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Driving issues almost solved - but.....

BeaverCamper
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2014 Coachmen Freelander 22QB on a Ford E-350 chassis.
It came with stock steering stabilizer, front and rear sway bar.
I installed an aftermarket RSSC steering stabilizer, front and rear helwig sway bar and a trac bar. We previously owned a truck and camper and had sway issues in VERY windy areas like the southwest until we installed Helwig sway bars. They helped with most of the issue.
Anyway the RV now handles pretty good but we still get a slight wander or as my wife calls it "slop" in the steering wheel. It is almost like occasionally you feel like you don't have complete control of the wheel.
If we can solve this last issue we can relax and enjoy our RV!
Thanks for your suggestions.
BeaverCamper (2019 Coachmen Leprechaun 260 DS)
19 REPLIES 19

pauldub
Explorer
Explorer
You need to weigh the rig and set the tire pressures according to the tire manufacturers load chart. Ignore the sticker on the front door because the manufacturer of the chassis has no knowledge of the weight of the completed vehicle. The other key issue is wheel alignment. You need to take it to shop that can deal with alignment on a class C and have them set the caster as close as they can to the maximum. The alignment shop will want to set the caster close to the middle of the allowed range but that is not what you want and it won't help your wandering. Shocks won't really help with wandering. Once the tire pressure and alignment are optimized, the steering will be as good as it's going to get. It will likely never drive as easily as a car.

j-d
Explorer II
Explorer II
It's new, so we know the front end components are not worn. You've already done a lot. But have you had the front end alignment checked? I've heard told that Ford covers "one alignment" as if they know they can't guess how your chassis will be loaded.
I suggest you DO have it aligned but if it's at Ford, be sure they're equipped to handle, and actually understand, this Twin-I-Beam chassis. What we've learned here is that you do NOT want the CASTER set to "Factory Spec" which is at the mid-point of a range which goes up to about 7-degrees positive. Mid is about 3-degrees positive and we've found that 3 is NOT enough to make the steering want to come back to center. About the most you're likely to be able to get is around 5-degrees positive. That's because the same adjusting point also determines CAMBER and you'll drive Camber out of range with more Caster than about 5-degrees.
I say "equipped and understand" because many treat the E-Series chassis as a "Toe-Only" alignment. Caster and Camber are very important and need to be set correctly. Then Toe is set last. It's critical too, and how the Toe is set also determines if your steering wheel is centered as you drive straight.
Tell the shop you want Before and After printouts from their alignment system. It's normal for the Right/Passenger side CASTER to be a fraction of a degree more than the Left/Driver side. Don't worry if they don't come out equal, they aren't supposed to.
If God's Your Co-Pilot Move Over, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100 218" WB

BeaverCamper
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Regarding tire pressure I had been fighting that so finally when to a tire shop and they found a screw in the front passenger tire. Repaired tire, check pressure on all tires - set them to ratings suggested in front door (75 front, 65 rear).
We then took a trip, only about 140 miles round trip.
Lot of steering issues resolved except for the wander issue I am describing.
BeaverCamper (2019 Coachmen Leprechaun 260 DS)

ron_dittmer
Explorer II
Explorer II
Also look into Koni-FSD shocks. Same performance as Bilsteins but offer a softer ride when conditions allow.

It does sound like a wheel alignment might be in-order. That may help some with your steering wheel floaties. Also make sure your front tire pressure is set per the tire PSI sticker on the driver's door. The RV manufacture should have added one there. Over & under-pressured front tires can create some floaties too.

Handbasket
Explorer
Explorer
Assuming that you've weighed it & adjusted tire pressures accordingly, and that you've also had the front end alignment checked, next step is Bilstein front shocks. I don't own a Ford, but have seen many, many posts here singing the praises of the improvement this makes even on new ones.

Jim, "Just when I finally got a handle on life, the handle broke..."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory')