Then why are people here telling me the Vista 18 ft don’t handle wel ??

i have no answer except, some people don't know what they are talking about

The vast majority of gas class A's made today are built on the Ford F53 chassis. The Winnebago Vista is indeed one of these majority. None of them are anywhere near as short as 18' (and I'm not aware of any 18' class A's, for that matter).A few (generally smaller) ones are built on other chassis, such as a bare E350/E450 chassis. The Thor Axis and Vegas are examples.Note that there's a lot more to good or poor handling than just the chassis that's used. The weight and balance of the unit, the length relative to the wheelbase, the setup of the chassis and suspension, etc. all can have a significant impact.

They should be telling you it doesn't handle well.

It is true that just about (if not all) new Class A gas motorhomes are built on a Ford F53 chassis that have various lengths, tire sizes, gear ratio’s, and max GVWR’s. Older models could be built on either Ford or Chevy/Workhorse, and perhaps Dodge. What Vista Class A is 18ft?

luberhill wrote:Then why are people here telling me the Vista 18 ft don’t handle wel ??When I bought my motorhome Gassers cam on at least Two or Three different chassis. one was designed for Motor home use the other is a Truck conversion basically. WHy do you have handling issues.. 4 Answers/suspects.1: ALignment.. NOT done at the factory2: SWAY (Think fans at a rock concert holding up their Bic's and swaying side to side) side to side rocking of the RV. Since my RV is on a chassis built for RV use. they put an oversize Sway bar so.. Well it's 13 years now and I"m just starting to notice some sway. may need to have it inspected .2: WAG.. The suspension is LEAF SPRING with a solid front axle. I am old enough to remember when Independent Front Suspension" was a big advertising thing for pick up trucks. Cars have long had that feature (A-Frame front suspension). and now may have Strut suspension in the rear as well. With LEAF springs yes the axle can move up and down relative to the body to absorb bumps in road (or help absorb) but what they do not tell you is the body can also move side to side over the axle. So imagine the front moves to the right as the rear moves to the left. You compensate since you THINK you are moving right. Then they swap. No the front is left of center while the rear is Righ. again you compensate so you go down the road like this /\/\/\/\/\ (Exaggarated but it is the best I can ASCII). How to stop that? Trac Bars. I'm told the rear is best but I got good results with a Front. May add the Rear later. Untra Power is the one I wish to add. Finally we have steering stablizers.. I like the ones where you can make minor adjustments from the driver's seat.. Blut Ox Tru-Center was the only one that had that when I had mine installed. Safe-T-Steer has it as an option today. I would have your co-pilot follow with the towed for a few miles (Say freeway entrance to first rest area) and perhaps use a dash cam to film your RV. see what isues it has. then apply cures as above.

I’m being told all gas class A are on the same chassis ??

16 Replies

Cloud_Dancer
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2018
I'm getting angry. So, there's two classes of RV owners,....those who intuitively know that a RV with a 500-inch wheelbase is more directional stable than a RV with a 5-inch wheelbase,....and....
tropical36
Explorer
Aug 03, 2018
luberhill wrote:
Then why are people here telling me the Vista 18 ft don’t handle wel ??

Can't comment on that particular coach, but there's a lot of difference between one that has a short wheelbase and a long overhang behind the real wheels, than with a 39ft like we had, with a longer wheelbase and a tag axle.
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2018
My coach is 31' built on an 18K lbs chassis with a 190" wheel base and it handles very well. A light grip of the steering wheel is all that is needed. Handling, control and ride comfort is going to be a very subjective determination. What is perfectly fine for me might be a down check and walk away from a rig for you. If you're looking to buy and have concerns about road performance then test drive as many different configurations as possible and make your own determination.

Were the people telling you the Vista does not handle well driving a 40+ foot diesel pusher?
Yellowboat_
Explorer
Aug 03, 2018
wolfe10 wrote:
28' 8" overall length.

What is wheelbase.

The OL/WB will give you a pretty good idea of how it will handle when compared with those with worse/better ratios. Said another way, if everything else is equal, a coach with a better OL/WB ratio will be more stable, hobby horse less and track better.

Wheelbase on a 28' 8" Vista is 178".
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2018
luberhill wrote:
Then why are people here telling me the Vista 18 ft don’t handle wel ??

Not sure who's telling you that, but they are not.
mowermech
Explorer
Aug 02, 2018
Wheelbase is the measurement from the center of the front wheel or axle to the center of the rear wheel or axle.
I don't know how "tag axles" are figured.
Long ago and far away we had a 1977 Pace Arrow 27 foot Class A on a Dodge M400 chassis with the 440 V8. That thing was a joy to drive. The floor plan, however, proved to be terrible!
wolfe10
Explorer
Aug 02, 2018
28' 8" overall length.

What is wheelbase.

The OL/WB will give you a pretty good idea of how it will handle when compared with those with worse/better ratios. Said another way, if everything else is equal, a coach with a better OL/WB ratio will be more stable, hobby horse less and track better.
Tyler0215
Explorer
Aug 02, 2018
Have you driven the MH? Maybe everyone doesn't know what they are talking about. Driveabilty is very subjective. Is it a car? No. Is it it a truck? Yes.
Drive one and make up your own mind.
luberhill
Explorer
Aug 02, 2018
I meant 28 ft sorry fat fingers
Yellowboat_
Explorer
Aug 02, 2018
It may be a typo but the shortest Winnebago Vista is 28' 8". GVWR for the shortest vista is 18,000 pounds.

As stated above there are things that can be done to improve driving characteristics.

And bigger is not always better. I have a friend who has a Sightseer that is the next size up from mine and he says that it is very difficult to drive.

Safe travels. JD