Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: ANY have comments on SAFE T Plus Steering control

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Topic: ANY have comments on SAFE T Plus Steering control

Posted By: RVER on 01/30/17 05:57pm

So my new to me is a Newmar Mountain Aire 2003 and love it BUT when driving and it is windy this rig is all over. Have had other Class A rigs of the gas variety and had not had this experience. So, thinking of put in a SAFE T PLUS Steering control unit and getting a front end alignment. It was suggested by a friend to get the alignment where they have the HUNTER machine for that alignment, but place I wanted to go to has BEE LINE to do the alignment. NEED advice regarding the alignment and the SAFE T PLUS unit. PROS and CONS, fire away please. IF I am going to do it, it is soon so have to order it soon. Amazon is cheaper than the company pricing wise for the same unit. WE live in MA so if you have suggestions of where to get both done, welcomed.

2003 Newmar Mountain Aire Vortec engine 35ft
2002 Sunnybrook 34BWTS On site at campground as a seasonal
Chevy Silverado 2500HD with Duramax engine and Allison transmission
Pullrite Superglide Hitch, Prodigy brake controller
S and S Co-Travelers

Posted By: George Beggs on 01/30/17 06:35pm

I can't comment on the alignment. My old RV had the Safe-T-Plus; it is only a shock absorber that helps keep the RV under control when a front tire blows out or a wind gust hits the side. The RV that I have now has the Blue Ox Tru Center steering stabilizer. It does what the Safe-T-Plus does and will help counter the wind or road slope, so that you don't have to hold the steering wheel in a turn to go straight in a side wind.

George & Linda
2007 Bounder 35E
Ford V10

Posted By: tegu69 on 01/30/17 06:37pm

If you haven't already, search CHF. My Baystar drove "fairly" well during test drive, but I want it better. I started with alignment, then chf on front, then chf on rear. All seem to have made it better. I am considering a rear track bar next and maybe the steering control. Its been inexpensive so far, but may be spending some money so I would be interested as well.
I might be spoiled by my old fw, that I could tow in 40 plus winds.
On edit, never mind on the chf. Guess I read your post wrong when you said you had other "gassers'. Went camping this weekend with two Dutch Stars and the wind was really blowing. The other guys said it was blowing them around some too.

* This post was edited 01/30/17 06:51pm by tegu69 *

Posted By: Hiker_01 on 01/30/17 08:59pm

I've installed the Safe-T-Plus on my RV. The main thing it did was cut down on the "play" in the steering wheel. First few times I drove it (without Safe-T-Plus), seemed I was constantly making small right/left adjustments. After installation - tracked the road much easier. As to the cross wind - if it's significant wind (15+ mph) I'm fighting it constantly.

Posted By: Kaz on 01/31/17 05:00am

The Safe-T-Plus is basically a spring-loaded and damped centering device. My experience was like that of Hiker; mostly what it did was remove the play in the steering wheel. However, that "looseness" in the steering led to a certain amount of wander as I drove along, which was made worse in cross-winds, especially gusty cross-winds, so the Safe-T-Plus does seem to help in that regard. For my unit (short wheelbase with excessive rear overhang), I think adding a rear track bar provided a greater improvement in stability in cross-winds than the Safe-T-Plus.

Skip
K4EAK
2013 Thor ACE 30.1

Posted By: smlranger on 01/31/17 05:21am

The Safe T Plus is basically a hydraulic steering stabilizer. I had one on my previous coach, a 2002 36' DP on a FL chassis. It did seem to help the coach track better.

Before I would start putting things on, I would have a competent truck/bus suspension shop check alignment, condition of other front end components (sway bar bushings, end link bushings), grease the king pins, etc. Also, have you weighted the coach and adjusted your tire pressure to your actual load?

2019 Grand Design Solitude 384GK 5th wheel. Glen Allen, VA

Posted By: YC 1 on 01/31/17 05:56am

Took mine off. Tired of the resistance when driving. It does not solve poor handling. Track bars, Watts links, and getting the slop out of steering boxes really solves the poor handling. For example, many of us Monaco line owners have changed our steering boxes from Sheppard models to TRW. The TRW has an adjustment that will take virtually all of the steering play out.

H/R Endeavor 2008
2013 Ford Edge toad
Full Timers

Posted By: mike brez on 01/31/17 06:38am

Had a steer safe on my other rig never noticed any differance.
My new to me rig in my sig drives great. I installed a Blue Ox tru center for trie blow out.
What I like about it is that it is adjustable on the fly for wind and road crown.

