Community Forums

geraldviator · 07-03-2011, 09:07 AM

I just bought a Damon (now owned by Thor) Avanti (2010.) So far, my wife and I have only taken one longish trip. The vibration in the steering wheel and also the difficulty in keeping the unit in the road (oversteering) made it difficult for me to enjoy the road trip. I have had all the tires checked and rebalanced. Could this be another problem? I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this and if so, how was it resolved? The RV is still under warentee so I am anxious to get to the bottom of the problem. The chassis people (Freightliner) keep referring me to the tire people who say that everything is balanced and fine. Help!

RJay · 07-03-2011, 09:25 AM

Did Freightliner do a front end alignment?

geraldviator · 07-03-2011, 10:58 AM

No. I will check with freightliner about doing one. Thanks.

Mike Canter · 07-03-2011, 12:36 PM

A steering wheel vibration is not caused by a bad front end alignment. There is nothing in the alignment that can cause that but can cause the wandering or the oversteer. The vibration in the steering wheel is either a tire out of round or a bent rim or a tread separation in a tire. Or a tire bouncing because the shock absorber is completely gone. The MH wandering can be a front end alignment or can be that you have all bad shocks on the MH. What tire shop are you taking it to to check the balance is it a truck tire place or a car tire place. How are they checking the balance...are they taking it off and spin balancing it or spinning the tire up when it is mounted on the MH? Is there a Speedco place close to you?

Try them
Speedco

Rodneykrantz · 07-03-2011, 03:03 PM

How about wheel bearing or loose lug nuts?

ahicks · 07-04-2011, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geraldviator

I just bought a Damon (now owned by Thor) Avanti (2010.) So far, my wife and I have only taken one longish trip. The vibration in the steering wheel and also the difficulty in keeping the unit in the road (oversteering) made it difficult for me to enjoy the road trip. I have had all the tires checked and rebalanced. Could this be another problem? I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this and if so, how was it resolved? The RV is still under warentee so I am anxious to get to the bottom of the problem. The chassis people (Freightliner) keep referring me to the tire people who say that everything is balanced and fine. Help!

You didn't mention if you've had the coach weighed and used the results to determine the tire pressure(s) you should be running. If these are too far off they can cause wandering or over steer. You cannot use info from the MH or tire manf. to do this with reasonable accuracy. You have to get it weighed.

You might ask Freightliner to check for slop in the steering gear as well. That can lead to the need for constant steering input/corrections as well.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-04-2011, 08:50 AM

I agree with Mike re the vibration issue.

Wandering is hard to diagnose, especially since it is often exacerbated by the driver. New Class A motorhome drivers often focus too close to the front of the coach because they are unused to the driving perspective of the high-forward front seat and are striving too hard to stay between the lines. Shifting your road gaze further down the highway will tend to make you drive straighter and not over-correct. Also, take note where the center line appears to intersect your dashboard when you are properly centered in the lane.Remember that spot so you can tell at a glance whether you are centered or not without studying the road or looking in the mirrors to see the center and side lines. You will driver straighter and truer.

RickO · 07-04-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahicks

You might ask Freightliner to check for slop in the steering gear as well. That can lead to the need for constant steering input/corrections as well.

Mine came from the factory with way too much slop in the steering gear. You might consider taking a road trip to the Freightliner factory in Gaffney, SC.

Best of Luck...

Rick