|
|
05-22-2012, 07:07 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
2012 Fleetwood Discovery Steering Question
I've noticed that our virtually new 2012 Discovery 36J coach tends to wander, seemingly excessively. There is a need for constant steering input, even without wind gusts, to the point that it's irritating.
I understand that it will never handle like my old Porsche or Corvette - but it seems that there should not be a couple of inches of steering "slop" in the wheel. Has anyone else noticed this? Solutions? Take it to Freightliner?
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
05-22-2012, 07:15 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 2,613
|
__________________
Jon & Sue Francis (Retired U.S.A.F.)
Lil Girl-Rescued, Abby Rescued, Peaches Rescued
06 Allegro 35TSA Workhorse Chassis
2013 Chevy Spark Dinghy
|
|
|
05-22-2012, 07:25 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,295
|
Is this your first coach? A truck chassis has no center point like a car or light truck. I traded up from a 36 gasser ( I know yours is a diesel) to a 38 diesel 5 years ago and found the ride and handling to be 100% better. I still added a tru-center. Before the tru-center the coach required active participation in steering. After, I often feel it has car like characteristics. Others have added that and other types of steering stabilizers for the issue that you have raised. I do not work for tru-center.
__________________
Pcurt
2007 Fleetwood Bounder 38V
|
|
|
05-22-2012, 07:50 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 719
|
On a coach that new, I'd get it 4 corner weighed and then adjust tire pressure accordingly. Too much air in the tires can make a coach feel loose.
__________________
Denny, Connie & Shadow (former barn cat made good)
2006 Tiffin Phaeton, Cat C7, Freightliner Chassis
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 07:32 AM
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 346
|
With a DP the shorter the length the more prone to wander. Pushers pretty much have the same rear overhang, the engine, trans and radiator are the same length on a 40' as a 36'. It's the wheelbase that suffers. The wheight hanging off the back swing around more because the distance is decreased between the axles. That said I would make sure the ride height is correct and tire pressure matches the load. Not much else to do except add gadgets and gizmos. Good luck
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 08:47 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfran304
|
Thanks for the tip! I'll look into it. Our Discovery has the Freightliner Power Bridge chassis - not sure if it's compatible with the bell crank mod.
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 08:51 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcurt23
Is this your first coach? A truck chassis has no center point like a car or light truck. I traded up from a 36 gasser ( I know yours is a diesel) to a 38 diesel 5 years ago and found the ride and handling to be 100% better. I still added a tru-center. Before the tru-center the coach required active participation in steering. After, I often feel it has car like characteristics. Others have added that and other types of steering stabilizers for the issue that you have raised. I do not work for tru-center.
|
Thanks for the information! Our first DP coach, but had a class C years ago. Love the ride compared to the class C. Very quiet and relaxing...except for the "wander issue". I'll check into the Tru-Center!
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 08:57 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martind4
On a coach that new, I'd get it 4 corner weighed and then adjust tire pressure accordingly. Too much air in the tires can make a coach feel loose.
|
We dropped off the coach at the dealer yesterday - they're going to do exactly what you mentioned. We're hoping that makes a difference! Thanks!
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 09:02 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by henderson
With a DP the shorter the length the more prone to wander. Pushers pretty much have the same rear overhang, the engine, trans and radiator are the same length on a 40' as a 36'. It's the wheelbase that suffers. The weight hanging off the back swing around more because the distance is decreased between the axles. That said I would make sure the ride height is correct and tire pressure matches the load. Not much else to do except add gadgets and gizmos. Good luck
|
Thanks! Yeah, it's tough to overcome the laws of physics. We're having the tire pressures re-checked today, along with ride height, and will see what happens. Time to start researching gadgets and gizmos too....
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 02:28 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcurt23
Is this your first coach? A truck chassis has no center point like a car or light truck. I traded up from a 36 gasser ( I know yours is a diesel) to a 38 diesel 5 years ago and found the ride and handling to be 100% better. I still added a tru-center. Before the tru-center the coach required active participation in steering. After, I often feel it has car like characteristics. Others have added that and other types of steering stabilizers for the issue that you have raised. I do not work for tru-center.
|
Just wondering, where did you mount the control/activation switch for the Tru-Center? I'm checking to see if there is a version available for our coach. Blue Ox is researching it and will get in touch soon. I might have the dealer install it since they have the coach in for service.
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 05:41 PM
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 346
|
Joe something I've found to be true is we all tend to over compensate with the wheel. If you feel you're wandering just slowly correct it no quick movements unless to avoid a collision LOL. I've taught my 25 year old son to drive our rig just that way and he's much more comfortable (so am I)
|
|
|
05-23-2012, 06:47 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 1,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by henderson
Joe something I've found to be true is we all tend to over compensate with the wheel. If you feel you're wandering just slowly correct it no quick movements unless to avoid a collision LOL. I've taught my 25 year old son to drive our rig just that way and he's much more comfortable (so am I)
|
Good point! Another other thing I've finally convinced myself to do is to look down the road about 1000+ feet so that I don't react as quickly as I otherwise may when making steering input corrections. That seems to have helped a bit too. Thanks!
__________________
Joe and Debbie, Emma the Aussie Cattle Dog who adopted us
2012 Discovery 36J, Blue Ox and Air Force One, 2010 GMC Acadia Toad
USAF (Ret) WDØM https://wd0m.com
|
|
|
05-24-2012, 09:47 AM
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 346
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by pagosajoe
Good point! Another other thing I've finally convinced myself to do is to look down the road about 1000+ feet so that I don't react as quickly as I otherwise may when making steering input corrections. That seems to have helped a bit too. Thanks!
|
Joe looking farther down the road is a definite help. With all the solutions you've been given your cruising enjoyment should certainly increase. Good Luck safe travels. Mike
|
|
|
05-24-2012, 01:41 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 2,613
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by pagosajoe
Thanks for the information! Our first DP coach, but had a class C years ago. Love the ride compared to the class C. Very quiet and relaxing...except for the "wander issue". I'll check into the Tru-Center!
|
Colonel,
There was a thread earlier about Tru-Center steering units having a problem with some kind of control box.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/truce...ics-79623.html
Good Luck,
Jon
__________________
Jon & Sue Francis (Retired U.S.A.F.)
Lil Girl-Rescued, Abby Rescued, Peaches Rescued
06 Allegro 35TSA Workhorse Chassis
2013 Chevy Spark Dinghy
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|