Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-31-2006, 09:10 AM   #1
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Posts: 6
Carol and I test drove one of these yesterday at a local dealership.
The rig has almost all the options we would want (just add the Blue Ox towbar and the brake system!), is VERY clean, with new tires, and ran out just fine, with one exception:
While it accelerated and braked very well, it did not track worth a darn. It seemed to be "hunting" a line down the road, and this was on good pavement, with no notable wind or passing traffic going on.
The RV Consumers Group identifies the source of the problem as being the 52% wheelbase-to-overall length issue (too much overhang).
The salesman told me that the rig had just arrived, and they hadn't done anything to it as yet, so the (new Michelin) tire pressure might be off, and they would correct that, check the alignment, and call me back for another test drive.
Another fellow has told me that he cured the problem with tire pressure ,ride height adjustment (?) and an aftermarket Pitman arm, IIRC.
How about you folks? have YOU encountered this problem on your 36' Horizon, and if so, how did you fix it?
The price is right on this coach, but I don't want a "headache", even if it's FREE!
Thanks!
__________________
Bob Cowgill
Mims, Florida
Bob Cowgill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2006, 09:10 AM   #2
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Posts: 6
Carol and I test drove one of these yesterday at a local dealership.
The rig has almost all the options we would want (just add the Blue Ox towbar and the brake system!), is VERY clean, with new tires, and ran out just fine, with one exception:
While it accelerated and braked very well, it did not track worth a darn. It seemed to be "hunting" a line down the road, and this was on good pavement, with no notable wind or passing traffic going on.
The RV Consumers Group identifies the source of the problem as being the 52% wheelbase-to-overall length issue (too much overhang).
The salesman told me that the rig had just arrived, and they hadn't done anything to it as yet, so the (new Michelin) tire pressure might be off, and they would correct that, check the alignment, and call me back for another test drive.
Another fellow has told me that he cured the problem with tire pressure ,ride height adjustment (?) and an aftermarket Pitman arm, IIRC.
How about you folks? have YOU encountered this problem on your 36' Horizon, and if so, how did you fix it?
The price is right on this coach, but I don't want a "headache", even if it's FREE!
Thanks!
__________________
Bob Cowgill
Mims, Florida
Bob Cowgill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2006, 09:35 AM   #3
Winnebago Owner
 
Navy Flier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
I have almost 40,000 miles on a 2003 Horizon 36. The only time that I have noticed any tracking problem was on grooved pavement. In addition to the tire pressures you might want someone to look at the front end alignment. We have been more than satisfied with our coach.
__________________
Chuck & Carol
08 Horizon 40TD
04 Honda CR-V
Navy Flier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2006, 01:14 PM   #4
Winnebago Master
 
AFChap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...hopefully on the road!
Posts: 1,653
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">wheelbase-to-overall length issue </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Bob

The wheelbase-to-overall length ratio is nowhere near as significant for diesel pushers as it is for gas rigs ...guess the engine & tranny weight in the rear stabilizes it. I think the recommendations about tire pressure & alignment are right on. Hopefully they had the alignment checked when the new tires were put on ...if not, good that the dealer is going to have it checked.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
'03 Winnebago UA 40e TRADED OFF JUL 2023 / '17 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
AFChap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2007, 11:14 AM   #5
Winnebago Master
 
Pusherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 813
Bob,

One more thing to have checked (you mention it has new tires) is that the front tires are not out of round. I had a '00 Journey 34' and it tracked fine. I had significant problems with my new one (see post under 'Steering Feel 34' Journey') until I had the 2 front tires replaced. They were both out of round.

By having the front tires balanced (mine were done on the coach itself) a good tire/alignment mechanic can tell if either the wheel or tire is out of round.

My symptoms were a vibration at about 55-60mph, wandering all over the road, and when I let go of the steering wheel it would wander back and forth.

Resolved now.
__________________
Don
'07 Winnebago Journey 34H - CAT C7, Koni's, MCU's, SS Bell Crank, Safe-T-Plus
'07 HHR Toad, SMI AFO, Blue OX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Pusherman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2007, 03:43 PM   #6
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Posts: 6
I did not notice any vibration, nor did the symptom seem to be related to any particular speed. The closest parallel I can think of is driving on a water bed whose surface is constantly rolling and pitching.
The dealer says he will have the situation resolved by close of business tomorrow, and will call me for another test drive.
Bob
__________________
Bob Cowgill
Mims, Florida
Bob Cowgill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2007, 04:05 PM   #7
Winnebago Master
 
smlranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 2,169
Bob:

Welcome to the forum . You have come to the right place to get answers to your questions from some great folks. As you can see from my sig., we also have a 36' pusher on the Freightliner chassis. My steering was 'light' when I got the rig. I drive some fairly twisty and uneven roads where I live. I replaced the OEM 235/80/22.5 XRV's with Goodyear 275/70/22.5 G670's, followed by an alignment. It tracked much better. I also added (not sure I really needed it.. I like gadgets like most guys) a good steering stabilizer and it got even better. It tracks very well. It may simply be overinflated front tires for the actual coach weight when you drove it. It it was empty, had little fuel and no water in the tanks with 120 psi in the front tires, for example, it would likely wander.

