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Topic: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem (Read 1126 times) previous topic - next topic

Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

There have been discussions in the past on the plus and minus of Safe-T-Plus steering control - this post is about a big problem I averted and the great help I got.

The Safe-T-Plus was installed by Henderson's Line-Up in Grant's Pass Oregon 3 years ago and it did help  but recently I heard some noises when the wheel was turned to its stops.  Turns out a bolt loosened and a bracket broke at the bolt hole causing the Safe-T-Plus to be out of position.  Of course, this could have caused the steering to lock up. 

I am in Nacogdoches now having work done both at FOT and Xtreme Graphics.  Yesterday went to Big Truck Alignment in Lufkin (20 miles south).  Haden Haskins and his son and another helper worked most of the day to try to get the Safe-T-Plus attached.  Haden welded a fix to the bracket and another part but couldn't get them to work properly.  It may be the Safe-T-Plus pump itself doesn't have a long enough travel to cover the full movement of the tie rod.  The company is sending a new bracket of a different design that should avoid the problem.  To be continued.

The very good news, however, is that Haden is the type of mechanic you want working on your coach.  He was tenacious on trying to figure out the problem and a solution and has the skills to quickly fabricate parts if needed.  He called me this morning to say he was thinking about it last night and wanted to know if I had heard more from the company.  He charged me a fair price for a font end alignment and NO charge for working on the Safe-T-Plus.  He said he couldn't fix it so he couldn't charge me.

I told him about ForeForums and the positive publicity I would give him and he said – thanks but no thanks.  "I'm 69 years old and have more business than I need – all by word of mouth."  But here I am telling you about my experience and leaving it up to you to use him – if you do, be prepared for a good work, fair price at an old open air shop run by a man who has seen it all.
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #1 –
Larry,

We can be hopeful that his son will carry on in the business.  I think you did the right thing telling us about Big Truck Alignment.  Thanks.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #2 –
And we can hope the son learned the values of discipline, honesty, and knowledge from his father.

All too often the old saying of:"From shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations" comes true.
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: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #3 –
You will learn the Safe-T-Plus type band aide type add on equipment is only a cover up of the real problem.
There has been a lot of postings here concerning these devices.  The only solution is to have the front end repaired and aligned by a shop that knows the front end workings of a solid axle setup, this includes caster, camber, toe in and steering wheel set on high point. Not all shops can check and adjust camber and maybe don't know how to adjust caster, they only work on the toe in.
If you have good king pins and bearings, tie rod and ends, drag link and good ends, and proper steering gear adjustments/condition and proper lubed, then alignment,  you will not need the add on miracle cures.

We are assuming the suspension, shocks, radius arms etc are in proper working order.
Sloppy suspension will cause handling problems too.

Not my opinion alone.

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #4 –
I have heard from many folks that Wayne, the FOT steering guru, is one of the best anywhere. He certainly should know more about Foretravel steering than anhyone. I plan to have him check my coach the next time I'm in NAC.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #5 –
I have learned about the issues surrounding steering aids - my decision to get it was a long time ago in my learning --- and I accept all comments about them.

My post was less about the Safe-T-Plus per se and more about my experience at Big Truck.
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #6 –
Larry,
That came through loud and clear for me. They were trying to fix something that they did not install. The owner even thought about a possible solution at night at home. Those are the kind of people I want working on our coach. Dave's comments were very insightful -- especially to those who are thinking about buying a Foretravel or those who might be having a steering/control issue.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #7 –
I agree, it is refreshing to find a shop that pays attention to the important things, reasons I like MOT and Xtreme, I do not have enough experience with the other Nac shops to offer an opinion. 
Good shops always stand out and make one feel good dealing with them.
I am sure we all have have experiences on both ends of the scale.
Cheers

