RV Performance Upgrades - Axels, suspension, brakes and tires.

When you buy a brand new RV, you don’t immediately consider making performance upgrades or remodeling your rig. We were apprehensive about making any changes while we learned how to full-time on the road. But after a year living in our fifth wheel and a lot of research, we decided it was time to upgrade our RV and make it our own. We already started doing some interior changes like new furniture and painting a few walls. With safety being our number one concern on the road, we wanted to give the underneath of our Grand Design Solitude 3740BH an update! We contacted Performance Trailer Braking for new suspension, brakes, tires, and wheels upgrade.

Why make an RV performance upgrade?

Why not just buy the RV equipped as we wanted? First, it should be noted; in the 2021 model year, Grand Design started offering Solitude models an upgrade option to add 8,000-pound axles and disc brakes. We tried to add this option at the factory during our build but found out this option is not offered on the Solitude S-Class model, the bunkhouse model. We considered upgrading to another Solitude model with a mid-bunk, but we feel the rear bunkhouse floor plan is the best choice for our family. Check out our blog on how we picked our rig.

During our process of learning how to live full-time on the road, we learned an RV being overweight is a leading cause of many RV issues, whether it’s frame fail or flattening of suspension or wheel and tire issues. After weighing our Grand Design Solitude 3740 BH at Cat Scales on two different occasions, we came in at about 13,700 lbs on the axles – only 300 lbs shy of the max payload rating of 14,000 pounds on our current axels. This weight included very little fresh water in the tank as we are always worried about weight.

We’ve always been told to carry as much freshwater as possible – just in case you need to make an unexpected stop or get to a campground with no water (it does happen!). In addition, we continue to add weight to the rig, including more toys for the twins, an inflatable paddleboard (toys for mom!), more camp chairs, or a fire pit. We have been very conscientious about adding weight to the rig, but we wanted more wiggle room in our max payload capacity.

Secondly, and more importantly, upgrading to disc brakes and higher-rated tires adds to our peace of mind rolling down the road, knowing we had increased stopping power and better performing tires. Keeping our family safe on the road is our number one concern when a RV is also your home.

Top reasons for the performance upgrade:

Ability to carry more weight –
- Dexter 8K lbs. axles vs. Dexter 7K lbs. axles. Our existing axles were within 300 lbs. of being overweight (13,700 lbs per CAT scale)
- Ability to carry more stuff like 150lbs of electric bikes on the back rack – the larger delta between actual weight and axle maximum
- More freshwater, just in case. Our freshwater capacity is 100 gallons = 800 lbs. We had been carrying only 25 gallons due to weight issues.
Stop Faster
- Disc brakes are better than the factory drum brakes
- Dexter BrakeRite Electric/Hydraulic Actuation better/faster than the original electric actuation
- 2021 F-450 does not require a resistor ($60) to operate the BrakeRite Actuator
Better tires
- Sailun vs. existing Westlake – Sailun rated better by consumer groups
- H-rated 16 ply vs. G-rated 14 ply – better and considered safer, more resistant to blowouts.
- Current tires already had 15,000 miles of wear on them
Better Suspension
- Road Master Comfort Ride Slipper Spring System vs. traditional leaf spring (150-year-old technology)
  - Provides smoother ride for RV with slipper leaf springs + shocks and provides significant reduction of road energy transfer to the RV
  - Axles act independently of each other, providing better ride and braking (no axle roll up)
- MorRyde X-Factor Crossmember
  - Lateral Support to the Suspension
  - Frame stress reduction due to rough roads and tight cornering

Our purchase process for RV Performance Upgrades

When considering this upgrade, John researched many Grand Design Owner forums. Reading through comments and seeing what others had done for upgrades to their RV, one name kept coming up as the company to use for performance upgrades: Performance Trailer Braking.

John called Performance Trailer Braking and talked to Kelly Barnet, one of the owners. Kelly was very familiar with Grand Design and the type of upgrades we were looking to make. The first step would be to order the correct parts to fit our rig. Kelly walked us through how to find the serial numbers on our current axels to get the right fit with new axles.

Then, Kelly walked us through the installation process. Performance Trailer Braking orders the parts and can ship to anywhere for the install, whether it’s a self-install or they can recommend an installer. We wanted to get the install done while visiting my parents for two weeks in Santa Fe. Since we wanted to have a professional installer help us with the upgrade, based on the area of the country we were in, Kelly highly recommended we use their master installer, Dennis Hageman. Dennis is an independent contractor for Performance Trailer Braking located in Cochise, Arizona.

Pre-install consultation

Our first interaction with Dennis took place about two months before the install. Dennis contacted us to understand our upgrade goals after ordering just the axles, disc brakes, wheels, and tires from Performance Trailer Braking. In talking with Dennis, he recommended we consider adding a Roadmaster Slipper Spring and Shock System and a MorRyde X-Factor Cross member to enhance the ride quality and preserve the RV’s frame’s integrity. In addition, he highly recommended spending the extra money to avoid a condition called “over sprung,” – meaning we would have more axle capacity. We may not always be at the full weight capacity of 16,000 pounds. When the new axels do not carry at least 80% of the new load capacity at all times, the new axels make a very bouncy ride in the back of the rig – or jostle up our stuff!

Dennis gave us the Ford truck example of a guy buying a 1-ton truck, never using the pickup bed, and then complaining he had a rough ride with an empty bed! To the reader, this may sound like an attempt to up-sell the customer. However, in talking with Dennis, who is most familiar with the equipment and customers, as does the installs’ actual work, he is not a salesman or order taker but more an upgrade consultant. He sounded very informative, sincere and his recommendation sounded in line with comments we had already heard around campgrounds. And any improved ride capacity is most welcome!

