RoadActive Suspension Install and Review

[@whynotwander]

Get 3 Secrets to Becoming a Full-Time RVer ASAP: whynotwander.com

[@MrMysterish]

Lots of data and an easier to understand installation video than their written instructions. Thank you.I will be installing mine this weekend.

[@whynotwander]

Awesome! So happy to hear this was helpful for you, and so sorry that we're just seeing this! How did your installation go? Thanks so much for watching and commenting! -Laurie. & Matt

[@MrMysterish]

​@@whynotwander Too easy to install. I want the 40% and found to have got the back end almost 2 inch lift. I already did a leveling kit so the the truck sit 2 to 2 1/2" all the way around and the headlights are no longer pointing up blinding other drivers. Under normal driving conditions you can barely tell a difference. while towing my 17B Coleman travel trailer I am leveled out with no visible squat. I have falcon shocks that have the towing adjustment built in to the back with reservoir shocks. They did pretty good, but this combo, It's rock solid. I do my share of playing in the dirt and found the rear end to be a little more stiff than normal with not so much flex. That was to be excepted. The best part is that if I am doing some gnarly offroading I can easily remove the RAS springs. Again things for the simplification of this install.

[@whynotwander]

@@MrMysterish So great!!!! Sounds like you have a solid setup! Very happy to hear the install went so well! Thanks for the update!

[@timhartman727]

Nice video! I installed RAS on my truck and it made a huge difference.

[@whynotwander]

Thanks so much, Tim! Awesome to hear you have and love RAS, too!!! Thank you for watching!

[@michaelmaziarz1145]

Nice review. I have had RAS on my last two tow vehicles, first an f150 and now an f250. I agree with all comments, but im most disappointed the lack of corrosion resistance. After 2 years....the systems i have had are rusted and not only look terrible, but are seezed and can not be adjusted or easily removed. I have removed this system amd completely restore it. Not what inexpected from a $600 purchase. Good towing performance, cheap plating amd corrosion resistance.

[@whynotwander]

We're happy to hear about your positive towing performance with the RAS system but not so much about the corrosion. Our RAS was still in great shape when we sold the truck so we didn't experience those issues. We would recommend reaching out to RAS to pass on your observations, maybe they could make some changes that would improve the issue. Thanks for the comment and information.

[@joe4790]

Is the corrosion from salt? i.e where approximately do you live? Just wondering if I'd experience the same issues in Western Canada where it's generally drier and not much salt used on the roads.

[@frankfurther3828]

I take your comments seriously, I am also concerned about rust, I am going to purchase a can of spray cavity wax and coat the RAS after install. Any thoughts?

[@thehayman7352]

@@frankfurther3828just spray it with wool wax or fluid film and you will be fine

[@Hydrostream1972]

600. Way to much. Middle 90.s. for that kind of product. Way cheaper

[@TK-rt4eu]

I have had ras and timbren bump stops on my 2008 tundra took the original ones off and put them on my 2018 tundra. Tow a 7500 boat and other big trailers always load the truck to its limit night and day difference

[@whynotwander]

Love that! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@markconradt3083]

What was your squat at the hitch before and after installation with load?

[@elkoholicelkoholic3276]

so i have a leveling kit on my truck by installing this does it eliminate the purpose of the leveling kit?

[@elkoholicelkoholic3276]

Well I didn’t get a response and it did lift the truck so if you have a leveling kit that goes away. I will say this the truck handled amazingly well. I drive a 2022 Chevy Colorado pulling a 30 ft travel trailer. Where I Noticed the difference was when I towed 400 miles in high winds passing other campers with much bigger trucks. This system kept my truck steady with the road it worked really well. I’m probably going to readjust it to the white spacer to bring down the rear of the truck from being lifted so high and see how it handles. Hoping it will still handle well, and when I’m not pulling the trailer, my truck won’t look so lifted on the backend.

[@lmajeff1577]

A question I have: What do you carry in the bed of your truck? Our truck bed is full and covered with a hard tonneau cover. Our tow vehicle is a 1500 Dodge Ram 4x4 automatic and 5.7 hemi. We do not full-time but do go out for several months at a time. I have been looking (researching) an add on suspension upgrade as the truck does tend to porpoise at times.

[@rowdyyates2714]

Does it matter which of the 5 sets of holes you use?

[@whynotwander]

Great question! It doesn't make a huge difference but you do want to extend the spring out as far as possible and then use the closest hole in front of your leaf spring u-bolt. That will give you the most adjustment. I started out using the second hole and then moved it to the third hole (8:53). Hope that helps! -Matt

[@bluedeval03]

Appreciate your time and effort for this video. I am a spirited driver, and want to know your input for what you feel is better in the curves as to before. I have a ‘16 5.0 and want to tighten up the suspension and better towing as well, and I keep coming back to this vs putting a heavy sway bar outback

[@whynotwander]

Great question, bluedeval03! We're glad to see that you are so concerned about safety as well. Obviously we can't speak to your specific setup but as far as our experience towing our 32' RV, the RAS system made a big improvement. A very noticeable improvement. We also tow our RV with an anti-sway hitch in addition to the RAS system and have never towed it without both so we can't speak to using one and not the other. However, while towing the water tank shown in the video, we did not use an anti-sway hitch and it towed very well (definitely not an apples-to-apples comparison in weight but just our observation). Lastly, there was also a big improvement in handling without towing with the RAS system installed. We are believers in the RAS system after our experience using it. Hope that helps!

