MORryde Suspension Upgrade
Five plus years of OEM suspension on our Open Range Roamer tested every inch of that RV. Many times described as an earthquake happening on wheels, we can attest to that. We took painstaking efforts to tie down, brace, or lock in items we thought would be displaced. Trip after trip we would find something ajar, broken, or lying on the floor. My first fix on the old rig was to replace the suspension with the MORryde SRE 4000 suspension system. That helped a bit but I knew there was another answer.
Independent Suspension
After some research and watching a number of videos, I felt that the MORryde Independent suspension was the way I wanted to go. This was reinforced by a number of full-time RVers that had the system installed including Chad and Tara of Changing Lanes. Here is a quick look at the system.
Let Get This Started
We had purchased our Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R in October of 2020. I was determined from the beginning to upgrade the suspension on this rig immediately. My first job was to reach out to MORryde to see if I could get some pricing information on the install. We had factory OEM Dexter Disc Brakes and tandem 8K axles. I wanted to salvage the disc brakes and replace the axles.
The MORryde pricing on that install was going to be $5,149 all in. If we did not have the disc brakes the price would have been $7,999. For those with the 7K OEM package, it looks like this. $4,449 for tandem axles and $7,499 all in with disc brakes. Feeling this was top of our list for upgrades we decided to move on this install. I made the call to MORryde in mid-January of 2021 and was informed the first appointment was in April of 2022. I took the appointment and signed up for the waiting list if anything came up sooner.
Surprise Call From MORryde
One sunny morning in September I got a call from Lindsey from MORryde IS install asking if I could be in Elkhart, IN the following week. We happened to be at home base in TN and jumped at the opportunity to have the suspension installed. After agreeing to have the installation down the instructions began to pour in. Here is a look at those:
UPON ARRIVAL
For those that are getting the MORryde IS installed, we ask that you arrive at 12:00 PM the day prior to your scheduled appointment (if your appointment is on a Monday, this is not necessary). Please go to the front desk and let them know you have arrived for your appointment as they will get with the Service Department. The Service Department will then:
- Take measurements with your 5th wheel hooked to your current truck.
- Once we have our measurements, we will have you pull into an open service bay. If there is not an available bay at that time, we’ll have you pull into our camping area.
- We will start work at 6:00 AM. Please be outside of your unit with the slides pulled in by 6:00 AM. If your install starts on Monday, or if you stayed the night in the camping area, please also be hooked to your truck. We will go through the measurement process Monday morning for those who have a Monday install date.
If your appointment is for other MORryde products, we will need you to be available at 6:00 AM the day of your appointment. You are welcome to arrive the day before and use our electrical hook-ups.
ONCE WORK STARTS
We will back your unit into a service bay where it will remain until the work is completed.
- Please unhook, have the propane turned off
- Make sure that all compartments are unlocked (as well as the front door if we are installing Steps).
- We have a 50-amp service inside of the service center for you to plug into.
- Once we begin work, feel free to help yourself to our lounge where there’s coffee, muffins, TV, and free Wi-Fi (password is framed in the lounge). You are welcome to stay in the lounge or use our outdoor picnic tables. We do ask that you not enter the shop while work is going on.
- BREAK TIME – due to liability reasons, you must remain out of the Service Bays while work is being performed. Our technicians will take a break from 10:00-10:30. Please notify the front desk if you would like to be escorted to your unit during that time.
ACTIVITIES WHILE THE WORK IS PROCEEDING
- We will serve you lunch each day you are with us. The front desk will have menus for you from local restaurants. Please have your order placed with the front desk by 10:30.
- You are welcome to and we encourage you to visit some of the local attractions. Our front desk will have a brochure with many of those listed.
- PETS – If you have pets, we ask that you keep them in your coach or in your truck. They can roam the outside of our facility; however, they cannot be inside the lounge area as some of our guests have pet allergies.
- MORryde Show Room Tour – We would like very much to give you a tour of our showroom. You’ll see some of the products we are installing on your unit, but you’ll also see projects we are working on with several of the local OEMs. Please see our Service Manager or the Front Desk to arrange a visit to the showroom.
END OF THE BUSINESS DAY
Once the work for the day is completed, you may pull out your slides and stay the night inside of the service bay. Please be aware that we do run 2nd shift production and 3rd shift as needed. Noise levels are always relative, but there will be machinery running as well as shift-change and break bells on the other side of the wall.
VIDEO
Please check out this video for a more in-depth view of what your stay here will look like:
Let’s Get To Elkhart
Our appointment was set for a Tuesday at 6:00 am with a projected finish late Thursday afternoon. We would need to be in Elkhart on Monday by Noon. We decided to break the trip up into segments with a stop in Indianapolis. We packed up the rig for a week’s worth of travel and off we went.
