Community Forums

NYtravelers · 08-17-2014, 06:36 PM

So today was our first time driving a class A or any RV for that matter, it was a 2002 Winnebago Adventurer 37B with a V-10. I have driven trucks off all kinds but i was not prepared for how much it would rock and sway going down the road.

Do they all ride like that? we were on a side road, one with many turns and dips so i contribute some to that but wow. I read a diesel on a frieghtliner chassis will ride much different, is this so ?

tomorrow we are going to test drive a 1999 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTIAN 36L with a 300 cummins, air ride suspension.

will the ride be much different ?

TMan59 · 08-17-2014, 07:16 PM

Short answer is yes, the air ride should be a much better ride.

ChallengerRN · 08-17-2014, 07:23 PM

Hey. Remember it a plywood box driving down the road !! Rocks a bit more in high wind. But the rewards are more than worth it !! Don't take long to get used to it !!

Russell

Rich-n-Linda · 08-17-2014, 07:31 PM

The difference between that Ford chassis something built on a Freightliner chassis is like night and day.

Rich & Linda
'06 Mandalay 40E
Freightliner XC-R chassis
Cummins 400 HP ISL

navychaps · 08-18-2014, 06:01 PM

Easy fix for that...Look up "Cheap Handling Fix."

michealwhela · 08-19-2014, 05:01 AM

We have a 2003 Adventurer on a Workhorse chasis. Never noticed it on any but the roughest roads. Softer than the fire truck I used to drive but much more comfortable. Rented a 1999 Adventurer on Ford frame, that also had a good ride and was easy to drive. Both are 35 footers maybe the difference is in the extra two feet??

trode · 08-19-2014, 05:17 AM

Those were my first impressions too. But after doing the cheap handling fix, Koni shocks and new bushings on sway bars there has been significant improvement but it ain't no sports car!

What is more interesting is when I stop in middle turn lane on road here, and traffic is passing me on both sides as I wait for clear lane, she rocks so much I think I would get sea sick if I had to stay there long

Nature of the beast.

Assume air ride will be some better, but never drove one.

Wizard · 08-19-2014, 06:45 AM

We traded our 2002 Brave on the same chassis because of the same ride conditions. Now have a Journey on a Freightliner Chassis. There is absolutely no comparison. The wife threatened to quit camping until we traded for the improved ride. Nuff Said

Old Dude 66 · 08-19-2014, 07:49 AM

We bought a new 2011 Adventurer on a Ford chassis and our first trip with a hard side wind wasn't pleasant. You can fix the drive on a Ford but it isn't cheap. If you can afford a DP, probably the best route. We aligned our front end, added a Blue Ox True Center, a rear Blue Ox Trac bar, adjusted the air in the tires after weighing the unit, and added Sumo Springs to all four corners. Now it drives and rides very good. Going up the Slumgullion Pass out of Lake City, Colorado is still a hard pull, but there are 15 and 20 mph switchbacks, which it does just fine and the DPs still have to slow down to make the curves. We pull a Jeep Unlimited and it does just fine.

rodz · 08-19-2014, 07:57 AM

The new F53 24,000 and 26,000 lb chassis (same chassis just different rear springs) are nothing like the older ones and handle very well in windy conditions. Most dp's will still ride better but the F53 is getting closer. I had a Monaco Knight dp that was a very white knucked experience in high winds and was a bone jarring ride. My Journey was the best riding dp I've had. Not all dp's handle or ride the same