Community Forums

BriaLynne · 07-17-2012, 09:42 AM

We have a 1992 American Eagle 38, Cummins 300, Spartan MM, 181,000 miles, new Michelins, new Bilsteins, fresh alignment at a HD frame shop. The steering has a lot of play on center. Driving straight down the freeway requires constant correction and "chasing". Cross winds are white knuckle. Mountain roads are better. Once the turn is initiated then it tracks well. Riding along next to a big rig during a cross wind is a blessing as the big rig blocks the wind. Not affected by passing trucks. This is our first coach. Is this handling normal for this type of chassis or is improvement possible?

Thanks.

MRBB · 07-17-2012, 10:00 AM

Have the front end checked out at a TRUCK shop. You probably need bushings, a steering box adjustment and maybe a new bellcrank . Adding a rear stabilizer bar will also help. A lot of people are going to tell you to buy a SteerSafe or some other thing to correct your problem but believe me when my first MH wandered like yours it was a $2,200 bill to repair the front end and then it drove real well. It didn't come from the factory that way. It's just worn out parts. Good luck.

BriaLynne · 07-17-2012, 10:35 AM

Thank you. I notice your pic is a 5th wheel. Do you prefer this to a mh? This is our first rv and we just got back from our first trip (Sacramento-Seattle-Sacramento) without a toad and discussed that a 5 th wheeler might have been a better choice. I assume you have done both?

MRBB · 07-17-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BriaLynne

Thank you. I notice your pic is a 5th wheel. Do you prefer this to a mh? This is our first rv and we just got back from our first trip (Sacramento-Seattle-Sacramento) without a toad and discussed that a 5 th wheeler might have been a better choice. I assume you have done both?

I have done both. I started with a gasser MH and after spending over $8,000 in repairs to make it road worthy and livable I found out it's a never ending deal. Every time I turned around it was something else and after 2 years I sold it. I like the feeling of a class A and the convenience of setting it up but the up keep just got to be too much.

I switched to a fifth wheel and it has a lot more room and a lot less to go wrong. So far I've spent less on the truck and 5th repairs in 2 years than I spent on the MH in the first month. If I could afford a newer DP class A I would have one but the 5th is much less expensive.

With the MH you have 2 insurances to pay, 2 plates to pay for, 2 motors to keep up with, 4 extra tires and around 4 mpg less than a 5th set up. That alone adds up to pile of cash and headaches. To each his own but I'm happy with my choice for now. Good luck to you and welcome to the forum.

baja · 07-17-2012, 08:10 PM

Ron Huston @Monroeville Chassis& Frame does all American choach work for factory and used to do all Spartan & Newmar high end, he is great.
(260)623-6093, very cost worthy, Monroeville,IN.

NHRA225 · 07-18-2012, 02:46 PM

First and Formost - congratulations on your 1st Eagle. They don't build them like that anymore!
Now- Suggestions only !
Check the tire press all 6- I run 105-front and 110 in the rear and have been the last 2 sets of tires at 80,000 mile per set.While your at it check the date codes on all 6 tires.
2nd if you see no improvement, get to a shop that know's Spartan Chassies as they can pull the alignment specs and check out your front end. The local shop I use for mine every 2 years is about $90 bucks a pop for a thorough inspection and alignment checkup. The coach should drive straight and be very compfordable to handle under most all conditions.
If you need any further info on your 92 Vintage Eagle just pm me.
Good luck !

BriaLynne · 07-18-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHRA225

First and Formost - congratulations on your 1st Eagle. They don't build them like that anymore!
Now- Suggestions only !
Check the tire press all 6- I run 105-front and 110 in the rear and have been the last 2 sets of tires at 80,000 mile per set.While your at it check the date codes on all 6 tires.
2nd if you see no improvement, get to a shop that know's Spartan Chassies as they can pull the alignment specs and check out your front end. The local shop I use for mine every 2 years is about $90 bucks a pop for a thorough inspection and alignment checkup. The coach should drive straight and be very compfordable to handle under most all conditions.
If you need any further info on your 92 Vintage Eagle just pm me.
Good luck !

