Just went on my first fully loaded trip and my rig drove like a waterbed, it was like you could feel the water/gas swishing from left to right.Its an older Betsy, 1986 Minnie Winnie,but its in very good shape, Ball joints good, Brand new tires and Bilsteins.This sensation is directly related to the 25 gallons of waterand the first time feeling this.What can I do to relieve this, it was a little unnerving?

Does it do it without the water in it?

Could be your springs are worn out. Or add a couple of air bags and stiffen things up.

What chassis, specific new tires including load range, and tire pressures?Jim, "Crowded elevators smell different to midgets."

Is the water tank full or partly full? I don't think a full tank will slosh very much.

gbopp wrote:Is the water tank full or partly full? I don't think a full tank will slosh very much.Did it with a full tank and New E rated tires.

Drove like a waterbed ? | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

tred0956
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
Horizon170 wrote:
I put new tires on my RV and it's all I can do to keep it between the lines. Wife accused me of driving in Braille a few times. Weak sidewalls is my problem.
Make sure you have the Max. allowable air pressure in your tires IMO.

What kind/brand of tires?
j-d
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2014
If it's a Ford chassis it does not have ball joints. They use kingpins. They could be worn but not likely. Inspect the bushings where the two axles meet the chassis crossmember.
We had a Holiday Rambler on a 1983 E350. It was all over the road until I:

1. Added a rear leaf to both of the sagging rear springs
2. Replaced the front sway bar end bushings
3. Set front wheel toe to slightly "in" since I found it way "out"

Weigh it if you haven't and set pressures according to the load using a chart. Excess front tire pressure and it'll wander.
pnichols
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2014
Mark,

What size Class C RV do you have? How much on average does it weigh. What chassis is it on? What condition are the shocks in? Does it sag in the rear? What pressure do you have in the front and rear tires? What is it's wheel base? How long is it's rear overhang?

A lot of factors could be contributing to your swaying/wallowing handling ... probably a combination of several factors.
Mbrown
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
Air bags seems to be the consensus solution.
Horizon170
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
I put new tires on my RV and it's all I can do to keep it between the lines. Wife accused me of driving in Braille a few times. Weak sidewalls is my problem.
Make sure you have the Max. allowable air pressure in your tires IMO.
timmac
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
The class C is 28 years old, its somewhat normal for the coil springs and leaf springs to be wore out by this time on heavy RV's, maybe they are not sagging yet but they do show signs of wore out by it handling the way you mention.

Air bags at all 4 corners could help, or you can just replace all factory springs but it will be pricey..
Mbrown
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
a fellow RV'er recommended Rear torsion Bar ??
Mbrown
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
gbopp wrote:
Is the water tank full or partly full?
I don't think a full tank will slosh very much.

Did it with a full tank and New E rated tires.
gbopp
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
Is the water tank full or partly full?
I don't think a full tank will slosh very much.
Handbasket
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
What chassis, specific new tires including load range, and tire pressures?

Jim, "Crowded elevators smell different to midgets."