Hendersons Line Up

[bumpersbird]

Hi Pete,

I had just about the problems when I got my PT-42. Cracked shock
mount, pulled to the right, drag linkworn out, all the tie ends worn
out, and a binding steersafe. My BB guy told me that was common with
the 42's. If your coach is like mine it drives a whole lot better.
Mine still is very senitive to steering wheel input. The only cure
I've found is kinda like in baseball, choke up on the wheel. I drive
with the spokes on the steering wheel about half way between the
wheel and the horn for most highway driving less input, less motion,
better control, you'll be surprised at how well she will track. One
word of caution I have a tendency to drop my thumb into the cutout on
the spokes of the steering wheel. Not a good idea especially if the
wheel spins around or jerks hard to one side or the other.

Newest PT 42 problem: Air cylinder for left rear drive axel brake
fell off this morning. Caught that mess a little late. I backed over
it! The only good news is it happened in my driveway and not on the
road.

Kurt Horvath
bumperbird
'95 PT-42 WLWB
Indulgence

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> Just got back from visiting Henderson's Line Up -- a wheel
alignment
> service specializing in RVs that also manufactures the SuperSteer
> product line that upgrades RV suspension components.
>
> My coach had a pull to the right that didn't seem normal -- and
I'd
> developed a considerable shake in the front end that felt like
badly
> balanced tires.
>
> After a test drive and inspection these problems were found:
>
> 1. The Blue Ox True Center steering control unit, installed by the
> previous owner, was bent and jammed -- accounting for the pull to
the
> right. Henderson's commented that this unit had been recalled. I
now
> realize that it wasn't working from before I took delivery of the
> coach. Mr. Oliver's (the dealer) wasn't familiar with the system
and
> had commented that "it didn't seem like it did much."
>
> 2. The drag link tie rod end was worn causing significant play in
the
> steering system.
>
> 3. The left front tire was out-of-round -- due to abnormal wear
> caused by the damaged/worn components, a serious flat spot had
> developed. I had to buy a new tire. (A Les Schawb Tire Store is
> nearby their location.)
>
> 4. The left, front upper shock mount had cracked and slightly
pulled
> away from the frame.
>
> Due to scheduling and the need for parts to be shipped in,
> Henderson's removed the True Center device and I got a new tire. I
> then drove on to Junction City Oregon where I had an appointment
for
> installation of a desk by Davis Cabinets.
>
> During this approximately 300 mile round trip, I noted significant
> improvement in the handling of the coach with the damaged True
Center
> device removed. However, there was some "wander" in the
Wanderlodge
> movement down the highway.
>
> Upon return to Hendersons they:
>
> 1. Aligned the wheels. I discovered a significant out-of-alignment
> situation that would have quickly ruined another tire if it wasn't
> corrected.
>
> 2. Installed the Safe-T-Plus steering control with remote trim
> adjustment system.
>
> 3. Welded the shock mount back in it's proper place.
>
> 4. Replaced the entire drag link (including tie rod connections at
> both ends). Initially, only the lower end of the drag link was to
be
> replaced... however, it was not possible to remove the old end
from
> the link without risking damage -- so it was decided to simply
> replace the whole thing.
>
> 5. As part of their service, they weighed my coach. Interestingly,
> there is a 2500 lb difference side to side at the rear axles.
> Apparently, this is simply a design issue -- and probably an issue
> with the diagonal/side aisle floor plan. While all major (heavy)
> components appear to be mounted on/near the coach centerline, it's
> obvious that _something_ is not fully counterbalanced. (The
personal
> items in the coach were randomly distributed and should have, if
> anything, reduced the difference.) The technician, using weight
and
> inflation charts for my tires came up with an alternate set of
tire
> pressures (and adjusted them) that reflect the actual loading. It
was
> significantly different than that suggested by Blue Bird. BB
> suggested F-115, D-110, T-90 and the new values are F-90, D-115,
> T-100 on the light side with T-120 on the heavy side. In
retrospect,
> this 2500 lb difference is not a highly significant amount
> considering the overall 47,250 lbs. weight of the coach at the
time
> it was weighed. (Fuel 2/3 full, fresh water 3/4 full, black/gray
> tanks empty.) I note that the only item that falls completely on
the
> heavy side is the fresh water tank, but it weighs a maximum of
about
> 1000 lbs. I also note that there is considerable remaining
capacity
> as the GVWR of my coach is 52,500 lbs.
>
> 6. The technician was unable to tighten the end of the steering
gear
> (at the bottom of the steering wheel shaft) because BB had wrapped
an
> incredible amount of wiring across the area and it was impossible
to
> reach the necessary components without risk of disrupting the
wiring.
> If there is an actual need for this, it's a relatively minor
aspect
> of the project.
>
> Results: In a test drive and in the 400 mile trip back home, the
> handling of the coach felt much better than it had before -- it
was
> hard to believe that it was the same vehicle. The deterioration of
> the ride had been gradual, so it was a surprise to realize how
really
> bad it had gotten.
>
> We discussed installation of the SuperSteer Motion Control Units --
a
> device that attaches to each of the air bags to help with sway or
> bounce in the suspension. (I deferred installation for "later.")
> However, during the 'after' test drive, the technician admitted
that
> motion control units would only marginally improve the handling of
my
> coach. (Keep in mind, this is the 95, 42 foot model -- it might
offer
> a greater improvement on other models.)
>
> All in all, I was highly satisfied with the products and services
> that Henderson's provided. While the process took a bit longer
than
> anticipated, I can't fault them as it was primarily due to the
need
> to obtain parts once the specific problems were determined. At no
> time did I feel that I was given a 'hard sell' nor did they talk
me
> into buying unnecessary services. (For example, they might have
sold
> me shock absorbers, but, instead, they simply cranked an
extra 'turn'
> into the adjustable Koni shocks on the coach.)
>
> One final observation -- even with the improved
steering/suspension,
> many of California's freeways are still in sad shape and will
shake
> the bejebers out of you...
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>