Seneca Handling

[AGGIE00]

So we just got back from our second trip, 600 miles. 2000 miles on the odometer now. It's been a white knuckle two hand job to drive this thing over 60mph. I'm absolutely exhausted after the trip. I've drive busses and tractor trailers that handled far better. I've got to believe it has alignment issues, but I don't know that for sure. It's hard to explain, but it doesn't hold the road. I have to constantly correct the steering like drive a forty year old truck with baling wire holding the tie rods together. Has anyone else experienced this? What should my expectations be?

[Robbbyr]

My 2014 handles like a dream, far better than my prior Ford-based Class C's. No wandering and does not tire me out at all, even driving for an entire day.

What tire pressure are you running in your tires? That can make a big difference when the fronts are too high.

[AGGIE00]

Wandering is the right word. 100psi in the fronts.

[Robbbyr]

That isn't excessively high, I run 85 psi all around. I have weighed my loaded rig and consulted the Michelin load/pressure charts and I am still well within the safe range. I have to think something is amiss, did you drive any other Senecas prior to purchasing your current unit?

I know Jayco has authorized many owners of the Ford-based C's to get an alignment with their unit loaded for travel, perhaps they would do the same for yours. Plus check for any anomalies in the front suspension while they were at it. But we need a heavy truck suspension shop to do it correctly.

I have been on this forum for awhile, your handling issue is one of the first I have heard from a Seneca owner. Most talk about how much better their Seneca handles as compared to their prior unit.

Good luck!

[RVermont]

I just took my new unit for a test drive prior to the delivery date next Saturday. Drove up the freeway for 30 miles at 65-70. Could have driven one handed. I thought it was very well aligned and ran true. I would suggest both reduced air pressure and an alignment. Have freight-liner check it out maybe something is not right under the front end. Please let us know if you find a solution and best wishes on getting that corrected.


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[Joe1mc]

Have almost 10K miles in my 2016 Seneca, I haven't experienced any pulling or drifting from my unit. Drives straight and true at tire pressure of 90psi front and 95 rear tires.

[memphis02]

Just got back from a 2800mi Yellowstone trip. Outside of the pothole filled I80 and I70, ours ran smoothly no matter what speed we ran. Even put her up around 80 to get around a slowpoke on a 2-lane without a worry (other than my fuel gauge).

It definitely sounds like something might be up with your suspension or steering system.

[Grumpy]

Could also be how it's loaded.

[AGGIE00]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Could also be how it's loaded.

Drove the same way empty. Just thought the problem was the wind and not being used to driving it.

[AGGIE00]

Fuel gauge seems to be way off. Showed almost empty with warning light on. Was only able to put 40 gallons in it.

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by AGGIE00

Fuel gauge seems to be way off. Showed almost empty with warning light on. Was only able to put 40 gallons in it.

A very common Seneca complaint. Many of us use a ScanGauge which can display fuel used on a trip.

[Harvard]

Loose steering and wandering at highway speeds can be a symptom of not having enough positive caster. Just saying.

[AGGIE00]

That's my guess, that is alignment of some sort. I'll send it to freighliner this week to get it checked out. Then to the rv dealer to fix the water heater that almost fell out on the way home.

[SloPoke]

You have a good warranty with Freightliner... They have been VERY good at taking care of things on our Seneca Chassis. I would have them look at the entire rig and give you an express assessment. Then you can have the confidence that there is nothing wrong with anything that is chassis related that the Dealer or Jayco has minimal
experience with.

[javamon]

I just finished a 2000 mile round-trip to Rockville, MD. Mine definitely wandered until I brought the front tires down to 90 psi (cold). I will probably take them down to 85 for my summer trip. Also, the front-end feedback was very harsh when the cold pressure was above 90. Watching my tires very closely for any abnormal wear patterns. Also handled very well at 70-75 as long as the wind was low. Any significant winds, the handling would get concerning above 65 mph.

[Mark S]

I had the same complaint driving home from dealer with tires at 110 psi. Once I dropped tires to 85 it was a pleasure to drive.

I am also thinking the sweet spot speed for mpg, comfort and safety will be 62-63. Thoughts?

[memphis02]

Originally Posted by Mark S

I had the same complaint driving home from dealer with tires at 110 psi. Once I dropped tires to 85 it was a pleasure to drive.

I am also thinking the sweet spot speed for mpg, comfort and safety will be 62-63. Thoughts?

85psi will definitely be a very comfy ride vs. 110. I have found that my preference is 95. I had dropped it all the way to 85, however, I felt like there was a bit of slop and my road-holding ability wasn't as good, so I brought it back up on all 6 tires in 5psi increments until I was satisfied.

We definitely aren't getting as good of a ride, but I feel better in the wind gusts and turns at this point.

On our trip, we typically kept it at 68 and had an average of 9.8mpg over 2800mi (calculated by total gallons purchased at pump, so this also includes approximately 29hrs of generator usage, which would get our *actual* average up to somewhere closer to 11mpg).

[WaltW]

memphis02, what did the Michelin table for RV tires say your tire pressures should be set at?

[memphis02]

Originally Posted by WaltW

memphis02, what did the Michelin table for RV tires say your tire pressures should be set at?

I believe we could have gone down to as low as 70psi based on the chart as we were not incredibly heavy (8,530 front 15,110 rear).

[AGGIE00]

Took it in to freightliner today. We'll see what they find out. I asked about tire pressure on the steering axle and they said 100, which is where they're at.