If you own a motorhome built on the Ford F53 chassis, you already know the story: great platform, but not always the smoothest or easiest to drive. Many RV owners search for solutions to sway, poor ride quality, and that dreaded “tail wagging the dog.”

We recently sat down with a Tiffin Open Road owner who shared their experience at our shop. Here’s his story — along with answers to the questions most Ford F53 owners are asking.

Customer:
“I have a 2021 Tiffin Open Road on the Ford F53 chassis. We’ve put over 20,000 miles on it, and honestly, I didn’t like how it was handling. I always went back and forth on whether to upgrade. After meeting the Henderson’s team at a Tiffin rally, they inspected my chassis and gave me recommendations. On the way home, I stopped by Henderson’s Line-Up to get the upgrades done — and I’m glad I did.”

Key Issues on our Ford F53:

• Excessive sway on highways
• “Tail wagging the dog” when trucks passed
• Rocking that rattled the dishes and glasses inside the coach
• Handling that discouraged his wife from ever driving

Yes, Ford did upgrade the F53 in recent years with larger 2-inch front and rear sway bars from the factory. That was their way of addressing the long-standing complaints about excessive sway.

But here’s the reality: even with the OEM 2-inch sway bars, F53 motorhomes still suffer from sway and other common RV problems. Most Ford owners still experience coach rocking, body roll in crosswinds, and that “push” when semis pass on the highway. That’s why at SuperSteer, we recommend going a step further regarding sway by adding a Roadmaster Auxiliary Anti-Sway Bar to work alongside the factory bar for significantly more stability. (Learn more about the Ford F53 in our Chassis Solution Center.)

The bottom line is that while Ford’s upgrade helped, it wasn’t the complete solution. The right aftermarket sway bar system is still essential if you want absolute confidence behind the wheel of your F53.

Yes! You have several options, including upgrading your OEM replacement front and rear anti-sway bars. To learn more, visit our Chassis Solution Center. In this section, you will discover all the options available to you.

At Henderson’s LineUp, we installed a rear track bar, which locks the axle laterally and stops the side-to-side shift.

Customer reaction:
“Night and day difference. Even my wife — who never wanted to drive the motorhome before — is now considering it because the handling feels so much better.”

Here’s what this F53 received:

• Rear Track Bar – Stops tail wagging and stabilizes the coach.
• KONI EVO Shocks (Rear & Front) – Big bore shocks tuned specifically for the F53. These control bounce/sway and improve ride quality.
• Auxiliary Rear Sway Bar – Adds sway resistance beyond Ford’s factory bar.
• Safe-T-Plus – Improves steering precision and provides emergency control in case of a front tire blowout.
• Radius Rods (Front) – Controls fore/aft axle movement due to spring wrap and bushing flex, improves braking stability, and gives tighter steering response.

Customer:

• “Glasses and dishes no longer rattle over bumps.”
• “Less rocking when parked at campgrounds like Harvest Hosts.”
• “Steering is straight and precise — even tested it by briefly letting go of the wheel.”
• “Braking feels more controlled, with less forward dive at stoplights.”
• “I feel safer and more confident, and my wife may finally drive the coach!”

If you are mechanically savvy, most parts are bolt-on and can be installed with the right tools. That said, many parts require specialized tools and experience to install correctly, especially if you run into some challenges. For example, the original shocks had to be cut off because the bolts wouldn’t budge (typically this isn't the case).

Customer advice:
“I recommend getting this work done by professionals who know the Ford F53. I would not have been able to do it myself.”

Customer advice:
“Go to Henderson’s Line-Up or at least get your chassis inspected. Even if you can’t afford everything at once, do it in stages. It’s worth it. This is our home on wheels, and upgrading it makes every mile safer and more comfortable.”

Two options:

1. Online—Visit the Chassis Solution Center. Choose your chassis (Ford, Freightliner, Sprinter, etc.), and you’ll see which upgrades solve your exact handling issues.
2. In Person – If you’re traveling through the Pacific Northwest, schedule an appointment at Henderson’s Line-Up in Grants Pass, Oregon. Our team specializes in making RVs safer and happier to drive.

If you own a Ford F53 motorhome and struggle with sway, handling, or ride comfort, you’re not alone. The good news is there are proven solutions — from track bars to KONI shocks to steering stabilizers — that work together to transform the way your coach drives.

As our customer put it best:

“Upgrading my F53 was absolutely worth it. It doesn’t just drive better — it feels safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.” Safer and Happier Driving starts with the right upgrades!

Watch the video below to hear their whole story for yourself.