Driving a large Class A motorhome should not feel like wrestling a boat down the highway. Yet repeated rocking, abrupt impacts, body roll, crosswinds, and turbulence from passing trucks are familiar complaints among owners of motorhomes built on the Ford F‑53 chassis.
Suspension Direct Inc. developed its SDi E‑CLIK suspension system for Ford F‑53 motorhomes to address those different problems without forcing owners to choose between a soft ride and firm body control.
Instead of using shocks with one fixed damping calibration, E‑CLIK continually changes damping in response to vehicle movement, driver inputs, and road conditions. The system can keep the shocks relatively compliant over small pavement imperfections, then add damping when the motorhome encounters a large bridge joint, changes lanes, crosses a steep driveway, or gets pushed by a sudden gust of wind.
What Is a Ford F‑53 Motorhome?
The Ford F‑53 is a stripped chassis used beneath many gasoline-powered Class A motorhomes. Ford supplies the underlying chassis, engine, transmission, steering, brakes, axles, and suspension. A motorhome manufacturer then builds the floor, living area, storage compartments, electrical systems, and finished coach body on top of it.
That means F‑53 is not a motorhome brand or individual coach model. An owner may identify the vehicle by the name on the finished motorhome without realizing that the coach is supported by a Ford F‑53 chassis underneath.
The F‑53 is a practical foundation for a gas-powered Class A motorhome because it is available in several wheelbase and weight configurations. Its conventional commercial-style design uses solid axles and leaf springs to support a large amount of weight.
Those components are durable and well suited to carrying a motorhome body, but the combination of a tall coach, substantial mass, solid axles, and leaf springs can create challenging ride and handling characteristics. Sharp pavement transitions may reach the occupants as abrupt jolts, while driveways, lane changes, and uneven surfaces can set the tall body into a noticeable rocking motion.
Why One Fixed Shock Calibration Is a Compromise
A conventional shock must use the same internal damping calibration for every situation. It has to control the motorhome during cornering, braking, lane changes, and large impacts while remaining comfortable over pavement seams and small bumps.
Increasing damping can reduce unwanted body movement, but an overly firm shock may transmit more harshness into the coach. Softer damping can improve compliance over small bumps but may allow excessive rocking, pitching, or suspension movement during larger events.
Additional mechanical suspension components can address specific handling characteristics, but changing one part of the system can affect another part of the driving experience. A stiffer sway bar, for example, can improve roll resistance while also linking the movement of the left and right sides more aggressively.
E‑CLIK takes a different approach by changing shock damping as conditions change. The goal is to provide additional control when the motorhome needs it without requiring that same firm setting during every mile of a trip.
SDi E‑CLIK Semi-Active Suspension for F‑53 Motorhomes
How SDi E‑CLIK Works
E‑CLIK combines four electronically controlled shocks with an ECU, inertial measurement unit, vehicle data connection, wiring harnesses, and an in-cab color touchscreen.
The system uses information from the motorhome’s OBD-II connection and SDi’s inertial measurement unit to evaluate vehicle movement and driver inputs. It then sends commands to proportional electronic valves in the shocks hundreds of times per second.
Proportional control is an important distinction. The valves are not limited to switching between one soft position and one firm position. They can move throughout their available adjustment range, allowing the system to apply the amount of damping appropriate for a particular event.
The basic process happens automatically:
- The sensors detect what the motorhome and driver are doing.
- The ECU evaluates vehicle movement and operating conditions.
- The system calculates the required damping response.
- Electronic valves adjust the shocks accordingly.
This continual adjustment gives the suspension a wider operating range than a shock with fixed valving.
UTVGuide.net readers may recognize this technology from SDi’s powersports applications. Our SDi E‑CLIK electronic shock overview explains how the company has applied electronically controlled damping to UTVs, trucks, Jeeps, and overland vehicles. The F‑53 package adapts that same fundamental technology to the weight and vehicle dynamics of a Class A motorhome.
Controlling the Parking-Lot Rock
One of the most noticeable F‑53 handling characteristics can occur at relatively low speeds. A steep driveway or angled parking-lot entrance may force one side of the motorhome to move before the other, setting the coach into a side-to-side rocking motion.
SDi uses the example of exiting a parking lot at an angle. When the system senses the coach rolling, it adds damping to resist the movement. If the motorhome begins rocking back in the opposite direction, E‑CLIK changes the damping response at the corresponding shocks.
The objective is to settle the motorhome after the initial movement instead of allowing the body to oscillate repeatedly. In addition to improving control for the driver, reducing that rocking can be beneficial for passengers and everything stored inside the coach.
Comfort Over Chatter and Control Over Large Impacts
Freeway surfaces can present two very different suspension challenges within a few seconds. Small pavement seams and rough patches call for compliance, while a large bridge joint or abrupt transition requires enough damping control to prevent the suspension from moving too quickly through its available travel.
A fixed shock must compromise between those demands. E‑CLIK can use lighter damping over smaller chatter and increase damping when its sensors recognize a more significant suspension event.
The motorhome system uses four 2.5-inch piggyback shocks designed to manage the heat and loads generated by a large Class A coach. SDi says the shocks incorporate an internal bump zone that increases compression damping near the end of the stroke, helping control larger impacts.
