Class A wandering ?

[94fxds]

I'm considering buying a used class A motorhome and have been looking at several 2007 Fleetwood bounders and southwinds in 32 to 33 foot range. I just went with a friend who bought a used 2009 36' Georgetown with 19,000 miles with the workhorse chassis, 8.1 chevy engine. I helped him drive it home 500 miles. The owner just put on new Bridgestone 22.5 tires. I drove for about 150 miles and it took 100% concentration just to keep this motorhome in the lane. I was driving at around 62 mph and when large trucks passed it pushed the motorhome all over the place. It seemed to be worse on interstate blacktop and better on cement roadway. Does anyone have any experience with the Fleetwood gas class A models. If they all drive like this Georgetown I will keep my truck and trailer.

[trop-a-cal]

Did the tires get balanced? Are they the correct size? If it has front air bags they should have more pressure on curb side as most roads drain to right when driving straight. Also if you drive too slow and are being passed constantly the big vehicles will bush as they have a wind bonnet around the front as air speeds around their windshield and noise. Also wind coming across due to storms will be felt, 20 MPH plus cross winds can cause you to switch lanes if it is a gust.

[rgatijnet1]

The Workhorse chassis all have solidly mounted front and rear sway bars. There is no rubber bushings to wear out or adjustment on them since they are bolted steel to steel.
Caster and Camber angle is fixed on the W series chassis and only the toe-in can be adjusted. It is important to have the alignment checked with a loaded coach on the W series chassis.

[Effy]

A few things; first an alignment is critical before serious wear occurs on the tires, Second the coach must be weighed and PSI set accordingly, third, if it's an F53 chassis do the CHF (cheap handling fix) which bascially involves moving the sway bar connection points to the closer set of mounts. This will all but minimize sway and truck push. All of these can be done for very miminal amount if not free and makes a HUGE difference in handling. I do not think the CHF can be done on the workhorse - only the F53.

[wolfe10]

Yes, new tires do have more squirm than they will once broken in.

Yes, a lightly loaded front axle will contribute to wander.

Yes, over inflated tires, particularly if combined with light load will contribute to wander.

Also, at 5+ years old, it would be a good idea to check sway bar bushings and steering components for play.

Likely a combination of many small things, not one overwhelming one.

[hanko]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
An empty coach will not handle the same as a full one, loaded for travel. If, when empty, the front end is fairly light, it will wander all over the road. The coach needs to be loaded with the front axle bearing close to the maximum axle weight and then driven to see how it handles. New tires also tend to squirm a little because of the deeper tread.

BS

[rgatijnet1]

An empty coach will not handle the same as a full one, loaded for travel. If, when empty, the front end is fairly light, it will wander all over the road. The coach needs to be loaded with the front axle bearing close to the maximum axle weight and then driven to see how it handles. New tires also tend to squirm a little because of the deeper tread.