Driving our coach

[shunsinger]

We have a 2010 Forest River 378TS which my husband absolutely HATES to drive when it's windy outside as the wind blows the coach all over the road. Has anyone else out there had this problem? Any suggestions on what to do about it? The Forest River mfr. said to make sure the tires are inflated to their max and we could add more stabalizers, but this could get expensive. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[cfsoistman]

I added air springs to take the rocking out of the coach. It helps when the big trucks blow by also.


This is where I bought mine and did the install at my home.

Find Truck Parts by Vehicle Make and Model, Search Auto Parts - TruckSpring.com

to the Forums.

[shunsinger]

We bought our coach at Tom Raper, maybe they can put some on. Did that actually help with the coach blowing all over the road when it's windy?

[abjb]

Greetings and welcome

Several people report good results from a front end alignment, 2 to 3 hundred $’s or so.

Others recommend running the tires at max air pressure.

BUT most of us have had good to excellent results from this.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f16/suspension-mod-has-anyone-tried-this-18370.html
And best of all it’s a free and EASY DIY.

The results for our 2012 on a 2011 chassis was going from 100% two hands/lots of white knuckle driving.
To lots of one handed, some two handed and a little white knuckle driving.

ab & jb

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by shunsinger

We have a 2010 Forest River 378TS which my husband absolutely HATES to drive when it's windy outside as the wind blows the coach all over the road. Has anyone else out there had this problem? Any suggestions on what to do about it? The Forest River mfr. said to make sure the tires are inflated to their max and we could add more stabalizers, but this could get expensive. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Go to a good commercial truck alignment place and get the front end aligned. I went to Ford Commercial truck and they did a great jon and it is much easier to to drive.
No matter what you do cross winds will always be more difficult driving.

[Lostdog]

Just a quick comment: Always understand that you are pushing a super big breadbox thru the air. An airplane can get airborne with far less wing area than the side of our motorhomes and we need to expect the challange of driving this box in a wind. Yes, mods to the suspension will help, proper tire pressures will help but it is not a Porsche. Just stick your hand out flat from your car window while driving 40mph and then tilt it up or down. Now multiply that reaction from the wind by thousands of "hands" on the side of your rig. It's gonna move! Think about wind on the corner of your coach and the various reactions your rig will have. It's just not easy to drive in a significant wind.

I actually know folks that stopped the RVing lifestyle because of the "handling" of the RV. What a shame.

My solution: If I'm being pushed around too much I either slow way down or get off the road.

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm preaching but we just need to look at the physics of the whole thing.

[shunsinger]

Sorry to be so dumb, but what exactly are you talking abuot in your post
BUT most of us have had good to excellent results from this.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f16/suspension-mod-has-anyone-tried-this-18370.html
And best of all it’s a free and EASY DIY.

Don't think my hubby could do it himself though - he's not mechanically inclined whenit comes to vehicles.

[shunsinger]

I understand that - my husband doesn't drive it over 60. Just didn't know if there was anything out there that was relatively inexpensive and would help. I think we'll try the alignment and making sure the tires are inflated to their max. Thanks for your help

[Lostdog]

Originally Posted by shunsinger

Sorry to be so dumb, but what exactly are you talking abuot in your post
BUT most of us have had good to excellent results from this.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f16/suspension-mod-has-anyone-tried-this-18370.html
And best of all it’s a free and EASY DIY.

Don't think my hubby could do it himself though - he's not mechanically inclined whenit comes to vehicles.

Yes, I agree, just saying it's still a box and not a car. I've known folks that spent thousands trying to make it like the Chevy sedan they have at home and it just ain't going to happen!

[TURBS]

Should try driving a 80,000 lb tractor trailer that's 70' foot long !
That makes an rv feel like a sedan lol

[MotocrossCamper]

Air bags on the rear, blue Ox steering stabilizer up front, move the sway bars, air up the tires and a good alignment and replace anything that is worn (ball joints, tie rids.....) That's about all you can throw at them. I have made all the mods to our Sunseeker and it made a huge difference but nothing in the world will make it great in big crosswinds.

[Lostdog]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Should try driving a 80,000 lb tractor trailer that's 70' foot long !
That makes an rv feel like a sedan lol

I learned alot from my cross country 18 wheeler brother in law when we had the fifth wheel.

1st..look as far down the road as possible when driving, not at the painted lines, and it becomes easier.

2nd..RELAX and it will become easier.

3rd..Avoid conditions that makes the drive UNRELAXED (if that's a word).

[abjb]

Originally Posted by shunsinger

Sorry to be so dumb, but what exactly are you talking abuot in your post
BUT most of us have had good to excellent results from this.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f16/suspension-mod-has-anyone-tried-this-18370.html
And best of all it’s a free and EASY DIY.

Don't think my hubby could do it himself though - he's not mechanically inclined whenit comes to vehicles.

Sorry I didn’t realize this had grown to be such a popular subject 8 pages on this forum and 68 pages on the iRV2 forum!

It really is an EASY diy.
I had just had rotator cuff surgery and it only took me 1½ hours using only my left hand (I’m a 65 yr old righty), it’s that easy.
Maybe your husband could get someone to help? It really is worth the effort.


Try this link it takes you to pg 1 on the iRV2 forum.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/cheap-handling-fix-72335.html

Ford has two adjustment positions on the sway bar. They come from the factory in the loose position.
All you need are a couple of hand tools and maybe a small jack to reposition the sway bar to the other position.

This is a link to a picture on the iRV2 forum post #31.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/cheap-handling-fix-72335-3.html

Here’s a short description from memory.

Take some wrenches (3/4”, bigger and smaller) and a small jack under the MH. Under the motor.
Take the bolt out of the sway bar, it will be in the empty hole in the picture, Nothing will happen.
Now switch to the other side and take the other bolt out, nothing happened when I removed this bolt either.
I used the jack to raise the sway bar so the bolt could go in the other hole, then move back to the first side and replace the bolt.

That’s IT DONE.

The back is a little more complicated, you have to reverse a bracket to get the bolts in the unused holes.
That’s it done again, if you take your time total time will be around an hour.


Good luck
and
maybe Iggy or someone can make a more detailed write-up and add some pictures.
Our MH is in Colorado and we’re not.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f16/suspension-mod-has-anyone-tried-this-18370-8.html

ab & jb

[fbconsults]

I agree with Iggy and others, the first thing is a front end alignment. At the same time I had the tech move the bolts to the second hole in the anti-sway bar brackets and what a difference. The alignment in a good shop was $180.00, and he charged $20.00 to move the bolts to the second hole.

It made a tremendous difference in handling. I just had the rear anti-sway bars repaired because the bolts came loose and did some damage. I discovered this when I was going to move the rear bolts to the second hole. BTW, there is a Ford TSB out on the bolts coming loose. Everyone should check theirs. The next time I get a chance I will move those bolts to the second hole.

I cannot say too much about those two "fixes". The difference in handling is night and day.

Forrest

[trell]

This is not the case with 2001 325S. I don't even see a sway bar.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by trell

This is not the case with 2001 325S. I don't even see a sway bar.

If you read the first post you would have foind out we are talking about a
Georgetown 2010 378TS not a 2001
You also found out that you don't have Tow Haul Mode either

No problem but

[trell]

Originally Posted by Iggy

If you read the first post you would have foind out we are talking about a
Georgetown 2010 378TS not a 2001
You also found out that you don't have Tow Haul Mode either

Sorry didn't mean to step on anyone toes new to this. Did read post and most others.Guess this is not the place to interject thought.