Advice on driving stability - Fleetwood Southwind

About ten minutes ago, I got back from riding in the neighbor's 2010 Fleetwood Terra 32'. He wanted some help adjusting the steering stabilizer he just added. Luckily, it was adjusted right on, since it was a 100 degrees out. He also added the Koni FSD shocks and the rear track bar.

Having helped many friends, owned an 04 Fleetwood Terra 32' and reading hundreds of suspension posts, I would do the same as my neighbor did. I'm not a huge fan of the steering stabilizers, but I think the best bang for your buck is the Koni FSD shocks and the track bar.

Install those items, get it aligned and weighed and then adjust the tire pressure to the weight chart. You'll be pleasantly surprised with your coach.

All the answers to handling issues are HERE
Great people to work with. I had extensive upgrades done to my suspension on my F 53 chassis and now it handles and rides like it should.

Ken

Blue Ox Tiger Trak for the rear:
http://blueox.com/p-1154-tigertrak.aspx

Steer Safe on the front (which also helps give extra protection in case of a front tire blow out -- helps keep the coach tracking straight):
http://www.steersafe.com/

If, when you say it "sways", does the body rock back and forth sideways, or is it difficult to keep going in a straight line on the highway?

If it rocks, get your sway bars checked. If its the hard to steer, make sure the front end alignment, especially the caster, is correct. Weigh the coach as loaded for travel, and set the tire pressure per the tire mfg's recommendations. Install a trac bar on each axle.

Cdurham wrote:
We have a 2010 Fleetwood Southwind 32V W Chassis with workhorse engine. When driving on freeways going over 55 we have issues with swaying. We are pulling a small car behind. Any recommendation on correcting this problem. Anti-sway bars or other option? Please share what has worked for you.

Background history, we are first time RV'er is this the norm for driving. We have checked tire pressure.
Thank you,
Carla

I don't believe the W chassis is equipped with any sway bars or much else for add-ons and you might want to contact Helwig for a kit of sorts to make it right. Not cheap but should make a significant difference, if you plan on keeping the coach for awhile.

Air bags and a better/larger sway bar on the front, and it'll ride like a Cadillac, well, you know....

I don't believe the W chassis is equipped with any sway bars

WH started putting sway bars on the W chassis before 2004, and they were beefed up on the 2004 chassis. I have them on mine. Bilstein shocks were also standard on the W chassis in 2004. Trac bars are still needed to settle down side-to-side wander action.

wilanddij wrote:

I don't believe the W chassis is equipped with any sway bars

WH started putting sway bars on the W chassis before 2004, and they were beefed up on the 2004 chassis. I have them on mine. Bilstein shocks were also standard on the W chassis in 2004. Trac bars are still needed to settle down side-to-side wander action.

Ummmmmmmmm and most sure our neighbors 2008 W24 chassis doesn't have them or not in the traditional sense, anyway... Click Henderson

The W series Workhorse chassis has massive steel to steel anti-sway bars installed from the factory. That is the 3"x3" square box by both the front and rear axles. There are no bushings to wear out so forget about that being the problem. They do not look like the standard anti-sway bar but they are much better. Of course some of the people that SELL traditional anti-sway bars are more than willing to take your money.
I added air bags to the rear of my W chassis and by adjusting the air pressure, I can travel in strong crosswinds out in the Great Plains.
I know that your chassis came with Bilstein shocks, that have a lifetime warranty, but they still could be bad and not dampening the rocking motion. I replaced my Bilstein shocks with Koni FSD shocks.

this is a typical problem with very large boxes mounted on springs during a windy day. I solved my sway (well... 90% anyways) with a home made rear trac bar. go here for details.
Cost was minimal and maintenance is almost zero. Hope this helps.