Community Forums

bkervaski · 04-18-2016, 08:18 AM

Morning all!

Just researching steering stabilizers and sway bar systems folks are installing on their Class A's.

It seems like these systems are primarily being installed on gas chassis and I was wondering how many were installing sway bars or steering stabilizers on diesel pushers?

The one I have on order has a Freightliner ISB.

Opinions welcome

vsheetz · 04-18-2016, 08:50 AM

I added steering stab and rear track bar to our gasser PA on ford chassis. Made huge improvement in handling and safety. For the Phaeton DP I am not seeing a need for such items to fix/improve handling. Will be interested to see the comments of others.

JFXG · 04-18-2016, 09:56 AM

Bkervaski...... The engineering gymnastics required by designers in order to achieve any kind of acceptable weight distribution in a medium to large gas powered motorhome leave them with what is very often an inherently unstable vehicle. Then at some point an owner has to spend a substantial amount of his own money to render the vehicle usable and safe. I am at a loss to understand why the chassis builder doesn't (or didn't) simply finish the job in the first place.

John & Diane, fulltiming since '12
'02 DS, FL, Cat, '04 Element
NHSO RVM103

Wobster · 04-18-2016, 01:24 PM

We installed a Steer Safe on our DP. Mostly to help with control in a blowout situation. AS an added benefit it is now less subject to wind gusts and passing trucks (though trucks were not a major problem before installation).

Steve Ownby · 04-18-2016, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wobster

We installed a Steer Safe on our DP. Mostly to help with control in a blowout situation. AS an added benefit it is now less subject to wind gusts and passing trucks (though trucks were not a major problem before installation).

I installed a Blue Ox TruCenter on our 40' DP. The primary purpose was control in a "blowout" situation. Having the "trim" function available is helpful in a steady crosswind or a pronounced "crown" in the road surface.

Dutch Star Don · 04-18-2016, 03:28 PM

My Monaco Diplomat had a Roadmaster chassis and the design was getting long in the tooth. They came out with sway bars for it that really worked well. I also installed the True Center as "Steve Ownby" did and really loved how it worked. They now have a new stabilizing system for the old Monaco chassis that makes it drive like it's on rails.

With all that said, the newer chassis' like the Freightliners are always doing updates and making improvements. I have a 2014 Freightiner XCR chassis on my coach. There's not much you can do to it that hasn't been done. I changed out my shocks to Koni's and that's about it.

Rich-n-Linda · 04-18-2016, 09:21 PM

Our Mandalay on the Freightliner XCR chassis with a 400 hp Cummins ISL drives like a dream without anything added.

Mr_D · 04-18-2016, 09:37 PM

Our rig came with a front sway bar and has dual steering boxes on the 20,000# front axle. It handles very well for a 50,000# rig with 18,000#'s on the front axle. The only "problem" was the KONI adjustable shocks weren't enough so I just put KONI EVO "99" series shocks on the front. These are made for buses and internally act like the FSD's do for lighter vehicles. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

MSHappyCampers · 04-19-2016, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkervaski

Morning all!

Just researching steering stabilizers and sway bar systems folks are installing on their Class A's.

It seems like these systems are primarily being installed on gas chassis and I was wondering how many were installing sway bars or steering stabilizers on diesel pushers?

The one I have on order has a Freightliner ISB.

Opinions welcome

We got lucky! Our 2002 Monaco Windsor is steady as a rock on the road, never a control problem!

I did install a set of the SteerSafe stabilizers for protection in case of a front tire blowout, but not for normal driving!

DD788Snipe · 04-20-2016, 11:21 AM

My Spartan chassis is rock solid and I driven in some winds in excess of 30 mph across the Texas Panhandle at times. I would like to have installed a Blue Ox True Center but with the way the Reyco/Granning front suspension is designed it can't be done due to it being a center steer system and Blue Ox engineers haven't found a way to make it work. I missed out on the Confort Steer system by one year.

JFNM · 04-20-2016, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DD788Snipe

My Spartan chassis is rock solid...

Ditto mine.

A DP is typically a chassis that is designed for the length and weight. Not so much the gassers (obviously a huge number of variables there).

Ludmilla · 04-21-2016, 06:00 AM

We installed a Blue Ox True Center on our diesel coach primarily to assist if there is a front tire blowout. We have found the electronic trim useful when there is a steady cross wind.

MN_Traveler · 04-21-2016, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ludmilla

We installed a Blue Ox True Center on our diesel coach primarily to assist if there is a front tire blowout. We have found the electronic trim useful when there is a steady cross wind.

Do we really know that these steering stabilizers help in event of a front tire blowout??? (On DPs that is)???

Cat320 · 04-21-2016, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MN_Traveler

Do we really know that these steering stabilizers help in event of a front tire blowout??? (On DPs that is)???

I don't see why you'd need a stabilizer in case of a blowout...as long as the power steering is still working. We had a RF blowout last May on I 55 south of Chicago...no problem at with maintaining control or steering. It had a pretty good vibration but no control problems.