Alignment, 1997 Pleasure-Way Excel-rl, 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 chassis

[Randm Musing]

I recently became the lucky owner of a 1997 Pleasure-Way Excel-RL
built on a 1997 Dodge 3500 frame, and among the papers that
accompanied it was a memo that the alignment needed to differ
from the Dodge factory specs.


A copy of the memo is attached.


Also noted, that if a Safety-Plus was installed, that it must be
disconnected prior to alignment.

Can anyone with knowledge of the matter confirm that this alignment
revision is correct for the 1997 Excel-RL, as I need new tires and
alignment.

I have contacted Pleasure-Way twice, once by email and once by paper
mail, but have not received a response from them.

Thank you for your consideration


Charles.





My kids think that they are getting an inheritance -

[Skip426]

I'll see if I can pull down the factory specs for the 97, 3500 Dodge to see what's different .

The stock 3500 series van would have ridden high in the rear , so with the conversion load , even with air bags inflated it appears to ride level . That could be a contributing factor to the changes.
While still working I performed many alignments on ambulances built on those chassis and didn't use different specs , but the drivers of those units didn't worry about tire wear , just throttle and braking .

I'll be back .

[Skip426]

I'm having trouble finding the old specs ( given in inches ); all specs for new alignment machines for toe in are in degrees . 0.25 degrees each .
Camber appears no change , Caster is just over double , original was -0.5 > +1.5 max.
So the interest of the increase was to improve steering return to neutral, and " road feel ."
Rather than tire wear

[Randm Musing]

Originally Posted by Skip426

So the interest of the increase was to improve steering return to neutral, and " road feel ."
Rather than tire wear

Thank you for all of your work, Skip. I do appreciate.


So, just to be clear, based on what you are seeing, I should follow the specifications
set out in the memo, rather than the original dodge specs?



Thanks,


Charles.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Randm Musing

So, just to be clear, based on what you are seeing, I should follow the specifications
set out in the memo, rather than the original dodge specs?

Yes many posts on the E350 Ford class C chassis , increasing caster , over factory spec to aide handling.
The problem will be that new alignment machines; the computer display , will pull up the factory spec and some shops might not want to vary from what comes up on their machines.

[Randm Musing]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Yes many posts on the E350 Ford class C chassis , increasing caster , over factory spec to aide handling.

That was quite a deep dive into alignment issues. I learned a lot. Thanks for the clue.


Now, if I can find a shop that will make the mods .....


Also, in my search, I came across this, and will post it for the possible benefit of other Ram owners who are having steering issues ...

https://www.ramforumz.com/threads/my...ed-them.75396/
Dodge Forum Discussions:
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"Does Your Ram Have The Infamous Steering clunk & rattle ? Fix Found ..."
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Best wishes






My kids think that they are getting an inheritance -

[Flyingsquirl]

I have a class c on the E450 chassis. When I got an alignment I went to a commercial heavy duty truck shop. They told me the print out wouldn’t make any sense because the factory sets the alignment specs for the cutaway and not for its “future” purpose.