Wandering issue 2007 Winnebago Adventurer 38t Work horse chassis

[Milom]

Hi again, we just got back from our first trip down the Oregon coast and stayed at the pacific shores rv resort, A beautiful spot but very windy. I am a novice to Motor homing and although the coach is in almost new condition and was thoroughly checked out and certified by Roy Robinson RV in Marysville WA ($1550 for inspect and certify) I noticed an unusual amount of wandering at highway speeds, almost 3" of play in steering wheel to get back in my lane, Particularly in cross winds and whenever a big truck would pass us. I try to keep the cruise control set at 55MPH but it was nerve wracking on several occasions. Could it be a tire or alignment issue? It does not pull left or right on straight ways, but when it does wander, its difficult to correct. Normal or not? any other 38t owners out there with similar issue?

[Skip426]

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have your loaded for travel weights, front , rear and total. Or 4 corner weights if you have them, and tire pressure charts, from the tire manufacturer?

EDIT: Also need to know your chassis GVWR.

[rvten]

Do you have a toad on a dolly or trailer? This will lighten up the front end.
Full Fresh water and waste tanks in rear will also cause this.
How is it loaded? distribute weight off rear end.

[MaverickBBD]

Contact Brazel's in Centralia. They will fix you right up.

[Milom]

My GVWR is 24,000 LBS and GCWR is 30,000 lbs. 266" wheel base, all 6 tires checked at 100LBS psi, max load rated for 105lbs cold psi. could 5 lbs below rated tire pressure cause all the wandering? I was hoping to get a smoother and softer ride!

[Milom]

Michelin XRV 235x80x22.5

[Skip426]

If you don't have your corner weights the tires could be overinflated, causing a floating like condition, harsh reaction to bumps and wandering .


EDIT: At 100 psi the tires are at a pressure that would support a coach of 25,000lbs. But don't lower the pressures till you have weights.

[NeilV]

A motor home needs to be weighed and the tires inflated according to how you have it loaded and if need be have the load redistributed to balance it so that you are not too back or front heavy. Then you need to have the chassis aligned based on how you have it loaded. The previous owner most likely aligned it when it was loaded his way so now you have to make adjustments to compensate in the difference.

Tires have to be inflated to match the load you are carrying but below the max inflation stamped on them so its time to hit the scales, weigh the coach and consult the inflation charts for your specific tires.

[edgray]

There were "some" W-24 chassis that were built with a steering gearbox with a "different" gear ratio that makes the steering effort required at slow speeds very minimal. Unfortunately, that often translates into excessive "play" and difficulty maintaining a straight course at highway speeds. As previously suggested, contact Brazel in Centralia, WA because they are familiar with this issue and have a fix for it. Have your entire 17 digit chassis vin # handy when you call.