Excessive wandering

[hpykmpr47]

My wife and I recently bought a new 37' 2012 Monaco Knight, . We have driven it about 700 miles since buying it and I find that the coach does an excessive amount of wandering around and I have to fight to keep it between the lines. It is at LazyDays as I write this and they are trying to see if this problem can be solved. At first the Monaco rep there said that the coach was well within standards so they could not do anything about it . He also told me that this wandering was standard with a coach of this wheelbase .I personally think he is wrong. I had to be persistent and the shop foreman finally took it for a test drive and he agrees with me that the wandering is excessive. My suggestions were checking front end alignment and also checking the traveling level of the air bags. Has anyone else experienced a lot of wandering while driving their Monaco coach and if so I would like to hear about it and what if anything you were able to do to solve this problem. Thanks , Alan

[CoCoDave]

Wandering is a fairly common complaint. My 2001 Diplomat and 2003 Windsor both wandered a fair amount. Several things contribute to the degree of wander. You've mentioned two - ride height and front end alignment.

Front end alignment should be biased, within specifications, toward max caster and some toe in. Tire air pressure can also have a significant effect. Weigh the coach on each corner and inflate tires on both ends of an axle to the minimum pressure needed to meet the tire maker's spec for the heaviest loaded end on that axle plus 5%.

There are a number of aftermarket accessories that can help tame the wandering. I had a Safe-T-Plus Steering Control Unit installed on my current coach and that combined with the other things mentioned above, has pretty much eliminated the wandering. I also replaced the original shocks with Koni FSD's which helped the ride.

The Monaco rep was correct to the extent that the shorter the wheelbase the greater the tendency to wander. That said, your Knight should track well enough to be able to stay between the lines without wearing you out.

There are lots of threads and posts here on iRV2 on this topic.

FWIW

[rex]

Alan, a front end, in fact an all wheel alignment is what I would do. The very best shop for this in the USA in in Orlando.

Josam Truck Frame & Alignment
8849 Exchange Dr
Orlando, FL 32809
407-438-7020
Josam - Truck Frame and Alignment Specialist Worldwide

Unless things have really changed, Monaco does not do an alignment after the coach is built. Also if the rear axle is not square with the frame, it will never drive correctly. I would NOT trust Lazy Days to do an alignment for you. They are good, but not that good. They should be able to check and set the ride height of the air bags.

My coach is 40 feet and it also wanders more than I like. There are various steering control devices that can be added which may help, but will not eliminate all the problem. On my coach the steering box does not have any way to adjust it. Hopefully yours does and slack can be adjusted out if there is any.

Best of luck with your coach and getting it driving much better.

[Ftartagl]

Originally Posted by hpykmpr47

My wife and I recently bought a new 37' 2012 Monaco Knight, . We have driven it about 700 miles since buying it and I find that the coach does an excessive amount of wandering around and I have to fight to keep it between the lines. It is at LazyDays as I write this and they are trying to see if this problem can be solved. At first the Monaco rep there said that the coach was well within standards so they could not do anything about it . He also told me that this wandering was standard with a coach of this wheelbase .I personally think he is wrong. I had to be persistent and the shop foreman finally took it for a test drive and he agrees with me that the wandering is excessive. My suggestions were checking front end alignment and also checking the traveling level of the air bags. Has anyone else experienced a lot of wandering while driving their Monaco coach and if so I would like to hear about it and what if anything you were able to do to solve this problem. Thanks , Alan

I had a very similar problem with my 04 diplomat. Took it to alliance coach in wildwood. This was in 04 when the coach was new. I fought with them for six weeks. They finally had a chassie expert come in from out of state and he said the steering box needed to be changed. Problem solved. Bret Howard and Carolina champion will tell you what ever they can to get you to give up. Hang in there and keep fighting for yourself. Good luck

[vito.a]

Monaco has had lots of steering box and steering linkage issues over the years in some of the coaches. My last coach was road wild. When they set it up on the alignment machine, the tech could bump the coach or raise and lower it and the lasers on the front steer tires moved all over the place.

If your coach is still under warranty, stick to your guns and do not let them blow you off.

[Papa_Jim]

I've struggled with this 'excessive wandering' from the first day I brought my coach home in 2008. I don't call it wandering, more like 'hunting'. It is constantly hunting for somewhere else to go other than in a straight ahead direction. Knowing what I know now, I should have left it sit where it was and buy something else.

The amount of money that I've poured into this thing trying to solve it is absolutely embarrassing. The only two things I haven't had done is replace the steering box, and have the rear axle alignment checked. No one around here knows how to check the rear axle alignment, and if it was out, they wouldn't have a hot clue what to do about it. Two of the best truck alignment shops here have told me that there's nothing wrong with my coach. But it wants to wander. It's very tiring, working that steering wheel all day.

