SuperSteer Motion Control Units

[GaryKD]

I've been looking at this product since reading about it in another iRV2 thread. If correct, the product literature would indicates the product would solve or at least minimize my steering problem.

For those not familiar with my steering problem the bottom line is that any shift in coach weight to one side (for what ever reason) causes the coach to follow the weight shift. The coach becomes difficult to keep straight until the weight shift settles back down. On straight and high quality roads, the coach steers fine. Low quality roads, trucks passing, cross winds, etc. the coach is difficult to control. This has been a problem since date of delivery. Previous threads in the Spartan Chassis forum have the details.

In April 06 I had the Howard Precision Steering System installed. There was an immediate and 100% elimination of the problem.

I have always felt if the side movement of the weight of the coach could be minimized I would not have the control problem. With the Howard System broke and parts several weeks away, it was time for me to try the SuperSteer Motion Control Units.

I just finished installing them. The next trip is to the Tampa RV Super Show. It will be a good test for the product. The trip is about 240 miles, one way, and combines secondary and Interstate highway travel. I will post here on the results.

[GaryKD]

I've been looking at this product since reading about it in another iRV2 thread. If correct, the product literature would indicates the product would solve or at least minimize my steering problem.

For those not familiar with my steering problem the bottom line is that any shift in coach weight to one side (for what ever reason) causes the coach to follow the weight shift. The coach becomes difficult to keep straight until the weight shift settles back down. On straight and high quality roads, the coach steers fine. Low quality roads, trucks passing, cross winds, etc. the coach is difficult to control. This has been a problem since date of delivery. Previous threads in the Spartan Chassis forum have the details.

In April 06 I had the Howard Precision Steering System installed. There was an immediate and 100% elimination of the problem.

I have always felt if the side movement of the weight of the coach could be minimized I would not have the control problem. With the Howard System broke and parts several weeks away, it was time for me to try the SuperSteer Motion Control Units.

I just finished installing them. The next trip is to the Tampa RV Super Show. It will be a good test for the product. The trip is about 240 miles, one way, and combines secondary and Interstate highway travel. I will post here on the results.

["007"]

When I installed air-bags on a MA I had I was able to adjust any shift in weight from a control I put in the dash. If I had kept the coach was going to put in a auto compressor with these motion controls so I would not have to keep adjusting on dash. I would think they would work for you and make life easier.

[GaryKD]

007, thanks for sharing the experience and your thoughts. HWH has an active air system that does automatically what I read you did manually with the dash control. The HWH system is supose to be "computer fast" at shifting air to which ever bags are getting the extra weight. I've had my eye on this solution. The Howard System masked/solved the control problem. Until it broke I had no incentive to continue with any additional add on components. The next step is to see how the motion control units work.

[GaryKD]

Summary
The initial trip has been completed. The bottom line is there are not enough words to describe how pleased I am with this product. They not only work as advertised, they work much better than advertised. Without a steering system, my coach is now acceptable to drive long distances over Interstate or secondary roads.

On Interstate and secondary roads in the conditions mentioned below the coach had minimal weight shift (side to side). This has cut by 3/4 the side to side steering control problem. This 2 ½ old problem has now been minimized.

For those who have a coach that requires near 100% steering correction to maintain a straight path add the SuperSteer Motion Control Units as a consideration to remedy the problem.

Details
1. The first part of the trip was:
a.110 miles via a state road. This was a combination of 2 and 4 lane road.
b.This leg of the trip was marked by continuous wind from the left to right of the road. The wind speed was strong enough to keep flags at businesses flying straight.
c.The road is of good quality except for about 20 miles from South Bay to Clewiston. These 20 miles of the road condition is fair. There is uneven, rutted and undulating pavement.
d.The coach handled quite well. The SuperSteer units did not allow the weight of the coach to shift because of the pavement mentioned above. Therefore, the coach tracked straight.
e.I did miss the centering capability of the Howard Steering System. Due to the wind, I had to hold the wheel off center. This was not difficult, just different. With the Howard System, I recentered the System and then the Howard System took the work out of keeping the coach straight in a crosswind.
f.I did notice a side push when passed by trucks. More than with the Howard System, but much less than when I took delivery of the coach. Overall the push is minimal and acceptable to me. The side push was easily compensated for and not a problem.
2.Second part of the trip was Ft. Myers to Tampa via I75.
a.This leg of the trip was all Interstate highway. My speed was 60-62 MPH. The speed limit is 70 MPH.
b.The wind was a tail wind.
c.Road quality was very good.
d.With no vehicles around the coach drove perfectly straight with no to little steering wheel input.
e.With passing trucks, side push is minimal and is easily corrected. For me this is acceptable.
3.The return trip was the above route in reverse and had no new events.