Reducing "Tractor Trailer Push" E-350 Class C

Desert Captain wrote:
"I haven't had anywhere near the handling problems that many owners in these forums mention. I attribute it too having the E450 chassis under a small Class C instead of the usual E350 chassis. We can drive it in high cross winds and I can steer it safely using only one hand on the wheel under most conditions."

My driving experiences match yours Phil. I think that is more because you and I both have quality 24' ish Class C's than the minimal differences between your 450 and my 350. When the manufacturers start putting the 450 on 30'+ C's the problems really start to stack up.

The overwhelming number of handling complaints come from owners of the larger model Class C, E-450 chassis'. The longer/larger the Class C, the more handling problems arise. Also the bigger units all lack anything approaching reasonable CCC/OCC/payload {caller it what you will}. Putting a 30+ to 34'+ Class C on the E-450 chassis is just asking for problems. Of course on a C that large they just have to have a Toad and loads and problems are just exacerbated.

I have had no, zip, nada, none whatsoever handling problems with my stock {other than the the heavy duty Bilstein's I added when the originals wore out}, E-350. My rig measures 24'6" nose to tail and sits upon a 159"" wheelbase.

What I will never understand is why virtually no-one {apparently}, does a proper test drive. [emoticon]

This Forum is constantly inundated with folks who bought a large Class C and are now crying the blues that it does not handle well. They bemoan the fact that now they have to spend the kids college fund adding aftermarket garbage to make it decent to drive. [emoticon]

Hey folks... I'll let you in on a little secret: If it drives like a pig on roller skates on the test drive it is not going to get one bit better down the road. You bought the wrong RV! No decent quality new Class C should need dime one of aftermarket gear/crapola added to make it drive and handle well.

Test drive a Phoenix cruiser, Born Free, Coachhouse and yes a Nexus {to name just a few of the better coaches out there}, and if they are properly loaded and inflated you too will have no issues.

I'm pretty much X2 on what D.C. says, above.

Looking at this brochure to see the specs for my 2005 24V model, one can see that Winnebago thinks my Class C's length is 24'7" - measured between something and something, and that the E450's wheelbase is 158" (see page 9 models' specs): http://www.winnebagoind.com/resources/brochure/2005/05-Spirit-bro.pdf

My rig does have a lot of weight BETWEEN the axles that is WELL FORWARD OF the rear axle as built, and when loaded for going down the road - these weights are aways ahead of the rear axle thereby nicely leveraging the gas tank, the spare tire and the FW/BW/GW tanks' shorter leveraged weight behind the rear axle - such as: heavier than normal roof due to rolled over edges all the way along each side, 18 gallon propane tank, Onan generator, two Group 31 12V batteries (72 lb. each), heavy tool box, portable genny gas can, fire pit propane tank, refrigerator, fully loaded cabinets, sometimes heavy collected rocks under the dinette seats' bench storage, ~230 lb. me, and the X lb. DW. We run tire pressures just like what is printed on the cab door .... 80 lbs. rear and 65 lbs. front. The air conditioner is about over the rear axle, so it's weight is nearly neutral on any axle loading differential. Probably having an un-occupied rear corner bed instead of a kitchen in the rear helps minimize traveling weight way at the rear, too. I also think that running full 80 lbs. in the rear - that is not really required for our small Class C - may be contributing to good lateral stiffness to minimize sway in curves, in cross winds, and with passing box trucks.

Other than the above - plus stock front/rear sway bars and a front steering shock - I have no idea why our Class C "drives almost like a van". :h