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RE: Crazy steering wobble/shake
The only things that have substantially changed in the coach in the last few weeks was the new governor in the air pump and the new VW Passat TOAD and Blue Ox towbar.
Weights and things like that have been pretty consistent. The coach weighs about 25,000lbs with my stuff in it. Towing a TOAD adds no weight to the coach, other than the drag of the coach - no tongue weight.
As for Tongue weight, I have recently towed a trailer with over 1000lbs of tongue weight that would significantly unload the front axle, but I typically use weight distribution bars. No issues while towing.
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TDInewguy
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05/15/13 11:19am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Crazy steering wobble/shake
No, higher pressure in the air system will not raise coach ride height. The ride height valves will keep the coach at the same level. Only possible effect would be that they could react a little faster at higher pressure-- really doubt it would be noticeable.
Any other ideas?
The only major changes in the coach in the last year is the air pressure and I have a new TOAD and a new Blue Ox towbar.
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TDInewguy
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05/14/13 01:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Crazy steering wobble/shake
The blue ox was locked... both sides
Dick with precision frame has worked on the coach (just not this time...) he aligned it and weighed it and put in Koni FSD's
The wobble started around 10mph and continued until I stopped the coach. Then it was smooth and perfect. no vibration or wobble once I stopped and restarted. (that kind of rules out a tire imbalance I'd imagine)
My only guess is I put a new governor on the air pump and I now have slightly higher air pressure available for the brakes and suspension - is it possible that my suspension is now higher and that causes a caster angle issue?
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TDInewguy
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05/14/13 10:49am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Crazy steering wobble/shake
I have owned the coach since 2009 and put over 40,000 miles on it.
It has NEVER done this before.
No weights at all on the tires - ever.
The front and rear tires look smooth and good - like they always have. And the coach runs fine down the road, I was just able to repeat the behavior two times at the same intersection, and the 3rd time I took it really slow and it was fine - no wobble.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/TDInewguy/87E61743-2779-4964-89F3-BFF81305B22D-4731-0000037E1587B564_zps19e420e5.jpg height=600 width=800
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/TDInewguy/2D1CD391-BB71-4B29-AFE6-A2005FA7BA0D-4731-0000037DE96505F3_zps60505776.jpg height=600 width=800
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/TDInewguy/745768A3-BDFE-4996-8817-0F9295E64486-4731-0000037DF0158058_zpseafdce58.jpg height=600 width=800
TDInewguy,
First off, lets start with some history. How long have you owned the coach? If for quite a while, has it EVER done what you're describing before this recent incident? If not, obviously something happened recently that would cause the erratic front end action. Most Diesel Pusher units don't have the "Death wobble" that even happens rarely on SOME gas units. That doesn't mean it's impossible for it to happen, it's just incredibly rare.
Now, I don't know how much weight is on, or was needed to balance your front tires but, is it possible you've lost some? Some folks really rely on what's called a steering stabilizer to keep things running stable up front. Our Jeeps used them but, I've never had any on any of our motor homes. But, some swear by them. Before I would go throwing gizmos on it, I'd definitely try seeing if all standard components are in good working order.
I'm assuming the establishments that you've taken the rig to know what they're doing in analyzing heavy duty front end problems?? So don't know exactly what to advise here other than check your tires for chunks missing, (which would have a severe effect on balance) check all the tie rod ends, castor, toe-in etc. I doubt seriously you've developed any issues with your steering box. I do have a question for you though, you say you're running super singles on the rear? And that they're 445s?
If so, I'd surely like to see a picture of those on your rig. I've seen many over the road trucks running the super singles and I think they were the 525 series or 500 series, not sure but, it sure looks cool over a set of standard dual wheels and tires we normally see.
Scott
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TDInewguy
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05/14/13 12:03am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Crazy steering wobble/shake
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313726_10200153726462196_1087478887_n.jpg
There is the rig - but with my trailer not the passat TOAD.
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TDInewguy
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05/13/13 11:55pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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Crazy steering wobble/shake
Hello all,
I have a 2002 Itasca Horizonn 39qd with a Freightliner XC chassis -- 3126e CAT.
