Community Forums

rwdrummer · 12-29-2015, 03:19 PM

Howdy folks,
I was thinking about installing the Safe-T-Plus on our 2011 Monaco Knight and thought there would be some of you out there that had installed it or maybe just had an opinion on that. I have some pulling to the right and thought it might correct it or an alignment might be the cure.

Papa_Jim · 12-29-2015, 03:26 PM

If your coach is pulling to the right, an alignment is needed.

I think it is a good idea to use a steering stabilizer to reduce driver fatigue and as an aid in the event of a tire blow out.

Jim

YC1 · 12-29-2015, 03:38 PM

Have you read through these posts?

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/mona...on-249622.html

Selah · 12-29-2015, 04:08 PM

If it is pulling to one side you need to have it corrected BEFORE you add any steering stabilizer or any other mods to the steering.
When was the last time it had an alignment? That would be the first thing I would have done.

deSanford · 12-29-2015, 05:22 PM

I have the Safe - T - Plus the Henderson's "adjuster". Both work together GREAT. P. S. change out your Sheppard Steering Box for a TRW one.

rwdrummer · 12-29-2015, 11:27 PM

I'm looking around for a transit bus or big rig service center for an alignment without being ripped off.
This is our 3rd coach and have never had to do an alignment so here we go!!

nodine · 12-30-2015, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwdrummer

I'm looking around for a transit bus or big rig service center for an alignment without being ripped off.
This is our 3rd coach and have never had to do an alignment so here we go!!

Don't know your name so will just call you drummer.

Drummer, if you can make it over to Orlando that would be your best bet for any alignment or chassis issues with a Monaco coach. The name of the company is Josams.
Home

Josam Truck Frame & Alignment Orlando, FL, 32809 - YP.com

Please don't do anything to your coach until you get the pulling issue taken care of. I am sure you have checked the air pressure in all the tires but don't overlook that. Unbalanced air pressure in the front tires can cause the coach to pull to one side.

Bob

rwdrummer · 12-30-2015, 10:35 PM

Hey Bob,
I just got in from a gig and thank you sir for your info .
Yea I'm a 60 yr old drummer still bangin away as long as the phone rings..........
I serviced the Monaco and had everything dialed in on the tires and that did not change anything so I do agree not to do anything till issue is resolved. I'm in Mississippi so I found Southern Tire Mart that will do the alignment whenever I get a free moment and thing slow down a bit. They handle a large amount of over the road truckers.
i checked out the JOSAM and that's impressive. Wish i was near that place.

Call me R.W.

Vanwill · 12-31-2015, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwdrummer

Hey Bob,
I just got in from a gig and thank you sir for your info .
Yea I'm a 60 yr old drummer still bangin away as long as the phone rings..........
I serviced the Monaco and had everything dialed in on the tires and that did not change anything so I do agree not to do anything till issue is resolved. I'm in Mississippi so I found Southern Tire Mart that will do the alignment whenever I get a free moment and thing slow down a bit. They handle a large amount of over the road truckers.
i checked out the JOSAM and that's impressive. Wish i was near that place.

Call me R.W.

R.W.--I would not discourage you from the alignment. But bear in mind something most folks are not aware of. Alignments consist of Caster, Camber and Toe-In. What will cure your pulling to one side is almost surely adjusting toe-in to spec, and that same adjustment will set your wheels so they are both equally "toed-in" from the coach's fore-aft centerline.

Changing CASTER can only be accomplished with shims between your coach's axle and its mounting pads (which Monaco welded together). Many shops will not even have those shims. Because unless the coach's frame was improperly welded by Monaco, OR the coach has been in an accident, making a caster adjustment on a solid front axle vehicle is rare.

CAMBER is an angle machined into your solid front axle when it was manufactured. Unless it was improperly manufactured (extremely rare) or was involved in an accident, it will not need camber adjustment. Indeed, if camber adjustment is needed, it takes many tons of force and special fixtures to BEND the axle and change its camber.

My advice to you is to beware of very high-dollar alignments, since 96% of the time, all that will be adjusted is your toe-in. That adjustment is simple and takes only a short time. In fact, that are quite a few folks who adjust their own toe-in, scribing a line on the tire and using a tape measure. I am one of them.

On IFS (Independent Front Suspension) the camber and caster are readily adjustable, but not on a solid front axle.

Again, I do not discourage the alignment. And I am certainly impressed with the capabilities of Josam's. I'm just saying very few coaches need caster or camber adjustments.

Congrats on the drummer gig. I'm 67 and only quit doing mobile DJ gigs a few years ago--tired of working weekends.

YC1 · 12-31-2015, 03:41 PM

Fortunately my 08 Endeavor was not welded and they added shims. I have had two different places do an alignment and they both used shims. The thing still has a tendency to pull to the right a tiny bit. It could be that the shims are making the steering lighter and the crown of the road is just more effective.

I have a Safe-T-Plus and cobbled up my own trim system. I'm on my second generation. If I had a metal fab shop something much more elegant could be built easily. Maybe Van would like to discuss this with me at the Gathering in Feb.

Captjake1 · 12-31-2015, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YC1

Fortunately my 08 Endeavor was not welded and they added shims. I have had two different places do an alignment and they both used shims. The thing still has a tendency to pull to the right a tiny bit. It could be that the shims are making the steering lighter and the crown of the road is just more effective.

I have a Safe-T-Plus and cobbled up my own trim system. I'm on my second generation. If I had a metal fab shop something much more elegant could be built easily. Maybe Van would like to discuss this with me at the Gathering in Feb.

My 2008 Beaver needed shims as well. I pulled pretty hard to the right. The alignment people asked what chassis. As soon as I told him they said they would have to shim it.

onechaddude · 12-31-2015, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captjake1

My 2008 Beaver needed shims as well. I pulled pretty hard to the right. The alignment people asked what chassis. As soon as I told him they said they would have to shim it.

Yeah same here on my 07 neptune. Josams put a shim on the passengers side on mine. It looks to be about 5/16" thick or maybe a little more. Mine still has a slight pull right but it's much better than before.

Chad

deSanford · 12-31-2015, 07:15 PM

YCI have you looked at Henderson's adjuster for the Safe T Plus? Sanford

Harry B · 12-31-2015, 07:34 PM

Rear axle can be out of alignment as well and most places are not able to do a 4 point wheel alignment due to the long wheelbase, This was the case on my previous motor home. Josam finally solved the problem of pulling to the right by repositioning the rear axle.