Steering a Motorhome

[The_Works]

We have been full timing for three years pulling a fifth wheel. We purchased a 2013 37' Winnibago Itasca Meridian. We have driven it for about 500 miles, it seems like I constantly need to be slightly turning/adjusting the steering wheel to keep the coach going down the center of the road. If I take my eye off the road to grab a drink the coach will drift, normally to the right. It doesn't seem to pull to the right just drift. I know its a bad comparison but while driving the one ton truck pulling a 42 foot fifth wheel I could pretty much keep one hand on the wheel and the rig would go straight down the road. My question is, since this is the only motorhome I've driven, is it normal to constantly adjusting and slightly turning the wheel to keep the thing on the road? Thanks for any useful information!

[John_Joey]

RedJeep wrote:
... Now, at 10k miles I can get up make a sandwich, go to the bathroom and take a nap at 57 mph (I like to drive slow for safety reasons)...

Now that's one hell of a motorhome. Must be a Spartan frame.

[creeper]

A class A handles COMPLETELY different then pulling a fifth wheel. I went from a Class A to a fifth wheel and back to a Class A. My fifth wheel set up was a dream compared to my Class A's. If you reach to the right for a drink and it the coach goes to the right, that's you. Then you have to remember that while your fifth wheel was moving all around behind you, that doesn't transfer to the truck.

A class A is a giant wind sail going down the road and some minor corrections will be needed far more then a fifth wheel. It's normal because you have to get used to a different way of driving and water moving around and wind is felt far more then a fifth wheel.

Fifth wheel driving is MUCH better then driving most class A's. Those who only drive class A's and haven't made the transition, wouldn't understand.

[RedJeep]

45Ricochet wrote:
I hear you OP. I thought the same thing last summer when we went from a 5er to a MH. After 3K miles now you kind of get use to it. I think I was not looking far enough down the road for my corrections. Setting up high and looking down and not out to the horizon caused me to over steer.
The biggest change is in windy conditions. The fiver wasn't bad at all. The MH is like a giant kite :B

X2

I too went from a big stable FW to a motorhome. Was awful driving it for first 1000. Started getting comfortable by 2000 miles. Now, at 10k miles I can get up make a sandwich, go to the bathroom and take a nap at 57 mph (I like to drive slow for safety reasons). I also did CHF around 1000 miles which helped a lot.

[Bruce_Brown]

DSDP Don wrote:
"RayChez"......I would say that the insertion of a statement into this post about Comfort Drive was inappropriate, but you couldn't be farther off base about how it works and what it does. Do some research before making a blanket statement about how something works.

He's wrong on the chassis too, ours is on a Spartan, it now comes on both Spartan and Freightliner. He also insists this has nothing to do with alignment, yet when we had our Freightliner it had everything to do with alignment. I just consider the source.

[Cloud_Dancer]

If you were to drive my DP, on a LONG-wheelbase Spartan chassis, and if you're a good pickup driver, you would be surprised how easy and comfortable, and stable directionally, my Dutch Star is to drive. The wheel alignment was perfect from the factory, I always load it such that the front tires are loaded to the max limit, 12,000 lbs, (in order to enjoy maximum caster authority). The tire air pressure is alwasy 107 psi on all rears, and 116 on the fronts. Even at my age, I can do 10 hour drive days (stopping every 3 hours to stretch and walk the puppies), get 7 hours of sleep, and go again next day. Easy peesy.


Long wheelbase and short rear overhang. There's no "tail wagging the dog here". It's simply a great design feature that drives the cost up, and THAT'S why so many motorhomes do NOT have it.
My first 4 Class A gasser MHs did not have this feature, and their other shortcomings started me thinking about exactly what makes for "good design". Then I got me a 33 ft gasser Vectra on a Ford chassis with a long wheelbase. That one was directionally stable, and easy to drive on the highway. Except, that Ford chassis had other problems. It really took me "back into the books". It led me into special ordering my Dutch Star, with the expensive optional Spartan Chassis. That chassis was worth the money.
Long wheelbase, short rear overhang, I insist on it. PLUS, a properly designed suspension system:

[Bruce_Brown]

J-Rooster wrote:
You have to keep in mind that your driving a house on a truck frame! You sit way higher then a pick up truck and wind has a big effect on how your coach preforms. Also most roadways are "Supered" for drainage usually 1 to 3 inches from centerline to fog line and this will cause slight drifting.

