MtnBikeMarty wrote:

MtnBikeMarty here in AZ with an update to my 2012 27G, that I got about four years ago. Took a trip up north to cooler altitudes of AZ and had a front shock blow out, which damaged the front and outer rear tires. Luckily no one was hurt and was able to nicely pull over to the side of the interstate. Thankfully, I've always been a member of Good Sam's roadside assistance program (I've always felt safer with the coverage on vehicle I bought with 141K miles on it), a couple hours later we towed to an RV repair and Ford dealer. Diagnosis... 4 new shocks, 6 new tires (originals were date coded at 5 years), kept the best original and had it mounted to replace the 8 yr spare, and full under carriage inspection, which found a missing exhaust clamp. Unrelated to the blow out, I had a radiator starting to crack at the hose connection. Thanks to my Visa card, it drives nice again, considering I'd done little chasis work in my 4 year's 6K miles except a new battery a couple years ago, but that's typical in the AZ heat...shorter battery and tire life in the AZ heat.

While it was in the shop, I did a lot of youtube searching on E450 upgrades and discovered I wish I had upgraded the sway bars and steering control stabilizer, and maybe even added SumoSprings. I called the repair shop to see if I could upgrade the 4 shocks, too late they were done and the new tires mounted, just doing the radiator....dang it, oh well, I'll probably replace them next year with something beefier (bilsteins maybe??) than the OEM shocks they put on last week. I think I coould replace them with my neighbor buddy's help.

So, I ordered the steering control stabilizer and front SumoSprings. Next month will be rear Sumo's and both front and rear sway bars. I'll try and post pics and updates of the upgrades.

If you're on the fence of the upgrades vs. cost, watch a few youtube videos on the upgrades and everyone says that should be your first E350/E450 upgrade. If you've ever driven a class C E450 for more than an hour, you feel beat up and always blown off the road by passing semi's.

BTW, after all my research, here's what I'm going with for my E450:
Roadmaster steering stabilizer RM-RBK24-RSSC ~$325,
Sumo Springs front 1,000lbs SSF-106-47 ~$185,
Roadmaster Front sway bar RM-1139-176 ~$346,

Roadmaster Rear sway bar RM-1139-147 ~$347,
Sumo Springs Rear 2,800 lbs SSR-107-54 ~$244.

FYI, there is a smaller set of Sumo's (500 Lbs front and 1,500 lbs rear) that would probably work, but I found one review recommended those for a E350, and when we go, I always go out with a full gas tank and full fresh water tank...i.e. lots of weight.

In summary, I love my Majestic, former rental CA 27G (the 28'-6" with the aero front that they don't sell anymore), yes, I'm putting an investment in it, but planning on keeping it for awhile, and anything to improve safety while driving it a must. And even if you buy a new class C RV, you're going to want to put these steering and suspension upgrades on cause Ford doesn't do it originally. Stay tuned for updates on the upgrades.

texasvwnut wrote:

General question about solar on these ex-CA rentals. I read some of the earlier posts on solar. On the Coach I'm in the process of purchasing, I'm being told that the solar cell is in place but the charging light will not indicate something is working on the panel. Assuming the worst, is the cell on these a generic unit I can be procured easily? My first angle will be to get CA to fix whatever the issue is prior to delivery.

texasvwnut wrote:


No experience with replacement but you're lucky if you can find a 28A at one of the Sales Centers. My better half and I went back and forth between the 23A and the 28A for just the two of us and we liked the couch and the extra sleeping area. We could not find a 28A without going on the wait list so the decision was kind of made for us when the 23A was 'in stock'. I'm sure it will be plenty for our needs.

cencerrita wrote:


Our cell always worked but the control panel unit was not working and the company that made the bits never replied to me. I know when we brought our 27G it seemed a waste of time following up as the panel was so low a wattage. I fitted 200w solar panels anyway that were moveable around the RV to the sunshine and that was more than enough for boondocking.
Suggest the easiest way forward for you is to fit a new bigger panel on the roof using existing cabling and then open up the tank control panel were the existing controller is (or was) and wire to just outside a new solar controller. Again using existing cables that go down to your battery. There was lots of sare cable length inside ours.

fadumpt wrote:

Thank you for this amazing resource!
We have a deposit down on a 2016 CA 28A and we are scheduled to pick it up in July.
I've been working my way through the pages and the information has been very helpful.