Steering Stabilizer

[Felices30.2]

Originally Posted by JoeDS

I have a 2017 Vegas 24.1. Can't keep it centered in the lane going down the interstate without constant adjustment. Is that the situation you had?

I've had it aligned properly at a well respected truck/RV alignment center and they made it a lot better but still hard to keep it in track.

It surprised me to find out it already had a stabilizer from the factory. Did yours come with a factory unit that was replaced with the Safety T Plus?

I did not have a factory stabilizer but have heard others and they recommend to replace

[vkb]

Our 2016 24.1 has the factory stabilizer....I am installing the SumoSprings .. will see if they make a difference ... will do the SafetyPlus if needed.
I am considering replacing the bump stop on the back with the SumoSolo...
has anyone done this application on the rear, rather than the frame mount SumoSpring ?

[JoeDS]

Originally Posted by vkb

Our 2016 24.1 has the factory stabilizer....I am installing the SumoSprings .. will see if they make a difference ... will do the SafetyPlus if needed.
I am considering replacing the bump stop on the back with the SumoSolo...
has anyone done this application on the rear, rather than the frame mount SumoSpring ?

I have not done this on my Vegas but I did do it on my Dodge 3500 that I carry a BigFoot camper in. Super easy on it. Just removed the bump stops and installed the Sumos in the same mount.

Haven't used my Vegas much at all yet. But big trip planned this summer. Have you found the factory suspension too soft that it bottoms out a lot on the bump stop?

[vkb]

Originally Posted by JoeDS

I have not done this on my Vegas but I did do it on my Dodge 3500 that I carry a BigFoot camper in. Super easy on it. Just removed the bump stops and installed the Sumos in the same mount.

Haven't used my Vegas much at all yet. But big trip planned this summer. Have you found the factory suspension too soft that it bottoms out a lot on the bump stop?

This is Kay ... Ron says that he is thinking about the Sumos on the rear to tighten it up a bit .. rather than replacing the sway bar with a bigger bar.

He is open to any suggestions.

[TyCreek]

Originally Posted by vkb

This is Kay ... Ron says that he is thinking about the Sumos on the rear to tighten it up a bit .. rather than replacing the sway bar with a bigger bar.

He is open to any suggestions.

I suggest directly addressing the looseness or whatever the "tighten it up a bit" feeling is that's being described.

Sort of sounds like the job of a trac bar but I'm not the one behind the wheel.

Adding spring rate with sumo's will make the ride that much rougher and the additional axel to frame contact will reduce axel shift in a small sort of way. Also, somewhat like a swaybar the increased spring rate will reduce "some" body roll tendency. However a higher torque swaybar will reduce body roll better because it transfers spring rate vs. simply pushing up. The negative for body roll with sumo or air bags is they continue to push up on the side you need to be pulled down as a swaybar would do.

Sumo, Timbren, air bags and the like, are best used to address/aid heavy or overloaded conditions, so if your need to "tighten up" is from max loaded behavior, then sumo's are a good cheap helper.

Have you weighed your rig yet?

[vkb]

Originally Posted by TyCreek

I suggest directly addressing the looseness or whatever the "tighten it up a bit" feeling is that's being described.


Have you weighed your rig yet?

Thanks Ty .... have you done anything to the rear of your coach ? Ron is not sure he wants/needs to do anything ... we do not have a weight problem...he is just looking for the best ride possible. He has read all the threads and is weighing his options.
As you all know, by now...he is not the communicator on this forum... I am just the messenger !!
Happy Day...and thanks for all the help and suggestions during the past year !

Kay

[TyCreek]

Yes Kay, I put on a trac-bar to address the axel shift (tail wag) I felt. A heavy bobbly Jeep toad amplifies this behavior especially in the wind.

The biggest handling improvement however was when I finally found a guy that knew alignments well and he maxed out the caster for my rig. He also tuned it for the secondary highways we most often travel called a "Cross-camber/Cross-caster" alignment.

I've done nothing else to our current Axis and really don't feel the need. Especially since we have a history of changing our RV style every few years. Though to be picky like I tend to be ... My rig is nose heavy and is raked to the front lower than optimal chassis design so to address the remaining handling characteristics I would need to add HD sumo or air bags to the front or "truly fix it" with properly tuned replacement springs.

