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Twocow's avatar
Twocow
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015

Monaco Cayman air bags

I bought a 2005 Monaco Cayman, 35 ft. that has terrible tracking problems, the shop used shims to rotate the front axle (did not help much) and this caused the top and bottom of the air bags to be out of parallel by about 1 inch. My question is, will this harm the operation of the air bags?
I have put on new tires, rear trailing arms, shocks, tie rod ends. If anyone has any other idea's of how to make it track the road, I would appreciate the information.

Thanks
Von
  • If it has a solid front axle I highly recommend the "Safe Steer" system from Demming New Mexico. Cost is abut $400 and you can install it yourself in about an hour. I installed it on my Discovery Freightliner chassis. It changed my driving from "white knuckle" to one handing with a coffee in the other.. Best dollars I have spent on the coach so far.

    bob
  • islandvagabonds wrote:
    If it has a solid front axle I highly recommend the "Safe Steer" system from Demming New Mexico. Cost is abut $400 and you can install it yourself in about an hour. I installed it on my Discovery Freightliner chassis. It changed my driving from "white knuckle" to one handing with a coffee in the other.. Best dollars I have spent on the coach so far.

    bob


    These type systems (also Safe-T-Plus) are NOT to be used as bandaids for steering/control problems. They are blowout type control systems that also help in normal windy uneven road tracking. BUT, the main thing is, get your RV to ride and track correctly before adding another type system. A CORRECTLY aligned/maintained front suspension will operate correctly and adding a system just makes it easier to drive. Doug

    OP, Find a shop that specializes in large Diesel front end systems and have them evaluate and fix. A QUALTY shop will find and fix your problem. Doug
  • "Twocow"....Before you throw a lot of money into this coach, you should know that particular model (R4R chassis) was rough riding and ill handling. I've never heard of rotating the axle to improve handling. I also would not want the airbags set at an angle.

    The only real improvement that can be done on that coach is to.... Get the tire air pressure as low as the charts will allow for the weight. Make sure the ride height is correct, especially since they messed with the axle and add Koni shocks.

    Source Engineering makes a ride enhancement kit that changes the airbags out to a larger size, changes the shocks and adds another small air tank for the bags. It's about $3K. It helps, but that chassis will still have a rough ride.

    Lastly, is this your first Class A or diesel pusher? The reason I ask.....Many who drive a Class A and especially a DP for the first time, try to steer it like a car. They look right in front of the coach and try to correct the steering for every little nuance in the road. This will make it seem like it's wandering all the time. Try and look and steer toward a point farther down the road. Don't constantly correct unless you're leaving your lane.