Solved my Stability Problem on 2014 Redhawk

br549vi · 10-10-2014, 06:15 PM

Can't find the thread that I got the info from but had my RV front end aligned
with the information I got here. Added caster to front end and so far seems to do well on the same road I drove there on. On the way down I could just feel the road pulling me to the right. Not so much now. Will test shortly on interstate. See what those big rigs do to me now.

Thanks to the forum.

wwsmith111 · 10-10-2014, 07:45 PM

Are you saying that you added more than the normal amount of caster (spec)? If so don't be surprised if you start chewing off steer tires.

Harvard · 10-19-2014, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

Are you saying that you added more than the normal amount of caster (spec)? If so don't be surprised if you start chewing off steer tires.

The 2014 E450 has a caster spec:
LH +1.0 to +6.8
RH +1.4 to +7.2

The caster is typically set to be +3.9 to +4.3 which is OK for city driving.

On the highway you want to have at least +6 to +6.5 degrees.

I have travelled 30,000 miles since changing my 2004 E450 in 2010 with no abnormal tire wear.

Here is a link to my experience.

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/ind...?topic=40337.0

Grumpy · 10-19-2014, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

Are you saying that you added more than the normal amount of caster (spec)? If so don't be surprised if you start chewing off steer tires.

That is also what a good alignment shop will tell you to do. Worked on my 2001 with no excessive tire wear.

br549vi · 10-19-2014, 07:31 PM

yes added more caster and it drove like a dream for the road trip I just took. I will watch the tires. at least I don't have to fight every inch of the way. Now even my wife could drive this 2014 jayco Redhawk

wwsmith111 · 10-19-2014, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by br549vi

yes added more caster and it drove like a dream for the road trip I just took. I will watch the tires. at least I don't have to fight every inch of the way. Now even my wife could drive this 2014 jayco Redhawk

But is the caster within normal spec? All the responses to this thread have said add more caster but is it within spec? Apparently the normal spec. range is quite liberal. Also the type and brand of tires has a lot to do with how they wear with alignment problems and also how stable they are going down the road.

Seann45 · 10-20-2014, 07:01 AM

When the chassis comes from the vehicle manufacture the camber and castor is set at the factory.. but this is a bare bones frame.. after Jayco adds the RV to it the camber/castor changes due to the added weight.. EVERYONE should have it checked before the first big road trip..

S.gilbert · 11-07-2014, 03:02 PM

Thank you so much for this info. We just purchased 2008 greyhawk
And went for a short road trip that left us thinking we had
Made a bad purchase.

Harvard · 11-07-2014, 04:14 PM

Buyer beware, not all alignment shops are created equal. The specified caster range is very broad and some alignment techs think leaving it in the middle is good to go and a lot less work for them to do any better.

In all likelihood you will need to pay for some additional work to install adjustable alignment sleeves (such as Ingalls 594s) because the ones from the factory are not able to give you the +caster you want and need.

Caster does not wear tires.

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