Suspensions - Montana Owners Club

RBul31 · 10-20-2020, 11:15 AM

I have to replace my leaf spring. I was wondering which upgrade for the suspension provides the best return on investment.
I have a 2014 Montana. We broke a rear axle spring and the mechanic said for safety sake, replace the others. God was looking out for us because we drove 700 miles with this broken and didn't know it.
Back to question. Is adding shocks, replacing the hanger thing in the middle, (lol. Don't know what they call it) or what will help with towing. Smooth out the ride for the equipment in the RV and overall better for everything.
I have a 7000 lb dual Axel that was factory installed. I just figured that with replacing the spring, I ought to take advantage and try to help out more.

jcurtis934 · 10-20-2020, 12:16 PM

I don't think anything results in a return for the money if you mean being able to recoup the costs when selling the trailer. If you mean what changes really work to improve the design, then the Morryde independent suspension is the best at doing that. I had two rubber shear spring failures and then a wet bolt break in half which mangled the rear spring hanger before I said enough with the old system. If I ever bought another fifth wheel, it would take the trip to morryde before any use period.

rohrmann · 10-20-2020, 12:34 PM

You most likely have the MorRyde LRE suspension equalizer that is between your tandem axles. This is one step down from the IS or Independent Suspension that MorRyde also makes and installs. For a trailer that old, upgrading to the IS would seem a bit much, but that's up to you. We have about 70,000 miles on our trailer with the same suspension you have and have only lost one spring and one shackle bolt in all that time. I would have had the IS installed when we were at the national rally in 2014, but couldn't get in to MorRyde for over a month, so it never got installed. If you are intending to keep the rig for a while, I would say replace all the spring packs, make sure the installer installs the bronze bushings in all the spring eyes and check that all the shackle bolts are good or just put new ones in. Also, check the rubber springs in the LRE units to make sure they don't have large cracks, as this would be a good time to replace them as well if they are bad. This is a link to the MorRyde LRE suspension owners manual and another link on how to inspect the rubber springs. Also a brochure about the IS.

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...ers-Manual.pdf

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...tion-Guide.pdf

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...S-Brochure.pdf

RBul31 · 10-20-2020, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohrmann

You most likely have the MorRyde LRE suspension equalizer that is between your tandem axles. This is one step down from the IS or Independent Suspension that MorRyde also makes and installs. For a trailer that old, upgrading to the IS would seem a bit much, but that's up to you. We have about 70,000 miles on our trailer with the same suspension you have and have only lost one spring and one shackle bolt in all that time. I would have had the IS installed when we were at the national rally in 2014, but couldn't get in to MorRyde for over a month, so it never got installed. If you are intending to keep the rig for a while, I would say replace all the spring packs, make sure the installer installs the bronze bushings in all the spring eyes and check that all the shackle bolts are good or just put new ones in. Also, check the rubber springs in the LRE units to make sure they don't have large cracks, as this would be a good time to replace them as well if they are bad. This is a link to the MorRyde LRE suspension owners manual and another link on how to inspect the rubber springs. Also a brochure about the IS.

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...ers-Manual.pdf

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...tion-Guide.pdf

https://www.morryde.com/wp-content/u...S-Brochure.pdf

Thank you very much. Very good info. I love this site. So many helpful people.

RBul31 · 10-20-2020, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcurtis934

I don't think anything results in a return for the money if you mean being able to recoup the costs when selling the trailer. If you mean what changes really work to improve the design, then the Morryde independent suspension is the best at doing that. I had two rubber shear spring failures and then a wet bolt break in half which mangled the rear spring hanger before I said enough with the old system. If I ever bought another fifth wheel, it would take the trip to morryde before any use period.

