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Topic: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT! (Read 744 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT!
Reply #25 –
Quote from: Kent Heckethorn  - 
nccampguy,

Fascinating system-CLASS. My DDF (Dear Departed Father) was a Captain on the Los Angeles County Fire Department for 30 years. He’d be fascinated by this discussion. I know I am.

Chet and Larry know far more than I ever will about the logistics of RV et al suspension systems. The CLASS system is all new to me but it is definitely an interesting read. To see it in action I found this YouTube post done by the manufacturer. https://youtu.be/WtorYxnaPjc

https://youtu.be/DX2njnN2GcM

As budgets go, the CLASS system is beyond me. Besides, I’m very pleased with how my RB handles (without a strong cross wind). Where emergency vehicles and shuttle busses are concerned, there is an obvious advantage to this device.

Personally, I try to stick close to OEM where possible and make only incremental changes when necessary. That being said, I am very enthusiastic about others venture into the fray and always interested in new technology and potential upgrades.

Keep us posted.

Kent

Kent,

Thanks for posting that video.  I had watched that and read many reviews and tests before deciding to do this.  I bought my 2011 31TB with 21K miles on it in early 2017.  It had new tires, a rear sway bar and steer safe system already installed.  It was always stored under cover so its in really nice condition.  I paid <$60K for it.  About half the price of a new one.  By adding the  Big Foot Levelers and the Liquid Spring System I will still have less than $75K in the rig.  (obviously I'm attempting to justify this in my mind.  So far its working!)  ;) 

Will keep you posted!
2011 31' TB
Re: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT!
Reply #26 –
Quote from: rich  - 
I think the system is interesting and I'd love to hear how things turn out. 

We sometimes travel with a very light load (1-2 people, no water, on short overnight trips) and we sometimes travel with a much larger load (4-5 people on a 4-8 week trip).  I can really feel the difference in how stiff the back of the RV is and we sometimes have people riding back there.  It can be bouncy behind the rear axle!

The reactions remind me of what you hear about active stabilizers on boats.  One camp thinks they are expensive, overly complex, completely unnecessary, and prone to break.  A silly excuse to put holes in the bottom of your boat.  The other camp acknowledges all of that but still loves them and would never buy another boat without them.
 
Rich
'03MB in NC
 

Rich,

I speant about 20 years in NC!  While there, I too had a 2003MB.  My wife tried to take a nap back there a few times as I drove down the road.  Too Bouncy for that she proclaimed.  Never tried it again.  We later had a 2003RB with sofas in the front.  She could nap on those just fine.

It will interesting to see how this thing really works.  I need to set up a "go fund me" site for the LDers to help me pay for this thing!  :D
2011 31' TB
Re: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT!
Reply #27 –
An interesting experiment, I look forward to the report. I wonder how much benefit will be realized by the Panhard rod type linkage on a 31 footer. I know the 27” does wag the tail a bit when passing big vehicles head on at speed.  Not enough to bother me, but on the longer LD that’s a lot of overhang to waggle.  I assume you have already weighed all four wheels and adjusted tire pressure accordingly to eliminate those variables before the installation.  Good luck with this. 
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
Re: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT!
Reply #28 –
I’m way too cheap for any of these systems. Whenever I get behind the wheel of the rig I say, “let the adventure begin!”  That adventure includes all of the Mr Toad’s Wild Ride handling surprises which I always assumed was part and parcel of the deal. 😜  YMMV, of course!  — Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT!
Reply #29 –
Quote from: nccampguy  - 
Golly Gee Wiz Chet .... The primary industry this system is used is EMS.  It's done to make the folks in the back as well as the drivers as comfortable as possible.  But we shall see.  I'm good with an incremental improvement.  I look at it like I do the Big Foot Levelers I added last Fall.  Didn't need to do it.  Could have just continued the good ole leveling process.  But now I push a button and smile.  ;)
I am not disputing that the ride in the rear will be improved. My question was how valuable will that improvement be in an RV. I guess for my application I see myself in the driver seat 100% of the time so improvement to the rear is of no value to me. Now the sway and roll is another issue that may be of some value to me while driving. I guess time will tell :)

Quote from: nccampguy  - 
We were seriously considering other RV options that would improve the journey a bit.  Then you get into that trade-off thing.  I came to the conclusion that the only real soution would be a Newmar NewAire for about $400k.  But that ain't gonna happen.  So, this solution is cheap compared to changing rigs.
Agree 100% here. If spending $12-13k delivers the same ride as a vehicle at that level then the cost is minimal. If the level of safety has been increased the value is priceless depending on the situation.

Quote from: nccampguy  - 
If I can feel a bit more comfy when the big rigs go flying by me and have a lighter grip on the wheel....its worth it to me.   :)   
Since I have no first hand experience in a situation like that all I can say is if it is worth it to you then is definitely is. Who knows, I may be a customer at some point in the future :)

I know this may sound crazy but if I were going to do this I would grab a data acquisition system along with some instrumentation to document the before and after. Multi-axis and angular accelerometers up front and back aft - drive the same route under the same conditions before and after. The numbers never lie. Maybe the company has the data available to share for RV applications?
Chet in Yorktown, Virginia
 
Re: LiquidSpring CLASS System anyone? UPDATE: I'M GOING FOR IT!
Reply #30 –
Quote from: Renegade242  - 
I am not disputing that the ride in the rear will be improved. My question was how valuable will that improvement be in an RV. I guess for my application I see myself in the driver seat 100% of the time so improvement to the rear is of no value to me. Now the sway and roll is another issue that may be of some value to me while driving. I guess time will tell :)
Agree 100% here. If spending $12-13k delivers the same ride as a vehicle at that level then the cost is minimal. If the level of safety has been increased the value is priceless depending on the situation.
Since I have no first hand experience in a situation like that all I can say is if it is worth it to you then is definitely is. Who knows, I may be a customer at some point in the future :)

I know this may sound crazy but if I were going to do this I would grab a data acquisition system along with some instrumentation to document the before and after. Multi-axis and angular accelerometers up front and back aft - drive the same route under the same conditions before and after. The numbers never lie. Maybe the company has the data available to share for RV applications?


Chet, you may enjoy these. I fellow named Bill Goldman wrote the following:

I just wrote up a series of articles about switching out the rear suspension of my Tiffin Class A motorhome to the LiquidSpring system.  If you're interested, here are the links:

From springs to LiquidSpring, part 1: Why, and why not? — Open Roadscapes

From springs to LiquidSpring, part 2: The transformation — Open Roadscapes

From springs to LiquidSpring, part 3: Road test — Open Roadscapes


2011 31' TB