Steering Control??

[supercub]

Overall, I'm very happy with the handling of my Southwind.....however, it does take constant, small corrections on the steering wheel, unlike my car that seems to be on rails. I've read about the Safe T Plus Steering Control and sounds like it might correct my problem. What do you think? Also, is this something I can install, or does a shop need to do it? Thanks again.
Brian

[supercub]

Overall, I'm very happy with the handling of my Southwind.....however, it does take constant, small corrections on the steering wheel, unlike my car that seems to be on rails. I've read about the Safe T Plus Steering Control and sounds like it might correct my problem. What do you think? Also, is this something I can install, or does a shop need to do it? Thanks again.
Brian

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by supercub:
it does take constant, small corrections on the steering wheel, unlike my car that seems to be on rails. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Brian, Before you consider adding after market products have your front end properly aligned and check your air pressures.

[Steady Eddie]

Brian--
"Assuming" that your wheel alignment and
tire pressures are OK:
It may be a matter of driving style.
Try these two things---
One, begin to focus Waaay Down the Road.
Some say 1/4 mile. That's 1320 feet.
It's the same idea as why you can carry
12 glasses of beer on a tray and not spill
a drop. You do not focus on the tray.
Two, move up close to the steering wheel
as is comfortable and always drive with
the tilt wheel all the way up. Ever notice
the steering wheel angle on a long haul
truck?
There are other hints...RELAX is a big one.
Soon you'll be amazed. It usually takes me
about 40-minutes behind the wheel to calm down.
BTW--is your steering wheel actually CENTERED
with the middle of the seat cushion?? Many
Coachbuilders offset the wheel by as much as
two inches. If the wheel is off center,
driving it WILL make you crazy.
Small things, really.

[lwmuddy]

I went with the Safety Plus after a complete alignment at a front end specialist in California and it cut the steering wander down tremendously. Not to mention it will help if you blow a tire.
I still have to play with the wheel some to counter act for the tail wagging. That comes next along with 2 Koni's. My Bilsteins are too hard.

[Gary RVRoamer]

A Safe-T-Plus would be my last choice to correct wandering problems. A Davis Tru Trac Bar (front) or Henderson stabilizer (rear) woul dbe my first choice.

But I concur with the others - before you spend bucks on steering parts, get the tire pressure and alignment dead on (both are affected by your final loading) and get in plenty of practice behind the wheel. Focus "far out" as Steady eddie says - it makes a world of difference.

[TXiceman]

First you chek tire loading or weights and adjust your air pressure accordingly.

Next get the front end aligned while the coach is loaded for travel.

Then look at track bars.

The SafetyPlus and all of the steering stabilizers do nothing toward correcting the priblem. They only cover up the symptons.

Ken

[eandy]

Brian, I'm going to disagree w/the moderators. We only have 4600 mi. on ours but after 1st long trip to KCMO going on some badly rutted roads and handling against strong wind etc I was set on fitting some control. I opted for Steer safe. Installed myself easily. While mfg makes no claims regarding countering wind effect it does. Rig tracks straight and maintains that in rutting. Wind effect is virtually eliminated. The only time I really noticed wind was going from fllat land into foothills in a crescent shape w/ road entering center. Wind was swirling. Trackor trailer ahead was departing road often and while I felt wind rig still stayed in lane w/o effort. The only extra fit I'm planning is a rear stabilizer bar. At that I only feel any sway is on a curve at the bottom of a long descent sp. when I tend to let the rig go on with some speed toward the bottom. In short I'd do the steer safe again.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by eandy:
At that I only feel any sway is on a curve at the bottom of a long descent sp. when I tend to let the rig go on with some speed toward the bottom. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>The solution that works best here is the addition of a front track bar. This is my experience and I wrote a piece about it in my chassis upgrades here on the top of this forum.

I use a Safe-T-Plus and a (now) Roadmaster front track bar called a Tru-Track. Both of these devices operating co-jointly as a system moderate bump steer caused by ridges and ruts and the track bar holds the leaf springs in perfect alignment as you transition through those high speed descending crescents. The net effect of this effort is that I now have no sensation of needing to see-saw my way out of a high speed turn. The front end is hooked up and on-rails.

A rear track bar will add to this stability and is most often appreciated when the rig is traveling straight and level. The challenges here are side wind forces, push from other vehicles and transitioning around sharp curves at speed.