1998 36 foot Country Coach Magna #5499 Single slide
Gillig chassis with a series 40
02 Ford F250 7.3 with a few mods
2015 Wrangler JKU

Posted By: RVER on 01/31/17 07:30am

GREAT information and now more questions I guess.
Tegu69 what is CHF?
How is Blue Ox Tru Center different than the Safe T Plus?? Sorry if it is a dumb question but I am a 72 yo woman who wants to do the right thing and be comfortable driving this rig. There is some play in the steering wheel, the guy who had it before ran it with 70# in tires, I put in 100# and max is 110. Could he have been right that 70#s in tires makes it more stable? I am going to have her weighed because I do not have a lot of weight in her.
Will Safe T Plus help if we have a front blow out?
How much $$$ was the Blue Ox steeriing thing? Blue Ox is a great company for the hitch for pulling a car so....
Definitely getting an alignment and checkup of front end.

Posted By: mike brez on 01/31/17 08:00am

CHF

Both should help with a blow out
Safe t plus about $500.00
Blue Ox about $1,000.00

Blue Ox is adjustable as you drive so you can adjust for wind road crown or whatever with a push of a button.
Safe t plus is like a shock absorber you set it and that's it. No adjustment unless you crawl under you rig loosen a couple of bolts and move the bracket a little.

I would get it weighed first then set the tires to the correct pressure based on the weights. Four corner weighing is best. Then get it aligned and front end checked and go from there.

Weighing motorhome

* This post was edited 01/31/17 08:06am by mike brez *

Posted By: wa8yxm on 01/31/17 08:09am

I have a competitor's product, One of the considerations in choosing the product I choose was a "Remote adjustment" feature. MOST of these devices to adjust the center point you need wrenches, a hammer and crawl around under the RV.

Mine,, you push a button

SAFE-T-Plus, after I bought mine, came out with an optional add on.. What does this add one do... You push a button. Just like mine.

I have heard only good things about the Safe-T-Plus, if I were doing the job today I would give it serious consideration. Not sure which product would win but I suspect it would be the Safe-T-plus.

NOTE: something else. if you don't have it, consider a TRAC bar or two (front and rear) That will make a BIG difference in handing.. More than you can imagine.

Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

Posted By: georgelesley on 01/31/17 08:33am

Ditto on the rear track bar and chf. Huge improvement if you have a Ford F-53 chassis. If not these hints may not apply. Adding a bit of positive caster to the front end when it was aligned also made a noticeable difference and because it was in the alignment shop anyway cost nothing.

George 20 yr USAF & Lesley

Posted By: johnhicks on 01/31/17 08:34am

I have a Safe-T-Plus on my DP.

First of all, get weighed and run tire pressures appropriate for your weight. I can almost guarantee that 70psi is grossly underinflated and a blowout waiting to happen. Rigs behave differently; some wander all over with lower tire pressures and some wander with higher pressures. You need to find the minimum for the weight and can run from that up to the maximum.

After finding the correct pressure an alignment would be good. Look for a Wingfoot (Goodyear) truck tire dealer; if that dealer doesn't do alignments they can refer you to someone else competent.

A couple of years ago after crossing Louisiana something was horribly wrong; I was all over the road, pulled by paving irregularities, crown and wind. Turned out the rough roads had busted the Safe-T-Plus mostly loose from its bracket and it was just hanging there. Once I got it secured I was riding on rails again.

Also, it's said to be a lifesaver in a blowout. Fortunately I don't know about that.

-jbh-

Posted By: imgoin4it on 02/01/17 07:36am

assuming you have a Spartan chassis as others have said make sure the tire pressure is correct. Im betting about 95 PSI is close enough. If still wanders while driving get a front end allignment. With the Spartan chassis one needs to make sure the allignment shop knows how to do the spartan. I would call Spartan ask for a recommendation as where to take it. My Kountry Star DP when new needed an allignment for what sounds like you describe. The allignment fixed it.

Howard,Connie,& Bella,
One spoiled schnauzer
2007 Newmar KSDP
4dr Jeep Wrangler

Posted By: doxiemom11 on 02/01/17 11:43am

If you have a Ford chassis, also consider the "cheap fix". We put new tires on, had an alignment, did the cheap fix front and rear and added the Saf-T-Plus. It all helped improve the handling.

I might add, if someone is fighting the Saf-T-Plus to drive, then it is not adjusted correctly. We did have to have minor adjustments right after installation before it was right. They will usually have you test drive it before you leave.

Posted By: fortytwo on 02/01/17 07:30pm

Safe-T-Plus is a real bear to get adjusted. This is the second MH I've installed one on. The one I have now was installed at a Rally and took over a dozen adjustments before it's almost right. Once adjusted I can get 3-500 yards hands off before I drift out of the lane. Without it's a matter of 2-3 seconds.

