Community Forums

tbone49 · 04-17-2015, 11:02 PM

After seeing a couple adds for steering stabilizers I'm thinking one might help. I have a 32 ft Class A ('05 Fleetwood Southwind). It steers and tracks fine and dandy below about 60 mph but starts to make me adjust frequently when going faster. Wondering if anyone has had the same problem and added a stabilizer with some success. If so, I'd appreciate some feedback and what brand you bought.
I have new tires and alignment seems good.

Doggy Daddy · 04-17-2015, 11:12 PM

I recommend the Safe T Plus. Which Unit Do I Need? | Safe-T-Plus - The Steering Control Specialists Lifetime Warrantee and installation can be DIY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn6sXdd8Cdg

After that, I highly recommend front and rear Anti-Sway Bars. Koni Shocks will make a noticiable difference in comfort and feel.

Rocky68D · 04-17-2015, 11:36 PM

A second vote for the Safe-T-Plus. Just make sure you have an alignment done first. Not exactly in your back yard but Redlands Truck has a good reputation for dealing with these kinds of issues.

I also second Doggy Daddy's rec on the Koni shocks and anti-sway bars.

Gadget Man · 04-17-2015, 11:43 PM

The Safe T Plus is indeed a great device. If you want to go one step further, a steering trim kit like the Blue Ox TruCenter is adjustable on the fly. They are more expensive but it is quite an impressive steering aid.

Craig

vsheetz · 04-17-2015, 11:58 PM

Before looking into aftermarket or changing out stuff, ensure all stock things are as they should be. Tire pressure by weight, alignment, steering and suspension component wear or damage, sway bar bushings ok, etc etc etc. If all is good, then look into add ons.

On my Ford chassis, I had similar complaints as you outlined. After ensuring stock stuff ok, I did CHF, was a pretty good improvement. Then did steering stab - improved a bit, and is good for blowout protection. Lastly I installed rear track bar - bingo, big improvement. Now drives straight and easy at 65-70 cruising - no more constant correction to stay in the lane, greatly reduced push from passing trucks, etc. A rear track bar stabilizes the rear axle from shifting side to side, causing the rear of the coach to shift, and when the rear shifts left/right the front goes right/left, requiring steering correction.

wa8yxm · 04-18-2015, 06:13 AM

I tell people of 3 things that improve Class A road handling

1:Sway bar..
Motor homes tend to be a bit "Top Heavy" so line fans at a rock concert holding up thir lit Bics they sway side to side.

Sway bars attempt to control this..ALL vehicles have them already but many can stand improvement.

Trac Bars: (Also called Pan-Hard Bars)

Like a dog wagging his tail side to side the body of a vehicle with LEAF SPRING suspension can shift slightly side to side..This causes the body to "WAG" down the road.. Sitting in the driver's seat you see this as the vehicle heading one way, then the other,, so you naturally adjust,, and this makes it worse. Trac Bars stop this dead it its tracks 100%

Steering stablizers..These try to keep you on the straight and narrow..They can really help.

I have a Davis True Track and a Blue Ox Tru-Center.. They made a BIG Differnce.

Jan 2006 I drove to Las Vegas.. Was a relief to drive the towed
Returned home (Detroit)and had the above installed
Thanksgiving headed back to Vegas via Pender,NE and Salt Lake City (Repairs to after market stuff)

Towed was very hard to drive after 2,000 miles in the modified Class A

Same towed,,Same motor home. Just improved.

Caswelld · 04-18-2015, 06:57 AM

After picking up our MH from the dealer we drove about 400 miles & I didn't care for the handling all that much. It seemed to require constant steering wheel input, at least more than it should.

It wasn't awful, but I just thought it could be better.

With 1000 miles on the MH I had the Safe-T-Plus installed at Camping World. What a difference.

I noticed an improvement right out of the parking lot. On the hwy, steering was a night & day improvement, no constant steering wheel input, hardly noticed any push from the 18 wheelers passing.

I highly recommend one of the popular steering stabilizers.

MSHappyCampers · 04-18-2015, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbone49

After seeing a couple adds for steering stabilizers I'm thinking one might help. I have a 32 ft Class A ('05 Fleetwood Southwind). It steers and tracks fine and dandy below about 60 mph but starts to make me adjust frequently when going faster. Wondering if anyone has had the same problem and added a stabilizer with some success. If so, I'd appreciate some feedback and what brand you bought.
I have new tires and alignment seems good.

I bought the SteerSafe stabilizers for added control in case of a blowout on a front tire. Our coach is very stable on the road so did not need them for that! I installed them myself. Seems I remember they were around $400 at that time (2012).

Gary RVRoamer · 04-18-2015, 09:28 AM

See this article in the FILES section:
iRV2 Forums - Files - Motorhome Handling Problems & Solutions

I don't think the Safe-T-Plus is going to do much for a speed-related handling problem, but it will stiffen up the steering overall. Given your description, my first suspicion would be over-inflated tires. That can lead to progressively less steering control as speed increases. Get the coach weighed axle by axle, or better yet corner-by-corner, and adjust tire pressure accordingly. If you still have problems after that, I suggest a panhard rod (Davis Tru-Trak or Supersteer Track bar). Best value for the money and most likely to give the results you want.

WeBRVing · 04-18-2015, 11:04 AM

As mentioned above, I think track bars will give you what you're searching for.
Our coach came with a front track bar and handled OK. It would still get moved around by cross winds and passing semis though. I added a rear track bar and Koni shocks. That made a tremendous difference in comfort and handling.

tbone49 · 04-18-2015, 02:41 PM

Thanks to all your suggestions. Sounds like Trac-bars and S. Stabilizers together might help quite a bit.
I'll let you all know after I get something installed and tested.
Thanks again!!!

tbone49 · 04-18-2015, 02:45 PM

Doggy Daddy.......I think your suggestion about the Koni shocks and sway bars are also something to look into. I get a stiff boucey ride sometimes.
Thanks!

koda59 · 04-18-2015, 02:46 PM

We had to move weight forward in our Gas rv we had. The front was to light. After moving weight to the front to near max we had no more problem.

George Schweikle · 04-19-2015, 07:08 AM

If you think adding or changing sway bars will affect your ride, you are mistaken. Sway bars have no effect on straight-ahead ride or bounce since both ends of the bar move up or down at the same time. Sway bars only come into effect when the coach leans or sways. That's why they are correctly called Anti Sway Bars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbone49

Doggy Daddy.......I think your suggestion about the Koni shocks and sway bars are also something to look into. I get a stiff boucey ride sometimes.
Thanks!