Obviously you are in a good position now to only accept the coach if you like the way it drives.

At any rate, sounds like the dealer is willing to get it right for you.

Please come back and share your RV experiences with us.
__________________
'07 Country Coach Allure 470 Siskiyou Summit #31578, Cummins ISL 425; 2014 Ford F150 toad; Air Force One Toad Brake.
Glen Allen, VA; Smith Mountain Lake, VA.
smlranger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2007, 01:58 AM   #8
Winnebago Master
 
ichn2go's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seaford, VA
Posts: 1,046
All of the above is good advice. While all can effect the steering.. IMHO, tire pressure is the single most important item to good steering and this can only be set after weighing the coach. My coach steers best with a full tank of water.
I don't mean to downplay the importance of allignment, balance and good tires.

Good Luck and Good Miles
__________________
Happy Trails! ICHN2GO, Seaford VA,
06, 34 Newmar Ventana
02 Jeep Liberty
ichn2go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2007, 04:46 AM   #9
Winnie-Wise
 
vicsryd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Posts: 383
Send a message via Yahoo to vicsryd
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by AFChap:
The wheelbase-to-overall length ratio is nowhere near as significant for diesel pushers as it is for gas rigs ...guess the engine & tranny weight in the rear stabilizes it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have to disagree with this statement. My 34H is exactly 50/50 wheelbase to overall length. All the weight beyond the rear axle amplifies the issue and makes the rig a little tail happy, even more so with a toad. The front axle is relatively light (about half the weight of the rear axle) and tracking gets notably less stable as I burn off fuel (the tank is just behind the front axle).
__________________
Vicki & Jon Pritchard
05 Journey 34H - CAT C7 - Toyota RAV4
3 doxies, 1 chihuahua - WIT, Escapees, FMCA

vicsryd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2007, 04:50 AM   #10
Winnie-Wise
 
vicsryd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Posts: 383
Send a message via Yahoo to vicsryd
Bob,

Take a look at the bushings/boots on the steering and drag links. There's a technical service bulletin from Frieghtliner for some bushing/boot problems on both XC and Evolution chassis. They were bad on my rig and got them replaced under chassis warranty. I paid for a fresh alignment and between the two it fixed most of my problems in this area.
__________________
Vicki & Jon Pritchard
05 Journey 34H - CAT C7 - Toyota RAV4
3 doxies, 1 chihuahua - WIT, Escapees, FMCA

vicsryd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2007, 01:40 AM   #11
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Posts: 6
The salesman called me last night to see if we'd already bought another coach since we looked at the Horizon.
I assured him that we had not, and were in NO hurry.
He said that they had been working on the coach since Tuesday morning, and hoped to have it ready for a re-test drive by Saturday (!)
Of course, the fact that the dealership is displaying "help wanted" signs for both sales people and service techs doesn't give me a warm fuzzy! :-)
I told him about the suggestions I'd received here for tire pressure, alignment and ride height adjustments, and he said that they were taking care of all of those. (Of course! What else did I expect him to say?)
If you detect a note of skepticism regarding the veracity of statements made by RV salespeople, you are indeed perceptive!
Now we know where all the stereotypical "used car salesmen" go for their next career move! :-)
Bob
__________________
Bob Cowgill
Mims, Florida
Bob Cowgill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2007, 12:33 PM   #12
Winnebago Master
 
Pusherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 813
Bob,

If it's a reputable shop they will have a service order detailing what they did to the coach -- even if it's a stock unit. Ask to see it. It should detail what repairs were made to the unit.
__________________
Don
'07 Winnebago Journey 34H - CAT C7, Koni's, MCU's, SS Bell Crank, Safe-T-Plus
'07 HHR Toad, SMI AFO, Blue OX
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Pusherman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
1999 Winnebago 36L turbo diesel oran42348 Winnebago General Discussions 7 08-04-2016 03:53 AM
2003 Itasca Horizon Dash Removal Madrona General Maintenance and Repair 22 04-30-2015 08:41 PM
replacing the VCR on a 2003 Horizon Oh-one Tech | Toys and Gear 7 01-19-2005 05:26 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.