It's got 65K miles on it and has been recently serviced and well maintained...
so just the other day picked it up from the service center and drove it home. I was towing my 2013 VW Passat behind with a blue ox towbar.
It was smooth and straight until I came to a stop, then took a left turn and accelerated and the steering was wobbling so bad it felt like a front tire was about to fall off or something very serious like that. The oscillation continued as I went straight -- only once I came to a complete stop and then continued on straight did the coach act like it was perfect again.
I have sensed that wobble in a much smaller fashion on different roads turning like that, but I did a u-turn and did the exact same turn and had the exact same result - the violent shaking until I stopped the coach.
I took the coach in to the service center and they could find nothing loose - they checked the front and back wheel bearings and all the suspension components.
Any ideas?
I have motion controls in the front and rear airbags, I have new sway bar links. The tires are michelin Energy xza2 in front and x-one super singles in the rear. 275/70/22.5 in front and 445/50/22.5 in rear.
it FREAKED me out - as I was expecting a wheel to go flying off into the ditch...
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TDInewguy
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05/13/13 08:20pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rig Down! No air pressure... Help please
I bypassed the air dryer and I've got air pressure now!
Yay!
So do I need to be worried of getting too much pressure now?
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TDInewguy
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05/04/13 10:51am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rig Down! No air pressure... Help please
I took the main outlet hose off the air compressor and the compressor blows plenty of air...
So now to look underneath... Maybe the air dryer?
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TDInewguy
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05/04/13 09:41am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rig Down! No air pressure... Help please
Well,
I just got a new governer installed and no air pressure is building...
-- frustrated --
Now back to the drawing board and to keep lookin for problems...
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TDInewguy
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05/04/13 08:42am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rig Down! No air pressure... Help please
I am so happy! There is a local diesel repair shop that had a governer on the shelf!
(I'm stuck in a Godfathers pizza parking lot, and they even delivered it!)
So I'm in the midst of replacing it right now -- so I will know shortly if that was the problem.
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TDInewguy
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05/04/13 07:58am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Rig Down! No air pressure... Help please
It is a CAT 3126 engine on a Freightliner XC Chassis.
I don't hear any loud hissing sound.
I did try to push air into the system via a small air compressor into a schrader valve on the air dryer, which dumped a bit of water when I pushed the center pin on it... but I have about 40-50 psi in my tanks now, but pushing air into the bottom of the air dryer will just amont to it going nowhere (helpful) that is.
So if it is the governer - is that something I can tap with a hammer to try and free up or is it a replace only deal?
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TDInewguy
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05/04/13 05:41am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Rig Down! No air pressure... Help please
Hello all,
I just picked my 2002 Itasca Horizon 39QD from Winnebago -- they did paint & body work to the coach over the last two weeks...
So I drove it about an hour south to Henderson, IA and met with a church (for what I do for work - sound/video/lighting systems)
Once I fired up the rig to head home, which is a 3 hour drive, I got about 3 miles from the church and the "Low Air" light and buzzer came on. I had about 65psi in both front and rear tanks.
I have tried everything I know to do and i cannot build any more pressure. Started and stopped the motor, revved it, purged the air tanks, I even tried sending compressed air into the schrader valve inlet on the air dryer. (the air dryer is only about a year old or less)
There is no apparent hissing or leak anywhere that I can tell, but it more seems like the compressor is unloaded and just not building any air pressure.
Help! i''m stuck here and my kids are home without me! (I'm a young widower with two young kids - 5 and 7) I had a babysitter today, but she had to leave, so I was able to get someone else to stay the night with them, but I need to get this thing running and home safely!
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TDInewguy
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05/03/13 11:03pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: No HEADLIGHTS ARGG!
It's the headlight switch. I had the exact same problem on my 2002 Itasca Horizon. There is a thermal circuit breaker in it and it's something that can and will fail.
There are also wires in that coach for the headlight circuit - in the more premium models the steering wheel has controls on it. There is wiring loops under the dash that the power for the headlights run through.
You can go to Winnebago's website and download the wiring diagram for your coach...
http://www.winnebagoind.com/diagram/Wiring.htm
Good luck!
