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Topic: Driving your coach (Read 660 times) previous topic - next topic

Driving your coach

During my 275 mile drive today i started wondering if all my BS about the drive ability of my fixed coach got me to think "does everyone else's coach drive like mine?"

I barely move the wheel. Small corrections once in a while.  No dead spot.  Is this unusual or normal?  No idea as I have not driven other Unicoaches.  I wonder if part is the long wheelbase on the 40'?

I hope yours all drive similarly? 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #1 –
My coach handels really well. Just point it and go.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #2 –
OK, here is another experience from a different type of suspension compared to most of you.
 Our coach--a 36' 1989 Foretravel Grand Villa with the Oshkosh Truck chassis--has leaf springs, the original shock absorbers, and has an on-board critic---Rocket, our 18 year old cat.
Before I had the front leaf springs replaced it was white knuckle steering time. All over the road and unpredictable when we hit a bump or a crosswind. The only thing Rocket would do was lay on my lap with his head hanging over my thigh like he was carsick. This happened whenever we were traveling. The DW would cover her face with a map when we met a semi, had a crosswind, and narrow shoulders with deep ditches or rails on our right.

Now, cut to today: Rocket slept on our bed in the back (over the engine) for over an hour while we were traveling. This never happened before. Before new leaf springs, start the engine and here he would come--running, up front. He now will get something to eat or drink or even use his litter box while we are moving.
He even has gone so far as to lay up on the dash and watch the scenery.
ME? I can now steer with one finger on the bottom of the steering wheel. The coach now goes where I point it.

How is that for an improvement from before putting on new leaf springs?
The coach has Rocket's approval now!!!

Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #3 –
Honestly, last year I had a tad bit wander in the front end but it was tolerable. New tires and that new steering box made all the difference in the world.  Every time I drive somewhere now after parking for a couple weeks I always have that conversation with myself ( Not crazy just travel alone, LOL) about how comfortable I feel behind the wheel and how nice this 21 year old coach handles on the highway.  That makes it easier to forget about all the hours of constant maintenance required on a rolling earthquake and helps fill my time in my retirement. Although, sometimes I could do without some of  the pesky  difficult issues. Safe travels!!!
Chuck Wiggy
Coloma, Wisconsin
Sold my 1999 U 320 40 Ft. M11 450 hp
Build # 5468
2009 Silverado

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #4 –
Replaced all 10 of our torque rod bushings (20),tightened things up a little.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #5 –
Here's my experience:
93 225 36': Not good. Constant adjustment required. Records showed a bundle spent over the years trying to correct.
99 320 36': Lots better. Still some wandering. More toe-in helped considerably.
95 300 40': Really good. Better than the other two.
97 270 34': Best yet. Excellent. Big surprise. I expected the 34' to not handle as well as the others.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #6 –
Keep it coming.  I do not know what is normal in these so any feedback helps me and hopefully others
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #7 –
36" Straight as an arrow, old shocks, old steering box, old bags*, cheap Toyo's.

Gene's alignment did the alignment, he is the best in the area with FT's. Made all the difference in the world.

Set the cruise at 62-65, sit back, one arm on the arm rest, other on the wheel.

Rides, drives and tows our Wrangler like a float.

Could it be better? Maybe. Am I unhappy in any way? No.

As long as it starts and gets us there and back, we are as happy as we can be.

Cheers
Chris

* replaced 2 front bags behind front axle to experiment, then decided the rest are fine. I carry a spare new one, tools and parts to change on the road if need be.

Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #8 –
Everything original up front with Cooper 295/75R22.5 mounted by PO. Mixed tires in the rear with Cooper, Firestone and one I can't remember. Due for replacement for the Coopers. Won't buy again as they have lots of small cracks where the Firestone and other brand rear tire look like new. I put Coopers on an SUV and they were the worst handling of all I've mounted on several cars.

Other than that, it drives great, no wandering, no tire noise, rides well. Like Chris says, as long as it starts...

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Everything original up front with Cooper 295/75R22.5 mounted by PO. Mixed tires in the rear with Cooper, Firestone and one I can't remember. Due for replacement for the Coopers. Won't buy again as they have lots of small cracks where the Firestone and other brand rear tire look like new. I put Coopers on an SUV and they were the worst handling of all I've mounted on several cars.

Other than that, it drives great, no wandering, no tire noise, rides well. Like Chris says, as long as it starts...

Pierce

Lots of people love them, I highly dislike Coopers. Had lots of bad luck with them. It's what les Snobs pushes. They are crappy, cheap tires in my opinion.
Here come the haters..LOL
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #10 –
My '81 rides like a dump truck but steers straight and no wander. The Hankooks on it are now 20 years old and no cracks. It will need new shoes if it ever leave the property.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #11 –
Quote from: gracerace –
Lots of people love them, I highly dislike Coopers. Had lots of bad luck with them. It's what les Snobs pushes. They are crappy, cheap tires in my opinion.
Here come the haters..LOL
Chris
Probably popular as they were made here before expanding overseas. Interesting history at: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company - Wikipedia. Our have not shown any signs of tread wear but pieces chunk off and the rubber just looks suspect. The SUV tires had terrible turn in and never had a good feeling if in a hurry on winding roads even if I pumped them up.

The OEM Bridgestones lasted just over 80,000 on the RAV4. Did everything well with a slightly hard ride and a little noise as they got older plus they are expensive. Probably not expensive when you consider how long they lasted.

Have been impressed with Atturo's AZ800 series on the ML320. Optional size is very wide, looks like it belongs on a Ferrari, rides well, no noise, sticks like glue in the dry and OK in wet and snow. Racers use the 850 series and it's available in run flat version in many sizes. Outstanding in wet and snow. All are speed rated V, W or Y. Out the door on these big tires was $430 even including old tire disposal.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #12 –
 The truest and most durable car/light truck, tire I have ever seen are the Nokian . Made is Russia . I now mount them on everything. My wifes Badilac, to my double car trailer.  Some are extra load.
Fair price best quality  ever.  Ilooked at 22.5 sizes but have not found enough yet.
 

Re: Driving your coach

Reply #13 –
As an aside to my original post i tested a slower tow speed than my normal 70+ today from New Mexico to casa grande, az. 

20k miles at the higher speed averaged 8.2.  Same setup as before but 66mph to pull on the trucks that were gps governed to 65 and I had a front left corner cross wind at 20mph for a hundred miles or so and averaged 9.5 mpg

Sweet spot seems to be 1410 rpm.  At least for me and my setup and this day.  90 to 97 degrees ambient.

I think I will clear my long term VPMS's trip meters to continue at this being the new norm.

I have one trip meter on screen from the ECU replacement 2,900 miles ago and another that reflects the current trip at 2,400 miles and a third one for the current tank.

Plus I have the mode on and let it pull grades at whatever it wants to do and I do let it free run down hills up to the 75mph speed limit.

We will see but seems much better at 4 mph less and 100 rpm less than before. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4