And THATS just one more thing that makes Comfort Drive such a huge improvement. It senses you're holding tension on the wheel then takes it out. Big cross winds, while still there, don't tend to nearly as much of an issue either.

Honestly, if every builder started using Comfort Drive these types of posts would be a thing of the past. Yet people still buy motorhomes without it. :h

Oh well. I know, it's their money and I'm a broken record - but I'd MUCH rather drive our MH than pull our TT, and I very much enjoy driving my truck. :w

[John_Joey]

A 5'ver is easier to pull then driving a Class A. IMO, the reason is where you're sitting. Class A's you're on the tip of the spear. Some Class A's you may even be slightly ahead of the front tires.

We all know how far back you are in a truck. I find a truck/5'ver combo much easier to drive and can do more miles in less days then when I had a Class A.

[Cloud_Dancer]

Gotta wonder if they gave up on it? I hardly ever fall for; it's because Class A MH's are "different", therefore harder to figure out how to drive them. Heck, the guy's been pulling a big fifth-wheel for 5 years. IMO that's just as difficult, if not more.

[J-Rooster]

You have to keep in mind that your driving a house on a truck frame! You sit way higher then a pick up truck and wind has a big effect on how your coach preforms. Also most roadways are "Supered" for drainage usually 1 to 3 inches from centerline to fog line and this will cause slight drifting.

[RayChez]

mike brez wrote:

RayChez wrote:
I have had my coach for thirteen years now and 62 miles on it and the tires wear perfect. Your coach is new, alignment is not necessary.

You would need a real bad alignment to screw up your tires in 62 miles.:B

LOL! Hey thanks Mike for catching that error. YEP! 62K.

[Devocamper]

We test drove several gas and 2 diesel pushers all in the 36 38 foot range last year when thinking about a change from the fifth wheel to a motorhome and this is the very reason we did not make the move, every motorhome we drove seemed to be a chore to handle and under powered as well. Seemed like you would be exhausted after a days travel keeping the motorhome on the road.The gas units were on the ford chassis and diesels were in the 300 340 hp range Winnebago's. I guess you get used to it as well as the all the noise if you give it a chance and I understand there are aftermarket add-ons that help but at the price of a new motorhome the last thing I wanted to do was start adding parts. We decided to stay with the fifth wheel until we can find an upper lever used diesel with better suspension and bigger motor in good shape. Also was very disappointed in the quality of these units right from the factory with an assortment of broken items and things that did not work right on the lot .

[Busskipper]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
No, it is not normal to have to input steering corrections all of the time but driving a Class A is different from a pick up truck. Naturally the road surface can affect your steering but after 500 miles you should have experienced different road surfaces. Wheel alignment is something that should be checked as well as tire pressure to make sure that all tires are balanced. They do make a steering stabilizer that is helpful to some drivers. It looks like a shock absorber mounted sideways to to your tie rod and is adjusted to keep your coach going straight on a flat road surface.
The cheapest thing to check is your tire pressure and then I would check wheel alignment. Four wheel thrust alignment is the best, if the shop is equipped to do it. This insures that your rear axle is pushing straight to your front axle.
After all of that is checked and eliminated as a problem, you will still find that the Class A drives different than your 5th. You should be able to relax behind the wheel, however.

Sums it up pretty well - Alignment is the likely issue.

Let us know,

[mike_brez]

RayChez wrote:
I have had my coach for thirteen years now and 62 miles on it and the tires wear perfect. Your coach is new, alignment is not necessary.

You would need a real bad alignment to screw up your tires in 62 miles.:B

[DSDP_Don]

Before you make any changes try what "45Ricochet" suggested. Often new Class A owners try to steer a Class A like they do their trucks or cars. You need to pick a spot father down the road and steer for it. This will keep you from over correcting and spending a lot of time constantly steering the coach.