Keeping control of motor home on roadway

reedjw · 09-09-2010, 11:46 PM

I have a 2009 Fleetwood that is 36+ feet long and 12 feet high. It can be very challanging to keep it on the road. It likes to drift, sometimes it sways, the other day I was on a very winding road and one time it drifted so far over the line I could not get it to come back. i know there are anti sway bars, steering stabalizers, etc. What do you all out there recommend? Both? Just one does all? Best product for the money. I want a safe drive. Thanks

**JMonroe** · 09-10-2010, 07:46 AM

I'd start with a standard alignment and go from there. Also, do you have any idea what your axle and / or individual wheel weights are?

CD · 09-10-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMonroe

I'd start with a standard alignment and go from there. Also, do you have any idea what your axle and / or individual wheel weights are?

And enough tire capacity & pressure so you're not running at max or more.

**RickO** · 09-10-2010, 07:55 AM

You have one of the best shops in the country for this type of thing located in Grants Pass, Oregon. I see from your profile you live in Oregon but not sure how far it would be for you.

Henderson's Line Up in Grants Pass offers something called a Roadtest Assessment where you can take your coach in, meet with a tech, tell them what you're experiencing, and then the tech drives while you ride along. They have a little route they use which really tests the coach under a number of different road conditions. Then they do a 4 corner weight on your coach and the tech tells you what he experienced while driving it and what steps you could take... in order of priority... to improve the handling. Of course they offer most of the products and services for sale.

With handling problems it's very easy to start throwing money at the problem and not end up being satisfied with the results. This way you get an expert assessment and know where you stand and can do things one at a time as budget allows.. or all at once... like I ended up doing.

good luck

Rick

Chuck 1935 · 09-10-2010, 09:03 AM

It also sounds like your tires might be under inflated and it's a gas Coach.

1ciderdog · 09-10-2010, 10:54 AM

Monmouth, OR might be closer to Brazel's RV in Centralia, WA and they also do great handling & suspension work on RV's. Make sure your tire pressure is up - Oregon has unmanned truck scales that you can drive onto and check the weight of the RV. when you know the weight you set your tire pressures to the weight tables. At the scales near me I can drive on from either direction and get individual tire weights. I'd think your Freighliner should handle so well that it is a little boring to drive.

doc · 09-10-2010, 04:54 PM

"...the other day I was on a very winding road and one time it drifted so far over the line I could not get it to come back."

What is the world does that mean? You drove on the wrong side of the road?

Some how you must have gotten it back where it should have been.

TXiceman · 09-10-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reedjw

the other day I was on a very winding road and one time it drifted so far over the line I could not get it to come back.

Start with a weight check when loaded and adjust your tire pressure based on load. Next get the front end aligned at an independent truck front end/suspension shop.

Next you make suspension up grades such as anti-roll bars, track bars, panhard rods, etc. Last thing to do is the steering stabilizer/damper as this just mask a problem rather than curing it.

And since you were drifting over so far and could not control it, I would suspect speed maybe an issue. These things are not like sports cars and you can get to over or under steer real easy.

Ken

savitbound · 09-10-2010, 06:07 PM

what year is this rig, did the problem just start?
Sal Avitabile

denochs · 09-10-2010, 06:31 PM

Sal,

He posted the year as 2009. 36+ feet. He shouldn't be having that kind of problem with that year on a Freightliner chasis.

You really should try all the basic stuff that has been suggested before thinking of alterations to the steering/suspension system. That coach should handle very good if you have enough air and the alignment is good. Also, check to see if you have a bad tire. One bad tire can cause the coach to pull. Once you check those, you can look for other more involved things.

Dave

hamguy · 09-11-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reedjw

I have a 2009 Fleetwood that is 36+ feet long and 12 feet high. It can be very challanging to keep it on the road. It likes to drift, sometimes it sways, the other day I was on a very winding road and one time it drifted so far over the line I could not get it to come back. i know there are anti sway bars, steering stabalizers, etc. What do you all out there recommend? Both? Just one does all? Best product for the money. I want a safe drive. Thanks

I have both on my '02 Suncruiser 35U. And it is still a bit weavy.

GaryKD · 09-11-2010, 02:21 PM

Hi reedjw,
For me, I'd follow the advice provided by 1ciderdog and RickO mentioned. If you want the coach to be the best it can be go to either of these shops. I had the same problem, I took me over a year to get the coach to handle correctly. This is because I did the process one step at a time and tried the coach before proceeding to the next step. Either of these shops has an outstanding reputation. They have the experience and skill to cut the DIY process to a minimum amount of time.