BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

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BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

July 10, 2011, 02:36:53 pm

Everyone talks about how well the ForeTravels drive down the road but mine seems to be the exception. It wanders from line to line and requires constant correction. New tires and an alinement at FOT have helped but it still drives like an old truck.

I'm looking at steering stabilizers but before I drop the bucks I thought I'd ask advice here.

The stabilizer I'm looking at is the BlueOx TruCenter Blue Ox Steering Controls but I'm open to suggestions. Would also welcome comments from anyone who has used the TruCenter.

Thanks
ken

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #1 – July 10, 2011, 03:03:39 pm

Ken,

I am sure FOT's alignment shop checked the steering box for play. Thats what it sounds like to me...FWIW

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #2 – July 10, 2011, 03:39:27 pm

Ken,

Have you checked the basics: play in any of the steering linkage/tie rod ends? If a Sheppard M100 box, play is not adjustable.

Also check sway bar bushings and shocks/shock bushings, as issues with any of these will accentuate extraneous steering inputs.

Brett

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #3 – July 10, 2011, 03:56:33 pm

I had mine in the shop shortly after I bought it for the same reason. They found a bad rag joint (steering coupler) which FOT replaced with a universal type joint after my year. There is no retrofit to the U-joint though. It is the same part as found in a GM pick up from the same time frame, a rubberized part that gets trashed over time. Have them check it. It helped but I ended up getting a Safe-t-Plus which is similar to what you are looking at only cheaper and non-adjustable from inside the cab. In fact, after getting mine installed I had to adjust it by trial and error going under several times to make adjustments to get it just right. Simple job loosen nut push clamp just a smidgen and retighten. All it does is provide some resistance as you move away from dead center. Getting dead center in the right spot is the trick. It has helped a lot. I wouldn't be without it. I drove from Tampa to Las Vegas last summer and because I work I had to get there so it involved 2 days out and 2 days back driving from 4AM to 10PM and I could never have done it without that little add-on. Brett is right that you should check all major components but the fact is that these 20 year old Foretravels don't drive down the road like the ones from later years. I'd still take an old Foretravel over a much newer SOB though.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #4 – July 10, 2011, 04:36:36 pm

Our 93 225 doesn't wander and is very easy to drive. However, in its earlier years (two owners back) it had lots of handling problems. The owner had it in the shop(s) numerous times (Foretravel and elsewhere). In looking back at the documentation, I see that he did several alignments, installed a Safe-T-Plus stabilizer, installed a "track bar" on the rear axle, replaced all the nuts and washers on the Velvet Ride (weird one) and had the steering box rebuilt twice. Maybe one of these modifications would fix your problem. In that it is relatively inexpensive, I guess the steering stabilizer would be a good place for you to start although I know that the front end guy at FT disapproves of them. Good luck.
jor

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #5 – July 10, 2011, 04:51:47 pm

Pulled out the service invoice from FOT it shows

C6000 Check Front End. Always correcting & hunting.

Tech Comment: Checked all front end components. All ok. Test Drove.

Repair 1: front end/rear drive alignment
Repair 2: check front end components (kingpins, drag link, ti)
Repair 3: Test drive -- .30

From the above I assume the steering box play was looked at. Also the last day I pulled into the service bay the steering box was leaking. Had FOT install a seal kit. The tech comments say "removed steering gear and took it apart. Replaced the internal seals and output shaft seal. Tested. OK. Replaced all and tested OK."

Before any of the above work was done I crawled under the coach and wiggled everything and didn't find anything loose or wigglable.

Dwayne - I was looking at the Safe-t-Plus but then found the TruCenter and being able to adjust from the pilot seat won me over. I found a place here in Denver selling them for $750 which is only a $100 more than what CampingWorld wants for the Safe-t-Plus.

I just checked the steering coupler and it's a universal joint not a rag joint.

Brett - How can I tell if it's a Sheppard M100 box? I can post a picture if that will help. I haven't checked shocks/bushing but will when I get a chance. Should I just do a wiggle test?

See ya
ken

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #6 – July 10, 2011, 05:28:41 pm

Had similar problem on my two previous MH .I when from shops to shops nobody could fix the wandering. One day was talking to a tire shop owner about that and He offered 2 bigger and wider unidirectional tire to try in the steer Axel, NO cost and if it solved the issue I will have to buy them at competitive price. That was it no more wandering, rock stable on the road.

Niagarachip

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #7 – July 10, 2011, 05:41:05 pm

My previous motorhome was a 1988 Winnebago built on a 1987 John Deere (later to become Oshkosh) front-engine gasoline chassis.

It handled reasonably well when new, but handling deteriorated badly when I had to replace the worn-out steering box (old one was sloppy, but I was used to it -- replacement was a "close" match), and worse yet when I replaced the tires with a different brand (obsolete size, narrow tread, few vendors). Nothing beats original equipment.

I was able to make is more-or-less usable by having the steering backlash adjustment loosened a tad, having the toe-in tweaked, moving more weight to the front, and playing with tire pressures. The permanent solution came when I replaced Winnie with FT.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #8 – July 10, 2011, 06:11:25 pm

Niagarachip - Any chance I can borrow your steer tires for a day or 2?

