Safety steer

[bennefim]

Considering whether to put safe t steer system on our 2005 w 22 pace arrow. Desire is to make steering easier, less tiring, eliminate wandering and improve safety.

Any suggestion from current users?

Doug

[s_N_s]

Our 04 W22 was situated with probably the heaviest gas coach built being a Newmar Mountain Aire. Never had one problem with it going down the road and it was bone stock. I think a lot of these modification needs are in ones head. Air the tires up correctly and you should be good to go. JMHO

[rgatijnet1]

Doug,
What you suspect is Sumo spring is actually the stock factory bumpers that come with a Workhorse "W" chassis. They come in different colors depending on the axle weight. IN addition to your front end alignment as recommended, you may want to consider a thrust angle alignment that insures that your rear axle is in perfect alignment with the front axle. I am sure that you have seen vehicles going down the road looking like they are "crabbing". A front end only alignment will not correct this. The problem is that most truck alignment shops cannot do this so you will have to search for one that has the proper equipment.

[bennefim]

Thanks Grace. Will follow your advice and see how it works.

Doug

[Gjac]

At 60k miles I would replace the shocks and get an alignment and getting the caster right. Do the yellow bumpers touch the springs or is there a gap between them? A good alignment shop can check your ride height as well as sagging or worn springs and other components for wear.

[bennefim]

Sorry, mileage on shocks/springs are at 59,000 miles.

Doug

[bennefim]

Rv mileage is currently at 59,000 miles.

[bennefim]

I have bilstein shocks, original from factory in 2005. Also have what I believe to be sumo springs. They are rubber covered springs, yellow colored and mounted below the front shocks. Both could be bad or still good. Not knowing, should I replace both.?

Doug

[Gjac]

Your weights look pretty good. If you add the weight of two average middle age passengers, say 200 lbs for you and 150 for your wife that brings the front end weight up to 7360/2= 3680 lbs for each tire. 14,500/4= 3625 lbs for each tire. I think your weight distribution looks very good so I do not see the front end being light or the cause of bad handling. As I said in my previous post I would get a good alignment and focus on getting the castor right. How many miles on your MH/shocks? Do they need replacement? I think a good alignment shop can tell if anything is worn, broken such as shock mounts or need replacement. Other things to check for is unusual tire wear, balance, out of roundness. These would also cause vibration in the steering wheel or seat. Good Luck.

[bennefim]

Yes, weights were as follows:

Front axle weight. 7010 lbs

Rear axle weight. 14,500 lbs

Very close to previous weigh ins.

Doug

[Gjac]

Did you get your exact weights yet?

[bennefim]

Yes, those were the exact weights with all items, less passengers during a previous weigh in several years ago. I will be weighing the rv again tomorrow but don’t think there will be much difference since we keep same items in rv. Gas, water and are exceptions. Will update after new weights.

Doug

[Gjac]

bennefim wrote:
Gjac, you make some good points, but a light front axle is not easily correctable. For example, my w22 came stock at about 6600 lbs. rear axle is about 14,500 lbs. I can’t add weight to frontend other than passengers. I have bare load on rear axle. Using tire load tables, front tires should be at 75-80 lbs and rear at about 85-90 lbs. I’m always going to have a light frontend.

Doug

Are those your actual weights minus passengers, full FW tank, and all your stuff ready to travel? Or is that your UW from the factory?

[bennefim]

Anyone else with w 22 chassis have similar problem or suggestion for correction?

Doug

[bennefim]

Gjac, you make some good points, but a light front axle is not easily correctable. For example, my w22 came stock at about 6600 lbs. rear axle is about 14,500 lbs. I can’t add weight to frontend other than passengers. I have bare load on rear axle. Using tire load tables, front tires should be at 75-80 lbs and rear at about 85-90 lbs. I’m always going to have a light frontend.

Doug