Monaco like to hype their wonderful chassis. Well, I know a guy with a Freightliner chassis that drives down the road with one finger resting on the bottom of the steering wheel. To show off, at highway speed he'll stand up beside the steering wheel and touch the wheel with a finger.

Sheeeeeesh! I have to have two hands on the wheel every single second, and work that wheel, work it, work it, work it,.....

Considering that you've bought a new coach, I would not accept it AT ALL until it doesn't wander AT ALL !

Personally, I would force the dealer to take the coach to Josams.

[Papa_Jim]

Originally Posted by hpykmpr47

At first the Monaco rep there said that the coach was well within standards so they could not do anything about it . He also told me that this wandering was standard with a coach of this wheelbase .Thanks , Alan

Alan, that rep is dead wrong. All he wants to do is blow you off!

Irregardless of wheelbase, any coach should maintain a straight ahead direction on its own. You are only supposed to have to use the steering wheel to set your direction, and respond to the coach's reaction to road surface changes, affects of wind, and passing trucks.

You've only put 700 miles on it. It won't steer any different 15 years from now with 100,000 miles on it. Based on my own experience, if it was my coach, I would tell that rep to take the coach to Josams and have it fixed, or take the coach back, and that's the only two options.

[moisheh]

Some Monaco models are famous for handling problems. The tag models do not seem to have that problem. Our Dynasty drives as it should! The OP has a new coach and the NEW Monaco should make it right or give him back his money! So much for how navistar will look after customers and they are producing some fine coaches. If a short wheelbase unit handles poorly then they should take it off the market. Maybe Desanford knows who to contact.

[Papa_Jim]

My experience has made me a real cynic. I read another thread about a man delivering new Tiffin Breeze motorhomes to dealers reporting that only 2 of 10 steered properly. Tiffin was aware of the problem, didn't have the facilities to solve it, recommended taking the coaches to Josams, but they wouldn't do that themselves.

What a load of crap! One poor soul bought one, couldn't steer it on the highway at all, and Tiffin generously allowed him to spend more money to trade up to a bigger coach! What generous kind people!

The simple truth is that all of these RV manufacturers simply bolt, weld and glue these things together. If they do any alignment work, it's crude. Any operational problems have to be solved by the dealers or someone else.

I learned a very valuable lesson. The next coach I look at gets a good long test drive before I'll consider buying it.

[Barlow46]

Originally Posted by moisheh

Some Monaco models are famous for handling problems. The tag models do not seem to have that problem. Our Dynasty drives as it should! The OP has a new coach and the NEW Monaco should make it right or give him back his money! So much for how navistar will look after customers and they are producing some fine coaches. If a short wheelbase unit handles poorly then they should take it off the market. Maybe Desanford knows who to contact.

Same with my dynasty. Can put one finger on the wheel and go down the road if you choose. I still have the old habit of using two hands though. I did take mine to Josams a few weeks after I bought it and they checked everything out for me and tweaked the front end a bit and it is now perfect. I am sure the tag makes a big difference but you should not have to put up with a dangerous vehicle. Call Barry Hamton at Josams and talk with him about what you are feeling when you drive it. He may be able to direct you to someone closer to have look at it. Josam - Truck Frame and Alignment Specialist Worldwide

[JimM68]

Just FYI, my 08 Knight drives like a dream. 40', original monroe shocks, 33k miles, 16k put on by me in the past year.
65 - 70 MPH (on purpose, she sometimes sneaks up over 80.) Two hands on the wheel cause it's comfortable, one finger is all she needs.

You don't have to put up with a lousy handling coach.
And I am damned lucky (and glad) I don't own one.

[Ubetcha]

I have a 2011 diplomat tag unit it steers and handles very well easily can drive with one finger my 2002 Newmar 40 foot with a spartan chassis drove very well also I would make them fix it or give you a new one as that is extremely dangerous to drive as is

[gg]

Some Monaco models are famous for handling problems. The tag models do not seem to have that problem. Our Dynasty drives as it should! The OP has a new coach and the NEW Monaco should make it right or give him back his money! So much for how navistar will look after customers and they are producing some fine coaches. If a short wheelbase unit handles poorly then they should take it off the market. Maybe Desanford knows who to contact.
__________________
1. Agree 100%

2. Wife and I both drove the new coach in town and highway for 50 plus miles before we signed the deal.

[Dutch Star Don]

Alan......Is this your first MH?