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #9 – July 10, 2011, 07:14:25 pm

Ken,
Check your front tire pressure. If too high the front end will want to jump around. I used to run mine at the high end of the range but the front end wandered quite a bit. After decreasing it 10# the wandering stopped.
Good luck,

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #10 – July 10, 2011, 07:40:48 pm

We installed a Safe-T-Plus on a coach on a Freightliner XC chassis. The improvement was significant. It did have centering from the cockpit. Henderson's Line Up in Oregon has an air operated clamp for the chassis end of the Safe-T-Plus. The clamp is operated by a momentary contact switch at the driver's position that releases the clamp while you set the center position. When you release the switch, the clamp fixes the position of the Safe-T-Plus. The mounting bracket is available as a stock item from Henderson's for the Freightliner chassis. I expect a welding shop could fabricate a bracket to fit your coach.

When I read your post, my first thought was, "Take it to Wayne at FOT." He worked wonders on our 1997 U295. He likes to run relatively low air pressures in the tires. He has a chart from Michelin with recommended pressures for Foretravel coaches. The pressures are a bit lower than the pressures I use based on a chart from the Michelin web site. I am surprised Wayne was not able to improve the steering to your satisfaction.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #11 – July 10, 2011, 07:49:04 pm

Ken, we have very similar coaches and mine tracks great. Do you know if Wayne worked on your alignment at FOT. If so you won't find anyone better or that know Foretravels and their quirks better. He has special allingment settings for wandering older coaches. If it wasn't Wayne, you might want to call him and see what he thinks.

Since it appears that everything else has been checked out, my bet is on tires. I noticed quite a bit of improvement on my U225 when I switched from Bridgestone to Goodyear steering tires. I have Michelin XZE2 steering tires on my U300. I run them at 110 lbs and my coach steers great, even on Oklahoma roads and Kansas cross winds.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #12 – July 10, 2011, 08:19:43 pm

Rick - I'll try reducing front tire psi and see what happens. I would love it if that tames the beast!
Kent - Good to hear that your coach tracks true.

I'm running RoadMaster tires engineered by Cooper (made in China). We had a flat on our way to Nac found out our tires where 10 years old and bought the cheapest ones that would fit.

They could easily be the problem.

Thanks everyone for all the input. I'll add to this thread as I get more info.

See ya
ken

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #13 – July 10, 2011, 08:41:46 pm

Quote from: Kent Speers – July 10, 2011, 07:49:04 pm

I run them at 110 lbs and my coach steers great, even on Oklahoma roads and Kansas cross winds.

Is 110 a bit on the high side? Are your tires Load Range G or H?

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #14 – July 10, 2011, 10:01:05 pm

I run G rated Coopers at 110 lbs cold. Max recommended cold pressure on the tire sidewall placard. They get up around 120 on a hot day. Coach runs dead straight down the road on most any kind of pavement. Don't really have to pay any attention to it except on really rough roads. I also have steer tires all the way around. They do have pretty stiff sidewalls. Any front end problems may be magnified if you have really flexible sidewalls on the radials.

If no worn components or bad belt in tire, it may be an alignment issue. From race cars to street cars, I have found the right toe in can make a big difference in minimizing wandering.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #15 – July 10, 2011, 10:04:41 pm

George, I'll say it before Jeff chimes in. I run them at 110 because I carry two of every tool ever made by man and I need the pressure to handle the load. The truth is I have had a number of tire people I know and respect tell me to run at 105 to 110 psi. I also respect Wayne at FOT who says I'm crazy and suggested 80 psi but 110 is what I run and I'm not crazy, maybe stupid but not crazy.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #16 – July 10, 2011, 10:05:51 pm

Kent, you beat me to it...

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #17 – July 10, 2011, 10:06:54 pm

I know you Oh So Well Mr. Savournin!!!

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #18 – July 11, 2011, 08:50:35 am

Quote from: Kent Speers – July 10, 2011, 10:04:41 pm

George, I'll say it before Jeff chimes in. I run them at 110 because I carry two of every tool ever made by man and I need the pressure to handle the load. The truth is I have had a number of tire people I know and respect tell me to run at 105 to 110 psi.

Kent,

My rims are stamped with a warning not to inflate above 110 psi. I am assuming that Alcoa has taken into consideration the increase in air pressure when travelling -- especially on a hot day.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #19 – July 11, 2011, 07:58:22 pm

George, my wheels say the same thing but one can't dwell on the small stuff. Its just a wheel. Pretty soon you will be suggesting that I weigh my coach so I will know its overloaded. Have you been talking to Jeff?

Actually, I dropped the pressure to 100 psi this morning at 75 F before leaving on my trip due to the extremely high temperatures on the road.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #20 – July 11, 2011, 08:10:28 pm

Hi Kent,
Actually, that 110 psi warning is something I've always wondered about. No doubt Alcoa knows that some of us will run at or near the limit and as a result built in some safety tolerances. We can only hope.

Did I tell you that forensic meteorologists in East Texas think that the cause of the recent big dust storm in Phoenix was the result of too many wallets opening and closing at the same time in Nac?

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #21 – July 11, 2011, 08:28:48 pm

Well, between Brad and Jeff there was quite a breeze. Not enough to get to Oklahoma but a breeze none the less.

Re: BlueOx TruCenter anyone using?

Reply #22 – July 11, 2011, 08:43:54 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz – July 11, 2011, 08:10:28 pm

... Did I tell you that forensic meteorologists in East Texas think that the cause of the recent big dust storm in Phoenix was the result of too many wallets opening and closing at the same time in Nac?

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