Safe-T-Plus and Motion Control Units

[Nonno]

Do these basically do the same thing?

The two main things I'm trying to address are (1) reducing the effect of side winds and (2) control in the event of a front tire blow-out. Because of #2 it appears I'd want the safe-t-plus not the MCU.

However, the added benefits of reducing side to side motion associated with various types of uneven pavement and reducing the bounce from dips would be nice also.

So if I have the one, do I need the other? Or do I get the safe-t-plus for the blow-out feature and the MCU for the other issues?

I have the RR4R chassis.

[walt2137]

I would suggest that you look at the Blue Ox Trucenter before you purchase, it will solve the side wind problem and also help with a blow out. I have used one since they came out and it been updated about 3 times, its a good unit!
Blue Ox Steering Controls

Walt

[moisheh]

Have you considered a Steer Safe? They have been making these units for over 35 years. Our SOB is a Bluebird and I had one of these installed at Q last winter. In February of this year we were in Mexico and my right front tire exploded. I was able to control the MH and all I lost was time and a tire. I know I would have rolled without the Steer Safe. Had this been our Monaco it would have been destoyed. The BB has a bus size steering wheel and this gives you mechanical advantage. The Monaco has a sissy wheel!! We will be in Deming this fall and I wil have one installed on the Dynasty.

[Nonno]

I'm leaning towards the Safe-T-plus because of a good experience with a previous (non air) MH. At that time went with the Safe-T-Plus rather than the Steer Safe due to salesman recommendation. Fortunately, I didn't have to evaluate its performance during a blow-out but it did help with the cross winds and passing trucks.
Now that I have airbrakes I was wondering if there are advantages to the Super Steer Motion Control Units either in addition to or in lieu of the Safe-T-Plus.

[GaryKD]

Hi Bob,
I have both a steering stabilizer and the MCUs. For me they take care of different problems. They overlap a little with each other.

The steering stabilizer helps with driver fatigue by reducing the amount of attention (correction) needed throughout the driving experience. They help with all the situations where steering correction is needed. Side winds (from whatever source), road irregularities, rapid tire PSI lose to name a few. Which ever one you purchase I recommend you consider only those that the driver is able to re-center from the driver's seat as one encounters different situations. I have such a unit and the ability to recenter the stabilizer is a real winner of a feature.

The MCU units help reduce the side to side rocking of a coach for whatever reason. This could be from low speed turns on uneven pavement, differences in road quality at any speed and undulations in the pavement. The MCUs do not affect my coach's ride at highway speeds.

The point to remember is when the coach is moved, for whatever reason, there is a weight shift. If this is a sideways movement, the weight of the coach will shift in the direction of the movement. At highway speed, the steering will tend to follow the weight shift. The MCUs lessen the weight shift and therefore the steering will not have the tendency to require as much driver input.

My coach has:

1. trac bar
2. IPD Roadmaster anti-sway bar
3. Howard Precision Steering System
4. MCUs

All these items work as advertised. All of them together make my coach a joy to drive.

[Nonno]

Hi Gary,

Quote:

I recommend you consider only those that the driver is able to re-center from the driver's seat as one encounters different situations. I have such a unit and the ability to recenter the stabilizer is a real winner of a feature.

I don't recall this feature or need with the Safe-T-Plus. By "recentering" do you mean if the front end were to pull to either side just in the course of normal driving you can correct this by doing something from the driver's seat vs bringing it in for an alignment service?

[GaryKD]

Hi Bob,
I suppose the steering control could be used to offset a needed adjustment in the front end alignment. I've never thought about it.

My post was made with the thought of situations where the coach is being pushed sideways for a considerable length of time. This happens quite frequently crossing the country (East to West or reverse). Sometime the wind coming from the North or South is just going to stay with you all day long. This happens also on the East coast (North to South or reverse). If the steering stabilizer can not be re-centered and the driver has the steering wheel in some other position than straight ahead to compensate for the wind; the driver is fighting the wind and also the steering stabilizer. The stabilizer wants to return the wheels to their straight and centered position. Unfortunately, because of the wind, the steering wheel must be kept off center to maintain lane position.

If the driver can re-center the stabilizer then the effort is reduced to zero. The stabilizer will keep the steering wheel position where ever the driver puts it so the coach maintains lane position. This means the stabilizer is helping the driver combat the winds in a much more safe manner.

I can go weeks without changing the center position of my stabilizer. However, on days when the cross wind will be with me all day, I truly appreciate the ability to put the steering wheel in a position where I am in the center of my lane and then recenter (push a button) the stabilizer. Immediately, the energy to keep the steering wheel in an off center position (due to the wind) is totally gone. I can now resume a normal grip on the wheel. The amount of correction needed returns to what I am used to on a no wind day.

I know Blue Ox and Henderson (Super Steer) have models that can be re-centered by the driver.

[Nonno]

Gary, thanks for the info. I'll check them out.

[beaverjim]

gary, i too have the howard system. i liked it so much that when we traded our dicovery in on our present mh (back in 02) i wouldn't do the deal unless it included the transfer of the howard system. i sure will be sorry when it finally breaks! jim

[Olive]

I've never had a steering wheel or any adjustable unit but had and have a Safe-T-Plus. On my last coach, a gas rig/Ford chassis, it helped a lot with cross wind, blow by and general side motion.

In Oct 2007 I was traveling with a group from NC to CA and while going through TX I had a right front blowout going over 70 mph passing a semi truck. I heard the tire blow but honestly never felt it. I eased off the gas and drove into the median without any problem. The tire had really exploded. It blew apart and took more than half the side panel with it. I would have never believed the Safe-T-Plus would work that well.

I now have a diesel coach on Freightliner chassis and the first thing I did to it was add the Safe-T-Plus. Not that I want another blow out but was so impressed with how it worked on the Adventurer. Early Jan I was driving through SC during high wind warnings with winds of 25-40mph with higher gusts according to the weather radio and had no problem at all driving. I felt a gust now and then but not bad. I did have to keep both hands on the wheel. Afterall I not very big; pretty petite actually.

I've put about 10-15k miles on this coach and so far been very pleased.

[chiefdave]

I was looking to purchase a Blue OX Steering Control unit and came upon this recall.

For you Blue OX Steering Control unit owners. Recall notice for units manufactured between October & December 2005.

Recall unknown BLUE OX TC35270

Blue OX is currently out of stock for the TC35270 unit. They are looking at May 2010 for deliveries.