First the equipment:2009 Winnebago 29T class C on 2008 Ford E450 with V10 Triton2007 Jeep Liberty with 4 wheel driveBlue Ox Tow Bar and Tow PlateBrake BuddyNow the problem:When driving the Winnebago or Jeep separately, they do fine. When you hook them together, it becomes a white knuckle experience. When the toad is hooked up, driving at city speeds, the steering on the RV seems stiff and doesn’t try to return to center after a turn. With the toad hooked up, driving at highway speeds, when I try to correct for a wind gust or a truck passing, the RV seems sluggish in responding then overcorrects and must be corrected back. This leads to overcorrection to the left followed by overcorrection to the right and this continues for several cycles. Then it’s back to a constant wandering between the lines. The tow bar handles are both in the locked position and there is no slippage in the bar. The alignment on the Jeep checked out OK. Also had the shocks on the RV checked – they’re OK. No oversized tires on the vehicles. Sure would like to find an INEXPENSIVE solution to this problem. Any suggestions?

That sounds way too dangerous to attempt to drive UNTIL you do get it solved. I have no insight to impart, but there's no way I'd drive a rig that acts like that.i assume you are towing the Jeep 4 down. I trust you've made sure the steering wheel isn't locking up, and that the transfer case is in neutral with the tranny in park. Might be worth a trip around the block (but not one inch farther!) with somebody riding in the Jeep while towing just to see what is going on from that end.Hope you get this one figured out before you actually have to try to drive it anywhere.

Kinda sounds like the "tail wagging the dog" scenario. Are your front tires on the Winne aired up to max? I think that's the first thing I would try.

I would look into installing a Henderson rear track bar on your Class C. This will eliminate the tail wagging the dog effect. Also sounds like an alignment issue with one of the vehicles.

Dunnlnn, You sound like me 5 years ago. I took our new rig at the time to THIS specialty shop that deals with motor homes all the time. They came up with a list and I said "Do it". Afterwards the rig with our 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 in tow handles perfect. It did cost us $3900, but worth every penny.- rear Roadmaster heavy duty stabilizer bar- front Roadmaster heavy duty stabilizer bar- rear Henderson trac bar- Koni-RV shocks all around- Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer bar- front wheel alignment done with rig as would be loaded on trips.I also learned recently that if the tow bar is not horizontal when hooked up, it encourages "bucking" of the tow vehicle. If your tow bar is high at the Liberty and low at the motor home, you will need to buy one of these and longer 76" safety cables, both sold by Roadmaster and other sources.

I agree with Ron, make sure that the tow bar from the toad is level with the hitch ball on the MH. Most tow bars will allow maybe 4 inch difference but level is the best.

Scary Handling Problem | Good Sam Community

135 Replies

othertonka
Explorer
Apr 13, 2012
I agree with Ron, make sure that the tow bar from the toad is level with the hitch ball on the MH. Most tow bars will allow maybe 4 inch difference but level is the best.
ron_dittmer
Explorer III
Apr 13, 2012
Dunnlnn, You sound like me 5 years ago. I took our new rig at the time to THIS specialty shop that deals with motor homes all the time. They came up with a list and I said "Do it". Afterwards the rig with our 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 in tow handles perfect. It did cost us $3900, but worth every penny.

- rear Roadmaster heavy duty stabilizer bar
- front Roadmaster heavy duty stabilizer bar
- rear Henderson trac bar
- Koni-RV shocks all around
- Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer bar
- front wheel alignment done with rig as would be loaded on trips.

I also learned recently that if the tow bar is not horizontal when hooked up, it encourages "bucking" of the tow vehicle. If your tow bar is high at the Liberty and low at the motor home, you will need to buy one of these and longer 76" safety cables, both sold by Roadmaster and other sources.
RGordon
Explorer
Apr 13, 2012
I would look into installing a Henderson rear track bar on your Class C. This will eliminate the tail wagging the dog effect. Also sounds like an alignment issue with one of the vehicles.
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 13, 2012
Kinda sounds like the "tail wagging the dog" scenario. Are your front tires on the Winne aired up to max? I think that's the first thing I would try.
naturist
Nomad II
Apr 13, 2012
That sounds way too dangerous to attempt to drive UNTIL you do get it solved. I have no insight to impart, but there's no way I'd drive a rig that acts like that.

i assume you are towing the Jeep 4 down. I trust you've made sure the steering wheel isn't locking up, and that the transfer case is in neutral with the tranny in park. Might be worth a trip around the block (but not one inch farther!) with somebody riding in the Jeep while towing just to see what is going on from that end.

Hope you get this one figured out before you actually have to try to drive it anywhere.

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Scary Handling Problem

135 Replies

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