Steering Stabilizer on E450 Motorhomes?

JimOneil43 · 02-08-2016, 01:47 PM

Getting ready to order a new Forester 3051S and am wondering what other owners opinions are regarding whether a steering stabilizer is a big improvement over the standard factory set-up. I have been considering the Roadmaster RSSC. Also wondering about a rear Sway Bar. How about it everyone?
Thanks

Rocket City Gary · 02-08-2016, 02:14 PM

Hey Jim, I have a 2014 3051s and have put 32k miles on it in two years. I have not added any aftermarket aides and have been very happy with my ride as is. The only time it may have helped me is in a very windy trip thru North Dakota last fall. I have found the most important thing for a more comfortable ride in my unit is to ensure the rear air bags are properly inflated. I run around 60-70 psi and find the bags tend to leak air over time, so I check them every time I check my tire pressure.

Sagecoachdriver · 02-08-2016, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimOneil43

Getting ready to order a new Forester 3051S and am wondering what other owners opinions are regarding whether a steering stabilizer is a big improvement over the standard factory set-up. I have been considering the Roadmaster RSSC. Also wondering about a rear Sway Bar. How about it everyone?
Thanks

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
There are many topics within the Forester/Sunseeker forums regarding this topic, do a search.
Some owners have no problems and some have issues with wandering, wind and passing vehicle effects. Many have found an alignment works, changed their front shocks to Bilsteins, changed their steering stabilizer to a Bilstein and even the Roadmaster Reflex , Safe-T-Plus and and Steersafe.
Many options, but again "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

newRVer · 02-08-2016, 03:59 PM

I have only logged about a 100 Miles on my new 3011 but I did notice a couple of things while driving mine locally and on the turnpike. Not sure if this is normal or not but I'm sure many people here who much more experienced than I driving these type of vehicles would know better. Can any of the suspension mods discussed previously help here?

1) It seems to take about a 1/8 to 1/4 turn of the steering wheel before it reacts to any steering input changes.

2) On the hwy with no wind there seems to be a fairly constant need to move the wheel a few inches to the left and/or right. I.e. not going to be doing any one handed driving

3) There was quite a bit more moaning and groaning from the front end than what I would expect from a new rig especially when making a left hand turn.

I guess I will get a much better feel for the vehicle once the weather breaks and we can actually take a few trips.

6inthefamily · 02-08-2016, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newRVer

I have only logged about a 100 Miles on my new 3011 but I did notice a couple of things while driving mine locally and on the turnpike. Not sure if this is normal or not but I'm sure many people here who much more experienced than I driving these type of vehicles would know better. Can any of the suspension mods discussed previously help here?

1) It seems to take about a 1/8 to 1/4 turn of the steering wheel before it reacts to any steering input changes.

2) On the hwy with no wind there seems to be a fairly constant need to move the wheel a few inches to the left and/or right. I.e. not going to be doing any one handed driving

3) There was quite a bit more moaning and groaning from the front end than what I would expect from a new rig especially when making a left hand turn.

I guess I will get a much better feel for the vehicle once the weather breaks and we can actually take a few trips.

I bought a 3170DS new in April of 15 and 1 and 2 you mentioned were horrible. I got it aligned by the dealership at 3000 miles and now it's a one handed driver with no slack in the steering input. The last 2000 miles have been so much better.

My only dislike now is how hard the rear suspension "bangs" over bigger bumps.

I may add better shocks as the front is underdampened and a bit bouncy, but it's no sports car.

wana65stang · 02-08-2016, 04:34 PM

On my 2014 3051s I am on the same page as Sagecoach all factory components still, but I did get a alignment done . Night and day difference , able to one hand drive 90% of the time.

Chewie · 02-08-2016, 04:54 PM

I too am looking at the Bilstein damper. I only have about 500 total miles and I drove it for about 60 so far. So I have a little bit to go before having it realigned. From what others say the damper is an improvement to reduce the push from passing trucks and bigger cars. I find it annoying that even with smaller passing vehicles you can feel their wake coming past you. I've been driving e-450 chassis for years at the FD, but they are diesels, very little front end float. I think it's due to less weight on the front axle with the gasser.

Sagecoachdriver · 02-08-2016, 05:43 PM

For the record, I had to do it all!

2 alignments, second was to forum specs with higher caster really helped.
Bilstein stabilizer
Bilstein front Shocks
Steersafe (taken off old Winnebago) for self-centering

No more wandering, pulling, flat spots, wind and passing vehicle issues. 1 handed steering straight as an arrow and no hands to scare the DW! Kidding!

Boso · 02-08-2016, 07:15 PM

Air bags inflated,blue ox rear trac bar, Roadmaster reflex steering stabalizer, front end alignment to Forest river specs, proper tire pressure, drives very good even in very windy conditions, but it took all of this in order to get where I'm at. A child could drive it now with no problems.

