Monaco Knight handling issues

[MrChuckles]

We just returned from a trip and I noticed a little more severe handling issues than in the past. The coach seemed to dart from side to side more than it used to. New for this trip:

• New Michelin tires
• Towed our 2009 Jeep Wrangler (lifted 4") wheels down with a Blue Ox tow bar
• Wind was blowing 10 to 20

The coach was aligned and ride height checked about 8 months ago before the tires. The Jeep looked stable in the camera, but I plan to add the Blue Ox hitch immobilizers in the near future.

I need the coach to steer better. What would you do and in what order to improve the steering?

[bborc]

Better be carefull with those air pressures. I have a 07 knight pdq and with a a front axel weight fully loaded of 11800 lbs so I run 110 lbs in front. Rear comes in at 19845 lbs so I run 100 lbs I could probably drop the rears down some but it seems to handle good

[JimM68]

I also drive an '08 Knight 40SKQ.

Handles and rides great. 36k miles, original Monroe shocks(on the long not the short list to change) goodyear 670's in front @ 95 psi, sumitomo rears @ 85 psi.

Your problem is the tires. Hopefully just too much air pressure.

And yes your knight, like mine, is heavy on the right, but I've no effect from this.

[sjholt]

If you adjust the toe in to 3/16th inch, It will probably correct a lot of the wandering. It did on mine.
Most alignment shops won't do this much but there is a lot of deflection in the front end.

[Executive45]

I'm with Ivylog...weigh it and expect your PSI to be extreme......Dennis

[keepingthelight]

I would also agree with your air pressure being the culprit. I installed Bilsteins and the Roadmaster Steering Stabilizer. Made a big improvement in handling the road conditions.

http://roadmasterinc.com/products/rss/reflex.html

Good Luck! 😉

[MrChuckles]

Mine is the 8 bag outboard RR8R chassis. I'm thankful. Otherwise I'd also be worried about the trailing arms.

@DSDP Don: I am open to the shocks. I had a similar ride improvement on my 2003 Itasca Sunrise gasser. I added the new shocks, put in "the fix" and it handled nicely for an older rig that wasn't a diesel. I'll do the air pressure and then see about the shocks.

[wolfe10]

Is your suspension on the Roadmaster/Monaco 4 inboard air bag or 8 outboard air bag suspension? VERY different suspensions.

And, absolutely get it weighted and proper tire pressure set.

[DSDP_Don]

MrChuckles.....They're expensive, but the best thing you'll ever do for that coach is to change the shocks. You have a choice between Bilsteins and Koni FSD's. Personally, I feel the Koni shocks are better suited. The ride will be huge! If you have more than 100-105 psi in your front tires, they have too much air.

[MrChuckles]

The "too much air" is highly likely. That would also explain the jarring over pot holes. I think I'll get the corners weighed and the pressure set first, then move onto any other things if the problem doesn't go away. Thanks everyone.

[Ivylog]

"New Michelin tires" You have too much air in your new tires as unless you tell most tire places otherwise they will put in the max. Weighing your rig and adjust pressures accordingly will solve the problem.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We have an '04 Country Coach that wanders. We took it in for alignment and they said the "toe in" needed to be adjusted. He said it should be checked every year or 2. Once they correct the "toe in" it drives great. On our coach, it's on the right side every time.
We just left HWH in Moscow Iowa and they have an Active Air system that we would love to have installed on our coach. They are putting it on the new Foretravels. http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml35458.pdf

[MrChuckles]

Thanks gswgci. I had an alignment on the toad about a month ago and it seems to drive without darting so I think that can be ruled out. I set the Blue Ox up myself but it seems to be set up right. The tow bar is level and attaches to solid tabs on the Jeep's Rockhard steel bumper.

I was thinking of the shocks but was wondering if weighing the coach on all four corners and ensuring accurate/correct tire pressure might be first on the list. (I've been reading of several other Monacos having quite a bit of difference in the rear passenger's side being much heavier.) I'm not sure if it needs to be re-aligned given the only change was the tires.

If it helps diagnose it, the coach seemed to track ruts more than it used to also. I noticed that more on road construction where they had those blasted concrete barriers to keep it exciting during lane re-routes.

I will definitely pick a calm day and take her out without the Jeep as you suggest.

[gswcgi]

I have a 2003 Safari Cheetah with 45,000 miles on it. I tow a Nissan XTerra which weighs 4,500lbs. My chassis and suspension is identical to your coach. I changed over to Koni shocks a couple of years ago and it made a big difference in eliminating the "Porpoising" problems. I have never had the drift issues you speak of. I can take my hands off the wheel at 55 t0 65 MPH and the coach does not drift at all except for the crown on some hyways. The wind does effect all RVs no matter the size and the weight. Your toad shouldn't be effecting the stability of the coach if your towing set up is correct and if your toad isn't grossly out of alignment. I would suggest you take the coach out on a good road by itself on a no wind day and see if you are still having the problem. If you do then I would look at front tire balance and alignment. You shouldn't have to be fighting the steering wheel.