Thanks to all for the info.
We have the twin-be version Nexus 28P which has some issues that do not apply to the island-bed version. We like it a lot except for two things which are common to the island bed version:
> Poor weight distribution - left side heavy and front end light.
> Long rear overhang (10 feet 6 inches) - excessive dragging.
We took delivery of the coach in November 2013. After a 2700 mile trip from Elkhart I got it home and immediately replaced the Ford OEM shocks with Konis, installed a heavy duty steering stabilizer and a track bar. Did not replace the sway bars as the Ford bars are almost as heavy as the after market (RoadMaster-IPD) bars.
The light frontend causes the coach to not track well. When being passed by large trucks the front of the coach gets pushed to the right. (It is hard to teach yourself to steer into the truck.) With the storage facilities of the 28P, you cannot correct the poor weight distribution by relocating loads. Our two large rear compartments are almost empty. When "loaded for the road" the frontend weight of our 28P is between 800 & 1100 pounds less than Ford's recommended value. With an "empty" coach the frontend is light by about 500 pounds. With either a "loaded" coach or an "empty" coach, the left side is about 500 pounds heavier than the right side.
As the first step to addressing the long overhang, I installed a set of Timbren "helper" springs which are always in contact with the axle. This leveled the coach and gained almost 1-inch of rear ground clearance. I then had the hitch receiver completely rebuilt which raised it about 2 inches. Also had "good" skid pads implemented and I had the spare tire carrier moved forward; just behind the gas tank. These actions reduced the rear end dragging a bit.
We always flat-tow a Jeep Cherokee. The extension of the tow bar behind the hitch receiver increases the drag potential a lot. We live in an area where I cannot leave the neighborhood with the tow bar installed on the coach without serious dragging.
I had considered adding spacer blocks between the axle and the frame ("frame lifting"). However, it is my understanding that Ford does not like this idea. I know of a couple of Viper owners with similar long overhangs that have added leaves to the Ford spring pack with various degrees of success.
My first priority is to address the "light front end" issue. I will not let my wife drive the coach until I can improve the way it handles. If need be I can learn to live with the long overhang problems.
I must admit that I am spoiled. Our previous coach was a 2005 Lazy Daze Mid-bath; 27 feet long, 176 inch wheelbase, and a 9 foot 5 inch rear overhang. It had neither weight distribution or rear end drag issues. I had added steering stabilizer, Koni shocks, track bar and IPD sway bars. The coach had excellent road manners.
Doug
