Steering a Motorhome

We test drove several gas and 2 diesel pushers all in the 36 38 foot range last year when thinking about a change from the fifth wheel to a motorhome and this is the very reason we did not make the move, every motorhome we drove seemed to be a chore to handle and under powered as well. Seemed like you would be exhausted after a days travel keeping the motorhome on the road.The gas units were on the ford chassis and diesels were in the 300 340 hp range Winnebago's. I guess you get used to it as well as the all the noise if you give it a chance and I understand there are aftermarket add-ons that help but at the price of a new motorhome the last thing I wanted to do was start adding parts. We decided to stay with the fifth wheel until we can find an upper lever used diesel with better suspension and bigger motor in good shape. Also was very disappointed in the quality of these units right from the factory with an assortment of broken items and things that did not work right on the lot .

rgatijnet1 wrote:
No, it is not normal to have to input steering corrections all of the time but driving a Class A is different from a pick up truck. Naturally the road surface can affect your steering but after 500 miles you should have experienced different road surfaces. Wheel alignment is something that should be checked as well as tire pressure to make sure that all tires are balanced. They do make a steering stabilizer that is helpful to some drivers. It looks like a shock absorber mounted sideways to to your tie rod and is adjusted to keep your coach going straight on a flat road surface.
The cheapest thing to check is your tire pressure and then I would check wheel alignment. Four wheel thrust alignment is the best, if the shop is equipped to do it. This insures that your rear axle is pushing straight to your front axle.
After all of that is checked and eliminated as a problem, you will still find that the Class A drives different than your 5th. You should be able to relax behind the wheel, however.

Sums it up pretty well - Alignment is the likely issue.

Let us know,

RayChez wrote:
I have had my coach for thirteen years now and 62 miles on it and the tires wear perfect. Your coach is new, alignment is not necessary.

You would need a real bad alignment to screw up your tires in 62 miles.:B

Before you make any changes try what "45Ricochet" suggested. Often new Class A owners try to steer a Class A like they do their trucks or cars. You need to pick a spot father down the road and steer for it. This will keep you from over correcting and spending a lot of time constantly steering the coach.

Had a similar problem with a long Class C we used to have. My best suggestion would be to get an alignment done at a shop the specializes in large trucks. Never had another problem after the alignment. We now have a 36", 2005 Winnebago Voyage that handles like a dream, compared to the C.
JMHO

Air Pressure on the front tires is off and will make it wonder all over the road. I figure you have 22.5 265x75 tires on your coach. You need at least 100 lbs on the front tires. I really doubt that it needs alignment. I have had my coach for thirteen years now and 62 miles on it and the tires wear perfect. Your coach is new, alignment is not necessary.

My comment: I have the same problem..... almost constant correction. Mine is an 08 Monaco Dynasty and the problem has been there since it was new. For a long time I thought it was me. I have had the alignment checked at three different shops..... all rv shops. I also have had it weighted (all 4 corners).
I got on this blog with my problem. Several posters told me of a dealership in Florida (I'm thinking Lazy Days but that was a couple of years ago and I'm not sure). They spoke very highly of them and said they (the Florida dealer) fixed the problem (and other problems) when no one else could.
I called the Florida dealer's front end foreman and he gave me the exact specs for the alignment. The last place that I had align my coach said they used those exact specs but it didn't help any. Last year (after 7 years) I put brand new Michelins all the way around and that helped a good bit.
I have pretty much resigned to the fact that it is just that way.
When we are at the different rallies, I pose the problem to other rvers, but no one has a A-B-C fix.
If and when I get close to Florida, I am going to stop by that dealership (if I can remember their name.)
If and when you get the problem squared away, please post the answer.
I will and I'm sure others would appreciate it. Good Luck!

I'd start by checking the toe in with a tape measure and a friend to hold against a rib on the inside of the 22.5 tire near the tread. Want 1/8" toe in. Weighing and setting air pressures is good and maybe someone with the same rig will post their pressures until you can get it weighed... hopefully all for corners.

I agree with 45Ricochet that it's easy to over-steer a rig this long compared to a PU. Often it's the nut behind the wheel of a DP that's the problem... less so for someone trying to drive a gasser Class A. You have to give smaller steering inputs longer to take affect... easier said than done but with some practice it's often just a little more pressure in the direction you need to go... hardly any movement of the steering wheel. Windy days can be a challenge and easy to start over steering it, but here again with practice it's amazing how little input it takes.

Before spending any serious money, work on not over steering it.

Our previous DP did that some. We had an alignment done and while it was in spec it was on the wrong end of spec. Our alignment guy was top notch and suggested we set it to the other end of spec. It 100% cured it.

We now have Comfort Drive and that's a whole new level of the driving experience.

The Works wrote:
We have been full timing for three years pulling a fifth wheel. We purchased a 2013 37' Winnibago Itasca Meridian. We have driven it for about 500 miles, it seems like I constantly need to be slightly turning/adjusting the steering wheel to keep the coach going down the center of the road. If I take my eye off the road to grab a drink the coach will drift, normally to the right. It doesn't seem to pull to the right just drift. I know its a bad comparison but while driving the one ton truck pulling a 42 foot fifth wheel I could pretty much keep one hand on the wheel and the rig would go straight down the road. My question is, since this is the only motorhome I've driven, is it normal to constantly adjusting and slightly turning the wheel to keep the thing on the road? Thanks for any useful information!

Welcome to the world of Type A motorhomes!