Steering Wandering

[brown774]

We have 07 Monaco Diplomat that seems to wonder side to side while at highway speeds. Minor corrections are needed to stay centered. Original shocks, wondering if new ones would help, with this problem? New tires with correct pressure, so that is not a problem.

No excessive up and down or rebounding. 

 

[wildebill308]

  On 3/12/2018 at 9:53 PM, brown774 said:

We have 07 Monaco Diplomat that seems to wonder side to side while at highway speeds. Minor corrections are needed to stay centered. Original shocks, wondering if new ones would help, with this problem? New tires with correct pressure, so that is not a problem. No excessive up and down or rebounding. 

 

Have you ever had a all wheel alignment done on the coach when it is loaded for travel?

Bill

[manholt]

  Quote

Coach wander

Check alignment, toe in and caster.

[wayne77590]

As an '07 you have some bumpy road miles and things can loosen up. I would take it to a chassis specialist for your chassis and have it checked out.  In my previous 2008 MH with a Freightliner chassis and when I had it in for an annual inspection I mentioned the slight wander. When I picked it up the technician said he tightened all the front end bolts. What a difference it made.  Eventually I had a Safe-T-Plus installed.

[manholt]

Wayne.  07 Roadmaster chassis, end off the line for the original in 06!

[wayne77590]

Having the front end checked still applies.

Roadmaster is a customized Freightliner Motorhome Chassis

[duanelin]

If your steering box is tight you should research a Watts Link for the front.  Shocks or a alignment will not fix the wandering. There is a lot to see on IRV2. Also on the Monacoers site on Yahoo.  I had the same problem with a 2012 Diplomat 43DFT.  It goes straight down the road with no wandering.

 

Duane

[wolfe10]

Actually, insufficient CASTER will cause a vehicle to track "less well". Setting caster to the higher end of spec will help with straight line tracking and also wheel return to center after a turn.

[jleamont]

  On 4/25/2018 at 12:45 PM, wolfe10 said:

insufficient CASTER will cause a vehicle to track "less well

Totally agree! There seems to be a lot of aftermarket stuff hung to correct alignment/tire pressure issues that really need to be looked at first.

I have the older chassis before the RR8, basically the same below the floor level. I have none of the complaints operating this coach like I keep reading about. I would assume if anyone would have issues it would be me at 41'2" with no tag. I can only conclude its an alignment, tire pressure issue or worn out component creating the complaints. Have all of that addressed first, then look for aftermarket components to dial it in to your liking's if still not satisfied.

[dkreuzen]

The wandering you describe is an all too common issue with the original Monaco Roadmaster chassis. If you have a Shepard steering box it should be replaced with a TRW adjustable box, then the addition of a watts link on the front axle and cross bars on the rear. All of these modifications and success stories are on iRV2's Monaco forum. I did it and am very happy with the results. None of the add on steering stabilizers will repair the problem.

[rayin]

Here's some interesting reading on the subject of MH handling problems and solutions. Several subjects addressed here are in that article.