Gasser Handling - Specific Question

FloridaRosebud wrote:

Cloud Dancer wrote:
My F-53 chassis came with anti-roll bars. They were designed as a matched set, and selected to do a good job,... and they did. The front leaf springs were sagging, prematurely. This caused bottoming out onto the rubber stops. It also resulted in some "bump steer". I installed front Firestone airbags to return the ride height to normal, and I added a front panhard link. I also installed wedge shims designed to increase the caster 2 degrees, and added front ballast in order to assure caster authority. Everything worked very well in improving the directional stability. But, I had occasion to drive a large diesel pusher with a Spartan chassis. The rest is history.

I'm trying NOT to drive a DP, as I'm afraid if I do I'll be in debt up to my nose...forever.....;)

Mine came stock with anti-roll bars as well. Rear was about .75" in diameter, and the Helwig is 1-5/8". Made a big difference. The stock front is 1" in diameter, the Hellwig is 1.75". So it stands to reason that the difference in size should help out the front of the MH and we'd be back to a "matched" set, just bigger. My Mechanical Engineer and I discussed the specs of the MH, and he felt like the two biggest issues was the wheelbase was too short for the length, and the MH was not heavy enough for the surface area of the sides and as a result getting pushed around was inevitable.

Al

I screwed up. My Vectra had a wheelbase of 228 inches, giving it a wheelbase-to-overall length ratio of 56%. Yours, with a 208" wheelbase has a ratio of 51%. The rear overhang length of my Vectra was significantly shorter as well. This means that mine had a head start on the chances of having better directional stability. I can now see what drove you to install all the improvements. This also gives me reason to believe that yours might be too light on the front (not enough caster authority) You might want to try a bunch of sandbags up front (just to see what difference it makes).