You are right I didn't explain that too well. I mean ROI = best performance for the RV. I realize the money ROI just won't be there. Cost of doing business. :-)

**DQDick** · 10-20-2020, 04:31 PM

Kind of depends on what you plan on doing with your trailer. We wouldn't be without independent suspendion and disk breaks, but we full time and usually tow well over 10,000 miles per year. If you just go down the road to the lake that system is very pricy so it just depends on what you do.

beeje · 10-20-2020, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBul31

I have to replace my leaf spring. I was wondering which upgrade for the suspension provides the best return on investment.
I have a 2014 Montana. We broke a rear axle spring and the mechanic said for safety sake, replace the others. God was looking out for us because we drove 700 miles with this broken and didn't know it.
Back to question. Is adding shocks, replacing the hanger thing in the middle, (lol. Don't know what they call it) or what will help with towing. Smooth out the ride for the equipment in the RV and overall better for everything.
I have a 7000 lb dual Axel that was factory installed. I just figured that with replacing the spring, I ought to take advantage and try to help out more.

Disc brakes were on our unit when we bought it. Just had the IS installed in June and transferred the disc brakes over. All I can say it WOW, what a difference. Left Mor ryde with a plastic cup purposely placed on the island counter and it was still there 750 miles later.

Last2Die · 10-20-2020, 07:51 PM

I accidentally left hand sanitizer on the counter end of the day driving it was still there. I laughed the wife laughed, it was a good day.. oh all stock suspension.

Montana Man · 10-20-2020, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last2Die

I accidentally left hand sanitizer on the counter end of the day driving it was still there. I laughed the wife laughed, it was a good day.. oh all stock suspension.

We've had similar experiences. It's amazing how control over your steering wheel improves the ride of the trailer.

77cruiser · 10-20-2020, 08:46 PM

Do your sinks covers still hop out? Mine still do , but the road had to be awful bad.

Last2Die · 10-20-2020, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77cruiser

Do your sinks covers still hop out? Mine still do , but the road had to be awful bad.

Dang don’t even know where those are !! Lol

beeje · 10-20-2020, 09:46 PM

I guess it is what it is but it's a damn shame you can't inform someone about some of the great products out there without getting sarcastic remarks.

Montana Man · 10-21-2020, 07:17 AM

Yes, I've had the sink cover pop out. That's CA roads for you. There is a $7k fix for that but I just stow the cover beneath the sink instead. We have a ceiling fan in the rear with two chains that hang down. If I drive all over the road the chains will swing around and get hung up in the lamp's glass. When I drive more carefully the chains remain hanging.

Montana Man · 10-21-2020, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeje

I guess it is what it is but it's a damn shame you can't inform someone about some of the great products out there without getting sarcastic remarks.

Hey don't take it personal. Besides, Ive seen you dish it out a time or two. I'm good with whatever folks want for their rig. The IS probably does some good and glad you like it.

beeje · 10-21-2020, 08:41 AM

FYI the cost of the 7K IS is $3900. Installed. If you add the installation of disc brakes, it can get up there around 7 k

I've seen plenty of folks on this forum and others that spent 2500 replacing axles Springs whatever. That doesn't make much sense to me when you can spend a little more and be done with the leaf spring suspension

77cruiser · 10-21-2020, 09:09 AM

My 7K in May of 2019 was 6,757.49

beeje · 10-21-2020, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77cruiser

My 7K in May of 2019 was 6,757.49

At that price that had to include a full new install of disc brakes also, correct ? Not just the independent suspension ?

77cruiser · 10-21-2020, 10:41 AM

Yup that was the whole deal.

Only issue was they screwed up the alignment & burned my tires off in about 4000 miles. They sprung for new tires & I set the toe in myself.

beeje · 10-21-2020, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77cruiser

Yup that was the whole deal.

Only issue was they screwed up the alignment & burned my tires off in about 4000 miles. They sprung for new tires & I set the toe in myself.

Well that's definitely not good. While my install was happening I did take note that it does make a difference as to which technician does your job. Some are clearly much better than others at what they do.

77cruiser · 10-21-2020, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeje

Well that's definitely not good. While my install was happening I did take note that it does make a difference as to which technician does your job. Some are clearly much better than others at what they do.

I wasn't overly impressed by the one that did the work on my trailer.

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