Thank you. Yes, we learned about date codes the hard way. When the old tire blew it took out the left rear wheel well and black water tank (which was 1/2 full). That ended our trip and our season. I will take it to the shop because keeping this thing on course is way too much work.

docj · 07-18-2012, 07:34 PM

IMHO the best MH front end/alignment/suspension folks are at Henderson's Line-Up in Grant's Pass OR which isn't all that far from you. They are experts in MH handling issues and make a lot of the specialty hardware used by many. I've had some of their hardware installed on my coach and the improvement was dramatic.

NHRA225 · 07-19-2012, 06:05 AM

Just had a thought. about 6 or 7 yrs ago my steering wheel began to bind a little while making turns and was noticable driving down the road.
I called Spartan and they asked if I ever greased the 2 u-joints in the steering column- 1 is just below the steering wheel and is difficult to get to and the other is located under the coach up in the column- Make sure you grease them.
My steering was significantly improved.

BriaLynne · 07-19-2012, 11:15 PM

Thanks. Both are good ideas. We just shimmied through Grants Pass on Monday on our way back to Cal. We could shimmy back if necessary. I will try West Coast frame is Sacramento first, they do a lot of fire trucks, MH's, and commercial buses.

BriaLynne · 07-19-2012, 11:19 PM

There is something knocking in the steering column just below the wheel whenever the right front wheel hits a rut or bump. I will check that u-joint. Thanks.

FormerBoater · 07-29-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHRA225

First and Formost - congratulations on your 1st Eagle. They don't build them like that anymore!
Now- Suggestions only !
Check the tire press all 6- I run 105-front and 110 in the rear and have been the last 2 sets of tires at 80,000 mile per set.While your at it check the date codes on all 6 tires.
2nd if you see no improvement, get to a shop that know's Spartan Chassies as they can pull the alignment specs and check out your front end. The local shop I use for mine every 2 years is about $90 bucks a pop for a thorough inspection and alignment checkup. The coach should drive straight and be very compfordable to handle under most all conditions.
If you need any further info on your 92 Vintage Eagle just pm me.
Good luck !

X2 on the congrats. These are extremely well built machines and you will eventually get it "dialed in". Once all is well you really do not steer them, just a finger on the wheel as they track down the road.

Alignment and tire pressure are key!

DaveS
1998 American Eagle 40 EVS

BriaLynne · 07-30-2012, 02:26 PM

Thank you. We have it at West Coast Frame right now. They are Spartan authorized and do a lot of collision repair and front end work for fire departments all over the state, big rigs, buses, and motor homes. It is waiting its turn to get in right now. I am anxious to get it back so I can cruise down the highway with one hand.

I keep track of date codes now after having an old tire cut a swath through the black water tank (1/2 full) on Highway 5 one very hot afternoon. I have Michelins all around. 2 are due soon, 2 more in 1 year, and 2 more in 3 years.

The TPM monitor "Tire Minder" works extremely well. The device is smaller than a cell phone and is extremely easy to read and interpret. Totally wireless, takes 20 minutes to set up. You can watch pressures and temps for up to 24 tires. If a pressure or a temp is changing relatively quickly, alarms and lights go off to alert you. This happened on a recent trip for us. An alarm told me that my right rear inside had just started leaking. I pulled over and found that the screw-on valve stem extension for that wheel had backed off enough to leak. The whole kit cost a little north of $300 at Camping World but the info is priceless.

Eagle123 · 08-08-2012, 10:35 AM

In my 2000 eagle, there is an adjustment screw on the steering box. I was able to tighten that and improve my handling and reduce sloppy steering. Mine tracks straight for long distances, but when I correct the steering, it moves the wheels too much causing me to constantly go left / right. So I think my ball joints are when and at least, need an alignment. When you tighten that nut, good to make it where it started. If you tighten too much, you steering wheel will not return my it's self coming out of a turn.
Bill