I've been toying with the idea of installing an aftermarket steering stabilizer on our 31' HR Admiral Class A. I know what they are supposed to do in terms of better overall handling in winds and on rough roads, etc. and I was just curious if any of you with Class A's have done this and if so, did you and do you notice an approx. $600 increase in overall handling. I am the type who will spend this much IF there is a noticeable difference in overall steering control. The one I have been looking at is the Roadmaster "Reflex" unit and I have read a few positive reviews but would still like some pros or cons from anyone that has either this unit or another brand.. I'd much rather spend my money on beer and gasoline but am open to any and all comments that might make me transfer those funds over to installing one................ Thanks for any input provided, BankShot..........(aka Terry)
Hmm, surely someone out there hasn't had a steering stabilizer bar installed on their Class A.... Was hoping to get some feedback on this by now but I guess I'll just maybe have to bite the old bullet and see for myself if it makes any real difference, etc. I always like to get info directly from someone who uses something I am thinking about spending my hard earned SS money on as so many dealers will simply tell you what you want to hear in order to secure a nice fat sale........... BankShot.............(aka Terry)
Terry, have you checked the FMCA forums? There are several threads there in regards to steering stabilizers under the "chassis" section. One person put in a good word for the Safe-t-plus system. --Chris F3508s
Thanks Chis, I didn't even know about the FMCA forum but will check it out thanks to you........... Best regards, Terry
I have a Safe-T-Plus installed on my 30 foot Class C - 2004 E450. The OE stabilizer on the E450 is merely a steering dampener. The Safe-T-Plus is a dampener and centering device. I also replaced the (undersized) OE front sway bar with a Roadmaster sway bar and added a SuperSteer trac bar on the rear axle (I flat tow the toad).
In June 2011 I had a front sway bar, rear trac bar, and Safe-T-Plus installed. I'm not a fan of reposting my own content, so here is a link to it. I no longer have the invoice to quote the prices from, but if I recall correctly the bill for all 3 items averaged to about $450/item (part+labor/install fee). The CW in Wilsonville, OR used to have a Performance Specialist who is awesome. I'd tell Danne what I wanted to do and he'd tell me what I needed. No BS. If I asked "What about this?", he'd say "No. That's not for your RV. You need this." I did what he told me. He was never wrong.
My second MH, 38' Newmar, has the steering stabilizer. I immediately noticed the difference in handling from my first one. I no longer need to be a two handed driver chasing the wheel back and forth. I have a friend who had an after market one installed and swears that it saved him from flipping the bus when he hit an ice patch.
Since BankShot asked for a contrarian opinion, I'll say that I see absolutely no reason for any kind of steering assistance with my MH. I sure don't have any problem keeping the rig going straight down the highway regardless of whether or not the wind is calm or blowing crosswise at 40mph. I think it all boils down to what specific MH someone owns. Not all of them drive the same.
Thanks for the input docj. I've installed steering stabilizers on several 4x4 trucks over the years and did notice an improvement in how they handled both on the road and off the road, etc. Like you I really haven't experienced any problems with our coach when on the road, it handles well and seems to be pretty stable in winds and even on the rougher surfaces so I probably don't need one. I just wondered if it is worth spending the money for something I may not even notice a difference with. They aren't cheap to install either if you get a good one like a Roadmaster, etc. Think I'll just stay status quo and make sure the suspension is checked every so often for worn bushings, etc. Many of our roads out here in CA are pretty bad and I just drive slower when we hit one that is bad.................. Regards, BankShot.........(aka Terry)
Hi Terry: IMO some RVers expect their MH's to drive like cars and start installing all sorts of "stuff" when they discover they don't. Guess what? RV's are more like heavy trucks than they are cars or light trucks and will never drive like them. I know this isn't politically correct, but quite often I think that the best thing for many MH owners would be to get more experience driving their RVs so they don't freak out about about every wind gust or rough road they encounter. My suggestion is that the best thing to do is to "just drive"! Get enough experience and you;ll be surprised that the small things don't bother you nearly as much. Joel (AKA docj)
Hi Joel - We are in our fifth year of RVing and I have driven thru just about all types of weather including 50-55 mph gusts over in AZ driving north out of Yuma. And believe it or not that was on our very first trip. Also on that same trip we took the infamous I-5 "Grapevine" heading north out of the LA area so I got my feet wet, not to mention my knuckles stained a permanent white color on that wonderful stretch of So. Calif. interestate. What a way to break in a "newbie"....... In the time that has followed I have learned a lot and am very comfortable behind the wheel at present time. I know our coach and how it handles, steers, turns and brakes and have even fooled my co-pilot when she said very loudly, "You can't turn this thing around in that area!!!" Oh yes I could and did and no more does she question my abilities to handle it. At least not out loud she doesn't. Anyway, think I'll just stick with things they way they are set up as I have had no real problems in the handling or ride departments. Again. I appreciate your input on this and that of the others that jumped in on this thread. We are getting set to head on out again over the TG holiday. Going south to get out of all this nice rain and snow we are having up here in the hills currently............. Best regards, BankShot............(aka Terry)
I don't have any technical knowledge on stabilizers, but here are a couple of other thoughts: 1) my first MH was a '91 34' Tiffin Allegro Bay on a Ford chassis. My 2nd and current MH is a '89, 33' Fleetwood Southwind on a Chevy chassis. I don't know if either has/had a stabilizer installed, but I feel the Chevy chassis is more stabil in high cross winds. Maybe there's a difference between manufactures. 2) back in 1972, I remember watching a demonstration at an FMCA convention where a stabilizer manufacturer deliberately blew out a front tire to show that their product would keep the MH straight, even in this extreme case. The only point is, these products are not just for driving comfort and high winds. Chris G. F3508s
Hey there Fitzjohnfan - You bring up a couple of really good points on this subject. I have found that basically our coach handles quite well in high winds and on the rougher roads, of which there are many here in this state. The one main reason I first considered having a steering stabilizer installed was for a blowout, especially on the front. We went thru that disastrous blowout with an inner rear tire back in Feb. of '14 and that was scary enough let alone thinking about what it might have ended up being had it been a front tire blow. I was able to keep the coach under control but it sure did jump around and try its best to go sideways and/or off the road into a ditch. A large piece of metal angle iron had wedged itself between the two rear tires and was protruding out in the middle about 6 inches, hence the "bobbing and weaving" routine going on. Thankfully with both fronts operational I was able to maintain basic control until I got it slowed from freeway speed to where I could steer it off onto the shoulder. So I may still consider installing one at some point when the tread on the front tires is down but not enough to warrant buying new ones. I have 14 ply tires on all six wheels and I do keep the tire pressure checked regularly so I am not anticipating any problems with them in the near future, or at least I sure hope we don't.............. All the best to you, BankShot...........(aka Terry)
