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Old 01-18-2021, 07:21 PM   #1
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RV handling

I am new to Motorhome living, have trailered in the past. I own a 2019 Thor 27' Windsport with a Ford F-53 chassis and I live in So. Calif with bad road conditions. I'm finding the coach a little hard to handle , i've been told a safe t steering stabilizer, new shocks, and a rear stablizer bar might help
Any suggestions ?

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Old 01-18-2021, 07:33 PM   #2
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Do a front end alignment before doing anything else. Shoot for 5+ degrees positive caster.

That should significantly improve return to center handling which is what the springs in a Safe T Plus or a Roadmaster do.

David
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Old 01-18-2021, 07:39 PM   #3
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Yes, do the alignment.
The other things are kind of placebo or half steps.

Some of us like sumo and other mods, some don't, some know they're just bumpstops or stiffeners, some swear by them as miracles.

Baby steps after reading many many posts and deciding what the poster said, and what they didn't.
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Old 01-18-2021, 07:45 PM   #4
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Don't do many things at once. Do one mod, drive it for a bit and see how you like it then do another.

In addition: For F-53 chassis look up CHF (cheap handling fix).
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Old 01-18-2021, 07:53 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieGeek View Post
Don't do many things at once. Do one mod, drive it for a bit and see how you like it then do another.

In addition: For F-53 chassis look up CHF (cheap handling fix).
Man, I missed it was a f53.
Op,
You can tell if its already been done by which hole is used.
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Old 01-18-2021, 07:59 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by DavidEM View Post
Do a front end alignment before doing anything else. Shoot for 5+ degrees positive caster.

That should significantly improve return to center handling which is what the springs in a Safe T Plus or a Roadmaster do.

David


Does that +5 camber work on the 450 too
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Old 01-18-2021, 10:22 PM   #7
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Does that +5 camber work on the 450 too

Ford E350 or 450:
5.1 on Driver's
5.3 on Passenger

That's what my alignment tech did
And that's what is recommended on several posts on various RV Forum sites
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Old 01-28-2021, 01:48 PM   #8
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Sumo Springs

Well new to RVing, and the first thing i noticed on our 2021 Thor A.C.E, once on the highway the rig did not handle well with steering and sway.
thanks to this Forum, i did some research, and eventually decided to install, sumo springs from and back and the saf-t-plus stabilizer.
Yall thank you so much for all the information you left here, after installing the above mentioned, the rig is totally different on the road.
thank you all
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Old 01-28-2021, 02:30 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Jafmfx2 View Post
Well new to RVing, and the first thing i noticed on our 2021 Thor A.C.E, once on the highway the rig did not handle well with steering and sway.
thanks to this Forum, i did some research, and eventually decided to install, sumo springs from and back and the saf-t-plus stabilizer.
Yall thank you so much for all the information you left here, after installing the above mentioned, the rig is totally different on the road.
thank you all
Welcome to the forum. If you haven't done so you should load the coach, get it weighted, set the tire pressure and then get it aligned.

Again, welcome.
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Old 01-30-2021, 08:38 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jerryjnsn@gmail.com View Post
I am new to Motorhome living, have trailered in the past. I own a 2019 Thor 27' Windsport with a Ford F-53 chassis and I live in So. Calif with bad road conditions. I'm finding the coach a little hard to handle , i've been told a safe t steering stabilizer, new shocks, and a rear stablizer bar might help
Any suggestions ?
I have the Exact same chassis on my 2017 29M. I added, sumo springs on all 4 corners, a rear track bar, a front steering stabilizer and an alignment. Went from White Knuckle to one finger driving.
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Old 02-12-2021, 08:32 PM   #11
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I have a 2018 ACE 29.3 with that chassis. After my drive to Florida, from Alabama, I put in a front and rear stabilizer bar and a steering stabilizer. All from roadmaster. Now I drive with one hand (sometimes). And my will drive again.
Note this is our down-size rig we full timed in. We had a 40 ft. diesel pusher on a freightliner chassis.

Matt
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Old 02-12-2021, 09:06 PM   #12
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Is there a vedio can i do myself? I put in a front and rear stabilizer bar and a steering stabilizer. All from roadmaster.
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Old 02-12-2021, 09:23 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Scubawise View Post
Is there a vedio can i do myself? I put in a front and rear stabilizer bar and a steering stabilizer. All from roadmaster.
I believe there is. Look on etrailer for them. I hope you regularly do bench presses, as those things are heavy. I am a DYIer also, but I leave that type stuff to the pros.
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Old 02-13-2021, 01:02 AM   #14
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The CHF did a lot for my handling but the number one thing was to set my tire pressure correctly. When I got the rig it came with tire pressure set to MAX. After weighing and checking with the Goodyear site I dropped the pressure to 80PSI in the rear and 85PSI in the front and it made a world of difference.
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Old 02-13-2021, 03:29 AM   #15
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A lot of things do improve the handling. Proper tire pressure in the first. Second is to make sure you are not dragging the tail. If so, air lift to fix it. That is what fixed our old class C. Then there is our Thor Palazzo 33.2. First long white knuckle drive from Los Vegas to Bakersfield. 47 mile per hour gusts and 38 mile per hour side winds. I have had front and rear Roadmaster anti sway bars, Safe-T-Steer, Koni shocks, and motion control units to control the air bag suspension. Now I can turn and not feel that I am going to flip! No getting pushed by semi trucks, and the wind does not bother it. I do slow down when the semi trucks do when the wind is strong, but I do not get pushed into the next lane.
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Old 02-13-2021, 12:29 PM   #16
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THOR #17765
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerryjnsn@gmail.com View Post
I am new to Motorhome living, have trailered in the past. I own a 2019 Thor 27' Windsport with a Ford F-53 chassis and I live in So. Calif with bad road conditions. I'm finding the coach a little hard to handle , i've been told a safe t steering stabilizer, new shocks, and a rear stablizer bar might help
Any suggestions ?
Let’s cut to the chase. You have same coach as me. Load all your stuff into it. Fill with fuel and 1/2 tank of fresh water. Go to a real truck shop. Get an alignment and front wheels balanced. While there, have them change both front and rear sway bars to the other set of holes (referred to on this site as the CHF). This will stiffen the ride/reducing sway. Add a saf t steering stabilizer. All in around $400. If you’re handy and have a place to do it, the CHF and stabilizer can be done at home. Forget Sumos and air bags and all that other stuff. Also get some Dynamat and stick it under the dog house. I’m going to put it under the floor in the wheel well area as well. Watch for bubbles in the interior wall paper under the windows. They have a problem with certain windows. And lastly , air pressure in tires. I’ve found that 95psi in front and 85 psi in rear duals works well and also carries the proper weight. Enjoy.
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Old 02-24-2021, 02:44 PM   #17
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Well putting sumo springs on all 4 corners of our 2013 Hurrricane 34E Ford F53 made a huge differance in handling in our coach. We also added the rear trac bar that works great.
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Old 02-25-2021, 10:59 PM   #18
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JimmyZ did that blue thing and the black spring come in the kit? is it hard to install
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Old 02-26-2021, 12:39 AM   #19
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Caster or Camber? +5° camber is excessive and will cause premature tire wear and IMHO could cause a crash. Caster I agree +5° Caster is good. Positive camber though is bad
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Old 02-26-2021, 12:52 AM   #20
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Caster or Camber? +5° camber is excessive and will cause premature tire wear and IMHO could cause a crash. Caster I agree +5° Caster is good. Positive camber though is bad
It's CASTER.
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