Handling upgrades / improvements?

[ryansmousehouse]

I've a 2004 winne 35U (2003 chasis)...no changes made yet and I'm looking to do something to improve handling...for me the primary issue is wander...I feel like the front end is floating down the road...doesn't seem to bother my wife, but I don't like it....also feels like a lot of play in the steering.....I have a limited budget, so I'm looking for suggestions...thanks, Bob....PS I know this has been discussed previously...what I'm looking for is the best order to install upgrades and for someone with limited funds, but who plans on keeping the rig for several years....thanks

[ryansmousehouse]

I've a 2004 winne 35U (2003 chasis)...no changes made yet and I'm looking to do something to improve handling...for me the primary issue is wander...I feel like the front end is floating down the road...doesn't seem to bother my wife, but I don't like it....also feels like a lot of play in the steering.....I have a limited budget, so I'm looking for suggestions...thanks, Bob....PS I know this has been discussed previously...what I'm looking for is the best order to install upgrades and for someone with limited funds, but who plans on keeping the rig for several years....thanks

[FrontRangeRVer]

I believe your front to rear length ratio is low on the 35U model, so you might have the tail wagging the dog problem....I sure wouldn't throw unnecessary money at it until I got an alignment....

[Photog]

I agree with Marc's suggestion, as a starting point.

Driver put a lot of info on this subject into a thread some time ago it is located here.

Good luck,

Bill

[FrankReno]

We installed a rear trac bar first. Giant improvement! We now have them on both ends, well worth the money.

[JCM]

I have inflatable air bags on the back - Firestone - and a dash guage/switch so I can decrease the air pressure or increase it depending on fuel and water load.
They are also available for the front. Makes a great difference in the handling - even 5 lbs.
Stops the tail wag the dog effect.

[oemtech]

Go to my website and read the UltraTrac section and maybe it will answer some of your questions. Then decide what is best for you.

[K6TBC]

Let me ask a very basic first question. Have you had the RV weighed? You said you were on a limited budget so before throwing money at the rig. Get it weighed. You can then check your tire pressures get them set. Drive the unit and see how it feels maybe you will fix the problem or improve it enough not to spend a lot of money. I'm working a show in Calif. and people come to our booth all day with handling problems that are fixed with proper tire pressure. Good luck

[oemtech]

There are 3 axises that come into play in handling.
1. up/down
2. side to side
3. roll

Now in simplistic terms item 1 is controlled by the shocks, item 2 is controlled by trac bars and item 3 is controlled by sway bars.

But, the following will have a big influence on what you need to add and how much is added.

1. Coach wheel base
2. Suspension style - coil springs or leaf springs
3. Coach weight
4. Weight distribution
4. Over hang - stretched chassis
5. Tire size and pressure
6. Roll center

One last thing that RV owners look at is steering wheel correction. A steering stabilizer provides some relief from consistent steering wheel correction. Safe-T-Plus, Steer Safe and Blue Ox True center are 3 products that do this.

[Clay L]

Many if not all 2003 chassis had a two inch front stabilizer bar that in 2004 was changed to a two and one half inch bar.
I bought the bigger bar and installed it myself. It made a tremendous change for the better in roll and sway behavior.

My cost as I recall was about $130 for the new bar and shipping plus $35 rental on a torque wrench that could measure the 275 foot pounds of torque required. The new end fittings came with the new bar.

The small bar issue may or may not be connected to your immediate problem, but I would sure recommend that you make the change in any case.

There were a bunch of threads regarding this back in 2004 that you might want to search for. I think the term "sway bar" was used a lot instead of stabilizer bar.

[Medic318]

I have a 2003 Dolphin 34ft at 17000. miles I noticed some wear on the front end took it too an alignment shop found the front end was out 1 1/4 " and the rear was out 2+" prior to my alignment had the wander problem and had to be steering all the time (thought this was normal) (exausting on a long trip)the fellow at the alignment shop said he got quite a few newer rigs in with alignnment problems after the lazer alignment it was like driving a brand new rig this might be a start only cost $250.00 with tire rotation and fixed a loose bearing or something on the front end took 2 hrs PS vehicle had never been in accident or over bad roads

[M&EM]

As has been posted all throughout this forum over many years.. Do a wheel alignment before any other add ons'. The rear axle thrust alignment in particular significantly improved my rigs handling. Unfortunately, I had done many other add ons before that.

My toe-in was way out as delivered from the coach factory.

Marty