Class A MH Steering and Sway Fixes

skiptut · 08-14-2018, 12:07 AM

I have a 2018 Windsport 29M that needs some help! When I first joined this forum I saw a lot of fixes for the sway bars and many personal views on what to install or change. Now I can’t find them after I just got blown off the highway by a 75 MPH truck. I’m tired of fighting the sway and the double fisted grip. I tried the Cheap front sway bar fix and it may have helped some but not near enough. What did you use and for how much?

werbrichfamily · 08-14-2018, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiptut

I have a 2018 Windsport 29M that needs some help! When I first joined this forum I saw a lot of fixes for the sway bars and many personal views on what to install or change. Now I can’t find them after I just got blown off the highway by a 75 MPH truck. I’m tired of fighting the sway and the double fisted grip. I tried the Cheap front sway bar fix and it may have helped some but not near enough. What did you use and for how much?

We have a 2018 Windsport 29M as well and experienced the same thing when bringing the coach home the first time. We had an alignment done first...it was pulling to right. Then we had a steering stabilizer and a rear track bar placed on it. It has made a big difference driving now. Much more relaxed. I did not do the CHF.

woody · 08-14-2018, 12:52 AM

Same here. I did the front end alignment, steering stabilizer and rear trac bar as well. Rig handles well. I can one hand steer it and passing semi's are no problem. Neg on the CHF for me as well.

halfprice · 08-14-2018, 12:55 AM

front and rear chf- free

Safe t plus- dealer installed as part of deal

Rear track bar- $450. Self installed Best mod I did

Sumo spring- $450 I think. Self install. Originals broke so they sent me the newer version model. Sumos help with the wind and sway. Still not sure if it was worth the money but they do help

Get front end alignment and check tire pressure

Jerry

skiptut · 08-14-2018, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werbrichfamily

We have a 2018 Windsport 29M as well and experienced the same thing when bringing the coach home the first time. We had an alignment done first...it was pulling to right. Then we had a steering stabilizer and a rear track bar placed on it. It has made a big difference driving now. Much more relaxed. I did not do the CHF.

What is a steering stabilizer? What name brand track bar and did you install both yourself?

SuperD · 08-14-2018, 01:21 AM

x2 on what Jerry said!!!

Pete'sMH · 08-14-2018, 02:11 AM

I did an alignment on my 29 ft class A and self installed a steering stabilizer (Roadmaster). Have not done the CHF or added any other hardware and I’m very happy with the handling. I don’t know why my rig would work better than others but I’m happy with it.

skiptut · 08-14-2018, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halfprice

front and rear chf- free

Safe t plus- dealer installed as part of deal

Rear track bar- $450. Self installed Best mod I did

Sumo spring- $450 I think. Self install. Originals broke so they sent me the newer version model. Sumos help with the wind and sway. Still not sure if it was worth the money but they do help

Get front end alignment and check tire pressure

Jerry

What name brand Rear track bar did you end up with? Was the instructions clear enough to get her done in a day and what special tools were required?

skiptut · 08-14-2018, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werbrichfamily

We have a 2018 Windsport 29M as well and experienced the same thing when bringing the coach home the first time. We had an alignment done first...it was pulling to right. Then we had a steering stabilizer and a rear track bar placed on it. It has made a big difference driving now. Much more relaxed. I did not do the CHF.

Do you recall the brand names of the steering stabilizer and a rear track bar? Did you install either or have a shop install them?

Beau388 · 08-14-2018, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiptut

Do you recall the brand names of the steering stabilizer and a rear track bar? Did you install either or have a shop install them?

For the 18,000 lb F-53 chassis, I used an UTF53V8R rear track bar by Ultra RV Products. It put it on myself and took a couple hours laying on card board under the level coach. I seriously recommend you use an impact wrench on the big bolts. The little ones (12MM) torque to only 65 lbs, but the rest )5/8") 100 ftlbs. The big 3/4" fine threads bolts are held on by steel lock nuts that take about 200 ftlbs of torque to tighten and shroud be torqued to 380 ftlbs. My impact wrench only goes to 320 ftlbs so I called it quits when I reached the wrench max. The track bar made little difference in how the coach handles when not towing. I drove it 18,000 miles without the rear track bar. I did not like the way the coach felt when towing. I could feel the dolly pull on the coach at speed when I turned the wheel. The track bar greatly improved the dolly pull.
My personal opinion is my coach drives great the way it came from the factory but add 2,200 lbs and it needed some help. I added Sumo Springs front and back because the coach was bottoming out against the bump stops. The Sumo Springs did improve the ride of the big pavement breaks but made it ride a little rougher on the minor road imperfections. They helped the coach sway some but the sway wasn't too bad to start with. I checked the front wheel alignment and empty weight when I first got the coach. The rear wheel thrust and front wheel alignment were spot on. The coach weighed 15,840 lbs when me in it and nothing else except 56 gallons of fuel. I run with 80 psi in the front tires and 88 in the rear. Factory says 82 psi but my rear tires run too hot with 82 psi.

halfprice · 08-14-2018, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiptut

What name brand Rear track bar did you end up with? Was the instructions clear enough to get her done in a day and what special tools were required?

https://www.brazelsrv.com/UTF53V8R-R...s-(Fits-V10-V8)

I ran into some problems, my mistake not the bars, so it took a day to install. Later I installed the same bar on my Buddy's Fleetwood. Took 2-1/2 hours which included doing the front and rear chf plus lubing the sway bar bushings

You'll need a 1-1/8 socket and open or box wrench same size. Deep socket if you impact the nut. Regular if you impact the bolt. Impact wrench is a must for the 3/4 nut and bolts.

Make sure you remove the bolts on the sway bar arm and link that goes to the frame first. This removes the pressure on the sway bar. If not removed its a pain to install the track bar brackets.

Also get the main bar that attaches to the frame and lower bracket installed first before tightening the frame bracket bolts. After frame bracket is tight then tighten the main bar 3/4 bolts

Jerry

halfprice · 08-14-2018, 09:19 PM

Link wouldn't open for me so thus is what I got.

UTF53V8R - Rear UltraTrac Trac Bar Ford F53 14-18K GVW Chassis (Fits V10 & V8

Got it at Brazzels

Every coach is different and mods work on some and not on others

For me this was the best mod in regards to handling

Jerry

Miramar Owner · 08-14-2018, 10:07 PM

I used the Safe T Plus steering stabilizer. Don't remember the brand of rear track bar, but those 2 items and the alignment made all the difference on my Miramar.

John & Diane · 08-14-2018, 11:41 PM

All the suggestions you have received will help improve handling. Another thing to check that I didn't see mentioned is the air pressure in your tires. When we got our Windsport the tires were inflated to 110#to 115#. The sticker next to the drivers seat calls for 82#. What a difference in ride and handling that made. I almost didn't take it in for an alignment because of the improvement, but we did and even thought drove much better they found the front end out of alignment by over 1/2". We were told we would have probably worn out the front tires in 2000 miles! Safe travels.

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