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TDInewguy
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02/12/13 03:03am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: RV Park in or Around Disney world, Florida
I stayed at Ft Wilderness - and IMHo it was worthwhile. There was enough to have fun with at the RV park that we stayed back from the main disney theme parks and still had fun.
the time it takes to get to a park from Ft. Wilderness is much reduced - as you can ride the boat to magic kingdom, and watch fireworks and a evening boat show from the dock.
Enjoy!
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TDInewguy
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02/12/13 02:31am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Cummins or Cat?
Personally I'd avoid the Cat C7. The 3126 is the same engine but pre-emissions. My 3126 will get up to 11mpg. I usually get 7.7 towing a huge 10,000lb trailer and 8.5-10 with a toad.
Every C7 I've seen and read about struggles to get 7.5 or better.
I'd rather have a Cummins ISB than a C7 for fuel econ.
Overall I'm more of a cummins fan, but own a CAT. (liked the coach and the price)
I've put over 40,000 miles on mine and it's been good.
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TDInewguy
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01/23/13 12:34am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Towing a VW Passat
Hello!
I just bought a 2013 VW Passat TDI manual trans, and previously had a 2009 VW Jetta TDI with a manual trans.
The manual trans IS flat towable. VW will not say it is, but the transmission builder at the largest VW dealer in the midwest showed me a taken apart trans and said there are no lube problems with flat towing.
So I am about to take my Passat to Blue OX and have them design and install a baseplate so I can flat tow it.
I had a tow dolly and hated it...
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TDInewguy
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01/16/13 11:45pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Who is towing enclosed car hauler behind their coach
TDI if you like GTOs you would die in my garage---I have a 65 hard top I bought new with 19,000+ mi on it and a 65 Conv I have had for about 30 years.
Mactee my friend went to 16 in tires and it made his dragster harder to load because of the increased highth.....
Ok - what part of the country are you in? :-)
Can I be added to your will? :B
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TDInewguy
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01/06/13 03:05pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Who is towing enclosed car hauler behind their coach
FWIW if by Fatboy tires you mean super singles watch your axle weight. Some of those are rated to only 10.2 k.
Yes you are correct, but fully loaded (no trailer but full fuel, water, ect) I am at 7700 on one tire and about 8000 on the other. So I have about 4000lb of rear tire capacity for my trailer.
I really like my Michelin X-one 445/70/22.5 tires. smooth ride. great traction. easy turning. less hassle checking air pressure. And the bonus - the racing guys like that they look like big meaty slicks.
If I added 2000lb of tongue weight, I'd still be under the limit.
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TDInewguy
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01/05/13 02:24pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Who is towing enclosed car hauler behind their coach
TDInewguy, great looking setup. For some reason I thought you had a stacker trailer that you were towing with your Horizon, maybe you were just researching but anyway nice looking rig.
I like the beefed up hitch. It is very similar to how my hitch is on my Roadmaster chassis with the exception of the two lateral supports that run forward along the frame are bolted and welded directly to the frame rail rather than the dropdown supports like yours. However, the principal is the same, spread the load and support it as far forward as possible. When I built my hitch on my first two coaches I did very similar with the exception that I used 2"x4" tube with .250" wall thickness and tied it up to the frame.
Mike.
I have pulled a stacker, but it was a bit taller than the RV and was like towing a parachute! I usually get in the 8.5mpg range with the current setup towing,and with the stacker it would probably be in the 6 range, so I need to really think that one thru before I jump.
The first photo with the trailer with logo's on it is a 24' with a short v-nose, the second photo with the blank white trailer is a 28' with a longer v-nose. That length is a bit harder to maneuver around with... So a shorter stacker with triple axles would be nice, but I haven't decided yet. My reason for towing is to do car shows and stuff...
My car and why I go to carshows...
so I will get a second car someday and need to transport it.
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TDInewguy
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01/05/13 01:34am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Towing heavy toys with a 37' Pace Arrow
Here is another discussion on IRV forums...
Towing heavy again!
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TDInewguy
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01/04/13 01:35am |
Class A Motorhomes
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