High top conversion van Handling in the wind

I found my '89 hightop dodge handled way better after I added firestone riderite airbag helper springs to assist the rear leafs.

Big rigs did not seem to push me around when passing, and cross winds were not nearly as noticeable.

Overall handling was improved.

Later, I added stiffer front coil springs upgraded the steering coupler, rebuilt the front suspension, and added KYB gas a just shocks.

No handling worries anymore. Too Squishy a rear suspension causes wallowing in wind, and is helped by a rear sway bar, but just stiffer springs also reduce sway and wallowing in the wind.

I feel no need to add a rear sway bar.

Sorry here's clickable link Hurcules truck tires

I got these Hurcules Terra Trac AT 2s for $580 out the door. They come with a 35k full replacement road hazard warranty. Stiff sidewall, offroad capability and very quiet. http://www.herculestire.com/tire-gallery/passenger-and-light-truck/light-truck/#loaded

Handbasket wrote:
Switchback & Ted66, after a _lot_ of work, sweat, money, and a few tears, I traced much of my '99/'00 Roadtrek Dodge's evil wind & curve handling to soft sidewalls on Michelin LTX tires, even in load range E.

Jim H.

A belated thank you Jim. (Switchback, I apologize for hijacking your post). Did you find a firm walled tire that improved the handling, and if so, would you kindly advise which it was?

I will get my RV to the alignment shop this coming week (time permitting) and will try the positive caster setting first, only because it's more cost effect than replacing 4 otherwise good, near new tires. Maybe we'll put some wheel spaces on the rear while we're at it. Thanks again!

Switchback & Ted66, after a _lot_ of work, sweat, money, and a few tears, I traced much of my '99/'00 Roadtrek Dodge's evil wind & curve handling to soft sidewalls on Michelin LTX tires, even in load range E.

Jim H.

Our LT (Dodge chassis) is the exact same way. We just purchased it used over the summer (2003 model). Exact same handling characteristics that you've described. I've also found that in non-windy conditions, it will handle fine on some road surfaces (the concrete highways of Fl for example) yet will wander ALL over on some asphalt roads (like I81 through Virginia.) I40 through New Mexico with 35-45 mph gusts was harrowing!! With no winds, it drove like a champ on the same interstate.

The previous owner made no mention of handling concerns, and during our test drive on a rural road it seemed to handle fine. The prior owner had just put news tires on it and new shocks. Hmmmmmm.

Through lots of research, I think I *may* have stumbled across the cause, and better yet a solution; the caster of the front wheels needs to be very positive! Before we spend a penny on sway bars, spacers, Bilsteins etc, I'm simply going to have the alignment checked for positive camber on the high end of the specs for the chassis.

As mentioned, ours is a 2003, and had nearly 100k miles on it when we bought it, so it's been driven. I surmise that the tire shop set all alignment parameters to dead center of specs, presuming they were doing the 'right thing' for their client.

Once the weather clears and I get ours to a reputable mid-sized truck alignment shop, I'll report back with the findings and results (if any). This is the articlearticle that enlightened me. I then did additional research and am cautiously optimistic.

IPD larger diameter (may now be sold as Helwig) sway bars and bilstein shocks or a comparable brand.

We have PW Ford Excel TS o a 350 van 2006. This van is noted for sway. We purchased it used. This is what I did. 1. Put 2 inch wheel spacers on the rear.
2. Put a rear sway bar on.
3. Put road master active suspension on the rear.
4. Put on 4 new Michelin E class tires.
I did all of this a one time so I can't tell you if just one thing helped more than another but before driving
50mph was scary, now I can drive 60-70 and feel safe with little sway. I have had other PW owners drive my unit and they agree mine drives much better than theirs without the upgrades. The upgrades may be costly but for safety I believe they were worth it. I can now sleep with my wife driving . Bob

Yes on high tire pressure. I should have added that. I too run at 75 rear 65 front.

You should have load range E tires on you van. They should be equipped with high pressure tire valves. Those tires will have a pressure rating of 80 psi. You don't say what tire pressure you are running, but on my high top van I run 79 in the rear and 65 in the front.
The rv converter recommended 79'rear and 55 front, it handled like a pig in wind and was flat out scary on a 2 lane hi way with a cross wind and an an 18 wheeler went by. I was going to install anti sway bars until someone recommended raising the front tire pressure.
60 helped, 65 changed everything.
Make sure you have the correct tires and try increasing tire pressures before you spend a bunch of money on accessories.