Wandering Coach
Just wondering how I can improve the handling of my ride. 1999 holiday rambler, 40' 350 cummins diesel pusher 36000 miles. So while driving it just seems like I'm always chasing it, not terrible but ...
Forum Discussion
Disclaimer first.... to the OP... my coach is on the F53 chassis, and I'm not familiar with your chassis, so what I am typing may not apply to yours:
With that said, when we first bought our 1999 HR Endeavor, I thought it was me that just simply couldn't drive or that I was just not familiar with driving such a big rig, even though I had been driving firetrucks for 20 years. After I got to looking into the situation further, since I was experiencing pretty bad body roll (sway) and the thing wandered all over the lane, I found a few items that were worn out. First, I found that my sway bar bushings were practically gone. Replaced those and the body sway went away. I then took my rig to a big truck alignment shop for an alignment and was told that my king pins were worn and needed to be replaced before it would hold an alignment...not a safety issue, just that it would not hold an alignment as it is. I also need to replace a couple of sagging leaf springs.
Prior to each of the last two trips we took (about 600 miles round trip each) I pumped the grease zerks on the front end, especially the king pins, full of a high quality grease and was amazed at how good the coach drove after that. I didn't have to fight it to stay in the lane.
Perhaps you have some small amount of play in your front end that, as has been pointed out already.. on something the size of a motorhome small actions are magnified to make it feel like it's wandering all over the road. Just another offer of an opinion....
With that said, when we first bought our 1999 HR Endeavor, I thought it was me that just simply couldn't drive or that I was just not familiar with driving such a big rig, even though I had been driving firetrucks for 20 years. After I got to looking into the situation further, since I was experiencing pretty bad body roll (sway) and the thing wandered all over the lane, I found a few items that were worn out. First, I found that my sway bar bushings were practically gone. Replaced those and the body sway went away. I then took my rig to a big truck alignment shop for an alignment and was told that my king pins were worn and needed to be replaced before it would hold an alignment...not a safety issue, just that it would not hold an alignment as it is. I also need to replace a couple of sagging leaf springs.
Prior to each of the last two trips we took (about 600 miles round trip each) I pumped the grease zerks on the front end, especially the king pins, full of a high quality grease and was amazed at how good the coach drove after that. I didn't have to fight it to stay in the lane.
Perhaps you have some small amount of play in your front end that, as has been pointed out already.. on something the size of a motorhome small actions are magnified to make it feel like it's wandering all over the road. Just another offer of an opinion....