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #8 –
I had my coach to a truck suspension shop soon after I bought it trying to improve the steering.  They found a few problems but didn't want to entertain the idea of installing a Safe-t-plus or other contraption.  The guy told me "You have enough bars under there already."  While they did improve my steering, I still wasn't happy.  I went elsewhere for the Safe-t-plus and after the initial trial and error of getting it in just the right spot it has been a godsend.  Mainly in provides resistance to turning the wheels off center.  I suspect that steering dynamics have improved in the last 19 years.  In fact, right after buying the rig my wife and I took the one day driving course at Lazydays.  We drove a new SOB and it tracked straight ahead much better than my rig.  The truck suspension guy didn't find anything glaring or he would have tried to sell me on more repairs.  Mainly he found a worn "rag joint" which is a rubberish steering coupler.  The very next model year Foretravel replaced it with a universal joint type of coupler.  I suspect they've tightened up on a lot more things than that since then so I'll take whatever improvement a few hundred bucks worth of add-on can give me even though I know that reengineering the front end and suspension would be the way to go if money or common sense wasn't an object. 
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #9 –
Dwayne, I am wondering what was  your coach doing that made you want the add on safe t steer ?

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #10 –
Safe-t-plus...it is the shock absorber looking thing that mounts horizontally.  It was basically all over the road.  I'd get it going straight and before I knew it I was in the next lane or the shoulder and back and forth.  That plus a few inches of play in the wheel, which is reduced but still there.  The only negative is if the road is slanted or rutted more than usual, I have to hold into the resistance to go straight.  There is a Roadmaster system that is similar with an optional reset switch mounted on the dash so that on any surface or wind you can readjust the center position, which would be nice but way to expensive.  Most of the roads this does the trick.  It still isn't perfect by a long shot but it is drivable without wearing me out.  I had people tell me that I didn't know what it was like driving something this big and that it isn't like a car.  Glad I didn't listen.  Thank God I added this thing before my trip out west.  We were broke down twice and lost time and had to cut out a few destinations and I had to drive two days out and two days back from 4-5 in the morning until 10 at night.  The safe-t-plus made it possible.  I can even hold onto the wheel with one hand and reach for a cup of coffee without ending up in the next lane.  And to reiterate: the truck suspension shop said everything looked ok so there is no glaring component failure that I'm masking (to my knowledge).
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Dwayne –
Safe-t-plus...it is the shock absorber looking thing that mounts horizontally.  ...

On our first DP coach, we had the same issues that Dwayne described. The coach was all over the road, and we never knew which way it might move.  We added Safe-T-Plus to the DP on a Freightliner XC chassis. Safe-T-Plus, Koni shock absorbers, and motion control devices for the air bags improved handling dramatically. We did not have a steering expert check the front end and align it. After we threw parts at the problem, handling was still not great, but there were fewer "white knuckle moments." For the Freightliner chassis, Henderson's supplied an air operated centering mount for the Safe-T-Plus that allowed setting the center from the driver's position. That worked well.

I considered trying to add the Safe-T-Plus to the U295 because it constantly pulled right, even after an "alignment." We took it to MOT who was supposed to have subcontracted an alignment to Big Truck Alignment. When we got the coach back there was no difference in handling. I called and left messages three times at Big Truck Alignment and never received a call back. I don't know what went wrong regarding that "service" event, but we did not get satisfactory help. Perhaps it was because we did not personally take the coach to Lufkin to have the work done, or there may have been some other error in communication.

In January, Wayne at FOT aligned the U295 and it drives as it should. We were on site, and he did provide personal service. After FOT installed Koni shocks and Wayne aligned the front end, the improvement in handling was remarkable. He reported that he saw no indication that the front end alignment had been adjusted in recent history.

I do not plan to add Safe-T-Plus to the U295. It handles predictably and well since it was properly aligned.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX
 

Re: Safe-T-Plus / Big Truck Alignment / open problem

Reply #12 –
We were at FOT when the Stevens had their front end gone over by Wayne. Based on Dave and Marilyn's comments we had Wayne realign our '89 GV. It was toed out 11/32 and should have been toed in 1/16. The handling now is incredibly better, so much so that the DW even drove it for a couple hundred miles! Wayne knows his stuff and you can't go wrong by having him tune your Foretravel's steering. You might even save money by not having to purchase aftermarket items.
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