Thanks Harvard! I'll give that a shot. BTW, are you currently up by Calgary, or is that just where you were when you created the profile? Looks like a nice area to RV to..
lmatch wrote: Thanks Harvard! I'll give that a shot. BTW, are you currently up by Calgary, or is that just where you were when you created the profile? Looks like a nice area to RV to..
We live 45 miles, as the crow flies, NW of Calgary. Yes, if you have a US passport for your return trip home it would be a nice trip. I would hate to see anyone who wants to have more +caster on their E350/450 not get it just because most alignment shops hate serving customers who know what they want. As an alignment tech at a chain outlet they must look real good at head office when they can do 6 to 8 alignments per day.
I have a 1998 E350 Dutchman 26Q that was a terror to drive over 55 mph. I took it to alignment shops multiple times. The last one decreased the caster instead of increasing it and convinced me that the alignment was correct.
I installed Hellwig sway bars, Bilstein shocks, new ball joints, tie rods and ends, wheel bearings, etc. Each change gave a little improvement, but the coach still handled poorly and my wife refused to drive it.
I was lucky to stumble across Harvard's comments on a couple of forums. His advice made sense, so I decided to try fixing it myself.
I bought a set of alignment bushings. They are sold as INGALLS 594, Specialty Products 24180, Spicer 6122025, NAPA NCP 264-3950, and Superlift SLF-1120. I emailed Harvard for additional advice and he was kind enough to help me understand even more. It took less than 30 minutes to replace the bushings on both sides, setting the caster to the maximum with zero degrees of camber.
One word, REMARKABLE!
The coach now tracks straight and true at 70-75 mph and passing trucks are no longer a problem. I am amazed that such a simple change fixed the problem.
If your E350/E450 based coach wanders, feels like the wheels each have a mind of their own, will not track correctly, darts across the lane with every passing truck, or is just exhausting to drive, please do yourself a favor and ask your alignment shop to add more positive caster before you start buying suspension upgrades.
Many thanks to Harvard for his help. I was ready to sell my coach and am now looking forward to my next trip.
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With our 2008 Winnebago View build on a Sprinter chassis, we usually slow down to 55 when high winds are present and never had problem with awning, but I will get a tie down system just in case. Thanks for the advice
timwood wrote: IMO there is a big difference between a tow rig/tt (or even better: 5th wheel) and a class C in cross winds...my first experience was down right shocking! Furthermore, I think some people are much more sensitive to it than others.
I used to have a 30' Class C, and now I have a 22', and both have serious cross wind issues for me. My good friend has a 28' foot C, and said, "I've spent over $5K on upgrades to my suspension, cross winds don't phase me." So I drove his....it handled EXACTLY like mine!!!!
There is a good side to all this though: you get used to it. Now that I've driven several thousand miles, it doesn't bother me nearly as much.
Tim
I experienced just the opposite. I dumped my TT because I got tired of white knuckle trips and being sidelined with wind and bad weather. Bought a MH.
3 years later and it still makes me smile as I plow thru cross winds and bad weather with my 31 ft. I just got back from down south and for 2 entire days of travel the winds were in excess of 40 mph. I drove with one hand on the steering wheel and had no problem.
After reading years of posts of handling problmes, I'm starting to think I just got real lucky with my MH I don't have any steering problems or ride problems. The only thing I did to it was new Monroe RVshocks and new leaf springs plus one. She rides rock solid and is a pleasure to drive in all weather conditions.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
rockhillmanor wrote: After reading years of posts of handling problmes, I'm starting to think I just got real lucky with my MH I don't have any steering problems or ride problems. The only thing I did to it was new Monroe RVshocks and new leaf springs plus one. She rides rock solid and is a pleasure to drive in all weather conditions.
...and I for one am dying to know what your front end caster might be set at?
ron.dittmer wrote: After our first trip with our brand new 2007 E350 chassis motor home, I took it to This Shop where my first motor home was made right 12 years earlier.
This company, Champion Frame-Align, is located in the industrial heartland of America (Elgin, IL). A quote from their website:
"At Champion Frame-Align we are proud of our nationwide reputation for solving suspension, alignment and steering-related issues, which have stumped others, on recreational vehicles, trucks, trailers and cars.".
In hindsight, I too would trust them to solve my E450 handling problems but it would be a very expensive trip from Calgary to Elgin, IL. You IL folks are very fortunate to be located in the midst of such talented resources.
Po6ept wrote: If your E350/E450 based coach wanders, feels like the wheels each have a mind of their own, will not track correctly, darts across the lane with every passing truck, or is just exhausting to drive, please do yourself a favor and ask your alignment shop to add more positive caster before you start buying suspension upgrades.
After our first trip with our brand new 2007 E350 chassis motor home, I took it to This Shop where my first motor home was made right 12 years earlier. They did as you did, and after 4 years and 15,000 miles, I am still extremely well pleased, worth every penny of the $3900 spent for both comfort and safety.
But I feel it is "Everything In Combination" that made the difference. Not one thing alone. This is what I had done.
- heavy duty motor home shocks (Koni)
- front & rear heavy duty stabilizer bars (Roadmaster)
- rear trac bar (Henderson)
- heavy duty front steering stabilizer (Safe-T-Plus)
- front alignment with offset bushings to correct an extreme camber
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