Driving in the wind

[woodbender]

Lt. Keefer, I know these two suggestions will sound a little nutty at first.. but...

Try moving your driver's seat forward closer to the steering wheel than you're used to. (Notice Nascar drivers - how close the wheel is to their chest.)

Secondly, look ahead down the road farther toward the horizon than you usually do.

Try to ignore the mirrors and gauges to some greater extent than you normally would.

I read about doing this in a different forum and gave it a try.

It certainly helps me keep her going more straight down the road.

More than anything these two things seem to cut down on the constant over-correcting.

In pilot speak the concept is known as Pilot-Induced Oscillation.

Give it a try. It'll cost even less than the CHF!

[Metalman]

The Windsport 27K is our 5th RV and forth motor home. We started with a 24 foot class C and have had as large as a 38 foot diesel pusher. They all are affected by the wind. I suspect that pulling a 12 foot enclosed trailer with dual axels tempers the effects of the wind to some extent on the RV. But as Bob said, "slow down..." I think people get into trouble when they attempt to drive their RVs the same way that they drive their autos. I learned that it wasn't a good idea back in 1994.

[Lt Keefer]

Originally Posted by Okiejoe

Here is what did with my Class C 31W, I added Helwig sway bars front and rear, Bilstein shocks and a Safety Plus Steering control and decided ah what the heck I added Sumo Springs front and rear. I may add a trac bar but in wind or what ever it’s basically nailed to the road and is actually a pleasure to drive now.

Good luck

I never had a problem driving my last coach, a 31 foot class c, it was stable right off the assembly line. Driving this class a has been a chore at time. On the first trip, it was almost undriveable. I was seriously thinking on taking it back to the dealer and telling them to park it in their a#*. Weighing it and setting the tires to proper pressure helped. The CHF improved it a bunch. The front end alignment and replacement of steering box did the most good. The saf-t-plus made it drivable with one hand and the front sumos have taken out the small dips in the roads that used to irritate me. Currently my only complaint is windy day driving,

[Mr Sunshine]

Originally Posted by woodbender

Lt. Keefer, I know these two suggestions will sound a little nutty at first.. but...
Try moving your driver's seat forward closer to the steering wheel than you're used to. (Notice Nascar drivers - how close the wheel is to their chest.)
Secondly, look ahead down the road farther toward the horizon than you usually do. Try to ignore the mirrors and gauges to some greater extent than you normally would...

These are great suggestions. I drove around 900 windy miles in the last three days with strong crosswinds. I've done Helwigs front and rear, Sumos front and Bilsteins all around on my Vegas. Still, you have to really pay attention so that a gust doesn't throw you off the road.
It blew so hard that the mud flap melted on the tailpipe. Hadn't expected that!

[Glensouth]

You are lucky that it drives ok up to 25 mph wind. I don’t know why these motorhome manufacturers don’t modify their chassis to handle better and leave it up to owners to spend big bucks on modifications to make them handle better.

[Skduck]

Just remember you're driving something with the aerodynamic of a barn door, slowing down is the best advice as many have said or find something interesting and pull over and enjoy the trip

[Metalman]

When I first began fighting the wind, I found that I was over correcting, getting tense, working the steering wheel too much. Then I stopped trying to maintain an arrow straight heading. Eventually one's kinesthetic powers will help, and you won't realize that you are making corrections for wind gusts. Try to relax and go with the flow...sort of.

[Bob Denman]

Yup! A lighter grip on the wheel, and a couple of deep breaths.

[woodbender]

Yup, I was frankly shocked at how much less stressful driving was (both physically and emotionally) when all I did was look down the road farther and ignore the gauges and mirrors for a bit.

And yes, I noticed my knuckles were not white anymore!!

[lwmcguire]

the worst thing about driving in a cross wind for me is at around 40 mph wind we get a whistling noise from wind moving through the coach. checked and rechecked for any windows that are loose or the seals don't appear to contact but no luck

Otherwise the Tuscany handles fine and all that suffers is the fuel mileage

[Metalman]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

the worst thing about driving in a cross wind for me is at around 40 mph wind we get a whistling noise from wind moving through the coach. checked and rechecked for any windows that are loose or the seals don't appear to contact but no luck

Otherwise the Tuscany handles fine and all that suffers is the fuel mileage

We have found that if we release the catches for the two front side, sliding windows, the wind noise lessens.

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by Metalman

We have found that if we release the catches for the two front side, sliding windows, the wind noise lessens.

Thanks
Will give it a try next time across Kansas

[Bob Denman]

Kansas?
That reminds me of a joke...

What's the best way to cross the State of Kansas?








Asleep in the back of someone else's van!

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Kansas?
That reminds me of a joke...

What's the best way to cross the State of Kansas?








Asleep in the back of someone else's van!

One more thought on this, since it is 400 miles or more depending on route. If you don't like expansive space and views of the horizon maybe sleeping is best but otherwise if you are going to make the trip, look for the historical or scenic side trips and take an extra day and find out what really is out in the heartland

[Nina@DuraFlap]

The best part of having an RV. is that you can pull off and stop if it gets to be too bad.
In Nebraska my hubby used it as a good excuse to park in the Cabelas parking lot.

[Bob Denman]

Did he (By any chance); go inside to shop... "just to pass the time until the winds stopped"?

[Nina@DuraFlap]

He did, but believe it or not, he back empty handed. There is a first for everything.
If you have not been to that store, they have the life size statues of all the presidents. Pretty cool.

[lp1957]

Here's what we did after scary drive home from Palo Duro Canyon: 1)verify correct tire pressures 2)CHF 3) Install Roadmaster steering stabilizer 4) alignment 5) Install Super Steer rear Track Bar. Adding the track bar is what has made the biggest improvement in how my coach handles in high wind and/or passing big rigs. Also learning to "look further down the road" has eliminated "sawing at the wheel". Sometimes you just have to slow down.

[jannnda]

Originally Posted by lp1957

Here's what we did after scary drive home from Palo Duro Canyon: 1)verify correct tire pressures 2)CHF 3) Install Roadmaster steering stabilizer 4) alignment 5) Install Super Steer rear Track Bar. Adding the track bar is what has made the biggest improvement in how my coach handles in high wind and/or passing big rigs. Also learning to "look further down the road" has eliminated "sawing at the wheel". Sometimes you just have to slow down.

I did all of what you did and sumo up front.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Nina@DuraFlap

He did, but believe it or not, he back empty handed. There is a first for everything.

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1572290363