Cheap Handling Fix - Any Regrets?

rkulbok · 05-22-2016, 02:19 PM

After driving through the Rockies for the past 3 weeks, going up and down various passes and wrestling through many tight curves without guardrails, my nerves are shot.

Has anyone, who has done the 'CHF' have any regrets or issues after the fix?

Does it really help with the sway and rocking of the back end? Also, I would appreciate any other recommendations for making the MH more drivable.

Lostdog · 05-22-2016, 04:44 PM

NO REGRETS!!!!!! NONE!!!! Did just the front sway bar and enjoyed a huge difference. Just do it BEFORE, you spend any money on any after market attachments. Also check tire pressures.

db7512 · 05-22-2016, 05:03 PM

If you have not had an alignment done I would recommend it. I had mine done and it helped mine alot.

360true · 05-22-2016, 09:17 PM

2x on the CHF. Just do it!

gmann32 · 05-22-2016, 09:29 PM

It really made a difference in the handling on my 2008 370!

abjb · 05-22-2016, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostdog

NO REGRETS!!!!!! NONE!!!! Did just the front sway bar and enjoyed a huge difference. Just do it BEFORE, you spend any money on any after market attachments. Also check tire pressures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by db7512

If you have not had an alignment done I would recommend it. I had mine done and it helped mine alot.

CHF + an ALIGNMENT have made this thing almost fun to drive.

If we ever buy another MH from Forest River BOTH will be part of the deal OR NO DEAL!!!

waiter21 · 05-23-2016, 06:20 AM

Regrets, yes. I wish I had done it sooner...

This single item, that didn't cost anything, has had the most significant improvement of anything else I've done. Personally, I believe the builders should automatically do this before the coach leaves the factory.

Watertown · 05-23-2016, 07:00 AM

None whatsoever, did it after the first drive, well worth my time. Second best thing I've done is add 5 star tuner. Just finished a 3105 mile trip yesterday from upstate NY to AL and back through lots of rolling terrain, rig did much better than stock.

rkulbok · 05-23-2016, 07:14 AM

I appreciate all of the replies. Looks like I have a Memorial Day project.

Thanks

Jmsx2 · 05-23-2016, 10:15 AM

How hard is it to do the CHF! I understand what needs done but can it be done with the Coach on the ground in my driveway?

Also how hard are the bolts to get loose & what should they be torqued at. How long should it take to do?

We have a 2014 328 TS we bough as a leftover this past August.

Thanks everyone.

John & Janine
Pazzo the Maltese
2014 Georgetown 328 TSF
2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (Toad)

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

Kadiddle · 05-23-2016, 11:45 AM

Just did the CHF on my 2015 FR3 30DS a couple of days ago and drove it today (sans toad). WOW, major improvement. Trucks passing me barely caused me to move the steering wheel. I, like others, regret not doing it sooner.

Took about 2 hours. No leveling jacks. Needed a jack to align holes for reattachment. Took a little muscle in tight spaces and upside down to get some of the bolts off. Hardest part was finding a decent angle for a sufficient stroke with the torque wrench. 66 ft lbs is the specified torque referenced in many CHF posts.

reddiver · 05-23-2016, 12:49 PM

OK, I'm pretty new and I don't understand most of the acronyms on the sight. I have never heard of a 'CHF' so clue me in. I had all the sway bar bushings replaced, front end aligned and tires rotated. Coach rides very well and handles well in the corners. A little help with the CHF thing.
Thanks

CedarCreekWoody · 05-23-2016, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddiver

OK, I'm pretty new and I don't understand most of the acronyms on the sight. I have never heard of a 'CHF' so clue me in. I had all the sway bar bushings replaced, front end aligned and tires rotated. Coach rides very well and handles well in the corners. A little help with the CHF thing.
Thanks

You beat me to the question. What is CHF? In my old line of work it was congestive heart failure, but I can't see that helping my tailer pull any better.

Jmsx2 · 05-23-2016, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kadiddle

Just did the CHF on my 2015 FR3 30DS a couple of days ago and drove it today (sans toad). WOW, major improvement. Trucks passing me barely caused me to move the steering wheel. I, like others, regret not doing it sooner.

Took about 2 hours. No leveling jacks. Needed a jack to align holes for reattachment. Took a little muscle in tight spaces and upside down to get some of the bolts off. Hardest part was finding a decent angle for a sufficient stroke with the torque wrench. 66 ft lbs is the specified torque referenced in many CHF posts.

I had a feeling it wouldn't be too hard. I'm assuming the 2 hours is for both front an rear.

No doubt finding the perfect angle to get the tools in could be a little challenging. I do have impact gun to loosen but I'd prefer to manually tighten with a torque wrench.

Thanks.

John & Janine
Pazzo the Maltese
2014 Georgetown 328 TSF
2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (Toad)

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

Larry Roth · 05-23-2016, 01:02 PM

I have a 2015 FR-3 and am curious about the CHF for this unit. IS there one?

If so how do you do this? Do you have to jack up the unit?

Help please!

Kadiddle · 05-23-2016, 01:39 PM

Larry, others,

I believe the "Cheap Handling Fix" (CHF) can be done to any motorhome with a Ford F53 chassis underneath. That's a lot of coaches including the FR3 series. Two hours was the whole job and I needed a jack just to twist the sway bar a bit to get the second bolt in. I was able to crawl under mine parked on dirt and using an old carpet.

intercept · 05-23-2016, 01:40 PM

Cheap Handling Fix. There are two sets of holes on the front and rear sway bars for the connecting links (Rods) to bolt to. The factory uses the end holes. If you move the links to the other holes closer to the Sway Bar bend it will give you a stiffer more controlled ride. The result is much better control from swaying because the sway bar has less leverage to twist. All of the previous comments refer to this.
Now I am going to say I did this and had the same result.
I was not happy with it.
1) The geometry of the links are very skewed as compared with the original factory placement.
2) The ride is VERY Harsh when hitting holes and bumps.
3) The wheels tend to lift off of the road when leveling the rig much sooner than before the CHF due to the lack of travel.

I moved my front back to the original holes and left the rear in the CHF holes.
I changed the Ford sway bar to a Hellwig and the ride is much improved.
I am adding Sumo Springs and hope that will help with the handling and not affect the ride.
I think that you have so many options and peoples desires there is no right single answer.

Surely the CHF is very good and I just wanted to let you know what negatives there are by implementing it.

Thanks,

flovern · 05-23-2016, 03:20 PM

What is a CHF?

2011 Coachmen Sportscoach

intercept · 05-23-2016, 03:24 PM

CHF= Cheap Handling Fix as above

The F53 Chassis has front and rear sway bars with two sets of holes for the atachment of the links to the chassis.

The factory uses the holes farthest from the bend of the bar for motorhomes and the closest holes for commercial trucks.

The motorhome location is for the softest ride handling is less exact. Moving the motorhome links to the commercial holes stiffens the ride and handling.

waiter21 · 05-23-2016, 03:28 PM

I wrote a short "How To" when I did mine a couple years ago. This may give you some idea. The newer F53 chassis is similar to my 2001 and the CHF is done in the same manner.

NOTE - If you have a newer chassis, keep an eye on the rear torsion bar brackets, I hear a lot of reports of the bolts falling out or the mounts breaking.

Cheap Handling Fix – and then some | 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB

..

You may also like: