Complaint 304586

Complaint Summary

SUSPENSION:REAR

Owner Narrative

DURING T WO TRIPS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WE ENCOUNTERED WINDS FROM 10 TO 30 MPH. ON THESE OCCASIONS I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO SLOW DOWN TO 40 TO 50 MPH SPEED IN ORDER TO CONTROL MOTOR HOME. I HAD TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED AT 45 TO 90 DEGREES TO KEEP THE UNIT GOING STRAIGHT. ADDITIONALLY EACH TIME A 18 WHEEL TRUCK PASSED I HAD TO HOLD THE WHEEL TIGHTLY, AS THE UNIT WAS PUSHED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED WITH 55 GALLONS (330 LBS) THE STEERING CHANGES COMPLETELY. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FEELS LIGHT. THE TRUCK WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED WHEN THEY OVER STEER ATTEMPTING TO KEEP THE UNIT GOING STRAIGHT EVEN IN MILD WINDS. WARRANTY STATEMENT BY WINNEBAGO: ITEMS NOT SUBJECT TO WARRANTY COVERAGE: CHASSIS. THESE ITEMS ARE COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS INDIVIDUAL WARRANTY. WARRANTY STATEMENT BY FORD: WARRANTY IS VOID IF: ALTERING OR MODIFYING THE VEHICLE-INCLUDING THE BODY CHASSIS OR COMPONENT - AFTER THE VEHICLE LEAVES FORDS'S CONTROL. THE POSSIBLE REASON FOR SWAYING AND LOOSE STEERING ARE. WINNEBAGO ADDED 4 FEET TO THE FORD CHASSIS. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ADD A SLIDE OUT BEHING THE REAR WHEELS. THIS ADDED ADDITIONAL WEIGHT BEHIND THE REAR WHEELS. WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IS ADDED BEHIND REAR WHEELS CAUSING STEERING TO CHANGE UNTIL GAS IS USED. WINNEBAGO DID NOT ALTER OR IMPROVE THE SUSPENSION PROVIDED BY FORD EVEN THOUGH THEY MODIFIED THE LENGTH OF THE CHASSIS.*AK

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.