I know this has probably been covered ad nauseam in the past, but I can seem to find any info from the past posts. I have already done the budget stabilizer modification and it helps, but my handling on my 2013 Winnebago Vista is still like rowing a bathtub on the ocean. I am almost always towing a Jeep Wrangler while driving, but I have problems with or without towing. What suspension/steering mods have y'all done on the F53 chassis that helped most, and what did not work? Also, I drive in the mountains a lot, and the engine noise gets really annoying pretty quickly, and my wife and I can't even carry on a conversation. Any solutions for the noise? After 11,000 miles, I'm thinking I have to make a change to this rig, move up to a diesel pusher, or go back to a 5er! Thanks in advance for your reply!

We had the same problems with a class C version of your coach. After, helper springs, air bags, steering stabilizer, completely insulating the cab with hush mat and new carpet and pad and even aluminum rims it still was too noisy and handled poorly. We traded it for a DP. Air brakes, air ride, engine in the back makes all the difference. We had our DP in 50+ gusting winds pulling our boat, in the mountains and it was much more stable. That is before you factor in the vastly better fuel economy. The poor v10 got terrible fuel economy in mountainous terrain. When towing it was worse. DPs are not nirvana they float across the roadway so don't expect sports car handling.

1) Get the coach weighed and look up the inflation charts for your tires and the weight carried by each axle. 2) Get a four wheel alignment done by a very qualified shop.3) Add a rear stabilizer to your rig (Tiger Trak makes a good one)4) Install an airbag system if you don't like how the shocks affect the coach. (Kelderman is a good one)5) Some people have had good luck with steering stabilizers.As for noise, there are plenty of acoustical insulation products you can apply to the underside of your dog house and firewall that should make a noticeable difference.A diesel pusher is nice too if you'd like to upgrade.

Here's a recent thread: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28521964/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfmI assume your rig has a maximum tow rating of 5,000lbs. I know some jeep wranglers can be close to that. I'm wondering if your toad is causing any of the handling issues? My Monaco Monarch on the same chassis handles great, even on mountain roads.

The best steering improvement I made on my F53 was setting the toe-in on the strong side. 5/32 toe-in. Next best was a front track bar.Insulate the dog house and surrounding structure to reduce heat and noise. Richard

You sound like another perfect candidate for a DP. Like others have said, engine out back, all the heat and noise is out back too. Air brakes, jake brake and air ride are awesome. Basement and pass through storage are huge compared to the gasser also. Remember, you have the transmission and driveshaft running the entire length of the coach. DP's don't have this problem, so you get a ton more storage.If you can afford it, go for it. You won't believe how quiet the ride is even under full throttle climbing hills.

F53 Drivability | Good Sam Community

Yellowboat_
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
I just picked up our new 2016 Sightseer 33C yesterday. We drove it home in a wind storm. Neighbor said that there were gusts to 80 mph. Two different people were killed by falling limbs.

I had the dealership install s rear trac bar, rear sway bar, and Safe-T-Plus steering damper. Had problems with the rear sway bar as I have the new 2016-F-53 chassis with a six speed transmission. The sway bar that is designed for the 2006 through 2015 chassis did not fit. Roadmaster sent a team to look at the new 2016 chassis. They fit a sway bar designed for a Tiffin on my coach. Roadmaster got the data that they need to engineer sway bars for the new chassis.

It drove well. I felt the sidewinds but they were manageable. I didn't feel the need for a death grip on the steering wheel. I was passed by several 18 wheelers and a bus. I didn't feel a bow wave. One 18 wheeler cut off a side wind for a moment and I made a slight correction.

My.operator's manual advises to get an alignment after the coach is loaded for travel. I had our 2006 F-53 chassis aligned when new and the alignment shop added wedges to adjust alignment. The alignment shop ssid that wedges allow them to adjust castor without bending the axle. My reading on this web says to get as much positive castor as specs allow to improve driveability.

Safe travels. JD
holstein13
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
Yellowboat. wrote:
I had our 2006 F-53 chassis aligned when new and the alignment shop added wedges to adjust alignment. The alignment shop said that wedges allow them to adjust castor without bending the axle. My reading on this web says to get as much positive castor as specs allow to improve driveability.
I've heard this "added wedges" thing before and even heard it from my own alignment shop in South Florida.

The whole idea of adding wedges or bending axles makes little sense to me and I'd love for someone to explain why a chassis manufacturer would design their front suspension in such a way that adding wedges or bending an axle would be necessary, ever.

When I asked the expert alignment guys at Spartan about this, they said that it should never be necessary. They said that other alignment shops simply don't know what they are doing and if they work on both front wheels they should be able to synchronize them so that it isn't necessary.

I tend to think that it makes sense not to need them.
wolfe10
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
The way caster angle is adjusted (and properly adjusted) on a solid front axle is by inserting wedge-shaped shims between axle and chassis mount.

Nothing strange about it.

Lots of places sell caster shims for solid front axles:

http://www.truckcomponentsonline.com/TRUCK-CASTER-SHIMS_c_316.html
jerseyjim
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
Wedges and shims for Ford front ends is nothing new. Had to use them to re-align my old 1986 Bronco. Much better than heating up and bending the solid front axle.
wolfe10
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
And, this is not just Ford. It applies to all HD solid axle chassis, including OTR trucks.
Anonymous
Sep 01, 2015
We too had a vista 30. Upgraded to a sightseer 33c. Almost 35'. Same motor/ chassis
The bigger coach seems quieter, more stable, still loud on upgrades, but better. W/o the dp cost

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