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03-28-2017, 10:50 PM
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#22
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35M
State: Virginia
Posts: 46
THOR #6664
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Mine was a Goodyear Commercial Truck Center on the F-53 chassis. Took about 45 minutes.
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03-28-2017, 11:45 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 26B
State: Indiana
Posts: 387
THOR #6414
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I picked up my new 26B on the E450 chassis today and I think it drives just fine. Granted it's different than my truck or the car, but I don't feel like it needs to get an alignment any time soon, if ever.
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Roger, Dawn, and Roxie
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03-29-2017, 12:37 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: S.O.B.
State: California
Posts: 1,368
THOR #3483
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Two Axle Alignment
SoCal price - $472 for two axle alignment, weigh analysis for correct tire pressure, add casters, etc... $202 to install Saf-T-Plus. I'm told that I am paying for our good weather? Lived here my entire life and I don't think I will be able to afford really old age....
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03-29-2017, 02:23 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 22E
State: West Virginia
Posts: 115
THOR #3119
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A front end alignment check is a very good idea but if I had a chassis that had been cut and lengthened I might consider springing for a 4 wheel check. Since the rear axle cannot be corrected it would be nice to know that who ever cut and rewelded my chassis did it correctly while I could still do something about it with the factory.
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03-31-2017, 09:55 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by airforceret
I picked up my new 26B on the E450 chassis today and I think it drives just fine. Granted it's different than my truck or the car, but I don't feel like it needs to get an alignment any time soon, if ever.
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I recently bought a Freedom Elite 26HE which seems to be identical. I think mine drives just fine as well but I'm persuaded to get the alignment checked anyway. Appointment next week for weight and alignment. I'll be interested to see if it's "off" and/or drives differently afterward. The guy at the truck center doing the work advised against a steering stabilizer. We'll see....
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04-01-2017, 12:20 AM
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#27
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 26B
State: Indiana
Posts: 387
THOR #6414
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
I recently bought a Freedom Elite 26HE which seems to be identical. I think mine drives just fine as well but I'm persuaded to get the alignment checked anyway. Appointment next week for weight and alignment. I'll be interested to see if it's "off" and/or drives differently afterward. The guy at the truck center doing the work advised against a steering stabilizer. We'll see....
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I will be interested to hear what they have to say. My real test will be in a few days once I'm loaded and head out on my first trip. It's about 1000 miles round trip.
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Roger, Dawn, and Roxie
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04-01-2017, 12:38 AM
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#28
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.2
State: Texas
Posts: 75
THOR #6917
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I just received my Safe-T-Plus today. Will install tomorrow and align next week.
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04-06-2017, 07:50 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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I had my new 2017 Freedom Elite 26HE (700miles) weighed and the alignment checked today at a local truck center. The alignment was spot on as delivered so no changes were made - which explains why I have been pretty happy with the driving experience. Full fuel tank and empty water tanks but otherwise loaded for camping weight was 12200 lbs leaving us more than 2000 lbs of additional capacity. Glad to know these things! Next up is to figure out how to carry a spare tire and probably add a Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer. I think I'm convinced by all the positive posts.
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04-11-2017, 01:46 AM
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#30
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 26B
State: Indiana
Posts: 387
THOR #6414
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I just returned from my 1000+ mile trip. I understand why so many are frightened at first. Until the tires got broke in with a few hundred miles it was really flighty to drive but I've found that to be consistent with past big trucks with duels. Being on a 350 chassis instead of the 450 chassis probably caused a little more body roll than I had expected which will leave you chasing it a bit but that was even better as the tires and suspension all settled in. Having owned 2 truck campers I will likely go with air bags and duel gauges and onboard air to adjust on the fly on windy days like this weekend (and i do mean windy). Our next trip in a few weeks will take us cross country and back for more than 5000 miles.. I'm really pleased with the floorplan as it is not too big and not too small... Hope to get it scaled next time out but should be consistent with your weight.
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Roger, Dawn, and Roxie
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04-11-2017, 02:18 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: New York
Posts: 150
THOR #5875
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I had the front end aligned on my new 2017 Axis 25.2 and the tech said it was so far out that he didn't know how I stayed on the road, it made a world of difference in the way the coach handles.
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04-14-2017, 01:18 AM
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#32
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Outlaw 38 RE
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 22
THOR #3657
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Yes take your new rv to a truck tire alignment shop and get it aligned and check your tire pressure as they will probably be over pressure / inflated.
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04-14-2017, 04:37 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: '17 Hurricane 34F
State: Missouri
Posts: 235
THOR #6040
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I have a 22k hurricane, the truck shop said it would be $130 for an alignment, unless it has some bushings that need to be replaced. He could not tell me if that would be the case until he sees the chassis. Has anyone ran into this need, or is it not applicable for our setup?