Typically handling improvements/add-ons/etc... come at the sacrifice of other behaviors. Increasing torque of spring rate transfer side to side in an RV with swaybars really only has a downside if you travel dirt or very rough uneven roads. A proper trac-bar or whatever name you want to use also has little downside as the shift isolation far outweighs the minuscule arc shift it theoretically imposes. This should be OEM IMO... I've had a few previous chassis with OEM trac-bar or was added by the RV builder.

The thread title here is steering stabilizers and while they don't actually fix a chassis handling behavior ... they do fix the driver quite nicely and most will like the relaxing feel of the road isolation they can provide. Enough so that as is seen by numerous threads, they get a strong following that lead people to believe they fix the RV somehow. I've used several of these in the past and would certainly consider doing so again. The key here is that they can mask or make it difficult to pinpoint chassis behaviors so to best diagnose actual chassis handling characteristics while driving a rig, they should be removed/disconnected for the exercise.

[Norrirn]

[QUOTE=Pete'sMH;62625]I too have noticed all of the positive reviews of the Safe-T-Plus on this and other forums. When I made an appointment to have my 26 ft Freedom Elite aligned at a local truck service center I asked for an opinion. Owner advised against it even though he'd be happy to sell me one. He said the failure rate is significant and he has removed several. His opinion seems to be that Ford has a good product and it can be driven safely as is. I'm not sure I'm convinced but I think his recommendation has some credibility given that he is in business to sell stuff! We are going on a 4000 mile trip to the Grand Canyon next month and I'll see how that goes in the western wind. If it's nasty I'll certainly give it a try.[/

And please post your experience following your return.

[axis earl]

[QUOTE=Norrirn;64595]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

I too have noticed all of the positive reviews of the Safe-T-Plus on this and other forums. When I made an appointment to have my 26 ft Freedom Elite aligned at a local truck service center I asked for an opinion. Owner advised against it even though he'd be happy to sell me one. He said the failure rate is significant and he has removed several. His opinion seems to be that Ford has a good product and it can be driven safely as is. I'm not sure I'm convinced but I think his recommendation has some credibility given that he is in business to sell stuff! We are going on a 4000 mile trip to the Grand Canyon next month and I'll see how that goes in the western wind. If it's nasty I'll certainly give it a try.[/

And please post your experience following your return.

His comment about the failure rate is of interest to me.... based on his personal experience of those he has installed? They do have a lifetime guarantee, but, that comment of his seems highly suspect. On a different note, I am beginning to believe that some of these service centers really don't want to make any modifications.

[Hudsoner]

[QUOTE=axis earl;64600]

Originally Posted by Norrirn

His comment about the failure rate is of interest to me.... based on his personal experience of those he has installed? They do have a lifetime guarantee, but, that comment of his seems highly suspect. On a different note, I am beginning to believe that some of these service centers really don't want to make any modifications.

I agree with you. My son is a certified master mechanic with the largest ford Dealer in the state, he is also Hunter certified as alignment specialist.
He is all for a steering stabilizer (and will install one in my unit).
He might have more experience with those devises than the above mentioned technician/owner. He definitely sees more vehicles with them installed than most other mechanics with smaller shops will.

[bigben]

Our Challenger handled very well prior to installing the Roadmaster steering stabilizer. Installed the stabilizer to help in the event of a blowout and it seems to have helped the overall handling.

The original comment that the dealer made simply confirms our experience - it isn't hard to know more than the folks selling the RVs.

[Chance]

[QUOTE=axis earl;64600]

Originally Posted by Norrirn

His comment about the failure rate is of interest to me.... based on his personal experience of those he has installed? They do have a lifetime guarantee, but, that comment of his seems highly suspect. On a different note, I am beginning to believe that some of these service centers really don't want to make any modifications.

If there are any failures at all, I'd be far more interested in knowing what the failure mode is, and what the consequences of such a failure are. That they have a lifetime guarantee would be inconsequential by comparison.


