Community Forums

paulmarg · 05-12-2006, 04:47 PM

Hi Folks:
Just recently arrived back from winter travels of 6,550 miles with our 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire on W24 Chassis...
Driving from Ontario to California in early November, handling was very disappointing,even under light wind conditions.Felt like the tail wagging the dog!!!!
In Jan. we had installed a Koni steering damper and a Davis Tru Trac(both on the front)
I experienced no improvement in handling...
Now I am thinking of a rear anti sway bar...Any suggestions would be appreciated....

paulmarg · 05-12-2006, 04:47 PM

Hi Folks:
Just recently arrived back from winter travels of 6,550 miles with our 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire on W24 Chassis...
Driving from Ontario to California in early November, handling was very disappointing,even under light wind conditions.Felt like the tail wagging the dog!!!!
In Jan. we had installed a Koni steering damper and a Davis Tru Trac(both on the front)
I experienced no improvement in handling...
Now I am thinking of a rear anti sway bar...Any suggestions would be appreciated....

DriVer · 05-12-2006, 05:02 PM

Before you consider adding an anti-sway bar, I would suggest a Henderson Super Steer Track Bar. I would also like to suggest that you rule out the front end alignment. Make sure the FEA is perfect. What kind of pressures are you running in your tires?

Although I run Koni FSD shocks, I haven't seen a Koni steering damper, what's that look like?

Lug_Nut · 05-13-2006, 02:47 AM

Perhaps some description of the handling troubles would help the members to better to assist. Is this in heavy wind, rough roads, porposing, awing, wondering, etc.

paulmarg · 05-13-2006, 05:10 AM

Since I already have two steering assists on the front,at a considerable cost,I hesitate to keep adding to the front assists.I will certainly have the FEA checked.
Pressure in tires Front 100 PSI Duals 95 PSI.
The Koni Steering damper is very similar to the Safe T Plus Bar.
Thanks so much for your input....

paulmarg · 05-13-2006, 05:14 AM

All winds affect the handling.Sidewinds,light,moderate,heavy winds,and passing trucks...No porposing,but the rig wanders..It takes constant correcting.

Brigadoon · 05-13-2006, 06:06 AM

I agree with DriVer. Go with the Henderson Super Steer rear track bar. I had the same problems with my W22 that you have with your rig. The Henderson bar was the single greatest improvement that I made to the W22. Plus it is easy to install.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-13-2006, 07:03 AM

For wandering, a track bar is the usually answer. Generally speaking, if the steering is fidgety (requires constant small corrections) a front track bar will fix it. If the motion is broader, a "yawing" from side to side, then a rer track bar is a better solution. I'm surprised, though, that the Davis Tru-trac did not provide at least some improvement in any case. That makes me wonder if there might be some other, more fundamental problem.

As Driver has suggested, get the front end alignment perfect. Also weigh the rig on all four corners and then set the tire pressure according to the tire manufacturer weight tables. You could also try to shift weight forward - sometimes even a few hundred pounds moved from a rear bays toward the front will help a lot. Weight at or behind the rear axle is your enemy!

But sometimes the coach manufacturer just distributes the basic body weight poorly and all you can do is fine tuning it a little.

Ding-a-ling · 05-13-2006, 07:06 AM

Paulmarg,

Take DriVer's advice - have a competent large truck front end and suspension shop verify the FE alignment first. My rig also required very active steering. Even tho dealer adjusted it, truck shop did it over and cured the problem.

Also verify axle loading, F/R and corners.

paulmarg · 05-13-2006, 09:14 AM

Thanks for the input....Is the Henderson Super Steer Track bar for the rear...By the wording in the name,I assumed it was for the front...
We have an appointment at Newmar in June,as our windshield has shifted.It has moved upward on driver's side at least 1/4 inch as indicated by the white showing below rubber at bottom...Has
anyone ever heard of this happening?
We are very careful with weight distribution,and have very little beyond rear axle.
All suggestions are appreciated...

DriVer · 05-13-2006, 09:17 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by paulmarg:
Thanks for the input....Is the Henderson Super Steer Track bar for the rear...By the wording in the name,I assumed it was for the front...... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Henderson calls it a Super Steer because what happens in the back ultimately affects the steering input that happens in the front.

M&EM · 05-13-2006, 02:08 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by paulmarg:
We have an appointment at Newmar in June,as our windshield has shifted.It has moved upward on driver's side at least 1/4 inch as indicated by the white showing below rubber at bottom...Has
anyone ever heard of this happening?
We are very careful with weight distribution,and have very little beyond rear axle.
All suggestions are appreciated... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've heard of windshield issues such as popping out when jacked too much in the front in very unlevel situations. Try a search with that in mind...

Marty

nobuggybob · 05-13-2006, 06:03 PM

I also have a 05 Moutain Aire that does the same thing! allways steering. Where do I start? Front or rear?

DriVer · 05-13-2006, 06:09 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nobuggybob:
I also have a 05 Moutain Aire that does the same thing! allways steering. Where do I start? Front or rear? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>You can start by reading the Chassis upgrades that I accomplished at the top of this forum. I started with the rear track bar and it made a 65% improvement in the way my motorhome tracked down the road.

Again make absolutely sure you have an excellent front end alignment and your tires pressures are properly set before you start fixing issues with your wallet.