Wheel alignment

TyroneandGladys wrote:
From our experience with alignment shops the majority are rip off artists. .......

X2, also known as "tweak the toe and you are good to go".

j-d wrote:
Correct. The chassis builder aligned it during assembly. No coach body on it. So in one way it's loaded when you buy it, but loaded as for travel is the best way to have it aligned.

And if it's a Ford chassis, you need to find somebody who will align not just the Toe setting, but also the Caster and Camber settings. Those two will usually require changing the upper ball joint bushings. That shop should also set CASTER to the high end of the acceptable range. NOT the 3-degree center of the range, more like 5-degrees, bumping toward the 7-degree max.

What he said.

To give you an idea of the kind of shop to take your rig to, in the Elgin IL area where I live, Champion Frame Align is the place to have an alignment. A regular automobile alignment shop should refuse to do the alignment. If they don't, run anyways.

Take it to a heavy truck (18 wheeler) chassis shop. They have the heavy duty alignment rack to properly align your motorhome.

From our experience with alignment shops the majority are rip off artists. Had the front end inspected by a very trusted mechanic who found nothing wrong at all. Had three alignment shops state that repairs would have to be made before any alignment. Forth shop did alignment and also found no repairs needed. IMHO have your front end inspected my a mechanic you trust then only go to alignment shops that will not charge you for the initial inspection.

scrubjaysnest wrote:
Thor recommends it for their units but they also say they do an alignment before its delivered to the dealer. Ford will give you a freebe during the first 12 months. Don't think it makes any difference for a Ford as every one we have owned ate tires on the front regardless of how many alignments you do.

Ford gives you a free one?!? How do I take advantage of that? Either way, where is the best place to take a Class C to get aligned?

Thanks!

Thor recommends it for their units but they also say they do an alignment before its delivered to the dealer. Ford will give you a freebe during the first 12 months. Don't think it makes any difference for a Ford as every one we have owned ate tires on the front regardless of how many alignments you do.

Correct. The chassis builder aligned it during assembly. No coach body on it. So in one way it's loaded when you buy it, but loaded as for travel is the best way to have it aligned.

And if it's a Ford chassis, you need to find somebody who will align not just the Toe setting, but also the Caster and Camber settings. Those two will usually require changing the upper ball joint bushings. That shop should also set CASTER to the high end of the acceptable range. NOT the 3-degree center of the range, more like 5-degrees, bumping toward the 7-degree max.

YES.