Anyone using "Safe Steer" system?

Rickf1985 · April 28, 2014, 12:33 PM

Does anyone here have a Safe Steer system on their MH? It attaches to the lower control arm and has what looks like hood springs from a 60's car going out to the steering knuckle. I have heard stories of how the P30 chassis is terrible for staying on the road but I don't really believe it. If they were so bad what did they make so many millions of them? I am thinking this contraption is causing a pull in the steering so I am going to pull it of but I wanted to see if anyone else had experience with them.

Rick

DonD · April 28, 2014, 01:01 PM

As long as the springs are adjusted equally at STRAIGHT ahead (steering exactly centered) it should not cause pulling. I know Dave will have some instructions, probably the whole manual.. W% I will look to see what I have.

DaveVA78Chieftain · April 28, 2014, 01:14 PM

Not me. I use my arms to keep my steering wheel on the straight and narrow

Dave

legomybago · April 28, 2014, 01:43 PM

We have them on our P30, all I really know about them is...when you have the front end jacked up, and you want to grease the 2 inner tie rod ends in front of cross member, you need to turn the wheels all the way in one direction or the other to get to the 2 zurks, well those springs make it impossible to do that job by yourself because as soon as you let off the steering wheel, the springs return the front end to the straight ahead centered position!! So I changed the zurks!!! Now you can grease it without turning the steering.....Thats all I know about them W%

DonD · April 28, 2014, 02:24 PM

This is all I got: http://www.steersafe.com/

Moo

Sounds like a bovine condom.

cncsparky · April 28, 2014, 06:03 PM

Anybody have pics of steersafe installed on their rig?

Stripe · April 28, 2014, 07:31 PM

Here you go..

Rickf1985 · April 28, 2014, 08:09 PM

mine is nowhere near that clean and the welds are not even complete. Really shoddy work. I will go over it and check the setup compared to the sheet you found. I can visually see one spring is tighter than the other and it is the one that would cause a right pull. Thanks for the help in looking that up. My trip is next Wednesday and I still need to rebuild the carb, get it inspected, check the front brakes, flush the tank, fill the propane. Oh, and then I get to stock it for the trip. All this while working 12's. I gotta' retire.

TerryH · April 28, 2014, 08:48 PM

On the other hand, I retired at 58 - six years ago and enjoy every day of it. Depends on tne individual I guess.

As to the Safe Steer system, has anyone had experience with it, particularly in a before and after scenerio? I would question the system pulling against the steering wheel on a curve, but can see a possible advantage should you over/under steer.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Terry

ClydesdaleKevin · April 28, 2014, 09:28 PM

I've seen that Safe Steer system on other rigs. On ours, we have a Safe-T-Plus setup...sort of like a steering stabilizer on steroids in addition to the stock steering stabilizer.

Kev

pvoth1111 · April 28, 2014, 09:42 PM

safe T steer is high money

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-wheel-covers/96-1322pp.htm

Holy moly over 400 bucks....that's a hell of a stabilizer.

Stripe · April 28, 2014, 11:28 PM

I guess I am just an adrenaline junkie, I mean, look at what I did/do, Look for bombs, ON PURPOSE!

Back to the thread, so, with that safety steery thingy, is that in conjunction with the stock stabilzer? is it for drifting as well? Because I would have drift, I guess, but just adjusted my steering box, now it dun want to go left and right all willy nillie.. It tracks so much better now and dinna cost a thing. Just took a 5/8ths wrench and a 5/32nds hex to do it.

TerryH · April 28, 2014, 11:30 PM

"I've seen that Safe Steer system on other rigs. On ours, we have a Safe-T-Plus setup...sort of like a steering stabilizer on steroids in addition to the stock steering stabilizer."

Have you ever tried it without or know of anyone who has before and after experience?
Trying to determine if the system is worth the cost. I'm initially somewhat leery on a system that depends on mechanically installed springs to possibly over ride steering.
Additionally, the first I heard of this or similar systems was through Rick1985's post.

Not unusual being that I am Canadian. We do tend to lag behind and piggy-back on the USA for some things.

I would suspect that if this were to be the be all and end all of steering issues it would be somewhat more common knowledge.
Thanks
Terry

Rickf1985 · April 29, 2014, 09:47 AM

The thing that worries me is what happens if a spring breaks?

