Forum Discussion

drumz's avatar
drumz
Explorer
May 16, 2017

Reducing "Tractor Trailer Push" E-350 Class C

Hey Guys:
'Ol "Twenty Questions" here again!
Are there suspension "add-ons" one can install to reduce that feeling of being pushed off the road by Tractor Trailers coming up beside you? Or how about that weird shaky feeling when your driving behind a tractor trailer in it's wake? My ride's a Class C Ford E-350 Super Duty 25'.
  • I think it would be a reasonable idea to do basic checks of the weight balance and alignment of the motorhome. If there's not sufficient weight on the front axle, it can make for comparatively squirrelly handling; so can insufficient caster. Correcting these problems, if they exist, will make the motorhome more stable in general, including when there are crosswinds from trucks or whatever. Some suspension improvements (better anti-roll bar, for instance) might also lessen some of the difficulties.

    To some extent, you just have to deal with these things. Driving a high, long vehicle with many times the cross-sectional area of a car will result in a greater sensitivity to side winds because you have a much larger sail, as it were, to catch them. If you have a relatively long overhang behind the rear axle that will also not help things any. There's a lot to be said for slowing down in situations where you encounter side winds, and being prepared to compensate appropriately with the steering.

    evanrem wrote:
    Wind behind a trailer might be tough to correct. Suck from passing semis can be adjusted I have found with my hitch setup. I use a pro pride and I have got it down to almost nothing on passing semis mainly by adjusting tongue weight. Picked up a new trailer this weekend and the suck was bad. Kept tweaking it and it got better still a bit more to dial it in.


    While that's quite true and good advice when towing, it's not really applicable to the OP's class C (and they did not indicate they were towing a trailer with it).
  • Little to nothing you can do with a C I think.
    Same thing happens to a lesser extent with a big box truck (in place of the RV).

    Only seems to be a problem when you are PASSED by a big truck going in the same direction at a substantial difference in speed.....say 10 MPH or more.
    One way to minimize the problem is to try and keep up with the flow of traffic a bit better.
    More miles of experience and keeping an eye on the mirrors so you don't get surprised from behind will probably make things better too.
  • Wind behind a trailer might be tough to correct. Suck from passing semis can be adjusted I have found with my hitch setup. I use a pro pride and I have got it down to almost nothing on passing semis mainly by adjusting tongue weight. Picked up a new trailer this weekend and the suck was bad. Kept tweaking it and it got better still a bit more to dial it in.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    When the wind off the truck hits the back of the trailer it's going to push you further away and then it will bring you back when the air hits the front of the trailer. The best thing to do is nothing assuming there is enough pavement to stay on the road when he pushes you away as he's going to bring you back.

    You are too close if you are feeling where the air comes back together behind the truck.