Wheel alignment on new motor home

The reason a straight axle is used on trucks is not because of the great ride. It is used because as load increases the ride height changes but since there is a single tie rod between the steering knuckles the toe will not change. The steering wheel may move off center due to the change in angle of the drag link, the rod from the steering box to the left steering knuckle, but the toe remains constant. If the camber is changing with load then you are overloading the axle to a point that is dangerous. In certain instances changing the caster will have an effect on straight line stability but this makes the steering heavier at low speeds. Remember all designs specifications are a compromise to accomplish the best result from multiple requirements.
Randy

randallb wrote:
Someone please explain to me, in detail, why a straight axle equipped vehicle needs a wheel alignment after it is loaded. I understand that there is a possibility that the chassis manufacturer might not get it right during the build but the weight, in theory, will have no effect on the alignment.
Randy

Exactly..........The alignment won't change with an independent front suspension either, if the ride height don't change, which it shouldn't, if it has air bags.

Richard

Toured the Newmar facility last summer. Last station on the assembly line is an alignment jig that each coach passes thru. Your new coach should be pretty close but how much stuff you pack in can effect the alignment. Won't hurt to have it checked but take the coach to a heavy vehicle shop.

We bought our Newmar new (Spartan) and never had to have an alignment. It was checked a few times in 16 years but not needed.

Someone please explain to me, in detail, why a straight axle equipped vehicle needs a wheel alignment after it is loaded. I understand that there is a possibility that the chassis manufacturer might not get it right during the build but the weight, in theory, will have no effect on the alignment.
Randy

also have them check the "toe-in" - ours has to be checked every couple of years on the right front. When we purchased new tires we also had them do an alignment and check toe-in.

You may NOT need an alignment. Only way to make sure is to load her up and stop by an alignment shop and have it checked. Easy to do, just make sure the alignment shop is set up for motorhomes and not just cars..I can tell if mines out of alignment just by the 'feel' in the steering but YMMV.....Dennis

I would definitely use a HD alignment shop with equipment to give you a before/after printout, NOT an RV dealer to do the alignment.

Either negotiate it into the deal, or take a discount and have it done later. I would do the second choice and use a truck dealer or alignment shop for the work in preference to an RV dealer.

Depends on the dealer of course.

Just my opinion, but it seems very reasonable to me that alignment might change as vehicle gets loaded up. Also very reasonable to me to load it like you were going somewhere, then get it weighed and aligned.

So, dealer is right in that no need to align it when/before you take delivery. But it wouldn't be a bad idea to do it AFTER (and after it gets loaded up). As weight piles on, springs are going to compress, and that will change the suspension geometry.