[@ItsCheechFool]

If I use first hole it should be perfect for spirited driving ? Or do I need to use 2 or 3rd hole

[@diypunx]

Does the RAS still allow for full axle articulation when doing some lite off roading?

[@whynotwander]

Great question! We don't do any off roading so we can't give you an answer based on experience. However, we believe you would still get full axle articulation with the RAS installed since it is basically just "helper springs" on your rear axles. The RAS raised our rear end slightly and improved towing dramatically, and it eliminates all wheel hop on the road but still offers an extremely comfortable ride. But we recommend reaching out to RAS just to be sure. Thanks for watching!

[@joshuareynolds6963]

I just bought a new f150 (2023) like you're. It's the SuperCrew, FX4 short bed (A.R.E. Cap on it's way). I am considering the Cougar (by Keystone) 25MLE. I have 1633# payload and I think the cap will weigh in at just under 200#. My wife and I are about 350# combined currently. I reckon we'll have 200# of luggage and maybe 50# of tools. The above trailer has a hitch weight of 530# leaving me 353# available. I've never towed before so I think this is good math. Couple of questions... Do you know Keystone trailers? Are they any good? I'll look at more of your videos but you seem to have all this down. You get on forums and KZbin and it seems everyone is just bashing RVs as junk and you hear all the horror stories but it seems that people keep doing it so I'd like to find out if the switch from Airbnb's is worth it. I don't want to go on trips only to have to have more problems. Is there a dependable brand of travel trailer or what are some realistic expectations going into this. I know this is a lot in a pretty loaded question but I sure appreciate your input and I'll wait for your response as I'm checking out your other videos.

[@whynotwander]

Hi there, Joshua! Congrats on the new truck! While we don't know much about Keystone trailers specifically, I do know a handful of people who SWEAR by the Keystone line. If we weren't in a Grand Design, we would absolutely consider a Keystone. In fact, when we used to dream about RV life, we would go to our local dealer and sit in the Cougar fifth wheels just to see what it would be like. Here's our honest thoughts. RVs are bouncing down the road essentially going through earthquakes from one place to the next. It is pretty much a given that you're going to have issues that can range from little annoying fixes to the bigger problems. With that being said, we wouldn't ever change our decision because we LOVE owning an RV. You get to take your whole rolling cottage/rolling hotel (or home on wheels if you're full time) with you wherever you want to go, and we love that! You are spot on when you said you only read about people's horror stories. The rest of the people are out enjoying their RVs and don't have time to post the good stuff! If you're considering purchasing new, you will have a warranty that will be helpful for that first year, although if you're not full time in it, the "shakedown" might not be complete depending on how often you're using it. Did that help? Did it answer your questions? Always happy to help, Laurie & Matt

[@joshuareynolds6963]

@@whynotwander yes. It did help and I have considered the shaking down the highway. Thanks for your help!

[@waltobringer2928]

Wandering seems to be what I'm best at.

[@freddoll4664]

Great review about this system Bro. It will be going on my GMC to pull my fifth wheel. Thank you.

[@whynotwander]

Thank you for the feedback, freddoll4664. Safe travels with that 5th wheel!

[@ernestfeltman5472]

Great video what are your trailer weights and Dimensions?

[@elkoholicelkoholic3276]

i have an additional question ive noticed all these videos show the measurements with the trailers on but not with the sway bars fully connected. So now by installing the RAS changing the rear height did you have to change the hitch to the new height?

[@tower992]

I wasn’t given a spacer for bump stop with my kit

[@whynotwander]

Did you already install? I'm sure you could contact RoadActive! They're wonderful to work with!

[@homermoxley8891]

About how much did it raise the rear of the truck unloaded. Thanks for the video

[@whynotwander]

We have a link in the description with all the measurements. It would be better for you to look at that for a ton of info. Thank you for watching!

[@Realtrucker81]

Shouldn’t you install the kit with the truck and tires on the ground? I would think by jacking it up and installing this system once the wheels are reinstalled and the truck at rest on the ground the spring would be over tensioned and not work properly.

[@mikefrom1974]

The RAS springs require a preload to work properly, and installing with the tires on the ground would introduce a lot of unknown variables into the equation (weight of gas, bed cover, tailgate accessories, hitch, etc) that could affect setting the preload correctly. Having the suspension hanging eliminates these variables, so the spacers provided are designed to set the preload of the RAS spring with no weight on the leaf springs. Once you set the tension and drop the vehicle, the RAS springs are now properly preloaded. Having the preload set with the suspension at full sag also means there is always tension on the unit... as the RAS requires tension to hold the eye-hook on the end of the leaf spring so it doesn't fall off.

[@diypunx]

I just checked with road active suspension customer service and on the 12th gen F-150 you Don't need to use the bump stop spacer.

[@deanbirks]

how is the ride when not towing?