ClydesdaleKevin · April 29, 2014, 08:15 PM

The Safe-T-Plus setup is to keep your wheels tracking straight in case of a front tire blow out...which is what I imagine the spring setup is for as well.

Hey Frederic! How did you go about adjusting your steering box? Would love to tighten mine up! Could you post the procedure in a new thread, maybe under Projects, so I can see how you did it?

Thanks!

Kev

Stripe · April 29, 2014, 10:37 PM

Done...
http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php/topic,9503.msg49913.html#new

Turbodime · May 04, 2014, 03:45 AM

I had both in mine plus the stock stabilizer. I removed the safe-t-plus due to it leaking. The rig drives nice and dead straight until I get passed by trucks or other rv,s then it's all over the road.

I have an original manual if anyone is interested. I can copy it on Monday.

Rickf1985 · May 04, 2014, 09:04 AM

Get in touch with Mark, the site owner. It would be good to have the manual in the manual section. All I have is a brochure.

Rick

DaveVA78Chieftain · May 04, 2014, 09:13 AM

Here is the upload area for manuals you would like to donate to the site.
http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=album;id=471

Either Mark or I will add them.

Dave

Oz · May 04, 2014, 10:58 AM

Thanks, Turbo. Sent you a PM.

Rickf1985 · May 04, 2014, 09:03 PM

I was working on the tires today and had the front end off the ground and found out something both interesting and disturbing at the same time. With this "Safe Steer" system with the hood springs on it you cannot turn the wheels without the motor running! I am no small guy at 6'2" and 220lbs. and I could not turn the wheels more than one turn of the wheel and then it whipped back. This is with the front end in the air. I can turn them with it running and the pump helping but that is the disturbing part, what happens if you lose power steering for any reason?! You will NOT be able to control the vehicle. On top of that look at the extra strain it is putting on the steering box and pump. I think this system is going to go away.

ClydesdaleKevin · May 04, 2014, 10:11 PM

The idea is to keep the wheels straight in a blow out or loss of power steering. It will track straight...and while moving, even without power steering, you'll still be able to turn and move the wheels against the springs.

Kev

TerryH · May 04, 2014, 11:43 PM

Granted that in a blow out or loss of power steering situation or any steering situation you want to keep the front wheels pointed forward and steer forward as possible.

I can see the benefits for one of these systems in either case.

However, should one spring break or let go, would you not be fighting the opposite one? Immediately? On the highway?

Just trying to determine if one of these systems is worth considering installing.
Thanks
Terry

Rickf1985 · May 05, 2014, 07:07 AM

Kevin, Like I said, I tried to steer it with the front tires in the air and the motor not running and I could only get one turn of the wheel and that was really hauling on it. My wife could not get a half turn. I am thinking that if the motor dies and you have to turn off the road you are not going to be able to do it.
The broken spring idea has entered my mind also. I don't think it would be quite as drastic as the above scenario because the springs are not fully stretched going straight but it would definitely pull quickly to one side. Also you would have the other springs counteracting it. How hard and how much is an unknown. If I decide to take this system off I will remove one spring and drive it down my back road and see how hard it pulls and let you know.
I was under there watching how the system works as my wife was turning the wheel back and forth and I still do not fully grasp what is happening with the inside holding bracket. It starts to pivot after a certain point. There are teflon pads top and bottom of this bracket so it is obviously made to pivot but the only thing holding all of this together is three slightly bent 5/16 bolts. There is probably 500 - 750 lbs. of force on that bracket and that is not enough bolt to hold all of that. I do not have a mechanical engineering degree but I have been fabricating most of my life.

kattkisson · May 05, 2014, 11:06 AM

Installed the system on my 22 ft Winnebago 93. I was all over the road as this model is the narrow treadwidth and constantly fights the wear ruts in the highways .

I did the following in this order to get improvement:
1. tightened the steering factory pivots. People who don't want to do this can replace them with the bearing units that are out there. The factory units are bushed and can be tighten internally.
2. Installed new Air Bags. People that don't want to do this can install heavier springs and do away with them.
3. Installed a heavier front sway bar for better wind control. This helped a lot in sidewind and being blown around by passing vehicles, but really doesn't contribute much for straight and flat driving.
4. Installed the steer-safe system.

The most improvement in "feel & straightness" occurred with #1 & #4 above. Note that the Steer-safe system decreases ground clearance somewhat.