Ford Steering

^^^Right! As added clarification, Class C's don't need a FRONT track bar because the front axles are already mounted to the frame. Many Class A's have a single I-Beam axle, one piece, all the way across the front. Same as C's with the rear axle. So many, maybe most, A's can benefit from Front and Rear track bars. C's, only Rear.

Somebody tries to sell you a front track bar for a C, head for the exit.

Sfla2 wrote:
don;t quite understand all this talk abt e450 steering. On my 98 max is 14.050 weight just came off state scales(have always gotten a free weigh , they are even glad to do it & even get a print out, some even have 4 point & really guys they don;t care what u weigh, as they don;t even know what its suppose to be) running at 14.200 now frt is 4550 which is right just little over on rear such a joy to drive, no semi sway straight tracking can steer w/ 1hand. have air bags rear stock frt & rear sway bar just did new frt shocks as they were getting old , not cause i had to. I have abt 11' rear overhang.

To me if u start adding steering assist you are taxing p/s pump esp that 1 w/ all those springs

Just for clarification for those that are unaware. A trak bar goes in the rear of a MH. Not tied to steering. It ties the frame to the running gear to prevent sway for short wheel base vehicles with large overhang. Steer safe and steer tie in components are in case you have a front blow out. Which helps keep a vehicle under control. Not sure they help that much to correct a steering problem.

65 works out to the max axle rating pre-2008. At 4550 on the pre-2008 axle with its 4600-lb rating, 65 is right. One of the few where it IS right, actually, since many, if not most, C's don't have that much front axle weight. Ours is another one that does, and again YES, the 80 a tire shop put in a new pair of front tires made it "nightmarish" (great word choice there Ken!).
We've had OP's with 3000 on the front and found they're running 65 or even more. That's as bad for handling as 80 where max is 65. Probably worse since Ford expects front to be loaded at least 32% of total loaded weight.

Beverley&Ken wrote:
plus one on checking tire pressure and having it set according to the load each axle is carrying. On ours if the front axle pressure is set to max sidewall rating 80psi, driving is a nightmare, reduce to 65 psi, Michelin recommend 60 for our load and driving is easy.

Ken

yes you are right my door sticker says 65 frt 80 rear i run abt 78-80 rear

I'd suspect that ^^^E-Super Duty has a long wheelbase. The long WB offsets the rear overhang typical of Rear-Queen floor plans. So, Yes. Shorter Class C's with a full rear bedroom tend to be tail-heavy and front-light. To the point that the rear axle is overloaded.

I have a 28 foot 2004 e450 and the problem with mine was too little +caster.

My experience with too little +caster

plus one on checking tire pressure and having it set according to the load each axle is carrying. On ours if the front axle pressure is set to max sidewall rating 80psi, driving is a nightmare, reduce to 65 psi, Michelin recommend 60 for our load and driving is easy.

Ken

don;t quite understand all this talk abt e450 steering. On my 98 max is 14.050 weight just came off state scales(have always gotten a free weigh , they are even glad to do it & even get a print out, some even have 4 point & really guys they don;t care what u weigh, as they don;t even know what its suppose to be) running at 14.200 now frt is 4550 which is right just little over on rear such a joy to drive, no semi sway straight tracking can steer w/ 1hand. have air bags rear stock frt & rear sway bar just did new frt shocks as they were getting old , not cause i had to. I have abt 11' rear overhang.

To me if u start adding steering assist you are taxing p/s pump esp that 1 w/ all those springs

Check the weight on both axles. If you are way under or overweight on the steer axle, it will effect how the tires are standing upright.

If you are towing, when there is a handling problem, it can be that the weight is way to low on the steering axle.

Also what model year? E-350 or E-450 chassis?

It matters.

What are your GVWR? Front and rear axle weight ratings? If you can check the weight on each axle, it will give us a great idea of what the problem might be. If there is a recycling center, moving van company, or CAT scale nearby, they can check the weight on each axle.

Also since you are having a problem with steering, if you can check the weight of one front tire, and the total on the front axle, it will be helpful. Some RV's with a slide on the drivers side might have 2,200 pounds on the passenger side and say 2,800 pounds on the drivers side. This might overload the left side tire, while just checking the front axle weight and finding it is 5,000 pounds and acceptable, checking side to side might indicate the real problem, and that the tire is dangerous load on it.

Fred.

Shorter wheel base for longer MHs require more add ons. Rear trak bar as a sterter.