E-450 Exhausting Drive

[ratfink09]

Just got back from a trip to northern Vermont and much more exhausted than usual from the drive. Between the harsh ride and interior noise from every bump in the road, I could not wait to get home. Rv is a 2011 Chateau 28 ft long. I have done Hellwig sway bars and Bilstein shocks which helped handling. Just got a new set of Michelin MS2 tires under the recall. Should I be looking at replacing the stock steering damper, front end alignment, a track bar etc.? Open to suggestions!

[Harvard]

This OP had a positive alignment experience.

[j-d]

From all I've heard and read, now that tires are standardized, the chart from any make/model works for any other make/modes as long as the specs are the same. That would be Section (225, Aspect (75), Diameter (16), and Load Range (E). The gOOgle search I just did confirms that. If you search for an LTX chart, Michelin has one that includes LTX and RIB in the same part of the chart.

[ratfink09]

The Michellin load pressure chart indicates pressures for XPS Rib Michellin`s. Should this be applied to the MS 2`s?

[Mich_F]

FobagBob wrote:
When I look at the tire inflation chart, I get 65psi front and rear (not 75) which is good for 4670 front and 8600 rear for his weights of 4500 and 8060. Am I missing something? Hope not or I am running under-inflated myself!

Bob

I thought the same thing when I read j-d's unedited post.
It's not like him to make a mistake.:B

[j-d]

Bob,

You are CORRECT. Attribute to my dyslexia and inability to Divide by TWO. Edited my reply above to 65+65, and that WILL change the ride. Less transmission of shock through the tires.

[FobagBob]

When I look at the tire inflation chart, I get 65psi front and rear (not 75) which is good for 4670 front and 8600 rear for his weights of 4500 and 8060. Am I missing something? Hope not or I am running under-inflated myself!

Bob

[j-d]

According to Michelin's Load-Pressure Chart you need 75psi front. That's a mixed blessing, because that much weight on the front definitely helps tracking. Chart suggests 75psi rear too. I'd say 65+65 (corrected on edit from 75+75) just be sure you have an accurate gauge.
What the door sticker is doing is this: Recommends the pressure required to achieve the max GAWR's of the Front and Rear Axles. Takes into account the differences in tire load ratings between Single and Dual. Does NOT take into account how the RV is actually loaded.

[ratfink09]

Sticker on door sill says 75 psi front and 80 psi for rear. I have weighed my RV. Front axle 4500# and rear axle 8060#. Any suggestions for tire pressure?

[pauldub]

Harvard wrote:

pauldub wrote:
After adjusting tire pressure for the load actually on the tires, the second thing to do is an alignment with the maximum amount of camber you can get (hopefully at least 5 degrees). After that, a rear track bar will probably help the most.

Paul meant to say "caster",not "camber".

Yes, I did mean to say caster.

[tpi]

ratfink09 wrote:
Just got back from a trip to northern Vermont and much more exhausted than usual from the drive. Between the harsh ride and interior noise from every bump in the road, I could not wait to get home. Rv is a 2011 Chateau 28 ft long. I have done Hellwig sway bars and Bilstein shocks which helped handling. Just got a new set of Michelin MS2 tires under the recall. Should I be looking at replacing the stock steering damper, front end alignment, a track bar etc.? Open to suggestions!

So is your complaint now just the harsh ride and noise? No handling issues anymore? I can't see where steering damper and track bar would cut harshness and noise. Alignment always good if you haven't had it..emphasis on caster..but it won't help harshness and noise.

My suggestion right off the bat would be to study tire inflation chart by weight from Michelin and be sure nothing is overinflated...at all. When my recall replaced Michelins were installed, they were all filled to near maximum sidewall pressure. I went around and adjusted them.

[Harvard]

pauldub wrote:
After adjusting tire pressure for the load actually on the tires, the second thing to do is an alignment with the maximum amount of camber you can get (hopefully at least 5 degrees). After that, a rear track bar will probably help the most.

Paul meant to say "caster",not "camber".

[pauldub]

After adjusting tire pressure for the load actually on the tires, the second thing to do is an alignment with the maximum amount of caster you can get (hopefully at least 5 degrees). After that, a rear track bar will probably help the most.

[Supercharged]

rockhillmanor wrote:
It's not an "E-450" problem. It is the make and model of the MH.

I drove MANY MH's before I bought and some make/models where SO loud and handling sucked.

Not going to get into a brand name war so since you already own this MH my advice would be tire pressure, leaf springs and the Michelin's.

Lower the tire pressure in just the front. All 6 tires should NOT be the same pressure. It should be lower on the fronts.

Have a good and reputable frame shop look at your leaf springs. Metal fatigues. Everyone always want to run to aftermarket items when all what is needed is new leaf springs. I went new leaf springs and added a leaf. I couldn't believe I was driving the same MH after I had that done!

And you won't want to hear this part.......
I put all new Michelin's on my MH before heading out full time.
THE Biggest mistake I ever made.

It CHANGED the handling. Fought for months trying to pinpoint the problem surely not thinking it would be my brand new $$$tires.:R

It took an over the road truck driver to point out my problem.
The outer rib on those tires are too aggressive for a heavy MH chassis and they move back and forth giving you a tire roll front end feeling.

He took 2 fingers and easily moved that outer rib back and forth. Add the weight of the MH on that and you get the idea. Heavy semi's actually have a bald out rib to prevent tire roll.

Solution to that problem?
Take them off and replace the tires or wait years and miles for them to wear down. IMHO they need to STOP selling those tires for MH's.

My MH a E450 29 ft. with three slides, it is 10 times better riding than one I had 20 years back, it rides better than my pickup and not as good as my car. I put on a new set of tires (at 13,000miles) when I bought it use , name brand. It only has 20,000 miles on it, it came with the Hellwig system on it so I don't know what it would ride like without it, I do run my tire at 60 lbs, I can't believe how easy it drives with hardly any noise in side.

[rockhillmanor]

It's not an "E-450" problem. It is the make and model of the MH.

I drove MANY MH's before I bought and some make/models where SO loud and handling sucked.

Not going to get into a brand name war so since you already own this MH my advice would be tire pressure, leaf springs and the Michelin's.

Lower the tire pressure in just the front. All 6 tires should NOT be the same pressure. It should be lower on the fronts.

Have a good and reputable frame shop look at your leaf springs. Metal fatigues. Everyone always want to run to aftermarket items when all what is needed is new leaf springs. I went new leaf springs and added a leaf. I couldn't believe I was driving the same MH after I had that done!

And you won't want to hear this part.......
I put all new Michelin's on my MH before heading out full time.
THE Biggest mistake I ever made.

It CHANGED the handling. Fought for months trying to pinpoint the problem surely not thinking it would be my brand new $$$tires.:R

It took an over the road truck driver to point out my problem.
The outer rib on those tires are too aggressive for a heavy MH chassis and they move back and forth giving you a tire roll front end feeling.

He took 2 fingers and easily moved that outer rib back and forth. Add the weight of the MH on that and you get the idea. Heavy semi's actually have a bald out rib to prevent tire roll.

Solution to that problem?
Take them off and replace the tires or wait years and miles for them to wear down. IMHO they need to STOP selling those tires for MH's.