Additional shock features include:
- 2.5-inch shock bodies
- Piggyback reservoirs
- Internal end-of-stroke bump zones
- 7/8-inch stainless-steel shock shafts
- Low-friction seals
- DU piston bushings
- PTFE-lined bearings
- SDi Zero Fade Fluid
- Rebuildable construction
Three Modes for Different Driving Conditions
The E‑CLIK motorhome system includes three primary modes: Street, Offroad, and Wind. Each mode changes the system’s priorities without requiring the driver to manually adjust four individual shocks.
Street Mode
Street mode is intended for normal paved-road driving. It balances ride comfort with the damping needed to control roll, pitch, lane-change movement, and larger pavement impacts.
During steady highway travel, the shocks can remain more compliant over minor pavement imperfections. When the motorhome brakes, turns, changes lanes, or encounters a larger impact, the system can increase damping to support the chassis.
Offroad Mode
Offroad mode does not turn an F‑53 motorhome into an off-road vehicle. It is intended for situations such as graded dirt roads, washboard campground approaches, and rough access roads leading to dispersed camping areas.
The mode prioritizes compliance over repeated small bumps while retaining enough damping to manage the movement of the motorhome body. This may be particularly useful for owners who travel to remote campsites, riding areas, and off-grid destinations.
Wind Mode
Wind mode targets one of the most stressful parts of driving a tall Class A motorhome: sudden crosswinds and the pressure changes created by passing trucks.
When the system detects the motorhome being pushed, it adjusts shock damping to resist the resulting body movement. Keeping the coach flatter can reduce the amount of steering correction required to maintain the intended path.
E‑CLIK cannot eliminate wind or override the laws of physics, and drivers still need to slow down or stop when conditions become unsafe. Its purpose is to help the suspension respond more effectively to gusts and aerodynamic disturbances.
Driver Tuning Through the Pro Menu
Automatic adjustment does not mean every owner must accept the same suspension preferences. The included Pro Menu allows the driver to fine-tune how strongly the system responds to different inputs.
Available sensitivity adjustments include:
- Pitch sensitivity
- Roll sensitivity
- Turn sensitivity
- Throttle sensitivity
- Brake sensitivity
Owners can also adjust the front and rear suspension independently. This is useful because loading varies considerably among motorhomes, and the preferred balance may change depending on the coach, cargo, passengers, and driving style.
A rear-load setting provides an additional adjustment for towing. When a trailer is connected, the driver can select the heavier-load configuration without overwriting the normal suspension settings, then return to the standard configuration when the trailer is removed.
What Comes With the E‑CLIK Motorhome System?
The SDi E‑CLIK Active with Pro Menu package for F‑53 motorhomes includes:
- Four E‑CLIK shocks
- Main wiring harness
- Power harness
- Front and rear shock harnesses
- Electronic control unit
- Inertial measurement unit and bracket
- Color touchscreen controller
- Touchscreen mounting hardware
- Fasteners, zip ties, and installation instructions
The shocks bolt to the factory mounting locations without welding or fabrication. The electronics use plug-in, mil-spec-style connectors, although installing the complete system still involves mounting the electronic components, connecting vehicle power and data, and routing harnesses between the controller and all four shocks.
SDi says a dealer comfortable installing and wiring equipment such as a trailer brake controller should be able to install the E‑CLIK system. Owners should review the installation instructions before deciding whether to perform the work themselves or use a professional installer.
Service, Warranty, and Fitment
The E‑CLIK shocks are fully rebuildable. SDi recommends shock service approximately every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, with the appropriate interval depending on operating conditions and vehicle use.
The system carries a one-year warranty beginning on the installation date.
Because the finished motorhome’s model year may not always match the model year of its underlying chassis, owners should verify compatibility using the Ford chassis information rather than relying solely on the name or year printed on the completed coach.
The complete system was listed at $5,999.99 at the time of publication. Current pricing, availability, fitment information, installation manuals, and ordering details are available on the SDi E‑CLIK for F‑53 motorhomes product page.
What E‑CLIK Cannot Correct
Electronically controlled shocks can improve damping, but they cannot correct every motorhome handling problem.
Before evaluating suspension upgrades, owners should confirm that the motorhome is not overloaded, that its weight is properly distributed, and that tire pressures are appropriate for the actual axle loads and tire manufacturer’s recommendations. Alignment, worn steering parts, damaged suspension components, and improperly functioning sway bars or track bars should also be addressed.
E‑CLIK does not increase the F‑53’s gross vehicle weight rating, axle ratings, suspension travel, or tire capacity. It improves control over the suspension movement that is already available.
Final Thoughts
The Ford F‑53 provides a durable and widely used foundation for gas-powered Class A motorhomes, but the same commercial-style chassis construction that supports a large coach can contribute to a harsh or unsettled driving experience.
Conventional suspension upgrades generally target a particular characteristic with a fixed mechanical solution. SDi E‑CLIK approaches the problem by continually changing shock damping to suit the situation.
The system can remain compliant over small pavement irregularities, add support for lane changes and braking, control larger impacts, settle repeated parking-lot rocking, and alter its response when crosswinds or passing trucks disturb the coach. Separate front and rear adjustment, load compensation, and the Pro Menu allow the owner to refine that behavior for an individual motorhome.
At nearly $6,000 plus installation, E‑CLIK represents a significant investment. It will make the most sense for F‑53 owners who travel frequently, encounter widely varying road conditions, or place a high value on reducing driver fatigue and improving control.
For those owners, the principal advantage is not simply a larger shock. It is the ability to combine comfort and body control without forcing one fixed suspension calibration to handle every road, load, and weather condition.
