Steering angle on 2000 Wanderlodge LXI

[Pete Masterson]

I took a driving course with the RV School headquartered in
Applegate, CA last fall. My coach is estimated to have about a 45
degree turning angle (it could be 48...). In any event, the turns
start about the same place ... you sit in front of the steer wheels,
so you basically want most of your body to be past the corner when
you start the turn. This will quickly become a natural feeling aspect
of driving the coach. (I once owned a VW Bus in my youth ... where
you sit directly above the steering wheels .. it's the same basic
approach, but you turn a little sooner.)

Take it slow and track yourself on right turns (in particular) by
using the right mirrors -- it really won't be that long before you
get the hang of it.

I doubt that the tag axle turning will have an enormous effect on the
turning radius. On the older PTs, the advice is to dump the tag air
(to relieve the friction) for "tight maneuvers" -- to tell the truth,
I haven't notice much advantage to that... but it probably takes a
few feet off a turn.

The 55 degree (or greater) steering angle of many newer coaches do
make those seem _much_ more maneuverable -- and U-turns or other
tight maneuvers can be made in significantly shorter space. Just
forget about that convenience and be aware that you'll simply need to
always plan ahead...

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at



On May 15, 2007, at 8:51 PM, Allen & Conny wrote:

> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, brad barton <bbartonwx@...>
> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Conny and Allen,
>> We got our 2000 LXi back in March. I don't have hard numbers, but
> estimates.
>
> Thanks for your thoughts Brad. According to the 2000 brochure, the
> tag axle was supposed to turn 7 degrees bi-directional under 15 mph.
> We still don't understand what the effective steering angle will be
> with a steerable tag. During our driving lessions, we drove a coach
> that had a 55 degree steering angle which meant we had to initiate the
> turn after our hips had cleared the obstacle. When do you start your
> turns assuming a 48 degree steering angle with a steerable tag??
> Conny & Allen
> 2000 Wanderlodge LXI (in 8 days and we are still working on how to
> drive this beast!)