MNtraveler · 02-09-2016, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newRVer

I have only logged about a 100 Miles on my new 3011 but I did notice a couple of things while driving mine locally and on the turnpike. Not sure if this is normal or not but I'm sure many people here who much more experienced than I driving these type of vehicles would know better. Can any of the suspension mods discussed previously help here?

1) It seems to take about a 1/8 to 1/4 turn of the steering wheel before it reacts to any steering input changes.

2) On the hwy with no wind there seems to be a fairly constant need to move the wheel a few inches to the left and/or right. I.e. not going to be doing any one handed driving

3) There was quite a bit more moaning and groaning from the front end than what I would expect from a new rig especially when making a left hand turn.

I guess I will get a much better feel for the vehicle once the weather breaks and we can actually take a few trips.

1 and 2 definitely sound like alignment issues. "A few inches" is an awful lot of constant adjustment on the steering wheel. 1/8-1/4 turn of the wheel to get any response is almost certainly out of spec.

Not sure about #3. Maybe keep an eye on DW next time you take a hard left and make sure it's not her complaining about how close the oncoming 18-wheeler is getting. ;-)

Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R

Creativepart · 02-09-2016, 01:28 AM

We've put 7500 miles on our 2015 3051s. It's plain stock and we've no real complaints with the driving experience. But tire pressure and air bag pressure is key.

Chewie · 02-09-2016, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creativepart

We've put 7500 miles on our 2015 3051s. It's plain stock and we've no real complaints with the driving experience. But tire pressure and air bag pressure is key.

What tire pressure you running?

Creativepart · 02-09-2016, 10:48 AM

80 psi rear / 75 psi front and 80 psi in the air bags (which constantly leak to about 60 and have to be topped up frequently)

West Cactus · 02-09-2016, 12:44 PM

I put on a safe-t-plus and it was the best thing we purchased for the RV. Night and day driving it.

Our Products | Safe-T-Plus - The Steering Control Specialists

cmalberto · 02-09-2016, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimOneil43

Getting ready to order a new Forester 3051S and am wondering what other owners opinions are regarding whether a steering stabilizer is a big improvement over the standard factory set-up. I have been considering the Roadmaster RSSC. Also wondering about a rear Sway Bar. How about it everyone?
Thanks

So on my 33 foot E450, I started out with an alignment...that helped but still got pushed around by big semis and general un-easiness going down rough roads. I played with air in the rear some - all to no avail. I bought a Safe-T-Steer last summer - it has been wonderful ever since. It doesn't solve the wind gust problem but nor was I expecting it to. When Semi's go by? Almost unnoticeable. It was well worth the money. No other improvements have been made to the rear.

pdqparalegal1 · 02-09-2016, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

For the record, I had to do it all!

2 alignments, second was to forum specs with higher caster really helped.
Bilstein stabilizer
Bilstein front Shocks
Steersafe (taken off old Winnebago) for self-centering

No more wandering, pulling, flat spots, wind and passing vehicle issues. 1 handed steering straight as an arrow and no hands to scare the DW! Kidding!

More caster is a good move, makes it track straighter.

jmagic · 02-11-2016, 09:14 AM

E350/E450 Handling Problems are caused by too little + CASTER
Try this, it worked for me. Also, Bilstein makes a great steering stabilizer that will fit right into the original Ford bracket. Helwig sway bars front and rear.

newRVer · 02-11-2016, 04:09 PM

My new unit has almost 900 miles on it and from what I've been reading it is in need of alignment that likely will increase the caster. Question is, is there a rule of thumb that says drive it X miles first before having it aligned? Also, who do I approach about this first? The dealer I bought it from or Forest River?

RVr

6inthefamily · 02-11-2016, 06:37 PM

My selling RV dealership worked directly through the closest Ford dealership to align mine under warranty.

Sagecoachdriver · 02-29-2016, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

For the record, I had to do it all!

2 alignments, second was to forum specs with higher caster really helped.
Bilstein stabilizer
Bilstein front Shocks
Steersafe (taken off old Winnebago) for self-centering

No more wandering, pulling, flat spots, wind and passing vehicle issues. 1 handed steering straight as an arrow and no hands to scare the DW! Kidding!

Just an update, I took my Forester in to the alignment shop as the mechanic said to after a few trips. It was developing a pull slightly to the left a little and the Steersafe adjusted for it. The Steersafe sits low on the suspension and will scrape when I drive thru our favorite campgrounds because of pot holes. Also, I had a problem with the driver's side bracket working loose on my Winnebago and on the Forester and giving me a pull again. So I had the mechanic remove it and fine tune the alignment. No pull and straight as an arrow.
I purchased the Roadmaster RSSC Reflex from Amazon and installed it yesterday. I did notice a difference in the amount of centering response between the Steersafe and Reflex. The Reflex seems to be self centering just fine, just not as strong.

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