Trip Rundown
Mileage: 868
- Indianapolis KOA Holiday – 5896 West 200 North Greenfield, IN 46140
RV Park Link Here
Nights: 1
Observation: This park is conveniently located on the east side of Indianapolis. There are not many campgrounds to choose from in and around this area. The park was divided into two sections, we were on the north side of the campground in site D7. I was a bit disappointed with the site but thankful it did not rain while we were there. The site was muddy and soft just off the gravel. Maybe if we came back in the summer we would have a different opinion.
The park has been named the KOA Park of The Year for 2021. If you are planning on visiting Indianapolis for any reason this would be a go-to. You will be about 15 – 20 mins away from various attractions such as the Children’s Museum and Indianapolis Speedway.
- MORryde International Headquarters – 1966 Sterling Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516
Nights: 3
Arrival At MORryde
We arrived at MORryde International headquarters around 11:30 am on the day before our appointment. There was one other RV following us in as we approached the parking area. Gary Wheeler, the service manager greeted us and we were instructed to park in any of the 4 available slots in front of the work bays.
The sites were back in with 50amp service. Water was available near the work bays if needed prior to setting the rig down. The parking was very easy with plenty of room to maneuver the rig to take our spot. Gary informed us that they were short-handed so the height measurement that typically takes place at noon would not. We would meet up with the tech at 6 am to get us measured for the start of the process.
The check-in process was quick with a rundown of what would be happening from Gary. He also ran down the best local restaurants and made us feel right at home.
6 AM Start-Up Day1
The alarm buzzer at 5 am to start the day was a bear. We needed to get the rig hooked back up and ready for measurement in the parking lot in front of the work bays. Gary and the tech were right on time. We discovered that the rear of the RV sat 4 1/2 inches lower than the front. The new suspension would level the rig front to back when attached to the truck.
I was told that we currently measured 13′ 5″ at the nose and a little over 13′ in the rear. Time to pull into the bay and get started on the work. We were assigned Bay 6 again a very easy back in. The rig needed to be shut down and closed up for them to get started. The shift started at 6:30 and finished at 2 pm.
Ginny, Zoey, and I gathered up and we headed to the local breakfast spot Gary had recommended.
Time To Kill A Few Hours
Knowing we could not get back into our rig until 2 pm or later we decided to take in the sights of Elkhart. I had done a little recon prior to arriving and built a list of places and such to see a do. We needed to get to Grand Design Headquarters to pick up a part I had ordered. We worked our way northeast of the city of Middlebury, IN. The Grand Design facilities took up acres of land with 8 or 9 outbuildings with tons of rigs parked everywhere.
The RV Hall Of Fame
The RV Founders Hall displays trailers, photos, and memorabilia reaching back to the 1920s and 1930s and is open to the public. The museum presents chronological and technological advancements in the industry from WW I to the present time.
I would highly recommend a stop at this museum. You will find some classic vintage rigs and a great look at the industry as a whole. The tickets are $10 for seniors and frankly well worth it. I loved seeing one of the first travel trailers to some of the most exotic. It was a great way to spend some time while the rig was being worked on.
Here is a link to the museum: The RV Hall Of Fame
Favorite Resturant Find
For us, if we are ever in the area again the Chubby Trout would be a must-stop. Here is a description of the restaurant: Upscale food but casual atmosphere located in the middle of the motels off 80/90 toll road. From hand-patted burgers to black Angus sirloin and filet mignon. Walleye, lake perch, bluegill, and salmon to a full sushi bar! 20 beers on tap specializing in local hand-crafted microbrews. Great little wine list. It’s where the locals and the business travelers meet. Great bar atmosphere!
We absolutely loved this place I had the fish tacos and Ginny had the Shrimp basket. Food and service proved to be very consistent during both our visits. Here is a link to the restaurant Chubby Trout
Were Camping In The Building
We arrived back at MORryde headquarters around 3 pm. The first shift (original suspension tear-down crew) had completed their job. The rig was now suspended
on 4 very large hydraulic jacks. After taking a look around I noticed that they needed to cut back the coroplast near the install. This would now allow them to weld the beams used to support the new IS.
It was time to settle in for our first night of Bay 6 camping. We had 50 amp service and wifi, plenty of water on board so we opened Delores up and got comfortable. Lindsey let us know that there would be 2 more shifts working in various parts of the building.
Our view out the dining room window can be seen in this photo. This was the assembly area for the IS and brakes. You can see our suspension on the rack. There were three of four of these work areas and each was active. I couldn’t help but wonder what the noise level would be like for sleeping.
As it turned out, we got a pretty good night of sleep. If you are used to sleeping in a metro area with all that goes on you can sleep here. Lindsey also mentioned that the first shift would be starting promptly at 6 am.