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03-01-2018, 01:01 PM
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#34
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Illinois
Posts: 2
THOR #10120
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Alignment and upgrades - Rig is perfect
Thor Axis 25.5 2017 was all over the road when purchased. I was coming from a 37 foot diesel pusher. I had the front end aligned and it helped a ton but I still wasnt happy. I installed a Roadmaster steering stabilizer and Sumosprings on the front of the rig. Huge improvement, but to go a step further I had the back axle aligned and the front with a 5 degree caster. Wow, the rig drives like a sports car. Total aligment costs including parts to nail it 100% $700.00. Sumosprings $150 self installed. Steering stabilizer $235 self installed. I would highly recommend these improvements.
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03-01-2018, 02:33 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 37GT
State: Florida
Posts: 809
THOR #5246
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DogLovers
Got a question. I have seen several posts talking about taking their brand new coach in for an alignment. Am I to understand after purchase you need to go to a truck shop and get a front end alignment? If so why? Who pays for it? Seems like it should be straight before you get it in the first place. I am picking up a 2017 Thor Synergy on a Mercedes chassy next month and want to know what to do and who pays.
Thanks
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When a RV manufacturer gets a chassis in it is probably aligned. Then all the build weight is added and that in itself could throw an alignment off. Then a new owner adds fluids and another 1,000 to 3,000 pounds of gear, food, and personal items and most RV will need an alignment to be spot on.
It has been our experience that RV manufacturers will not pay for an alignment, but we have only purchased one RV new that wasn't a towable.
I had our Challenger 37GT aligned for less than $150 at a big truck frame/body shop. I recently took our new DP to the same shop and they estimated my front end alignment would run around $160. When all was said and done the alignment was spot on and the only thing they had to do was adjust the wheel so it was straight. They did two test drives and worked on it for 45 minutes and the cost was $60.00.
The key is to find a shop that can work on big equipment and knows what they are doing. I would never go to an RV dealer to get an alignment. My very large RV dealer gave me an estimate of $300.
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Full Time in 2017 Newmar Ventana 4369
pulling a 24' enclosed (Mini Cooper/Harley/Kayak)
(traded 2014 Thor Challenger)
US Army 70-73 Retired LEO
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03-01-2018, 02:40 PM
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#36
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 Windjammer
State: Illinois
Posts: 1,179
THOR #7074
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In Northwest Indiana on interstate 94 this is a reputable Tire company they aligned mine for $125 on some giant electronic computerized Gizmo rack and I would say it took them a half hour.
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Rev. Jeffrey 2017 Thor Axis 24.1 E450 Windjammer.
Silver Safe-T-Plus Steering Control
SSF-106-40 SumoSprings Solo Front Bump Stop SSR-107-47 SumoSprings Rear Bump Stop
Hellwig 7718 Front Sway Bar & 7180 Rear Sway Bar
Koni FSD Front Shocks 8805-1042 / Koni FSD Rear Shocks 8805-1043
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03-01-2018, 02:48 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chatea 31E
State: Maryland
Posts: 453
THOR #5837
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I see a lot of folks who just add a steering stabilizer to their RV. It seems like the first thing you want to do is a good alignment. For the Ford E350/E450 chassis you can get camber/caster sleeves that permit more alignment range. I've read that increasing caster to at least 5 degrees really helps a lot. I have the sleeves and plan to get a custom alignment done soon. After that I may add a steering stabilizer and bigger swaybars.
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03-01-2018, 02:49 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: S.O.B.
State: California
Posts: 1,368
THOR #3483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by revjeffrey
In Northwest Indiana on interstate 94 this is a reputable Tire company they aligned mine for $125 on some giant electronic computerized Gizmo rack and I would say it took them a half hour. Attachment 9206
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Rev,
You are lucky. I am not the only 24.1 owner that also needed casters installed after checking the alignment. It could not have possibly been done in a half hour.
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03-01-2018, 03:02 PM
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#39
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 Windjammer
State: Illinois
Posts: 1,179
THOR #7074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by axis earl
Rev,
You are lucky. I am not the only 24.1 owner that also needed casters installed after checking the alignment. It could not have possibly been done in a half hour.
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The other thing I'll repeat here that's important to me was the alignment also fixed the fact that on my steering wheel the Ford logo was tilted @ about 2 o'clock and they straighten that situation out and for me that was worth it right there having a straight steering wheel.
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Rev. Jeffrey 2017 Thor Axis 24.1 E450 Windjammer.
Silver Safe-T-Plus Steering Control
SSF-106-40 SumoSprings Solo Front Bump Stop SSR-107-47 SumoSprings Rear Bump Stop
Hellwig 7718 Front Sway Bar & 7180 Rear Sway Bar
Koni FSD Front Shocks 8805-1042 / Koni FSD Rear Shocks 8805-1043
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03-01-2018, 05:07 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Gemini 24TX (Formerly)
State: California
Posts: 1,459
THOR #5821
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When you take delivery, it will have been driven, in my case on the West coast, a couple of thousand miles, so I looked very closely at the front tires for any abnormal wear, pre-delivery. Seeing none, again in my case, after driving it, it showed no signs of an alignment problem. The Mercedes chassis likes to go in a straight line, on level highways, mine will track a mile or so, hands off. I will tell you, after a year, I continue to be more and more impressed with that Sprinter chassis. IMO it is one great driving vehicle.
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