Bought low mileage V-10 1998 Four Winds 22rk last September with 36K miles on it. It was very clean, the outside fiber glass shined, new oil, and everything in the house worked. Took it on a 250 mile trip right away. The only thing I could find that bothered me is the steering feels very lite, as if there is not weight on the front wheels.Have and appointment next month to have the V-10 flushed, water hoses replaced, serpentine belt replaced, new thermostat, fuel filter, and shocks replaced. I bought new Bilstine heavy duty shocks on line. If the steering is still lite I'll have the caster set to the +5 range. If that does not work I'll install a steering stabilizer. The steering bothers me the most because of 18 wheelers sucking on me as they past.Anyone have this really lite feeling to the steering as if there is little weight on the front end?

Two possible problems, The first one is likely the cause. Too much weight on or behind the rear axle. This will unload the front axle causing you problem. The other possibility is front end alignment. With it loaded like your going on a trip get it to the scales and find out for sure.

Have you driven other Ford trucks from the same era? I only ask because Ford used to over-boost the steering on all trucks, until 2005 in the F-series and 2008 for the E-series, so the "light" feel may be normal. Aside from that, both a scale check and alignment check would be good places to start. Ford says a minimum of 32% of the rig's total loaded weight must be on the front axle.

You are on track to resolve your floating motor home, a very good first attack.If not already upgraded by the previous owner, I suggest you consider a heavy duty front stabilizer bar.....and the rear bar too. They will help with the trucks passing, cross winds, and you taking on hair-pin turns in mountains and canyons. They'll improve your braking in such turns, keeping all tires firmly planted on the road to help slow down. It's an affordable "safety and comfort" improvement.

Start with front tire pressures. If you're running the "80 psi" so often quoted 'because it says so on the sidewall', you're running too much air. But since I don't own a Ford, I'll let others comment on the correct amount.Jim, "Doesn't expecting the unexpected make it the expected?"

Most of these problems, but not all, are because of light front end.Just to check it out I took stuff out of rear storage and put concrete blocks in front storage bins.Before doing this I had front end rebuilt/aligned, installed Bilstein shocks, Hellwig sway bars front and rear and still had a problem.J-D , who is pretty sharp on these things, suggested lowering air pressure , which I did and it helped some .Weigh your rig and base your tire pressure on the weight , not what is stamped on the tires.Mine is a 1998 31 footer with a lot of rear overhang and not much storage place up front so I basically have the same problem as apparently we all do .Hope this helps you a little bit .Hang on

Steering has lite feeling | Good Sam Community

Oldme
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
The advice that Headbasket above is exactly what I found
with my 2000 E450 24' Class C.

I had the brake system redone by a local independent truck center that opened it's shop in 1970. The owner checked everything and said I overinflated the tires at 80 PSI. He adjusted them downwards. Perfect handling after that.

I contacted the tire manufacturer and they advised that without a 4 corner scale weight, they would not recommend any tire PSI settings. I still have to do that.

The problem was the tire only had a center footprint and not the whole tread
making contact.

So far 72 PSi has worked well on the front.
DUNEBUGGYDOUG
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
Most of these problems, but not all, are because of light front end.Just to check it out I took stuff out of rear storage and put concrete blocks in front storage bins.Before doing this I had front end rebuilt/aligned, installed Bilstein shocks, Hellwig sway bars front and rear and still had a problem.J-D , who is pretty sharp on these things, suggested lowering air pressure , which I did and it helped some .Weigh your rig and base your tire pressure on the weight , not what is stamped on the tires.Mine is a 1998 31 footer with a lot of rear overhang and not much storage place up front so I basically have the same problem as apparently we all do .Hope this helps you a little bit .Hang on
Handbasket
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
Start with front tire pressures. If you're running the "80 psi" so often quoted 'because it says so on the sidewall', you're running too much air. But since I don't own a Ford, I'll let others comment on the correct amount.

Jim, "Doesn't expecting the unexpected make it the expected?"
ron_dittmer
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2014
You are on track to resolve your floating motor home, a very good first attack.

If not already upgraded by the previous owner, I suggest you consider a heavy duty front stabilizer bar.....and the rear bar too. They will help with the trucks passing, cross winds, and you taking on hair-pin turns in mountains and canyons. They'll improve your braking in such turns, keeping all tires firmly planted on the road to help slow down. It's an affordable "safety and comfort" improvement.
carringb
Explorer
Feb 17, 2014
Have you driven other Ford trucks from the same era? I only ask because Ford used to over-boost the steering on all trucks, until 2005 in the F-series and 2008 for the E-series, so the "light" feel may be normal. Aside from that, both a scale check and alignment check would be good places to start. Ford says a minimum of 32% of the rig's total loaded weight must be on the front axle.
donn0128
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2014
Two possible problems, The first one is likely the cause. Too much weight on or behind the rear axle. This will unload the front axle causing you problem. The other possibility is front end alignment. With it loaded like your going on a trip get it to the scales and find out for sure.

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Steering has lite feeling

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