Community Forums

jasonm · 06-03-2007, 03:28 PM

Going down the interstate at 60mph or higher, my Sightseer sure is a bit squirrely...lots of little corrections needed to keep her going strait. What kind of stabilizer system or after-market add one would help solve it?

jasonm · 06-03-2007, 03:28 PM

Going down the interstate at 60mph or higher, my Sightseer sure is a bit squirrely...lots of little corrections needed to keep her going strait. What kind of stabilizer system or after-market add one would help solve it?

Pusherman · 06-03-2007, 03:40 PM

Jason,

Before you begin adding after-market stuff, be sure to understand first if there are any underlying problems.

Here are a few suggestions based on my own coach being a little 'squirrely' going down the road:

1) Have your coach weighed. 4 point weight is best, but if you can't find a place to get this done, go to a CAT certified scale to get front and rear axle weights. Then go to your tire vendor to adjust your tire pressures as a function of your axle weights. Over pressures will make it ride like a tank.

2) Have your front end aligned. Make sure it meets factory specs with your rig fully loaded (gas, water, food, passengers, etc).

3) Have your front tires balanced. Ask the mechanic to verify your tires and wheels are 'in round'.

Make sure to do all these things to verify there are no underlying problems before you add aftermarket products which could mask underlying problems.

I took delivery of my '07 coach and it was very 'squirrely' in handling. Had the front end aligned (it was spot-on), had the front wheels balanced (they were off balance), but in the process my mechanic discovered my 2 front tires were out of round. BINGO! After replacing the 2 front tires under warranty, the driveability was SIGNIFICANTLY improved.

It now drives like my old rig, which was very good.

Tom N · 06-03-2007, 04:24 PM

What's the tongue weight on that boat and trailer???

Hitch tongue wedges weight off the front end.

-Tom

MikeT · 06-03-2007, 04:49 PM

What chassis do you have? And how are you loaded --- too much water? no water? lots of things can cause problems--- loading is important ---

jasonm · 06-03-2007, 07:10 PM

My 35' Sightseer has the Workhorse Chasis. Loaded pretty lightly, for the most part. Only had about 1/2 tank water, and not a lot of "gear" if you will. I did notice that the alignment is off, so that is being fixed....maybe that is the only issue.

SteveR · 06-03-2007, 07:21 PM

Mine was a mess to drive; especially in the wind. I had the wheels balanced...no issues noted and no improvement. We still have a bounce at 62-65mph.

I had the front end aligned. That was a real mess! The GM factory (or someone else) had placed shims in the front axle for the initial rough alignment. The shims were facing opposite directions on the axle so it was torqued and everytime the chassis would rise or move the axle would unload and flex causing some really exciting steering events...especially in high cross winds.

I also had a front anti sway bar installed. The rig will never drive like my car but it is much better. We still have a lot of tail wagging in cross winds or from passing trucks but I think that is due to the wheelbase of the MH more than anything else.

Paulin · 06-04-2007, 06:38 AM

Jasonm,

There have been all good posts here for solving your problem. IF, however, after checking alingment, etc. you still have handling problems aftermarket devices may be needed. You are lucky to be relatively close to Centralia, WA where Brazels RV is located. They are perhaps the preimere RV shop for Workhorse service here on the west coast. They have excellent technicians and vast experience fixing handling ploblems like yours.

Regards,
Paul

ItstheTrip · 06-04-2007, 07:00 AM

One thing not touched on yet is tire pressure. If it is too high, this might contribute to the problem you're describing. Visit the tire manufacturer's web site and you should find a chart that prescribes what pressure you should use for the weight you're carrying. (Well, Michelin has this info, don't know about others.) We had the same problem because when we bought our rig new, the dealer had the tires cranked all the way up to max at 110 lbs. Proper pressure for our weight is actually 90 lbs. It will make a difference.

Gary RVRoamer · 06-04-2007, 09:02 AM

Get the alignment squared away and the tire pressures correct for the weight on each axle. If you still have aproblem, I would install either a Davis [Roadmaster] Tru-Track bar on the front or a Henderson Track Bar on the rear - either one will solve most steering problems on this type of chassis.

If you feel you need professional help, go to
Henserson's Line Up in Grants Pass, OR (probably the best motorhome chassis handling shop in the country) or Eric's RV in Sequim, WA. Both shops are experts in this sort of problem and invented the standard solutions now sold by others.

Dick L · 07-08-2007, 10:17 AM

We have found a lot of motorhomes that drive unpredictably or erratic and may be properly aligned to be very dry on grease in the front end. New motorhomes may sit up to a year while at the chassis manufactorures or coach body builders or even on the dealers lot and they get a stiff feel to the front end. On Workhorse, F53 and Freightliner chassis we always get great results by lifting the front tires slightly off the gorund and grease the king pins on both sides while having someone slowly turn the tires all the way from left to right. That gets the thrust bearings back to being properly geased and the king pins will free up a bit also. Just a cheap fix that should be done anyway.