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05-18-2016, 04:10 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: West Branch
Posts: 37
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Steering stabilization products.
Has any one had a Safe-T-Plus.com ,or similar, package installed on a Ford E-350 chassis?
It is as good as advertised?
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2016 Greyhawk 29 MV
West Branch, MI
Wife & Co-Pilot: Famous Amos
1 Shizu, 1 Havanese
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05-18-2016, 04:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 1,271
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when I bought my 2011 F250 it had a dual shock front stabilizer system on it ...I know ford had some problems with something they called the death wobble but my truck goes down the road no problems ... I am thankful someone had alreadt installed it as I was going to if I needed one
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2011 F250 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel , 2015 Jayco Eagle 338 rets
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05-18-2016, 04:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,036
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I have installed the Safe-T-Plus on my last 3 motorhomes including my current Jayco Seneca. I like the peace of mind if a front tire blowout should happen, and the stabilized feel to the steering wheel.
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05-18-2016, 06:02 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: West Branch
Posts: 37
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Thanks a abarkl, you're putting the system on 3 motor homes is telling me what I want to hear. Much appreciated.
__________________
2016 Greyhawk 29 MV
West Branch, MI
Wife & Co-Pilot: Famous Amos
1 Shizu, 1 Havanese
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05-19-2016, 12:02 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Brooklin, Ontario
Posts: 543
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Let us know how you make out
I will be interested in hearing how you make out if you decide to install it. I have been contemplating the same addition after a friend with a Class A recommended it. I have struggled with how loose the steering is on my rig. If I was driving every day it would not be an issue, but only driving maybe 20 days a year makes the adjustment from Chevy Sonic to E450 a little challenging.
My only concern, beyond $$$, is that a few of the reviews I have read suggest if your installer does not know what they are doing they can actually make things significantly worse.
__________________
Griswald One - Life is a Misadventure!
2015 Greyhawk 29ME / Chevy Sonic
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05-19-2016, 05:58 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: --
Posts: 2,392
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Griswald One
I will be interested in hearing how you make out if you decide to install it. I have been contemplating the same addition after a friend with a Class A recommended it. I have struggled with how loose the steering is on my rig. If I was driving every day it would not be an issue, but only driving maybe 20 days a year makes the adjustment from Chevy Sonic to E450 a little challenging.
My only concern, beyond $$$, is that a few of the reviews I have read suggest if your installer does not know what they are doing they can actually make things significantly worse.
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I'm assuming you have checked your tire pressures, had your rig aligned, and adjusted your Hellwigs right?
__________________
2023 Ford F-150 XLT SCREW 3.5EB (Max Tow Pkg., Black Appearance Pkg., Bed Utility Pkg.)
1727 Payload / 4150 RAWR
On the sidelines taking it all in.
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05-19-2016, 07:41 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,726
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Make sure you also have a wheel alignment done.. the wheels were aligned at the Ford plant before the house was added to the frame...
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Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days /2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
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05-19-2016, 10:02 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 236
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OP, you need more +caster. These cutaway vans come from Ford assembly with the caster set at +3.5 (or so) which is OK for city driving. On the highway you want to have +5.5 degrees of caster which eliminates loose steering and wandering.
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05-19-2016, 02:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Brooklin, Ontario
Posts: 543
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Yep, Yep and Nope!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jopopsy
I'm assuming you have checked your tire pressures, had your rig aligned, and adjusted your Hellwigs right?
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I have had the alignment done twice to get it to where it is now. Tire pressure is good. Have not touched the springs.
__________________
Griswald One - Life is a Misadventure!
2015 Greyhawk 29ME / Chevy Sonic
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05-20-2016, 05:56 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: --
Posts: 2,392
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Griswald One
I have had the alignment done twice to get it to where it is now. Tire pressure is good. Have not touched the springs.
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The springs will throw more weight forward if they are adjusted correctly. Helps make the rig feel more planted.
__________________
2023 Ford F-150 XLT SCREW 3.5EB (Max Tow Pkg., Black Appearance Pkg., Bed Utility Pkg.)
1727 Payload / 4150 RAWR
On the sidelines taking it all in.
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05-20-2016, 06:49 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 39
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Am I missing something here? I keep reading statements by contributors on various forums, that by adjusting the tension on the Helwig springs the “weight distribution will be moved forward”. I have not read this in any of Helwigs’ installation material. My understanding is the springs are only an assist to the vehicles main springs by firming the vertical force on the rear axle helping to eliminate sway, unlike the horizontal force provided by trailer weight distributing torsion bars.
Unable to confirm my hypotheses at this time I’ll be weighing my Redhawk 26XD prior to adjustment and again after. I’ll let you know the results.
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05-20-2016, 07:28 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fuquay-Varina
Posts: 884
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I had planned on adjusting mine, but if it throws more weight forward I do not dare. The front axle on a 31FK is close to the max allowed weight anyway. When I ran ours across a CAT scale in April the front axle had only 60 lbs. of leeway while the rear had over 400 lbs. of slack.
Please do follow up with your findings. Thanks.
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2014 Greyhawk 31FK
2007 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100cc
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06-05-2016, 01:12 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: West Branch
Posts: 37
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Well, I'm having the safe-t-plus system installed oo the Greyhawk in a few weeks after adjusting the Hellwigs, and an alignment.
I'll keep y'all advised on the anticipated improvement.
__________________
2016 Greyhawk 29 MV
West Branch, MI
Wife & Co-Pilot: Famous Amos
1 Shizu, 1 Havanese
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06-05-2016, 02:07 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Brooklin, Ontario
Posts: 543
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Weight Challenges
Quote:
Originally Posted by NC Roamer
I had planned on adjusting mine, but if it throws more weight forward I do not dare. The front axle on a 31FK is close to the max allowed weight anyway. When I ran ours across a CAT scale in April the front axle had only 60 lbs. of leeway while the rear had over 400 lbs. of slack.
Please do follow up with your findings. Thanks.
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Just came from the CATS myself... I was a full 5000 on the fronts which is my max and overweight on the rears by 400 lbs... Now I did have 5 adults and the dog on board which did not help. But looks like I need to re-evaluate some of my gear.... I can't really think of anywhere that I have hundreds of pounds to shed.
__________________
Griswald One - Life is a Misadventure!
2015 Greyhawk 29ME / Chevy Sonic
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06-07-2016, 10:17 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Brooklin, Ontario
Posts: 543
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Weight Distribution
So I spent Sunday playing with the distribution of weight on my rig and then drove 300 miles to Detroit. What a difference.
I removed a few items that I really did not need. Probably no more then a 100 pounds. But those items freed up some forward holds so I picked two of my heaviest items, 100ft of 30amp cables and my tools and moved them from the back hold into forward storage.
Taking into account the effect of a fulcrum, by moving 100lbs from the furthest point back to a spot between the axels I made a significant shift in my weight distribution. I have not gone back to the scales and weighed the difference, but I can tell you the driving improvement was huge. I now feel far more grounded and steering is much tighter.
This was a free "mod" and the impact was invaluable.
__________________
Griswald One - Life is a Misadventure!
2015 Greyhawk 29ME / Chevy Sonic
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