two travelers
Smithtown, NY
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Recently purchased a new to us 2015 Winnebago Vista 26HE. Seems to be very sensitive to wind and trucks. Alignment appears good -no uneven tire wear and previous owner had a Safety steer plus installed. Are there any other mods I might consider to improve handling? Thanks to all who share their knowledge.
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ThomBoles
Pinellas Park, FL
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Joined: 02/23/2017
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Are you on iRV2? Look up the "Cheap Handling Fix". I started reading the 315 pages 2 days ago and am up to page 155 or so...
I did that to my Vista's front swaybar and will do the rear this weekend. It was a 30 minute job with a floor jack, 15mm and an 18mm spanner plus my torque wrench (remember 66 ft/lbs). If you have air tools it could go quicker. Also check the rear swaybar bushings and see if they are melted away or if you have newer poly bushings. Mine are basically nonexistent so I've got some one order now and will do the CHF on the rear when I get them.
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Thom and Diane Boles
2010 Winnebago Vista 32K
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garyemunson
Reno, Nevada
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We have a 2015 Winne 36Y and it's the best tracking RV we have owned. I would spend the money on having the toe-in checked. Small deviation there can make a huge difference in handling without affecting tire wear. The fact the previous owner put on safety steer makes me suspect something isn't to factory specs. The F53 is a chassis that's been around forever and it's strong and simple. No reason for it not to track straight down the road. Caster and camber is built into the solid front axle and is virtually impossible to be wrong. Also have the kingpins checked for wear when it's on the rack along with tie rod and drag link ends. That new, I'd bet on wrong toe-in.
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Busskipper
Grasonville,Md/Superior, CO
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two travelers wrote:Recently purchased a new to us 2015 Winnebago Vista 26HE. Seems to be very sensitive to wind and trucks. Alignment appears good -no uneven tire wear and previous owner had a Safety steer plus installed. Are there any other mods I might consider to improve handling? Thanks to all who share their knowledge.
Think about it - It's like a sail - so IMHO it will always be subject to the wind and the trucks - BUT - if you slow down it is not as bad - if you add lots of weight it's not as bad - if you add lot's of "Things to modify" it might help, but not a lot.
When we had smaller lighter "Sails" we slowed down and tried to stay off the I's helped more than anything else.
JMHO,
JMHO
Busskipper
Maryland/Colorado
Travel Supreme 42DS04
GX470-FMCA - Travel less now - But still love to be on the Road
States traveled in this Coach
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Winnebago Bob
United States
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Wheelbase is only 158 inches. It's gonna be a handful. Test drove one and said no way.
2017 Winnebago Aspect 27K
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crasster
Dallas
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X2 to the above post, an RV is a sail. Heavy or not, they are greatly affected by wind. Trucks are a small part affected by an RV too, but DEFINITELY affected by wind.
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.
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vjstangelo
virginia
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CHF for sure. We did the rear on our 32k Vista and the improvement was all that was needed. We also have the safety steer.
2012 Winnebago Vista 32K
2011 Honda CRV Toad
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drwwicks
Alabama
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I briefly had a Vista 36Y and it handled like junk. Too much house for the chassis and could barley pull itself and toad up a south Alabama mountain. Note, we don't have mountains here.
Took it in the financial shorts and got rid of it. VERY expensive mistake. That said the house part was very nice, too bad it was "under chassied".
2007 Itasca Horizon 40FD
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2015 Harley Davidson FLHTKL
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ThomBoles
Pinellas Park, FL
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vjstangelo wrote:CHF for sure. We did the rear on our 32k Vista and the improvement was all that was needed. We also have the safety steer.
We have the Safe Steer on our 32K as well. I just replaced the rear sway bar bushings along with the CHF. I also did the front sway bar. If there is still some slop I'll consider a rear stabilizer and/or some new shocks. We're not unhappy with the last changes made to ours as it did tighten things up a bit.
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garyemunson
Reno, Nevada
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I'll reiterate my post on toe-in. A rear wheel drive vehicle tends to 'spread' the front wheels going down the road due to forward thrust from the rear drive. Most rear wheel drive vehicles are adjusted to slight toe in to counteract any slop in the tie rod ends (front wheel drive vehicles are usually set to 0 degrees toe in since they do not produce that spreading force). Incorrect adjustment or worn tie rod ends will yield a toe-out condition that make constant steering corrections necessary. Alignment is something that very few mechanics seem to be good at. If you get an alignment and the vehicle still seems 'darty', make the mechanic drive it then have him increase the toe in a little. That's the most likely cause of poor handling truck chassis.
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