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!

[enblethen]

That is not normal.

I would get the rig weighed, adjust the air pressure to that specified by the tire manufacturer.
Then take it to a good alignment shop, not some tire shop.

[jplante4]

You get little more push from a cross wind in a motor home than a trailer because of the big flat sides, and it's less aerodynamic on the front, so a passing 18 wheeler's wake turbulence will be more obvious. However, in no wind conditions, a wandering coach usually indicates some issue with the front suspension, balls joints, tie-rod ends or excessive steering box/arm play. Take it to a good truck shop for a checkout.

I can let the Sahara go for short periods on a good road, but I find that my hand on the wheel is enough pressure to move the coach if I stop paying attention.

[rgatijnet1]

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.