Forum Discussion

a1parrothead's avatar
a1parrothead
Explorer
Aug 06, 2014

1996 Roadtrek 190 Versatile Steering Issue

I know this was covered and have been reading a lot about it on various forums, but still need some advice.
I just purchased a 1996 190 Versatile on a dodge 3500 chassis. I am experiencing the steering control issue that so many have talked about. It just feels out of control sometimes.
I have had the steering inspected and ball joints replaced as well as the shocks.
I have also read about having the steering gear box replaced or adjusted.
I just spoke with the Roadtrek factory. They told me that the best solution was discovered by Roadtrek owners and that it was to put on Michelin XPS Rib tires, and that it solves or minimizes the problem better than any other solution. Very nice and knowledgeable representative by the way!
So, I am hoping for experienced opinions from other owners.
- I know the rear of the Roadtrek is narrower than the front and that is part or maybe all of the problem.
- Do I need a new steering box? If so, what type? A Borgeson? Redhead? I understand that the factory ones are not any better.
-Will Michelin tires solve the problem?
- Some other types of steering modifications?
I am really hoping to stimulate some discussion on this issue before I spend my life’s savings trying to solve my problem by reinventing the wheel! If it has been solved, please help me get there faster!
Jeff
Class B
  • Arizona_Kid's avatar
    Arizona_Kid
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2014
    As has been mentioned, rear wheel spacers if you don't have them.
    Some older Dodges just never handled very good, no matter what was done. That's why, in the "Sticky" at the top of the first page, a test drive in winds, and two lane highways with passing trucks is a recommendation.
  • joebullits's avatar
    joebullits
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2014
    Recently purchased 1998 Pleasureway Excel on Dodge chassis. Driving home in it gave me white knuckles with all the steering wheel manuvering it took to keep it in the lane. Since then, 6 weeks ago, I have replaced shocks, sway bar link bushings, steering damper and inflated tires from 54 lbs when i drove it home to 62 lbs. This made a noticable difference. It was suggested that I inflate rear airbags to 75 lbs, this helped greatly on two lane country roads at 55 mph.
    Went for test ride today on interstate with light cross wind. Yup, white knucle time and reduce speed to 55mph. I have ideas of futher areas to check, I'll keep you all posted.
  • Metaphor_7182's avatar
    Metaphor_7182
    Explorer
    Aug 12, 2014
    While this is not about a1996 RT, I have a 1997 (on a 1996 chassis) and found some useful info.
    http://www.roadtrekchapter.org/region7/user/image/tsb1900201reva.pdf

    http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/131956/print/true.cfm
  • GaryKH's avatar
    GaryKH
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2014
    When i bought my 96 D190P last year, i also had swerving steering problems at anything over 50mph (90kmh, especially with semis. I noticed my tires where at 70 lbs, all of them. I then reduced the front tires to 60 lbs. & left the rears alone & the issue, for the most part has gone away. Something to check out before you spend more $. Gary
  • Handbasket's avatar
    Handbasket
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2014
    IIRC, the guy who made and sold the 3" (?) steel wheel spacers guaranteed no wheel bearing problems for 75,000 miles. But he went out of business for unknown reasons a few years after I bought my spacers.

    The Dodge 1-ton van uses a rear axle from their parts bin, sourced from the similar-vintage pickups to avoid tooling costs of a van-specific wider axle. That's why it's narrower than the front end.

    It's an automobile type semi-floating design with one big wheel bearing at each end, not the 'expected' full-floating design normally used on 1-ton vehicles. That has 2 wheel bearings on each end.

    As I said, the wheel spacers made almost no difference in my Dodge RT's uber-squirrelly handling. I think I made the comment at the time that the improvement about covered the cost of shipping, not the cost of purchase and effort of installation.

    One thing more... I did find that a front inner (frame) sway bar bushing was badly deteriorated. I think it was caused by oil dripping down from the engine oil fill. I replaced it, but it didn't make much difference.

    Dunno if any of this dreck dredged up from my memory is useful to you. But please post back if you find an answer, or anything that improves it.

    Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
  • Arizona_Kid's avatar
    Arizona_Kid
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2014
    I did a quick Archive search for you. You might want to search for more.
    There are Search tutorials in the "Forum Tech Support" forum.

    Wheel Spacers
  • a1parrothead's avatar
    a1parrothead
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2014
    Thanks for the replies so far. Sounds like wheel spacers and maybe XPS tires. Any suggestions in wheel spacers? Brand? also how thick? I have read about the 2" thick ones.

    Jeff
  • charles's avatar
    charles
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2014
    Do the wheel spacer first, they will make a world of difference and you can fine tune it from there if you feel the need. My Dodge was an absolute nightmare and I only put the spacers on to end the problem.

    Nick
  • Handbasket's avatar
    Handbasket
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2014
    What tires is it on now, including full brand, size, load range, and pressures?

    I had similar major issues with a '99/'00 RT D190V. Rear wheel spacers, Bilstein shocks, air bags, alignment & inspection of all steering components did not help appreciably, nor did a fancy multi-hundred buck steering stabilizer (Safe-T-Plus, IIRC). It already had the 'good' OEM steering box.

    It was on Michelin LTX A/S tires, which I later concluded were at least some of the issue. They have much softer sidewalls than the XPS Ribs. Sitting in a left turn lane, you could feel it rock noticeably in the wind wake of oncoming sedans doing 45mph. Unfortunately, I didn't come to that conclusion until I tried the same tire on a Chevy RT, with similar but not as bad results. I suspect that the Ribs would have helped, but that's a semi-educated guess. They're probably going to ride worse than the LTX (stiffer and heavier), and have less wet traction on pavement & dirt.

    One thing I didn't try was a rear sway bar. You might or might not find one that'll fit around the RV gear underneath. Brand names to research are Hellwig & Roadmaster.

    Good luck with it. My solution was to trade it on, for a Chevy RT. Let us know if you find anything that helps.

    Jim, "For every action, there is an equal & opposite criticism."
  • Jamesq's avatar
    Jamesq
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2014
    wheel spacers did it for mine.I HAD 1995 DODGE rt and it drove as good as my 2004 chevy rt. good luck.JAMES

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