Community Forums

road toads · 06-15-2017, 08:36 PM

New to this forum so please bear with if i'm posting in wrong area,We just bought a 2003 Holiday Rambler Traveler 26'rb, workhorse chassis with 8.1 vortec.
This coach is in excellent condition with a lot of nice options Only 40,000 miles.The question I have is why does it sway sometimes? scared the heck out of me a couple times driving it home. A previous owner even installed a front sway bar. Is it because some water in the holding tank was sloshing around. front end mechanicals look ok. Would a rear sway bar help or correct it, Also I'm not used to the brakes either they seem like they don't grab like my old F350 super duty truck. The previous owner said his mechanic replaced a caliper which I can see is new and he bled the brakes and also said the brakes were in good shape . Im' wondering if I should take it too a Workhorse service center to have them checked or is that just how this Rv brakes on account of it's pretty heavy.
Any suggestions or input will be appreciated.
I previously had a 2004 Jayco 29rkr fifth wheel and pulled it with a monster 2001 F350 super duty 1 ton crew cab 7.8 turbo diesel so the Motor home is a new experience for me to drive. Absolutely no swaying with the fifth wheel.

Mr_D · 06-15-2017, 08:42 PM

Rig won't stop like a car even if everything is perfect, but it wouldn't hurt to have it checked.

Ray,IN · 06-15-2017, 08:45 PM

In my opinion MH sway is related to the distance between rear axle and rear of coach. It seems a longer distance equates to more potential for sway.
I haven't owned a gas-powered MH since 1988, so my knowledge is outdated.
A rear sway bar can be an improvement, as can new shocks.
I'm sure some of the F53 and workhorse chassis owners will join in with current information about your issue.

Isaac-1 · 06-16-2017, 01:35 AM

First off I would like to suggest you join the Trek Trax message board Login It is primarily dedicated to Safari Trek owners, however since the Holiday Rambler Traveler is a close cousin to the Trek we have a number of them there as well. (Monaco bought out Safari in 2001, and introduced the Traveler in 2003 to sell a Trek floorplan coach through the Holiday Rambler dealer network).

As to your specific issue, I believe your Traveler is built on a Workhorse P32 platform with the wide track front end. If it is like my 2002 Trek, it should have already had a front sway bar, however when Workhorse widened the front end of the P32 in 2001 they failed to upgrade the sway bar mounts, as such a number of people have broken their front sway bar mounts, and there is even an aftermarket front sway bar spreader bar (this may be what the previous owner installed), that should be installed to prevent this problem. I installed one on my Trek, it costs a couple of hundred dollars and I was able to install it in a couple of hours with basic hand tools.

As to other potential causes, check your sway bar bushing front and back, as well as the air in your front air bags, you probably want to run around 70 psi in them. If the front airbags loose air (assuming you still have factory front springs) you can get a good bit of body roll.

p.s. The P32's don't have the best brakes, a couple of things that can help is to flush, and fill with fresh brake fluid, not just bleed the brakes. Also flush and refill the power steering fluid, these coaches use a hydrobooster brake system that is power assisted by the power steering pump, not a vacuum brake system like most cars have, note there is also a spin on power steering fluid filter inside the power steering fluid reservoir. (the replacement filter is about $20 online, sorry I don't have the part number handy)

p.p.s. You say sway, but do you mean fishtail, if so then you are likely trying to steer to a point too close in front of you while on the highway, try aiming for a point farther down the road than you would if you were driving your pickup truck. Also I think you mean 7.3 turbo diesel not 7.8 (I own a 2000 F250 crew cab with one also)

road toads · 06-16-2017, 05:25 AM

Wow thanks for all the info I really appreciate it! I was dog tired last night when I posted this it was a 7.3 and it was a real pulling motor. Ran like a champ. Had 274000 miles on it when I sold it and ran like new.

road toads · 06-16-2017, 05:37 AM

Forgot to mention I read somewhere if you install a rear sway bar it really helps.
I don't see one on my MH. I do have the air bags I will check them. Also find a WH SERVICE center and have brakes checked

JohnBoyToo · 06-16-2017, 07:28 AM

Welcome ! and even though you might be better served in the workhorse forum, we'll be glad to help where we can

Yes, rear sway bar worked wonders for my large pickups and sports cars

but along with alignment and broken front end parts, one quick thing to check that induces sway is too low tire pressure...
and/or too low load range of your tires...
as a start, see what the tire placard says as suggested by the rv mfg (should be inside your coach somewhere)

if you have load range C tires and your weight really calls for load range E, then the sidewalls will flex enough to cause you 'side to side tipping' issues which will bump steer you side to side...

Similar thing with air pressure, suggest you go spend $10 at a cat scale and weigh front and rear (and tag if u have it) to see what minimum air pressure the tire mfg suggest for the load your tires are carrying...

Isaac-1 · 06-16-2017, 11:03 AM

The Trek's came with front and rear sway bars standard, I don't know about the Traveler as they were offered as a cheaper version of the Trek, the base model traveler came with single pane windows, laminate counters and particle board cabinets, vs dual pane, corian, and solid wood on the Trek, I think the Traveler also had vinyl graphics vs the Trek full body paint. Although fully optioned out the Traverler and the base Trek were nearly identical in features.