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MrChuckles's avatar
MrChuckles
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014

Monaco Knight handling issues

We just returned from a trip and I noticed a little more severe handling issues than in the past. The coach seemed to dart from side to side more than it used to. New for this trip:
  • New Michelin tires
  • Towed our 2009 Jeep Wrangler (lifted 4") wheels down with a Blue Ox tow bar
  • Wind was blowing 10 to 20


The coach was aligned and ride height checked about 8 months ago before the tires. The Jeep looked stable in the camera, but I plan to add the Blue Ox hitch immobilizers in the near future.

I need the coach to steer better. What would you do and in what order to improve the steering?
  • We have an '04 Country Coach that wanders. We took it in for alignment and they said the "toe in" needed to be adjusted. He said it should be checked every year or 2. Once they correct the "toe in" it drives great. On our coach, it's on the right side every time.
    We just left HWH in Moscow Iowa and they have an Active Air system that we would love to have installed on our coach. They are putting it on the new Foretravels. http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml35458.pdf
  • Thanks gswgci. I had an alignment on the toad about a month ago and it seems to drive without darting so I think that can be ruled out. I set the Blue Ox up myself but it seems to be set up right. The tow bar is level and attaches to solid tabs on the Jeep's Rockhard steel bumper.

    I was thinking of the shocks but was wondering if weighing the coach on all four corners and ensuring accurate/correct tire pressure might be first on the list. (I've been reading of several other Monacos having quite a bit of difference in the rear passenger's side being much heavier.) I'm not sure if it needs to be re-aligned given the only change was the tires.

    If it helps diagnose it, the coach seemed to track ruts more than it used to also. I noticed that more on road construction where they had those blasted concrete barriers to keep it exciting during lane re-routes.

    I will definitely pick a calm day and take her out without the Jeep as you suggest.
  • I have a 2003 Safari Cheetah with 45,000 miles on it. I tow a Nissan XTerra which weighs 4,500lbs. My chassis and suspension is identical to your coach. I changed over to Koni shocks a couple of years ago and it made a big difference in eliminating the "Porpoising" problems. I have never had the drift issues you speak of. I can take my hands off the wheel at 55 t0 65 MPH and the coach does not drift at all except for the crown on some hyways. The wind does effect all RVs no matter the size and the weight. Your toad shouldn't be effecting the stability of the coach if your towing set up is correct and if your toad isn't grossly out of alignment. I would suggest you take the coach out on a good road by itself on a no wind day and see if you are still having the problem. If you do then I would look at front tire balance and alignment. You shouldn't have to be fighting the steering wheel.