giesrz
Michigan
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Joined: 12/24/2005
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I need some input from you Supernova owners. We tow a 20' trailer that has go kart equipment in it along with a tool box, tools etc. The ride of the coach is ridiculous. It hits so hard that the shower doors constantly jump the tracks, the outside entertainment center has fallen inside, the wood molding is cracking and we have a crack in the rear passenger's side end cap. We have checked tire pressure, and took the coach and trailer in to make sure it was connected right. International is saying that they told Gulfstream these coaches needed shocks but Gulfstream declined. Now Gulfstream is telling me that it is not their problem. Has anybody had any issue like this that tows a trailer? Gulfstream says there are after market fixes but they would not pay nor warranty them. I'm a little confused as they represent these coaches to be made for such use. Our Endura towed and rode better than this does. What's going to happen when the warranty on the coach runs out and everything becomes out of pocket. Please, any input would be greatly appreciated. I'm about at my wits end and my blood pressure is rising as I vent.
Janice
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Galena
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 08/02/2005
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I am trying to understand the situation. A 20 foot trailer is pretty long, so how is it loaded, what is the weight you have on the hitch? On the surface it sounds like the trailer has too much weight on the back end, making the back end of the SuperNova bounce more. Also is it a SuperNova?
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Texas TC
Corinth,Texas
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Joined: 05/28/2007
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I only tow a Jeep Wrangler or a 10' motorcycle, ATV trailer behind my 34' SuperNova and have not experienced the problems you have had. I do not know how long your unit is but, IMHO, most class C coaches have a longer than necessary overhang behind the back wheels to the bumper that can cause some severe chassis motion especially while towing a trailer with either too much or too little tongue weight. The higher the wheelbase to overall length the better. The three most popular SuperNova lengths are 34. 37, and 40 foot. Their wheelbase to length ratios are .65, .59, and .58 respectively. The shorter the coach, the better the ratio in this case. Have you tried using an equalizer hitch with your trailer? I hope you find some resolution to your issues because I have found, after over 20,000 miles, my SuperNova to be a great coach.
2008 Gulf Stream SuperNova (6331)
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Are you saying that your motorhome does not have shock absorbers on the back axle? If that is so, then get some Bilstien shocks to start with.
It would also be interesting to see how much hitch weight your trailer has, because an especially high hitch weight can cause this problem.
If you have a GM style hitch with 2" diameter curved tubing, then check it for cracks. Have someone drive alongside of the RV and video tape the hitch to view at home to see if it is flexing.
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giesrz
Michigan
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Joined: 12/24/2005
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Thank you all for your input. We have the 37' foot Supernova and we use the equilizer hitch. We usually run with full water as that is what Gulfstream said to do. We took just the coach to the scales and I don't remember the exact numbers but the front axle was 6,000 something, the rear was 16,000 something for a total of 22940? Gulfstream thinks we're running too light and said to load more. Those numbers don't reflect 6 passengers and their belongings or food. As for the trailer, we load with the go karts over the axle and the rest distributed evenly thru out. We had a 34' Endura previous to this coach and didn't have a problem towing this trailer. International said that there are rubber things between the springs that act as a shock absorber but if the coach gets bouncing it will bottom out. Well, we live in Michigan and travel most the Great Lakes States. Tell me, how do you get thru Chicago without hitting any bumps. The thing rides great on roads newly resurfaced but on anything else you loose your fillings. We had daughter and husband ride along side of us and at first the coach and the trailer were bouncing independently so we took the unit in and had the hitch readjusted. Now they pretty much work as a unit. I know bouncing independently of each other can increase the tongue weight dramatically. But, that didn't seem to take care of the problem.
Janice
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giesrz
Michigan
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Oh, and just for the record, other than getting this issue solved I love the coach. I don't want anyone to think I'm unhappy with the Supernova itself. I love the extra room we have compared to the Endura and the layout of the coach is great. I have that "at home" feeling everytime we go somewhere.
Janice
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MS Bowhunter
Collierville TN
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Joined: 10/27/2006
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Might want to scale your rig fully loaded including trailer. Then unhook trl and see how much tongue weight you have. Then evaluate the problem from there. Sounds to me like too much weight somewhere. If that is not the case, then replace shocks on the entire truck.
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ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
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Joined: 02/26/2007
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I have the opposite opinion as the others here. The heavier you load up the RV, the softer the ride should be.
If it were me in your shoes, I would start by investing in a set of 4 Koni-FSD shocks, then go from there.
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giesrz
Michigan
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I appreciate all of the input. When we took the coach and the trailer to the place we bought the hitch they readjusted the extension on the receiver and that made everything ride smoother. They did do the tongue weight and that was well under the max. We have not weighed both together yet to see what's happening with the rear axle, but I thought if the tongue weight is under could it put that much extra weight on that rear axle? At least now it is not getting that hard hit on cracks in the road. It still has a problem on stretches of rough road or bumpy road. If you hit a bump and then hit another one right away it bottoms out. I guess that's why International believes putting shocks on it will take care of the problem. I thought being these units were being marketed for towing there would be more people towing trailers with them and I could see if this is a universal issue or just a problem with our unit. You would be surprised how hitting that hard has resulted in quite a few things on the inside having to be replaced and/or repaired.
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knparker
Vacaville,CA
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Joined: 07/29/2006
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"International is saying that they told Gulfstream these coaches needed shocks but Gulfstream declined."
Needed shocks as in the coach doesnt have any or as in it needs better shocks?
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