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Old 07-16-2019, 11:27 PM   #1
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Next mod

I have a 2015 Thor ace 27.1 w/ 13k so far have had wheels rotated and balanced and front end aligned with a Roadmaster front sway bar. Of course it still drives like crap.Now, for the question what would be the logical next mod? Steering stabilizer? Sumo springs? Rear sway bar, asking because we’re doing this one mod at a time since we live in Kansas, home of the 35-40 mph cross wind.

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Old 07-16-2019, 11:44 PM   #2
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We started with the Roadmaster steering stabilizer. It helped a little, so the next step was to replace the stock front sway bar with a Roadmaster sway bar and add front Sumo Springs. This made more improvement to the handling, but the largest improvement was gains by getting the front end alignment.
Replacing the rear sway bar with a Roadmaster sway bar was done because the rear end still felt like it needed improvement.
Having said all this, no Mod will completely negate a strong crosswind or being passed by a fast moving semi.
But, after competing a recent 2500 mile trip, which included driving I-70 from the Colorado/Kansas border to Kansas City Mo. Handling was noticeably improved and we are well satisfied with the Mods.
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Old 07-17-2019, 12:07 AM   #3
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Is you 27.1 built on the 16K chassis? If so you may not have a front track bar as it was an option on that chassis. We have a Windsport 27K on the 18K chassis which came equipped with a front track bar, and the mod that seemed to help the most was the addition of the rear track bar. We did the alignment and Roadmaster steering stabilizer first, then the front Solo Sumos, and they all helped a little but the rear track bar made the most notable difference on our mh. Passing trucks now have little affect on us and moderate wind is usually not an issue. No more white knuckle driving! Good luck with the mods.
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Old 07-17-2019, 12:25 AM   #4
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Steering stabilizer will get you the most bang for the buck. We have the Roadmaster on our 27.1.
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Old 07-17-2019, 12:34 AM   #5
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Rear anti-swaybar...
SumoSprings...
Then add the steering stabiizer.
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Old 07-17-2019, 05:02 PM   #6
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Track bar

I did my axis 25.2 in steps.Front and rear sway bars first. Then rear track bar. Than front end alignment. Best mods are alignment than rear track bar. Rear track bar was a big improvement in sway control.
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Old 07-18-2019, 02:41 AM   #7
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I would say the rear Trac bar would be the most bang for the buck. If you did the CHF, it would do the same as aftermarket sway bars but maybe not as stiff but stiffer than the stock (outer hole on the bar) set up.
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Old 07-18-2019, 02:48 AM   #8
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Would love to see some pictures of these front and rear track bars installed....
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Old 07-18-2019, 03:01 AM   #9
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Most newer G53 chassis's have the front trac bar. I'll try to get a snapshot of the one on our Windsport 34J. Make sure to get the correct one for your chassis. https://www.rvautoparts.com/SS401-Su...e_p_38158.html
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Old 07-19-2019, 12:34 AM   #10
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Had the tires rotated again it helped noticeably, I may have had a out of round or unbalanced tire on front. But will still keep trying to make it drive better, thanks for the advice
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Old 07-19-2019, 01:04 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Ninjatoto View Post
I have a 2015 Thor ace 27.1 w/ 13k so far have had wheels rotated and balanced and front end aligned .....

and, what is your caster set at? If it is less then +5 degrees, it would be suspect.
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Old 07-19-2019, 02:54 AM   #12
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Not sure I’ll see if it’s on the copy of the work order
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Old 07-19-2019, 03:04 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by Ninjatoto View Post
Not sure I’ll see if it’s on the copy of the work order
It appears you may not be aware of the E350/E450 caster issues. Some E350/E450 have handling issues, some do not, the following may explain the difference:

Ford ships all E350/E450 cut aways with identical fixed, non adjustable
caster/camber collars, "one size fits all". You can recognize these collars because they are keyed and cannot be rotated. They are marked "F8UA-AA 0+.25" on the passenger side and "E97A-CA +0-0" on the drivers side.

The RV builder almost never changes the Ford collars, as a result:

If the final RV build is nose down one degree then the runtime caster will be about +3.5 degrees. These units can have a real wandering problem.

If the final RV build is nose level then the runtime caster will be about +4.5 degrees. These units are probably indifferent.

If the final RV build is nose up one degree then the runtime caster will be about +5.5 degrees. These units are probably just fine, possibly excepting the 31+ footers.

So, some RVs have a problem with wandering at highway speeds and some do not have a problem. JMO.

POPULAR MECHANICS MAY 1973:
START QUOTE:
If too little caster exists, the car will wander and weave,
thus necessitating constant corrections in steering.
END QUOTE:
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Old 07-19-2019, 05:03 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harvard View Post
It appears you may not be aware of the E350/E450 caster issues. Some E350/E450 have handling issues, some do not, the following may explain the difference:

Ford ships all E350/E450 cut aways with identical fixed, non adjustable
caster/camber collars, "one size fits all". You can recognize these collars because they are keyed and cannot be rotated. They are marked "F8UA-AA 0+.25" on the passenger side and "E97A-CA +0-0" on the drivers side.

The RV builder almost never changes the Ford collars, as a result:

If the final RV build is nose down one degree then the runtime caster will be about +3.5 degrees. These units can have a real wandering problem.

If the final RV build is nose level then the runtime caster will be about +4.5 degrees. These units are probably indifferent.

If the final RV build is nose up one degree then the runtime caster will be about +5.5 degrees. These units are probably just fine, possibly excepting the 31+ footers.

So, some RVs have a problem with wandering at highway speeds and some do not have a problem. JMO.

POPULAR MECHANICS MAY 1973:
START QUOTE:
If too little caster exists, the car will wander and weave,
thus necessitating constant corrections in steering.
END QUOTE:
Why would he be aware of 350/450 issues? He has a F53 chassis.
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Old 07-19-2019, 07:39 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27 View Post
Why would he be aware of 350/450 issues? He has a F53 chassis.
My bad, excepting the OP states:

"Of course it still drives like crap.Now, for the question what would be the logical next mod? Steering stabilizer? Sumo springs? Rear sway bar".

To me it sounds like a typical vehicle with too little runtime +caster.
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:54 PM   #16
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Shocks

After sway bars front and back, Bilstein shock absorbers helped mine a lot - they will dampen the lateral rolling.
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Old 08-05-2019, 07:11 PM   #17
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Rear Track Bar Photos

The former owner had a steering damper installed on my 2016 ACE 30.1. After driving it home to Long Island from north of Harrisburg PA and experiencing the effects of cross winds and tractor-trailers passing by, I knew I had to do more. Last fall I installed the track bar in the attached photos and it made a world of difference. Not a bad install if you do your own work. I can still feel a semi passing by, but the effect is minimized and I am much more confident and relaxed driving the RV. The rig also has stock front and rear stabilizer bars and I think my next mod. is to install front Sumo springs to help the front-end a bit.

Jerry
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Old 08-07-2019, 01:18 AM   #18
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Got my ACE 27.1 back from the truck alignment shop drives soooo much better now. They put a caster kit in it, forgot to ask what was set at but huge improvement. Of course not much wind today so we’ll see how well it goes in a crosswind
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