Club 80-90 Forums

Hello everyone here,

We are just in the process of buying our new (old) T25 camper, when I went to view/test drive it, i found the steering almost as heavy as the old Bedford Green Goddess, truly beastly.

Is this par for the course, or, could it be down to incorrect wheels/tyres/pressures?

If the above is possibly what should the correct configuration be?

Not excellent pics but do these look the okay?  I haven't got the van yet so I can't get the tyre size.. Sorry.



 

It’s normal when the vehicle isn’t moving , need to change driving style a little to accommodate, easy peasy once driving

A lot of people add power steering.

davidoft1 wrote: ↑10 Jan 2025, 17:00 It’s normal when the vehicle isn’t moving , need to change driving style a little to accommodate, easy peasy once driving

Heavy as hell, even when moving, on a roundabout for example.  May need to add Power steering.

Standard size C rated tyres? And what size wheels? They look like 15/16" Mercs?
Check tyre pressures. I inflate fronts to 43psi and rears to 48psi.
I'm running two campers (for now). One with factory PAS. The other without, and it is fine to park and drive. Top quality tyres and correct pressures are the answer.
Also PAS steering will wear tyres more quickly than non PAS. I get about 25K with PAS. 40K non PAS.

What's the size of the steering wheel? The originals are quite big to make the steering lighter, a small aftermarket one will make it a lot heavier.

Our mk1 Golf was nealy as bad .

But given these thing are like land yatchs even in a light breeze , having that damping effect is probably usefull

They're Ford Granada wheels.

That's why I recognise them.. 24V Cosworth Wheels 

Interestignly I don't rememeber ever seeing that 190E in the background...

I tried them on my Galaxy Once..



I seem to remember I sold them to my brother in law and he put them on his T4 Panel Van.

maxstu wrote: ↑10 Jan 2025, 20:07 Standard size C rated tyres? And what size wheels? They look like 15/16" Mercs?
Check tyre pressures. I inflate fronts to 43psi and rears to 48psi.
I'm running two campers (for now). One with factory PAS. The other without, and it is fine to park and drive. Top quality tyres and correct pressures are the answer.
Also PAS steering will wear tyres more quickly than non PAS. I get about 25K with PAS. 40K non PAS.

Top tip cheers, I will check the TP as soon as I get hold of it, I kinda suspected this at the outset,  

Rik wrote: ↑10 Jan 2025, 20:21 What's the size of the steering wheel? The originals are quite big to make the steering lighter, a small aftermarket one will make it a lot heavier.

Yep it's definitely original, it's massive!

shepster wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 09:09 They're Ford Granada wheels.

Aha!
I was looking at a set of the original steel ones, however, they're in Norfolk and I am in sunny Glasgow.

If yours is a high top, driving and steering in wind is a completely different experience! Especially when artic's are going about 56mphn past at the same time as the wind!