gotsmart
Aberdeen, WA
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Joined: 02/20/2012
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DunnInn wrote:Took the RV in today to have it aligned and the shocks checked. The guy said the front shocks needed to be replaced and that there were some worn bushings? and parts that had to do with steering and the suspension? Anyway, we told him to just go ahead and put Bilsteins all around - front and rear. They're waiting on the alignment til the shocks and parts are replaced - appointment this Wednesday.
Before they install the parts you may want to ask them if your RV should have a camber kit added to help make alignments easier.
2005 Cruise America 28R (Four Winds 28R) on a 2004 Ford E450 SD 6.8L V10 4R100
2009 smart fortwo Passion with Roadmaster "Falcon 2" towbar & tail light kit - pictures
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DunnInn
Texas
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Quick update. After miscellaneous parts being replaced, new shocks and alignment, the handling is better, but still scary at times. Next thing is to have our friend try towing our car and use our tow bar. More later.
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Harvard
51.4N 114.4W
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Joined: 12/24/2005
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DunnInn wrote:Quick update. After miscellaneous parts being replaced, new shocks and alignment, the handling is better, but still scary at times. Next thing is to have our friend try towing our car and use our tow bar. More later.
What are the before and after front Caster settings?
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DunnInn
Texas
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Very interesting day. Our friend has an RV that is similar in size to ours and she tows a car. She says she can't even tell the car is back there. So, we took our tow car and tow bar over to her house and hooked it up. She drove it and said she couldn't tell any difference from when she towed her car. We drove it and couldn't believe the difference from when we tow with our RV. Our steering seems very stiff compared to hers. So, next thing is to have the local RV expert drive it and see if he thinks it may be something with the steering on the chassis or if we need a trac bar or steering stabilizer or both.
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DunnInn
Texas
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Front left caster Actual 3.3 - Before 2.5
Front right caster Actual 4.1 - Before 2.2
Front Cross Caster Actual -0.8 Before 0.3
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Dakzuki
Carnation, Wa, USA
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This is getting interesting. Between the two RVs is there a difference in wheelbase? How about the distance between the rear wheel and hitch? Those are two other variables that could easily (and likely) enter into the whole dynamic.
In theory, longer wheelbase would help stability and longer overhang at the back would exacerbate the influence of the TOAD.
2011 Itasca Navion 24J
2000 Chev Tracker Toad
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ron.dittmer
Northern Illinois
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I agree with you Dakzuki.
This gets more interesting the deeper Dunnlnn gets. It sounds like he's got something going wrong up front if his steering is hard. Regardless what's wrong up front, I think in the end he'll have a rear trac bar and possibly a rear heavy duty stabilizer bar.
When things are right, you really should not be able to notice the tow is behind you when on the open road cruising along.
Dunnlnn, what exactly is your motor home, brand, model, and length?
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
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DunnInn
Texas
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MH is a 2009 Winnebago 29T and is about 30 feet long. Our friends MH is a 1999 Coachmen and is 30.5 feet long. I'll have to measure the difference in overhang and wheelbase. They are both Ford chassis. Talked to the local Ford dealership who doesn't have the facilities to work on the MH. The service manager said if anyone had ever worked on the steering, they might have tightened the steer box too much?
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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I thought "tight steering box" from a comment earlier in this thread. There's an adjustment screw with lock nut on the top of the steering box. It can be used (sparingly!!!) to reduce free play in the steering wheel. But if it's set too tight, the steering won't want to return to center. You'll also have to force it off of center. Having to force the steering will result in exaggerated steering response. But in ordinary conditions, I wouldn't expect a steering box to wear enough to persuade anybody to tighten it much before 100,000 miles.
Have you owned this coach all along? If you just got it used, I wonder if somebody else had the Scary Handling Problem and tinkered with the steering but never found the real problem.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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DunnInn
Texas
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We bought the MH in Feb. of this year. Plan on trying to look at the steering box next to see what changing the adjustment screw will do.
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