Wind turbulence at speed

[mwhite48]

I was just reading several post on another forum about AirTabs. I am not trying to highjack your post, but I was wondering if anyone on this post has tried them, and if so what are the results. Several of the comments on the other post indicate that they may have some impact on increasing gas mileage, but mostly people have noticed handling performance improvement in winds and when being passed by large trucks.

[Bob Denman]

They DO look interesting...
I don't see any reason (other than cost); to not use them...

[mwhite48]

I did not go out and measure my RV, but making a wild guess, it is about 8 x 8. Covering both sides and the top would (at $2.75 each) be about $200. If they actually help handling, that would be a fairly cheap investment. If they don't help handling, it would be $200 down the toilet. That is kind of the reason I would like to hear from people with experience, and not people that are linked to the Airtab company.

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by Campnjoe

So most of the the time I can cruise in our 29m at 65 - 70 mph with zero problems. I have a roadmaster stabilizer installed. However, sometimes when the wind is high, I can barely keep 60mph without it feeling like I will get blown off the road. Is this a problem for all coaches or is it just the f53 18000lb chassis? Reason I ask is I have had a few other coaches pass me in this crazy wind. Any tips and tricks that you can share?

I’m not sure what year yours is. I’ve been told the 2021 with the new V8 has heavier sway bars. Mine is 2019 on the same chassis as yours. Original handling was awful. Body roll. Sway. Side suck. Had to constantly correct steering to stay in my lane. I did the CHF on front & rear myself. Fairly easy. Even easier after purchasing a 18 mm wrench. Then I took it to a truck shop. Had front wheels balanced, complete alignment (loaded with my stuff, 1/2 tank of water, full tank of fuel). Then added a steering stabilizer. Played with air pressure. Finally arrived at 90 psi in front. 85 psi in rear. Weighed it. 6k on front. 11k on rear. Now, it isn’t great. But made a tremendous difference. I can drive at 65 with one hand. But the wheel doesn’t shake out of my hand. Very little body movement when being passed. Feel is much more solid. Still feel a crosswind but not nearly the body roll. $200 at truck shop.

On another note, if you want to carry on a conversation while going down the road stick dynamat under the dog house and the wheel wells. Carpet mats helped as well.

[Pete'sMH]

What is your wheelbase? Or more specifically what is the ratio of your wheelbase to the total length of your coach? There are interesting articles about how this ratio affects handling, other things being equal. Apparently vehicles whose wheelbase is less than 50% of total length are inherently less stable than those with a higher ratio. For a given F53 chassis weight rating there are several available wheelbases, I think. My own coach (SOB) has a ratio of .54 and I think it handles fine. I’ve often wondered if members who complain of white knuckle driving experiences are those with lower ratios.

[Bob Denman]

Ours is at 57.6%
I like the way it handles..
Our Outlaw was a touch over 58%, and we also had no complaints of instability with it either.

[Campnjoe]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

What is your wheelbase? Or more specifically what is the ratio of your wheelbase to the total length of your coach? There are interesting articles about how this ratio affects handling, other things being equal. Apparently vehicles whose wheelbase is less than 50% of total length are inherently less stable than those with a higher ratio. For a given F53 chassis weight rating there are several available wheelbases, I think. My own coach (SOB) has a ratio of .54 and I think it handles fine. I’ve often wondered if members who complain of white knuckle driving experiences are those with lower ratios.

51.6

Don't get me wrong here, my coach handles fine normally. I was really just wondering why some coaches could pass me with high winds.

[Jimbo56]

Mine is 52.6. 178” wheelbase. 28’ 2” length.

[Bob Denman]

Now that we've all warmed up the "Math Bone" In our brains: who wants to balance a checkbook?

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by Campnjoe

So most of the the time I can cruise in our 29m at 65 - 70 mph with zero problems. I have a roadmaster stabilizer installed. However, sometimes when the wind is high, I can barely keep 60mph without it feeling like I will get blown off the road. Is this a problem for all coaches or is it just the f53 18000lb chassis? Reason I ask is I have had a few other coaches pass me in this crazy wind. Any tips and tricks that you can share?

We have a 2018 29m and I put Sumo Springs on the front, a RoadMaster anti sway bar on the back so now it has two and new Bilstein shocks front and back. Handles like my Volvo. Mine is 18000 too so not sure what to do. The Sumos are great and easy to install!! Try them; Bob Trice