The Blue Ox enables minor adjustments from the cockpit at twice the price. Early versions had issues but have read they have been corrected.

Excessive tail overhang will always be a problem, and can only have the impact reduced, never eliminated.

Wes
"A beach house isn't just real estate. It's a state of mind." Pole Sitter in Douglas Adams MOSTLY HARMLESS

Posted By: et2 on 02/01/17 08:06pm

RVER wrote:

I wanted to put the Blue Ox on our rig a few years back. There were a few issues which have been resolved. So last year I had one installed. It's adjustable to take the correction needed for road crown and side winds from you having to make those corrections.

Just momentarily push the control button when a correction is required and it holds that setting.

Posted By: tegu69 on 02/02/17 06:17am

As I stated before, I mis-understood your original post, but I will add this. I noticed that you were contemplating buying online. I did the easy fix on my (Bay Star) Ford. I was looking around on getting the best price on a track bar and noticed that the instructions stated on several sites that the work should be completed by professionals only. I intended to do the add-ons myself(I have done mechanical work), but I am increasingly less likely to crawl under my coach to do work. I decided to do some checking with qualified shops in my area and found out that they did not want to install a part that someone bought elsewhere. You might want to check on that, if not installing it yourself. Just food for thought.

Posted By: RVER on 02/02/17 03:30pm

New question- How hard did it make the steering as compared to before putting the SAFE T PLUS on. Someone said I will have a hard time backing the rig into a site once the safe t plus is put in, TRUE? IT still is going to be power steering right? I am 5'3" and a female.

Posted By: imgoin4it on 02/02/17 07:00pm

Get the tire pressur and front end allignment correct then see if you need anything else

Posted By: fortytwo on 02/02/17 07:15pm

I don't find the Safe-T-Plus makes steering any harder. You still have power steering. I asked the Ford Tech at Winnebago's Grand National Rally last year if the power steering might be damaged and was told no. I had one on my previous MH for 10 years with no power steering issues.

Posted By: johnhicks on 02/02/17 08:08pm

The Safe-T-Plus causes no steering-force differences for me.

Posted By: garry1p on 02/02/17 08:25pm

I have the Safe T Plus and it does help. I have no steering problem from the unit but it will not FIX the problem just make it drive better and less wander in the wind.

A rear track bar "and" the Safe T Plus will make a big difference and that would be my recommendation. Really noticeable improvement when big rigs pass you.

Even so when the wind gust is above 35 I start looking for a campground.

Garry1p

1990 Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite XL
454 on P-30 Chassis
1999 Jeep Cherokee sport

Posted By: RVER on 02/03/17 06:42pm

My chassis is a Workhorse for those who thought it was Spartan or Ford. Vortec engine that I love actually, quiet and smooth but the wind does catch her. The previous owner was funning the air in tires was about 70-75 but i was told to run 100 psi, stamp on tire Max Load 110 psi. Anyone think I should be running with less air in tires? I surely do not want the tires to heat up and blow out. I did order the Safe T Plus and brackets for my MH and will get back to you all after I have the front end alignment next Tuesday and the Safe T Plus put in when I can after it ships here. HOPE it all works!!!

Posted By: George Beggs on 02/13/17 03:51pm

RVER wrote:

The best answer is to weigh all 4 corners (left and right front axle and left and right rear axle). Then inflate according to the tire chart. If you don't put a lot of stuff in the motor home you can look for the manufacturer plate near the driver's seat. It probably has a pressure of 80psi if you are running 19 inch tires. I would put in 5psi more to be safe. Over inflated tires will make you wander on the road and cause bumps to feel harsher.

Posted By: RVER on 02/14/17 12:13pm

Front End alignment done, no wander but there was not much wind so no wander problem. When trucks pass me I had not had much problem it was the wind I guess. Scary so will get the Safe T Plus on and let you know but will only know how well it went when it is a little windy. High winds is not what I want to drive in anyway but I did not think it was that windy when I was being pushed around. We shall see.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions

Posted By: Tarheel 2 on 02/14/17 07:04pm

This was posted on our Tiffin owners site by another Phaeton owner. Pretty impressed as to how this turned out, especially happening on a two lane road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1YAEpvfyCI

I installed a Safe-T- plus last year after a friend had a front end blowout, hit a center divider, and the wreck caused his coach to catch on fire, burning it up including their dog that they couldn't get out. This happened a few hours after he left our Florida resort. I went directly to have the Safe-T-Plus installed the day I left to head north.

Tarheel

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