Steer Safe, Safe T Plus, or Davis Trutrac. Opinons and experiences? Thinking of adding one of the above, all are different systems, anyone NOT like a particular one and why. For an '06 20,500 lb F-53 chassis.
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Some apples and oranges here. The Davis Tru-track is unrelated to the other two choices.
I would start with a Davis Tru-track on your chassis. Ford has fit a front track bar/panhard rod (which is exactly what the Davis Tru-track is) as STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON NEW MODEL F53 CHASSIS to improve handling and avoid the fearsome F53 death wobble.
Only after fitting it and doing proper tire PSI, alignment, etc, and determining that I still needed more dampening and/or return to center would I consider adding a steering dampener/return to center device. I am not suggesting I would not add one, but these are more "band-aids" than cures (unlike the front track bar).
If you really wish to get rid of the tail wagging the dog feeling when trucks pass or side winds, you really need the Henderson Rear Trac Bar. This will do more for stabilizing the front and rear than anything on the market. I have done this on two F53 Ford chassis and has worked. I did not like the white knuckle effects when driving on windy days and really will wear you down on long trips.
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I was looking to lessen the "correction factor" and the tendency to follow the road grooves. I've got air bags all around and the trucks and cross winds don't bother me any more. I don't believe my handling is bad, I am pretty relaxed in most cases, just wondering if one of these devices would tighten it up.
4gone wrote: Steer Safe, Safe T Plus, or Davis Trutrac. Opinons and experiences? Thinking of adding one of the above, all are different systems, anyone NOT like a particular one and why. For an '06 20,500 lb F-53 chassis.
For what it is worth (our coaches are quite different) I installed the Blue Ox TruCenter and love it.
If you want to eliminate the problems caused by passing trucks, just install Airtabs, unless you just like to spend a lot of money on suspension mods that will not quite accomplish the same thing.
If you want to minimize the effect on your steering because of a front tire blowout, than maybe a steering stabilizer is for you.
Keep in mind that IF you ever lose your power steering assist, either from a broken belt, engine failure, or other cause, with a steering stabilizer it will become almost impossible to steer your unit to bring it to a safe stop. All of that extra resistance is fine when you have power assisted steering but when you lose the assist, most drivers are not anywhere near strong enough to turn the wheel.
The Blue Ox Tru-Center can be turned OFF by pressing a button, but the button must be held down and you have to steer with your free hand, if your steering assist is lost.
Personally, I think that 99% of the suspension mods are not needed at all with a properly loaded and balanced rig, with the tires properly inflated.
4gone wrote: Steer Safe, Safe T Plus, or Davis Trutrac. Opinons and experiences? Thinking of adding one of the above, all are different systems, anyone NOT like a particular one and why. For an '06 20,500 lb F-53 chassis.
For what it is worth (our coaches are quite different) I installed the Blue Ox TruCenter and love it.
Bob
My coach has the Blue Ox also and I really like it. Mine is the new version that seems to have eliminated earlier problems.
You adjust the geometric steering center by touching a button on the dash. That sets the current wheel position is "true-center". Sometimes I have to re-adjust slightly but once centered I can remove my hands from the wheel, regardless of wind or road crown and it tracks straight.
When road or wind conditions change a simple tap on the button re-adjusts.
rgatijnet1 wrote: If you want to eliminate the problems caused by passing trucks, just install Airtabs, unless you just like to spend a lot of money on suspension mods that will not quite accomplish the same thing.
If you want to minimize the effect on your steering because of a front tire blowout, than maybe a steering stabilizer is for you.
Keep in mind that IF you ever lose your power steering assist, either from a broken belt, engine failure, or other cause, with a steering stabilizer it will become almost impossible to steer your unit to bring it to a safe stop. All of that extra resistance is fine when you have power assisted steering but when you lose the assist, most drivers are not anywhere near strong enough to turn the wheel.
The Blue Ox Tru-Center can be turned OFF by pressing a button, but the button must be held down and you have to steer with your free hand, if your steering assist is lost.
Personally, I think that 99% of the suspension mods are not needed at all with a properly loaded and balanced rig, with the tires properly inflated.
I agree with the air tabs, work great. I don't think I can agree with you point of not be able to steer to bring it to a safe stop. The resistance may be there but if you have a failure that requires you to bring it to a safe spot like the side of a highway, you just are not required to steer it very much, in fact the Safe-T- Plus that I have would help you keep things in control. As with my air tabs, I would also not be without my Safe-T-Plus should I ever have a major problem effecting the handling, it has saved me once, so I would hope that it will save me the next time should something happen.
rgatijnet1 wrote: The Blue Ox Tru-Center can be turned OFF by pressing a button, but the button must be held down and you have to steer with your free hand, if your steering assist is lost.
Personally, I think that 99% of the suspension mods are not needed at all with a properly loaded and balanced rig, with the tires properly inflated.
The instructions that came with my Tru-Center said you should NEVER press the button for more than 5 seconds. They say it could damage the unit.
Perhaps you should check with Blue Ox about the recommendation you made?
I have Steer Safe on my 2008 32 foot F 53 Bounder and it works great. Not as expensive as others and it does the job. I bought it for the blow out saftey but it seems to do more for the sway took it away. Also have front and rear air bags that help with side to side roll.
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