The performance install

After talking to Dennis and seeing his ranch located in Cochise, AZ wasn’t far from a planned stop in Las Cruces, NM, we made a slight detour to Cochise in order Dennis could perform the install close to his shop. Dennis owns Son Chaser RV and can complete RV performance upgrade installs right on his ranch. As a bonus to the customer, the ranch is set up like a campground complete with partial hookups (30 amp + Water) and three free night stay included with the install. Dennis and his wife Mavis were amazing hosts – we stayed two nights, but the actual install took only one day or about 8 hours. From start to finish, we could tell this was not Dennis’ first rodeo.

This installation started first thing in the morning, and we filmed as much as possible with no intention of doing a step-by-step how-to video. Performance Trailer Braking has a few videos on YouTube that do a much better job. Dennis had all the essential elements tires, wheels and axles already staged when we arrived the day before. We didn’t have to move from the campsite because Dennis performed the installation right there where we parked. He used heavy cardboard to cushion himself from the gravel rock and moved with precision as he jacked up the rig and removed the existing wheels and axles.

Other components installed

He began by installing the Roadmaster Slipper Spring system, designed to be used with the Comfort Ride Shock Absorber system. When the systems are used together, you can expect up to a 50 percent reduction in induced road energy transmission into your RV, or over cobblestones -a 76 percent reduction, and gravel roads – a 94 percent reduction! These products are designed for low maintenance, as 10 of the 14 moving parts in the conventional RV’s suspension are eliminated. The remaining four are lubricated with lifetime bushings.

RV Performance Upgrade — Old 7,000lb axles removed

He then installed the MorRyde X-Factor high-performance cross member to provide lateral support to the suspension on our fifth wheel. The X-Factor works to reduce the stress on the frame from travel over rough roads, tight cornering, or extreme side forces.

He then installed the new Dexter 8,000 pound axles that Performance Trailer Braking specially ordered based on the specs of our Solitude (we provided details from the original Dexter axles that came with our rig to ensure a perfect match).

Now for a commercial break

We took a slight break and went to a highly recommended restaurant called Sandy’s for lunch and then traveled about 20 miles to Chiricahua National Monument to see the most amazing natural features in the park – the rhyolite rock pinnacles for which the monument was created to protect. Rising sometimes hundreds of feet into the air, many of these pinnacles are balancing on a small base, seemingly ready to topple over at any time. We went on a short family hike, and the girls could get their Junior Ranger badges. This side excursion was truly worth the trip and so close to Dennis’ ranch!

Dad plays a trick on the twins.

Finishing up install

When we returned, Dennis was finishing up installing the Kodiak disc brakes and accompanying brake lines. The Kodiak disc brakes are hydraulic. The actuator, by a Dexter BrakeRite Acuater, is mounted in the front bay of our rig. After changing the trailer set up on the truck computer to electric/hydraulic vs. all-electric, Dennis worked diligently to bleed the brakes. Next, he tested proper operation with the truck to double-check it didn’t require a resistor as in the earlier Ford model years. Of course, in the 2021 Ford, it wasn’t needed – a $60 save – thanks, Ford!

Dennis ended the day by mounting the new stylish wheels and 17.5-inch H-rated Sailun RV tires. He recommended a torque rating on the lug nuts of 120-foot pounds. Dennis also reminded us to recheck them at about 100 miles down the road. Dennis, the true professional, added yellow paint pen lines to each and every bolt. This makes it easy to eye-ball if a bolt had lost its torque. The recommended tire pressure in the H-rated Sailun tires is 110 PSI Cold. (If you need a great air compressor for RV tires, check out this one from Viair!)

The following day before our departure, Dennis took a ride with us in our new upgraded RV to “seat the brakes.” We drove about 5 miles making several quick stops to ensure the brakes were working correctly and seated. I’ve never stopped that quickly before! It was good to know that trailer could essentially stop the truck if necessary. We had to adjust the trailer brake controller in the truck (from 7.0 to 4.5). The new disc brakes worked so much better than our previous electric drum brakes.

Cost of this RV Performance Upgrade

Our entire cost of this upgrade was around $9,000. We had about $7,500 worth of parts and $1,500 for the install. Pricing will vary, and please check with Performance Trailer Braking for exact details and customize your needs.

If you want to upgrade your rig’s brakes and suspension, give Dennis or Performance Trailer Braking a call. We have put their contact info below. Tell them John and Sherryl Nens sent you a $50 discount. Full disclosure, we’ll receive $50 as well. We paid for the install. There was no financial support or free product from Performance Trailer Braking or Dennis Hageman. We only recommend things we would want to share with our family and friends.

Performance Trailer Braking
- www.performancetrailerbraking.com/ referral-program
- Mention referral by John and Sherryl Nens and receive $50 off
Dennis Hageman, Installer for areas in the West
- Owner of www.sonchaserrv.com, professional trailer installer, and RV Camp Hosting
- Call Dennis directly at 419.551.1066 to order to give you recommendations and write up the sale.
- If you drive to his ranch, you can stay three nights free in Cochise, AZ, with the install. (Close to Cochise Stronghold and Chiricahua National Monument)

The results

The upgrade experience with Performance Trailer Braking and Dennis’ Son Chaser RV was highly positive. Since the install, we have noticed better stopping and improved ride quality. (Much of our proof is based on the condition of our stuff in the RV after a road trip). Being able to carry a full tank of water gives us more peace of mind. We like knowing we have better brakes, tires, and suspension, hopefully preventing any significant issues in our travels. If we were sitting around a campfire with your family, we would recommend doing a similar upgrade to your RV, so you have many miles and Bright Dais Ahead!

We want to hear from you!

Let us know some of your thoughts, questions or upgrades you have made.

Bright Dais Ahead

Live. Life. Differently.

RV Performance Upgrades – Big Decision To Make