Regarding suspension upgrades/modifications, service centers may be hesitant to make "improvements" due to liability. Or maybe they honestly feel they shouldn't give people what they want just because they ask for it. Owners often "improve" on OEM handling by installing thicker/stiffer sway bars, but do they actually understand how that will affect understeering or oversteering? Or how it helps twist the chassis to a greater degree? Some probably have no clue.

I know Ford takes this stuff seriously because they use a slightly different sway bar size to reduce oversteering on some models that are prone to it. If a shop added heavier sway bars that caused excessive oversteering, which then led to an accident, would they be partially liable?

[Joe-FL]

Originally Posted by bigben

Our Challenger handled very well prior to installing the Roadmaster steering stabilizer. Installed the stabilizer to help in the event of a blowout and it seems to have helped the overall handling.

The original comment that the dealer made simply confirms our experience - it isn't hard to know more than the folks selling the RVs.

Ben, I totally agree with this statement! Just about anyone with credit and a bank willing to back them can become an RV dealer. They may not even know what "RV" stands for, let alone how to fix one or service an owner's needs. I seek information out from other experienced RVers long before I would consider stopping in and asking a dealer.

[bigben]

👍 absolutely Joe

[TyCreek]

Originally Posted by Chance

If there are any failures at all, I'd be far more interested in knowing what the failure mode is, and what the consequences of such a failure are. That they have a lifetime guarantee would be inconsequential by comparison.


Regarding suspension upgrades/modifications, service centers may be hesitant to make "improvements" due to liability. Or maybe they honestly feel they shouldn't give people what they want just because they ask for it. Owners often "improve" on OEM handling by installing thicker/stiffer sway bars, but do they actually understand how that will affect understeering or oversteering? Or how it helps twist the chassis to a greater degree? Some probably have no clue.

I know Ford takes this stuff seriously because they use a slightly different sway bar size to reduce oversteering on some models that are prone to it. If a shop added heavier sway bars that caused excessive oversteering, which then led to an accident, would they be partially liable?

I seriously doubt under/over steer or frame twist is of any factorable difference with the bar choices we have in the context of typical RV use. Certainly other vehicle forum types it could be.

Only a few of us that venture down dirt roads often would experience occasional negative effects from increasing the torque of spring rate transfer on a RV. On the wild idea of racing RVs, you'd for sure have to go totally custom to increase bar torque well past what is commercially available in RV chassis application selections before under/over steer tuning would make much difference.

[Max]

I have read how installing this piece of equipment will give a better ride as far as swaying of my Thor Ace . Who does the installment? I see them for sale on amazon. How do you know which product is right for your motorcoach?

[BlackJeep22]

Originally Posted by italiavb

I asked my rv dealer about the installation of a steering stabilizer for my Miramar. Thinking the Safe-T-Plus type stabilizer would be helpful. He stated they don't work. Anyone have any experience with this type stabilizer?

I know I'm late to the party here, but I have a 34' Class C. It wandered a bit until I installed the Safe-T-Plus. I love it. Your Service guy is nuts!

[Joe-FL]

Originally Posted by BlackJeep22

I know I'm late to the party here, but I have a 34' Class C. It wandered a bit until I installed the Safe-T-Plus. I love it. Your Service guy is nuts!

Very well said. Everyone can debate how adding a Safe-T may or may not work, and how it may or may not work.....blah blah blah....., the only ones I take seriously on this subject before I spend $600 is the ones that have actually put one on and know what the results are.

[SuperD]

Anyone who says a Safe T Plus doesn't work is a DA and doesn't know what they are talking about. Millions of miles in the trucking and Rv industry have proven the benefits of the Safe T Plus!

[axis earl]

Originally Posted by SuperD

Anyone who says a Safe T Plus doesn't work is a DA and doesn't know what they are talking about. Millions of miles in the trucking and Rv industry have proven the benefits of the Safe T Plus!

SuperD,
You say it the way I wanted to. I have said before, whether it is a person's personal choice about a Class A, B, C or 5er.... Whatever works for you and you like it... good. I personally am getting to the point that the more complicated applications may not be worth it if they cause me heartburn. The Saf-T-Plus isn't one of those and I like what it did positively for my driving. As far as what a service person says, I think they are like the medical profession (no disrespect meant) in that there can be many different opinions and somewhere in there, something will work for you.