MetalGator
Florida
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Joined: 02/17/2010
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Ponderosa wrote:I'm convinced much of the problem has to do with the driver. When I brought mine home from Florida to Arizona it was white knuckle terror for almost the entire trip. It seemed to lurch from side to side in the lane and require constant correction. As I drove more, even on that trip it got easier. Now, I pretty much one hand it and it's steady. What changed? Me. I learned not to overcorrect on every little movement. It is not a conscious thing, just experience. My advice for those new to the Class A game would be to give it some time before you drop big bucks on chassis mods.
One mod I do recommend - a steering ball, aka suicide knob (no, they are not illegal). It makes maneuvering the beast in tight quarters and right turns and backing so much easier.
I totally agree with this. I had never driven a class A before we purchased ours. I had alway had travel trailers.
When I left the dealership to take the motorhome to my storage garage, I was not expecting the way it drove. As you say, I was white knuckled for the 50 mile drive. On the first drive, I was going through my head all the suspension mods I was going to do. After a few trips, I go used to how it drove and now after 5 years, I am totally happy with the way it drives. 99 percent of my so thought handling issues were just me not being used to driving it. Saved a lot of money on suspension modes.
Now that's not to say suspension mods wouldn't make it handle better but in my case it would be a waste of money.
Burch
2018 Miramar 35.3 Motorhome
3 fur kids (Monty, ZuZu and Pinto)
Rainbow bridge (Murphy, Petie, Lola)
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Joined: 10/05/2018
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MetalGator wrote:Ponderosa wrote:I'm convinced much of the problem has to do with the driver. When I brought mine home from Florida to Arizona it was white knuckle terror for almost the entire trip. It seemed to lurch from side to side in the lane and require constant correction. As I drove more, even on that trip it got easier. Now, I pretty much one hand it and it's steady. What changed? Me. I learned not to overcorrect on every little movement. It is not a conscious thing, just experience. My advice for those new to the Class A game would be to give it some time before you drop big bucks on chassis mods.
One mod I do recommend - a steering ball, aka suicide knob (no, they are not illegal). It makes maneuvering the beast in tight quarters and right turns and backing so much easier.
I totally agree with this. I had never driven a class A before we purchased ours. I had alway had travel trailers.
When I left the dealership to take the motorhome to my storage garage, I was not expecting the way it drove. As you say, I was white knuckled for the 50 mile drive. On the first drive, I was going through my head all the suspension mods I was going to do. After a few trips, I go used to how it drove and now after 5 years, I am totally happy with the way it drives. 99 percent of my so thought handling issues were just me not being used to driving it. Saved a lot of money on suspension modes.
Now that's not to say suspension mods wouldn't make it handle better but in my case it would be a waste of money.
Burch
Agree with all of this. Heck when I get in my own different vehicles it's takes me a few miles to remember how each on handles differently. It's really fun going from our new MH to our CRV to my 87 jeep lifted with big tires. Every vehicle handles different especially MH's.
2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS
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LouLawrence
Traveling the US fulltime since 2000.
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Joined: 03/16/2021
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Bragging about being a BMW tech (over and over again) and believing that this somehow means you completely understand the RV business is quite off putting. Just because I am an expert in say, the internet, does not mean I know anything Comcast cable. You should climb down from your self appointed claims of expertise and listen to some of the actual expert advice that has been offered.
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Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
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Joined: 06/08/2001
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The title of this thread is Class A Safety. Here's something I know: For a motorhome to be safe on the road, it must FIRST be in the hands of a good safe driver! I know a great deal about what it takes to be good driver and also be a safe driver. But, this thread quickly turned into a discussion about the quality of the Design and the HANDLING character of motorhomes. Motor vehicle chassis dynamics is something I studied. And, at age 83, I've had plenty of time to learn much about motorhomes.
I would like to help the OP, therefore I will attempt to make contact with him by private message.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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Onyrlef
Plano, Tx
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Joined: 04/03/2022
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[quote=MetalGator][quote=Ponderosa]I'm convinced much of the problem has to do with the driver. When I brought mine home from Florida to Arizona it was white knuckle terror for almost the entire trip. It seemed to lurch from side to side in the lane and require constant correction. As I drove more, even on that trip it got easier. Now, I pretty much one hand it and it's steady. What changed? Me. I learned not to overcorrect on every little movement. It is not a conscious thing, just experience. My advice for those new to the Class A game would be to give it some time before you drop big bucks on chassis mods.
One mod I do recommend - a steering ball, aka suicide knob (no, they are not illegal). It makes maneuvering the beast in tight quarters and right turns and backing so much easier.
I'm a sample of one and likewise first time or two I drove our 32'w/ f53 chassis and even with all the suspension mods short of LS it was harrowing. Now it's just more or less a day in the park. Being overly sensitive to the slightest movement and over correcting was mostly the problem for me. As far as culpability for not adding a trac bar and safe steer or what have you as OEM standard features it's a just a matter of simple economics and ubiquity. How many more f53 chassis would be sold with the suspension upgrades vs. chassis's without and your answer lie in how many more coaches would Jayco sell with furniture that won't delaminate in 3-5 years as would they suppose with a quality furniture upholstery. Answer is likely few if any. Either all chassis would need to feature the suspension upgrades and all Jayco coaches feature upholstery that's not waiting to fail or
none.
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