[@whynotwander]

Great question, Dean! The truck rides great when not towing. Probably even better since RoadActive helps eliminate wheel hop and any swaying. You still get a smooth ride. 👍🏼

[@UPSmech5999]

Mine gets here tomorrow.

[@alexcisneros3466]

I’m considering this for my 06 f150. Just wondering if this would work on a lowered truck with a flip kit on the rear.

[@whynotwander]

Great question, Alex! Unfortunately I've never had a truck with a flip kit so I'd recommend that you reach out to RoadActive and ask them. They could give you the correct (and safest) answer. Thanks for watching.

[@steverebensdorf5535]

Can you elaborate on why you switched the bolt position at the from of the leaf spring from the 2nd to 3rd hole?

[@JFR-eo3wt]

Installed my RAS (3611-YHD) today on my 2022 F150 4WD. After watching several KZbin videos and seeing guys install their kits using various bolt positions I decided to call RAS and ask what they recommended. I spoke with Shawn at RAS and he informed me to use the 3rd bolt position (middle) for my particular kit. By getting the spring closer to the axle it adds benefit. It’s amazing the difference these systems make! The driving / road handling experience (no payload and not towing) is SO MUCH BETTER!

[@whynotwander]

Great question, Steve! JFR-eo3wt gave a perfect answer (below) to your question. I moved bolt positions for the exact same reasons and the handling was dramatically improved while towing due to the RAS. Thanks for the comment. ...and thank you JFR for a great response. 👍🏼

[@robertprigge9625]

curious if you got the standard RAS or HD. I have a similar weight trailer and also an F150. Thanks

[@whynotwander]

Hi, Robert! We got the HD! Thanks so much for asking!

[@cdp50359]

Awesome review brother

[@whynotwander]

Thanks so much, my friend!

[@mitchchavarria3759]

Where’s the spreadsheet?

[@whynotwander]

Mitch, the link to the spreadsheet is in the description below the video. Just click the "more" button and it'll drop down and you'll see the link. Thanks for watching!

[@aladwanit]

Nice Dose it work with lifted 2 inch truck ??

[@whynotwander]

Our truck was stock but there are other videos out there showing the RAS being installed on lifted trucks so we don't think it is a problem. We recommend reaching out to RAS just to be sure. Thanks for watching!

[@aladwanit]

Thanks for responding

[@michaelhall3568]

Great video thanks!

[@whynotwander]

Thanks so much!!!

[@crossroadsrvtravels]

Nice job!! Glad it helped.

[@whynotwander]

Thank you so much!

[@mattdorsey9906]

Nice video thanks!

[@whynotwander]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@travisgorrell3557]

Off topic but was curious if you all have met work campers who homeschool?

[@whynotwander]

While we haven't met work campers who homeschool, we definitely know LOTS of FT RVers homeschool!!! As far as the work camping aspect, you could probably find a place that would allow you to work split shifts if needed OR just one of you work depending on your situation! I hope that helps! I (Laurie) homeschooled our youngest and am a HUGE, HUGE advocate for it esp in today's world!!!!

[@awfab3517]

Obviously these work good but having a hard time justifying these work any better than adding the correct weight leaf spring. All you are doing is putting tension on the leafspring on the top and only one side which is the rear. This gives the leafspring a break and wont let the truck squat as much with a load. You are just taking some of the weight from one spring and putting it into a coil spring . Making the overall combined springs stiffer than just the leaf springs so it can hold more weight.

[@NoBrakes23]

I have the oddest craving for a pop tart after hearing this music.

[@whynotwander]

🤣

[@Jerry-LZ]

I’ve known about the RAS and I’m really considering it deeply now. I’m not a tower but a hauler and these last 2 days I hauled bed loads of loose topsoil and it was a very floaty ride. Manageable but if it can be improved then why not?

[@whynotwander]

I agree, Jerry! If you can improve your towing performance you should, and I honestly believe the RAS is a great option. We were very impressed with how our truck handled and towed after installing the RAS. It was a noticeable difference. Thanks for the comment. 😊

[@billeldon]

“Wheelbases to the ground”?

[@whynotwander]

All trucks are different but if you have a specific question about your truck we recommend reaching out to RAS. Their customer service is top notch. 😊

[@200watching]

This spring is just pulling forward on the rear axle. I don't see how that will improve suspension.

[@thinblueline6862]

It doesnt pull the axle forward. It allows the facotry spring to remain in the same curvature when unloaded and adds tension on the coil spring to assist the leafs as needed. This allows the truck to run flat and not squat under load.

[@whynotwander]

Trust us, the RoadActive suspension works! Thinblueline6862 explained it very well below! Thanks for watching!

[@smrtnz5995]

Cut that head banging guitar racket in the background and you’d have a good install video.

[@whynotwander]

Thank you! We'll keep that in mind for any future installation videos. Thanks for the comment. 😊

[@jrobles1019]

Snake oil

[@shawnbeerens4292]

Unfortunately rust = Michigan!

[@whynotwander]

😅Yessss!!!! When we can finally purchase an upgraded truck, we plan to do so from the south!! Thank you for watching! ☺