Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-27-2013, 09:46 AM   #1
Winnebago Owner
 
osgoor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: All over the place
Posts: 147
Steering angle - Itasca Suncruser

While watching a video on driving an RV the presenter said that were you begin you turn should be based on your steering angle. This is described as the degree between your wheels facing straight forward to their max angle (either left or right). Where can I find the steering angle on a 2006 Itasca Suncruiser 37B?

I have looked at the available documentation but cannot find that info.

Thanks
osgoor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2013, 10:26 AM   #2
Winnebago Camper
 
demoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
I'm not sure you need that specific information. If you pretend it is 50 degrees and use your seat as a reference, you should be fine. Granted, you may be wandering into the oncoming traffic a bit, but you just have to be careful. IMHO, your coach has a 50 degree cut, but I am by no means certain.

Travel safe.
__________________
Neil, Lin, and our furry companions, Ashby and Cody. 06 National Surf Side.
demoon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2013, 07:21 PM   #3
Winnie-Wise
 
edgray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 450
Quote:
Originally Posted by osgoor View Post
................ Where can I find the steering angle on a 2006 Itasca Suncruiser 37B?

I have looked at the available documentation but cannot find that info.

Thanks
The steering angle is determined by the chassis builder, so you need to research the SA for the particular chassis, not the coach model. Ed
__________________
2016 EC Aspire 42RBQ / 2014 CR-V
edgray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2013, 08:23 AM   #4
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 124
Did the video come with a protractor?

My pre-driving-age daughter watched me driving from the passenger seat and declared "I see how you do that." What she observed was me looking in the right-hand rear view mirror to see where my rear axle was as I made a tight turn.

I think it doesn't really matter so much what the maximum angle is as it does to know your pivot point. When your rear axle looks to be almost up to the apex of whatever you're trying to clear, like a curb corner, crank the wheel over all the way. Learning to think about your pivot point and watching it in action will probably teach you more about how to make turns than knowing statistics about your chassis.
__________________
2009 Winnebago Sightseer 35J
John Mo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2013, 08:27 AM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
osgoor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: All over the place
Posts: 147
Thanks all.... I guess it's like most things. Once you've done it a few times it is no big deal.
osgoor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2013, 09:05 AM   #6
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Palisade CO
Posts: 895
If it is the Workhorse W series chassis it should be 50 degrees as I recall. In 2004 it was 47 degrees but changed to 50 in either 2005 or 2006.

It is a good number to use to compare/judge the turning radius of different chassis. It won't tell you what the turning radius is but the higher the degrees the better the turning radius should be.
__________________
Clay WA5NMR - Ex Snowbird - 1 year, Ex Full timer for 11 years - 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Honda Accord toad.
Clay L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2013, 12:39 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 301
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Mo View Post
Did the video come with a protractor?

My pre-driving-age daughter watched me driving from the passenger seat and declared "I see how you do that." What she observed was me looking in the right-hand rear view mirror to see where my rear axle was as I made a tight turn.

I think it doesn't really matter so much what the maximum angle is as it does to know your pivot point. When your rear axle looks to be almost up to the apex of whatever you're trying to clear, like a curb corner, crank the wheel over all the way. Learning to think about your pivot point and watching it in action will probably teach you more about how to make turns than knowing statistics about your chassis.
That is an extremely good summary, John!

Both DW and I were transit operators and trainers at one time in our working lives. Having to maneuver 40' and 60' buses in heavy downtown traffic in a big city where clearances are a matter of inches at times , it really boils down to exactly what you're saying. We always stressed "pivot point" when training new drivers. It's important to picture in your mind exactly what the bus is doing when making a turn. When students had trouble making turns, we'd always tell them to imagine you are in a helicopter looking down on the bus making a turn and watch exactly where the coach is pivoting and it will be, as you said, the rear axle.

Had a student asked "what degree of steering angle should I be worried about when making a turn," I'd tell them to actually forget about worrying about steering angle or the turning radius as (for us) each bus you drive will be a bit different when it comes to steering angle and turning radius.

