I just bought a Four Winds Citation 2006 with 12,000 miles on it. My first venture was a nightmare because it was virtually impossible to keep the RV on the road. I have added the Safe-T-Plus and stabilizer bars on the rear, but neither has helped to a great degree. Had the alignment checked and it is okay. My question is: Could it be that the Four Winds Citation - 26BE's wheelbase length is the culprit? Example: The wheelbase on my rig is 171" and the total length is 27'4". The wheelbase of a shorter rig... the 24BB is 197" with a length of 26'5". It appears that the steering problem is due to too much weight and length past the rear axle. This makes the front end too light, and therefore it wanders all over the road. Help Please... Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Is the water tank ahead of the rear axle? If so maybe try it with the tank full and see what kind of difference you get.

There's a few steps I'd take.Weigh the front and rear. Post the weights for review and tire pressure suggestions.Aligment: check recent thread on alignment specs review. Caster settings within the spec can make a difference-they should be set toward the 7 degrees positive. There should be slight toe in (not zero or tow out).I found the heavier sway bars from Roadmaster made it feel more buttoned down.I'd have the suspension checked by reputable outfit for any looseness in steering gear or linkage.Somewhere in all of the above you should find improvement.

The fresh water tank is at the very rear of the RV. I emptied it to see if that would help, but unfortunately, it made no difference.

I had a similar situation on a previous motorhome. I added hellwig sway bars front and rear, a blue Ox track bar, bilstein shocks and had the caster set to 5+ degrees. The handling improved considerably as long as I wasn't towing a car. Towing a car was still somewhat unstable.Mike

Basics first before anything else. Load it just like you would for a trip same number of people same amount of water in the fresh water tanks so on so on. Store everything as if you were on a trip and passengers where they normally are. Then go get it weighed you need front axle weight, rear axle weight and total weight. If you front axle weight is not at least 75% of the maximum front axle weight you WILL have handling issues. If this is the case go home and rearrange your RV. Every pound of weight that is located behind the rear axle will take weight off of the front axle the farther back the more it takes off . I am a fan of always carrying a full tank of fresh water but if your fresh water tank is behind the rear axle you might not be able to do so. After rearranging your load take it back to the scales and reweigh it. Continue to do this till you reach 75% or more. If the you have 75% and still have handling issues make sure that you are not overweight for the total RV that to can cause handling issues. Still have problems check your tire pressures and adjust according to the weight on that axle.Still have problems take to a good light truck alignment shop still loaded and have the alignment set. Still have problems replace shocks.These are the basics that IMHO must and should be done before spending money on upgraded components.

Wandering Nightmare | Good Sam Community

114 Replies

mikebo
Explorer
May 22, 2013
I had a similar situation on a previous motorhome. I added hellwig sway bars front and rear, a blue Ox track bar, bilstein shocks and had the caster set to 5+ degrees. The handling improved considerably as long as I wasn't towing a car. Towing a car was still somewhat unstable.

Mike
karldavidson
Explorer
May 22, 2013
The fresh water tank is at the very rear of the RV. I emptied it to see if that would help, but unfortunately, it made no difference.
tpi
Explorer
May 22, 2013
There's a few steps I'd take.

Weigh the front and rear. Post the weights for review and tire pressure suggestions.
Aligment: check recent thread on alignment specs review. Caster settings within the spec can make a difference-they should be set toward the 7 degrees positive. There should be slight toe in (not zero or tow out).

I found the heavier sway bars from Roadmaster made it feel more buttoned down.

I'd have the suspension checked by reputable outfit for any looseness in steering gear or linkage.

Somewhere in all of the above you should find improvement.
ScottG
Nomad
May 22, 2013
Is the water tank ahead of the rear axle? If so maybe try it with the tank full and see what kind of difference you get.

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Wandering Nightmare

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