Community Forums

fluffyms · 07-08-2017, 07:07 AM

Anyone have any experience with a product called "Safe-T-Plus" or any other brand of steering stabilizer.

Am considering getting a system for my '98 HR 38WDS but am at a quandary as to what to get. Pricing seems to all over the place and, of course, every manufacturer says theirs is the best.

Am looking to stop the sway especially when being passed by the large trucks or when I'm going around other vehicles. Am also looking to stop the sway when it's windy. Constantly making steering corrections is getting real old and tiring !

Probably something I should have looked into years ago but....

Thanks

RV-Writer · 07-08-2017, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffyms

Anyone have any experience with a product called "Safe-T-Plus" or any other brand of steering stabilizer.

Am considering getting a system for my '98 HR 38WDS but am at a quandary as to what to get. Pricing seems to all over the place and, of course, every manufacturer says theirs is the best.

Am looking to stop the sway especially when being passed by the large trucks or when I'm going around other vehicles. Am also looking to stop the sway when it's windy. Constantly making steering corrections is getting real old and tiring !

Probably something I should have looked into years ago but....

Thanks

I have the Safe-T Plus that came with my rig when I bought it used. I don't really feel diesels passing or coming at me, but wind is always an issue with these big land sails.

windsorbill · 07-08-2017, 07:39 AM

Open the sticky thread "Monaco technical information" and read about sway bars. The product your considering won't do a lot for your problem, but it can help. I have a similar product your looking at but I have it in case of front tire blow out, doesn't do a lot for sway or over steering control. Also visit www.monacowatts.com

MSHappyCampers · 07-08-2017, 09:07 AM

I installed the SteerSafe stabilizers on our Windsor, not to correct any steering problems but to provide added control in case of a front tire blowout. I paid a little over $400 and installed them myself!

Unicorn Driver · 07-08-2017, 09:08 AM

I had a Road master steering stabilizer fitted, it has made a big difference. Coat was about 600$ fitted.

Vanwill · 07-08-2017, 08:08 PM

If you have a 1998, you almost surely have the older style 2-piece solid urethane bushings in all trailing arms and Panhard rods--(20) pieces total. They are waaaaaay too soft and allow a lot of wallowing of the suspension. That wallowing is steering your coach.

NOTHING that attaches to your STEERING components will do ANYTHING to solve your problem. It is a toss-up as to whether replacing all the bushings OR adding a front Watts link and rear X-braces will give you the most improvement. Doing BOTH will give you a two-finger steering coach regardless of winds, road conditions, or passing tractor trailers.

I transformed an absolutely intractable "road wild" 1993 Dynasty 36 into a coach that drove like it was on rails. Before the transformation, three hours driving would wear me out. AFTER, ten hour days were easily possible. As previously suggested, go to www.monacowatts.com and see what is available for your coach. I no longer make these devices, and Mike Hughes does a fantastic job of it.

At the risk of being flamed, I can unequivocally tell you that any device like the Blue Ox "True Center" or anything similar is simply "snake oil" trying to cure a SUSPENSION problem with a STEERING add-on. Neither will anti-sway bars solve your problem. I am a great believer in anti-sway bars, but they will NOT fix your problem. Fix the REAL problem and you will need NO "add-on" devices. The folks that report such great results with these kinds of "add-on" products are the same ones that will tell you some great brand of suspension damper (misnamed "shock absorber") suddenly made their coach both ride SMOOTHER and handle better...don't bet against the laws of physics--you will lose every time.

nodine · 07-09-2017, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanwill

If you have a 1998, you almost surely have the older style 2-piece solid urethane bushings in all trailing arms and Panhard rods--(20) pieces total. They are waaaaaay too soft and allow a lot of wallowing of the suspension. That wallowing is steering your coach.

NOTHING that attaches to your STEERING components will do ANYTHING to solve your problem. It is a toss-up as to whether replacing all the bushings OR adding a front Watts link and rear X-braces will give you the most improvement. Doing BOTH will give you a two-finger steering coach regardless of winds, road conditions, or passing tractor trailers.

I transformed an absolutely intractable "road wild" 1993 Dynasty 36 into a coach that drove like it was on rails. Before the transformation, three hours driving would wear me out. AFTER, ten hour days were easily possible. As previously suggested, go to www.monacowatts.com and see what is available for your coach. I no longer make these devices, and Mike Hughes does a fantastic job of it.

At the risk of being flamed, I can unequivocally tell you that any device like the Blue Ox "True Center" or anything similar is simply "snake oil" trying to cure a SUSPENSION problem with a STEERING add-on. Neither will anti-sway bars solve your problem. I am a great believer in anti-sway bars, but they will NOT fix your problem. Fix the REAL problem and you will need NO "add-on" devices. The folks that report such great results with these kinds of "add-on" products are the same ones that will tell you some great brand of suspension damper (misnamed "shock absorber") suddenly made their coach both ride SMOOTHER and handle better...don't bet against the laws of physics--you will lose every time.

What Van said. The steering stabilizer's only real value is to reduce the impact to the steering wheel in the case of a front tire blowout. You will notice some improvement in the way the coach drives and there is a slight improvement in buffeting winds and passing semi's, but that is only addressing the symptom and not the cause. Van, myself, and many others have worked for years to get to the bottom of the Roadmaster chassis's poor handling. There is a basic design flaw in the Roadmaster chassis that allows buffeting wind, passing semi's, and road patterns to actually steer the coach by moving the axle. Van knows his stuff and the first thing you need to do is replace those worn out and crumbling bushings. Not an easy task.

Bob

fluffyms · 07-09-2017, 05:45 AM

Thanks for the info - I did read the info on the Monaco Watts system(s) and it appears that this would solve my problem(s).

Am wondering if this system would work on my coach with the Freightliner Air Suspension chassis AND just where in my area ( if anyone knows ) I'd be able to get it installed since I'm not one that would be able to do it myself.

Am also wondering just what the cost(s) is for this system and how long the installation takes.

It may seem strange that I'd probably be willing to invest the dollars possibly required on a coach the age of mine ( '98 HR 38WDS ) but it would be a lot less than trading for a newer coach which would have the same kind of problem(s) and not be the quality of my, what some people would call a 'vintage' coach.

RV-Writer · 07-09-2017, 10:54 AM

Yep - I think the watts fix is for Spartan chassis. I think you and I have the Freightliner XC chassis. I also agree the stabilizers work for a front blowout scenario.

I only really ever get blown around by strong winds. Diesels passing in either direction dont seem to be an issue for me. But this is my first rig and have nothing to compare it to.

Dennis_K · 07-09-2017, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanwill

... At the risk of being flamed, I can unequivocally tell you that any device like the Blue Ox "True Center" or anything similar is simply "snake oil" trying to cure a SUSPENSION problem with a STEERING add-on. Neither will anti-sway bars solve your problem. I am a great believer in anti-sway bars, but they will NOT fix your problem. Fix the REAL problem and you will need NO "add-on" devices. The folks that report such great results with these kinds of "add-on" products are the same ones that will tell you some great brand of suspension damper (misnamed "shock absorber") suddenly made their coach both ride SMOOTHER and handle better...don't bet against the laws of physics--you will lose every time.

When I first got my Monaco and started chasing the wandering (before the TRW swap and WATTS link mods had came about) I purchased a Blue Ox True Center and I can state first hand that it did absolutely nothing to help the wandering situation or anything else. In fact I found it annoying. All it did was suck up about $900 and 5-6 hours of my time. Now that I have done the TRW swap and WATTS link the Tru Center is off and under my bench collecting dust.