In practice, it really doesn't matter what the turning radius may be if you start turning the wheel before the coach reaches its pivot point as you will come in contact with whatever it is you are trying to avoid whether it be another vehicle, a fixed object, or a curb.

So I agree, it's a matter of feel and being aware of the pivot point of the vehicle you're driving and not a matter of trying to calculate actual angles in your head while making a turn. Just our opinion.

-harry


edit: I had an agreement when training new students that everytime they ran over a curb that they'd owe me a cup of coffee. Even when I found myself yelling "watch your pivot point!," some would run over the curb regardless. I accumulated many free cups of coffee through the years during the time when I trained students. -harry
amanda_h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2013, 07:19 PM   #8
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 124
Quote:
Originally Posted by amanda_h View Post
edit: I had an agreement when training new students that everytime they ran over a curb that they'd owe me a cup of coffee. Even when I found myself yelling "watch your pivot point!," some would run over the curb regardless. I accumulated many free cups of coffee through the years during the time when I trained students. -harry
Thank you for your kind words and professional perspective. I'll share a story on myself about curbs. I was driving a 15-passenger van in college with a friend following in another vehicle and I misjudged a curb. My friend wanted to hassle me about it, but was actually impressed. I had so perfectly followed the perimeter of the curb from entry to exit that they just couldn't bring themselves to hassle me about it. Passengers, however, lacking the exterior perspective, were not as reluctant to voice their opinion about the incident.

My daughter, BTW, is driving age now and, unlike her older brother, appears to be quite good at handling a vehicle. Haven't put her behind the wheel of the Winnie though.
__________________
2009 Winnebago Sightseer 35J
John Mo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2013, 09:35 AM   #9
Winnie-Wise
 
Ding-a-ling's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Zephyrhills, FL
Posts: 275
FWIW....

A driving coach where we bought our MH said that when turning a corner, turn the steering wheel only when your seat is physically aligned with the edge of the road you are turning into. That assumes a right turn. Turning left, you would align with the centerline of the road you are turning to.

Frank F.
__________________
'14 Winnebago Vista 35F, '14 GMC Terrain
BlueOx Towing Pkg, SMI Stay-n-Play
49 States & 7 Provinces visited in MH | WIT W112365
Ding-a-ling is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2013, 10:18 AM   #10
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 962
I was given the same advice as Ding-a-ling with a slight modification ....
start your turn when the front wheels are aligned with the middle of the lane you are wanting to turn into ...

For a gasser this generally means your seat ...

For a diesel pusher this generally means about a foot or two behind your seat

I agree the final test is to watch the rear wheels as you turn.
skigramp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2013, 08:36 AM   #11
Winnie-Wise
 
Ramzfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 352
Worrying about the "Steering Angle" when making a turn is about as useless as worrying about weighing all four corners of your motorhome, in my humble opinion. As Amanda says, know what your pivot point is and make sure you're past it when you begin your turn. Always watch your rear wheels in the mirror and be careful of 'tail-wag' whenever driving a motorhome. Common sense and lots of practice will never fail you.
__________________
06' Itasca Meridian 36g with CAT 350
2011 Jeep Wrangler 4-door
Ramzfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2013, 05:54 PM   #12
Winnebago Owner
 
motohomer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 167
Best way to learn is to practice in an empty parking lot.
__________________
Bill & Dar - 2012 Journey 40U
STP, Bilsteins, Ready Brute pulling a 2013 Avalanche Z71
motohomer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2013, 07:11 PM   #13
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5
Dear Jon Mo,
You said it all. Watch your rear axle.
suncruisers2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
itasca, steering


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Oops! Broke the wide angle mirror Wroughtnharv General Maintenance and Repair 6 07-25-2016 09:56 AM
Encapsulated jam nuts for Itasca Suncruser CRVMAN01 General Maintenance and Repair 11 08-04-2014 06:05 AM
Refrigerator on an angle Just For Fun Heating, Cooling and Appliances 21 04-30-2012 10:07 PM
TV Viewing Angle mrschwarz Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 6 07-01-2009 07:07 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.