are several "high end" makes of fifth wheels such as DRV Mobile Suites that can be had from the manufacturer with the MOR/ryde independent suspension and disk brakes. They tend to be extremely heavy units and cost north of $100K. Even more makes are available with dampened pin boxes straight off the lot (most of the Solitudes and Momentums I've seen on the lots already have dampened pin boxes).
Rob
Henry: New Horizons puts the IS on standard with their products although they will put on a spring suspension for a trailer just to get it to its parking space if it will be "static" - and reduce the price accordingly. I guess you could technically say its an option.
But to the point, the IS can certainly be installed on almost any trailer after the fact, even bumper pull trailers. If it is not offered as an option then order the trailer with the least expensive suspension possible and have the IS installed at MOR/ryde. I know this sounds sort of crazy, but you would be surprised at the number of trailers I've seen come to MOR/ryde brand new with new owners and have the springs, axles, etc. removed, thrown in the "spring and axle pile" and have the IS, disc brakes, etc. installed. Also a good time to lift the trailer if necessary to make it ride level with the truck and have good truck bed rail clearance. That's easy (inexpensive) during IS installation and is not a big deal to do it right. Pretty simple actually.
BTW, it is possible to use existing disc brakes on a retrofit IS suspension if they are disc. We did that on the last trailer and that can same some money is and perfectly acceptable. Lots of possibilities. Call and ask for Rob Kolean. He won't try to up-sell you. Just answer questions and provide options.
Bill