Day 2 – 6 am And Your Out
After a decent night’s sleep we were up and running around 5 am to get things in order to close Dolores up for today’s work. We met Gary as we exited the RV and he again informed us that they were very short-handed this week due to COVID. The welding and such would be delayed and may push our finish time later into Thursday. I took it all with a grain of salt and we headed to the Lounge area for some snacks and coffee.
The lounge is well equipped and opens at 6 am. You will find coffee, breakfast bars, and various beverages. You will find ample room to work if you need to, decent internet and bathroom nearby.
More conversations with Operations and it looked like we might be there an additional full day rather than a half. I was assured by operations we would be able to stay in the RV parking area if the job ran over.
We Have All Day, Let’s Do The Heritage Trial
As I mentioned above I did a little recon work prior to arriving in Elkhart to help fill our downtime. Touring the RV manufacturer’s locations was high on my list. The lead time just did not work out on short notice. Next up was the Heritage Trial. Ginny and I do enjoy drives through the countryside and this seems like a great one. Here is what I found on the web, on the Only In Your State Site: “Indiana’s Most Scenic Drive Will Take You on a Picture-Perfect summer adventure.
More from them “Perhaps we’re a bit biased, but we believe some of the most beautiful scenery in the U.S. can be found right here in Indiana. For proof of this, look no further than Elkhart County. This portion of northern Indiana is renowned for its picturesque landscape, beautiful rolling hills, and rich Amish heritage. You’ll experience the best of it all when you opt for a drive on the Heritage Trail, the crown jewel of Indiana’s Amish Country and listed among the most scenic drives in America by the editors of Life. The 90-mile loop offers a complete tour of Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Bristol, Wakarusa, and Shipshewana. Along the way, you’ll experience famous Indiana hospitality, delicious local restaurants, and peaceful scenery for as far as the eye can see”.
Bonnyville Mill
The Moment you embark on the scenic back roads of Elkhart County’s Heritage Trail, you’ll feel completely removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This photo of the Mill was an example of the many stops along the trail. It gave us some time to walk the dog and enjoy the countryside.
You will many more locations like this including a number of RV furniture builders and some of the leading RV manufacturers. It is well worth the drive and depending on the season could take up two of your days easily. We would highly recommend you plan to drive part or all of this trail.
Return To MORryde Headquarters Late Afternoon
After a full day of driving the trail, we worked in yet another Gary recommended restaurant stop Heinnie’s. This is located a short drive from the headquarters and is a local favorite. We sat in the bar, service was great food was excellent and reasonably priced. I had a strip steak that was very good and Ginny had the Italian Sausage sandwich that did not disappoint. Head there if you have time, be aware that they can get crowded so go early.
The work on the rig was slow during the day. With one of their welders out it was slowing the build and it looked like it would be difficult to meet the mid-morning next day finish. We tucked in for the night and crossed our fingers they would finish in the morning.
Day – 3 Finishing The Job
It seemed like Groundhogs day again when the alarm hit 5 am. Up we went to close up the rig and have a conversation with operations about the finish time. Gary informed us he was going to put on an extra tech and welder to get us out the door today if they could. Off again to kill the morning off with a ride around Elkhart, with a few stops. The town turned out to be very quaint with shops, restaurants, and a very nice riverwalk area. Take a little time to explore downtown and its handful of landmarks. Use the audio tour from the Heritage Trail for a complete picture and driving directions. 
MORryde Headquarters
After some lunch, we headed back to MORryde to see how the job was coming along. Operations indicated they were making some good progress and we should be ready by late afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised when the bay doors went up and they called us over to pull the rig out at around 2:30.
Welcome To The Club
All that was left to do was to remeasure the rig hooked up with the new suspension to be sure it met the 13′ 6″ or under requirements. It did and now for the test drive, you see on videos with Gary from Operations.
We headed around the block and he took me over the railroad tracks we could hear chattering every night. The pull was smooth as butter over those tracks. We headed to his office to settle up and run through the install and maintenance. They provide a number of locations across the country that can work on this suspension if you are in need of adjustments including them. You will receive a package with all the specs for these shops to work with. You are now a member of the MORryde IS owners club.
Our Experience To Date
Let me first say, this might be the best upgrade to your rig you can make. We have put a little over 2,500 miles on the suspension and the install has lived up to its reviews. The first thing I noticed was the braking. You might say, you had disc brakes prior how did this change the braking? All I can say is the disc brakes with the IS now feels more like you experience in an automobile. Smooth solid stopping power with less chucking or tail dip. The IS has taken the handling to a new level. Turning, pulling out into traffic, parking, backing all have improved dramatically.
Bottom line, this is well worth the upgrade if you have the finances and will be keeping the RV for at least 5 years+. We travel over 14,000 miles a year, if we were stationary the bulk of that time I doubt we would of headed in this direction.
