UNSTABLE WINNEBAGO

[ret-ibew]

Have a 96 Winnebago 36ft. Adventurer, 8 wheeler (two in front)(six in back)(4 duel drivers)(2 drag wheels. Too much Sway and seems unstable on curves, almost lost control in a heavy desert wind storm in New Mexico. Getting ready for another long trip in a few months. Front springs have only two leaves. All rears are air suspension. There are no detectable leaks. Is their an adjustment to the air pressure to the bags, also should I have another leaf added to the fronts. Please help, Any advice will be appreciated

[Dutch_12078]

PastorCharlie wrote:
On Ford Chassis:
Sway is mainly controlled by the sway bar system so that is of main concern...moving the vertical links to the rear holes will add to the sway control...be sure all bushings are in good condition and if not replace them.

A '96 F53 does not have the rear sway bar holes.

[tlaffourtit]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
If your trip could include the west, check out Henderson's Lineup in Grants Pass Oregon.

I would hazard a guess that they are the most recommended shop in the US for handling and ride issues. They made a real difference to our 32' Itasca Horizon DP.

I have the Henderson trac bar on our mh. it is by far the best product we purchased to date. highly recommend the product and the staff.

[wa8yxm]

That is what 18 years old? So it's already lasted a long time.

Ok, here are a list of things that are suspect in a nearly 20 year old house

SHOCKS, very likely need replacement
SWAY BARS and their bushings may be worn, broken or gone with the wind.

You may also wish to install Trac Bars if it does not already have 'em (just for the pleasure of driving a very nice ride).

My guess is shocks and sway bars need attention,

[Lt46]

ret.ibew,
I'm pretty sure your air suspension and tag axle came from the Jet Co. My 97 has this system. If you do not have the manual for it, pm me with your email address and I'll send it to you. Generally, your tag compressor starts @ 90 psi or less and shuts off at 110 psi. At the shutoff point your ride height should be correct. Agree with bushing change to polyurethane, the OEM rubber ones should show obvious wear or be completely missing. Your front sway bar will NOT have the additional hole to R&R the down link. This mod has been come to be known as the CHF (cheap handling fix). Unfortunately it is not available to us older coach owners. New shocks and proper tire air pressure for the load you're carrying and slowing down on windy days will be your friend. However, our 16" wheels only have a max pressure rating of 90 psi ( I might be wrong on that #, so check your rim, it's stamped into it) so air pressure adjustments are small.
For me, with new shocks (6 total), new main and tag axle air suspension bags and proper air pressure in my tires, I float very comfortably, with one hand steering, on the open road. But with all these changes, high winds, passing semi's and a slow rollover an uneven surface my coach will rock! Just the nature of the beast as far as I can tell. Best of luck

[Canadian_Rainbi]

If your trip could include the west, check out Henderson's Lineup in Grants Pass Oregon.

I would hazard a guess that they are the most recommended shop in the US for handling and ride issues. They made a real difference to our 32' Itasca Horizon DP.

[ret-ibew]

Thank you all for your very valid suggestions. It is a Ford chassis and since it is sitting low in the rear, I will start with the tag axel air. I will start investigating my self, to see what I can do.

If I can't do much myself, can any one recommend a place near El Paso TX that understands air suspension systems, other than camping world.
My experience with camping world mechanics Has been very poor.
Thank you all.

[RBabb]

Don't know your chasis but if it has sway bars install polyurethane sway bar bushings. Huge difference

[RLS7201]

You give no information about your chassis, so I'll assume you have a Ford gas chassis with tag.
Those older Ford gas chassis were world famous for bad rear sway bar bushings. If so, follow this link to quality replacement bushings. at a good price.

Richard

[PastorCharlie]

On Ford Chassis:
Check for steering looseness, check for proper weight, check for proper tire air pressure, check all sway bar bushings and if it has an extra hole to rear of the vertical link move the links to the rear hole, check for track bar on front axle the tag axle will act as a track stabilizer on the rear, check for bad shocks and check for correct ride height.

Sway is mainly controlled by the sway bar system so that is of main concern...moving the vertical links to the rear holes will add to the sway control...be sure all bushings are in good condition and if not replace them.

[wolfe10]

While shocks will clearly help with porpoising and ride quality, they are NOT the first thing that comes to mind for controlling sway. Were shocks valved stiff enough to control side to side motion, they would beat you to death over regular bumps.

First thing to check is the sway bar bushings. If any play/you can see air around any bushing, replace with polyurethane bushings.

You don't mention what chassis you have, but with front leaf springs, I assume it is Ford. Get the ride height specs for your chassis and make sure the springs/(supplemental air bags if installed) are OK. This also means making sure that the tag axle is properly adjusted-- if it is not carrying enough weight, the rear axle will be overloaded and front axle underloaded. If too much weight on the tag, it can overload the front axle. Too little weight on the front axle WILL make it tough to handle.

[Geocritter]

I have a 1994 33’ Class A Holiday Rambler. When I first bought it the need for new shocks was obvious. Driving it was like riding Flipper! The first thing I did was replace the shocks. It also needed new sway bar bushings and the rear end needed suspension help for the 20 years the springs had been supporting it. The steering gear was in good shape. Nonetheless, even with the still uninstalled sway bar bushings and slightly saggy rear suspension, about a year ago I set out on my +5,000 mile Grand Western North America Tour and shakedown journey. What I learned was:

Even in an early winter storm with very strong crosswinds side-sway was not a problem, other than the push/pull effect I’d get when semi’s would roar past me at high speed.

The only problem I had with the saggy rear suspension was the tendency to drag the rear end when I’d drive over high curbs or bad dips such as going from a street to a parking area.

Assuming your steering gear is in good shape, simply replacing the shocks (I used Monroe Magnums) made a world of difference to my rigs drivability and if I were you I would do that first before anything else.

I’ve since returned to Texas and am replacing the sway bar bushings both front and rear in hopes of diminishing some of the push/pull from passing semi’s. I’m currently in the process of installing rear air-bags to mitigate the rear suspension sag, there again, not for handling but rather to help with the rear end occasionally drag.

Steve

[We_Cant_Wait]

Is the air pressure to the TAG axle adjustable in you unit? If so the pressure might be set too low. You'll need to take the MH to a scale and weigh it and then adjust the pressure to the TAG axle accordingly if needed.

[Bumpyroad]

can I assume that that RV is not built on a dreadful P-30/32 chassis?
bumpy

[kalynzoo]

Not sure about your load or your speed. My previous Adventurer rode nice but in the high winds of the desert around Palmdale I would often have to drop my speed to 45mph to ride heavier on the ground. My Adventurer didn't have a tag but previous to that my Holiday Rambler had the tag axle. Again, speed greatly affects control. The Holiday Rambler had sway bars on the steering, which was very nice.