Old vans - do they need power steering?

[Barclaybasher]

5 years ago I bought my 1991 Eriba - Renault Trafic based - still have it

Steering felt too heavy so I had electric power steering fitted - £600

I recently bought a 1988 Autosleeper - basically a Renault Trafic van conversion

The steering was really heavy and I thought I might need to spend another £600 on power steering.... then I remembered that in 1984 I had bought a brand new van similar - a Renault Trafic T1000 and there was no problem with the steering back then.

With a conversion my Autosleeper should be 'light' at the front, not heavy, compared with my 1984 van

I looked up the tyre pressures for the Trafic van - 54psi for the front.

Mine were 25 and 35 !

Pumped up to 54 and no power steering needed !

Most car drivers are used to 35psi as 'normal'

- I can only think that newcomers to MHs think that the pressures are the same as cars - like me 5 years ago ! and wasted £600 on power steering I probably didn't need !

 

[rosalan]

Whilst power steering can, I am told, give excessive wear on your front tyres, power steering makes long distance driving far less effortful. I recall driving a 53 seater coach around the Alps without p/s and managed to tear a muscle on hairpin pends. Motorhomes are a lot lighter but the potential and effort can still be there, even with a full garage and pumped up tyres.

 

[glenn2926]

Whilst power steering can, I am told, give excessive wear on your front tyres, power steering makes long distance driving far less effortful. I recall driving a 53 seater coach around the Alps without p/s and managed to tear a muscle on hairpin pends. Motorhomes are a lot lighter but the potential and effort can still be there, even with a full garage and pumped up tyres.

Power steering makes people dry steer. Which causes excessive wear on tyres. You can’t turn the steering unless you’re moving without power steering.

 

[Lenny HB]

In 1981 I had one of the first XR3's on the road, it had wide tyres 185's (they were wide in those days) compared to the standard Escorts 145's. Combined with a smaller steering wheel than the standard car and no power steering if you attacked a multistory car park when you came out it felt like your arms were about to drop off.

 

[Googlebot]

I used to drive Ambulances with no power steering, it was fine but hard work.

Lots more reversing and if you were stationary, forget it! That wheel would not turn!

Like every driving aid, you don’t “need” them, but they make it so much easier.

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[DiggerJon]

My arms scream for power steering at low speeds in my Austin Metro even with the tyres at correct pressure but no problem whilst on the move.

 

[The Wino]

I don't think I need power steering, Aircon,elec windows,a heated screen etc but I'm glad I've got them. I suppose given the choice of power steering or solar and a refillable gas cyl unless you struggle with the steering go for the others.
I have found just the same with tyre pressures before it makes a real difference to how the steering feels.

 

[Lenny HB]

My arms scream for power steering at low speeds in my Austin Metro even with the tyres at correct pressure but no problem whilst on the move.

A few years ago wife's sister was staying with us, she had an old Fiesta. They had gone out I needed to move it on the drive, didn't know cars still existed without power steering I thought I was going to have to call Superman.

 

[63720]

In 1981 I had one of the first XR3's on the road, it had wide tyres 185's (they were wide in those days) compared to the standard Escorts 145's. Combined with a smaller steering wheel than the standard car and no power steering if you attacked a multistory car park when you came out it felt like your arms were about to drop off.

Ahh, Armstrong steering perhaps

 

[busby]

Can remember driving 8 wheelers back in the 60s with no power steering,,you virtually had to stand up going around sharp turns when driving slowly to turn the steering wheel..No skinny lightweight truck drivers hardly back then,, BUSBY.

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[Bobby-gg]

Reminds me of an old trick from years ago that used car salesmen would do to sell cars with no power steering, they'd pump the front tyre's up as far as they dared, so when potential buyers came in looking for a small second car as a run around for the Mrs and were directed to the car in the corner with no power steering because "you really don't need it, see how light it is" then once sold drop the pressures down to standard

 

[Dilbert]

Had a Talbot pvc years ago with very heavy steering, turned out front tyres at 25lbs when should be 45 to 48. Drove lovely after that until the front suspension collapsed in choumont near Troyes leaving me with no gears... suspension tops bodged with isopon

 

[Sundowners]

We used to drive a Leyland truck carrying 10 ton of wheat ---no power steering and 6 speed crash box --- we managed ok but as already stated no chance of turning the wheels while stationary-- involved a bit of shunting back and forth!!!
I drove a 1963 Bedford coach ( camper) to Portugal many times in the 80s--- never even considered it not having power steering-- it was just beautiful to drive!!!!
The time I really appreciate power steering is when reversing a trailer-- makes tight maneuvering so easy!!

 

[robnchris]

Power steering makes people dry steer. Which causes excessive wear on tyres. You can’t turn the steering unless you’re moving without power steering.

Makes parking in tight spaces a bugger though

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
No power steering ?... Two eggs for breakfast not one,another old trick...Stick your thumb in your mouth and BLOW....Up come the muscles ..Byyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Tea Bag

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[Trevor Wbm]

I was a bit surprised to find the correct pressure on my Boxer / Autocruise is 79.5psi. No idea what they were when I picked it up from the dealer, but the difference when I got it back from my trusted garage chap was noticeable.

 

[joe and sue]

At my age even my bike needs power steering !!

 

[Reallyretired]

I fitted power steering to a kontiki 650 many years ago when I suffered great pains in my shoulders after coming over the alps. Perhaps I should have pumped up the tyres and saved my money, it was around £500 even around 25-30 years ago.

 

[Pausim]

It is not old vans that need power steering, it is old people.

 

[gus-lopez]

I fitted power steering to a kontiki 650 many years ago when I suffered great pains in my shoulders after coming over the alps. Perhaps I should have pumped up the tyres and saved my money, it was around £500 even around 25-30 years ago.

It isn't "power assisted "steering as in hydraulic these days but electric assisted.
You need the motor off a corsa, the early B type is better for restricted room in older ducatos & definitely the mark 1, complete with electric plugs & a box of tricks you can buy on line for £20 . I've a set here that I never got around to fitting on my last ducato.

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[Barclaybasher]

You need the motor off a corsa, the early B type is better for restricted room in older ducatos & definitely the mark 1, complete with electric plugs & a box of tricks you can buy on line for £20

Exactly that fitted to the Eriba - but some cutting and welding involved - not something I could do

 

[Reallyretired]

It isn't "power assisted "steering as in hydraulic these days but electric assisted.
You need the motor off a corsa, the early B type is better for restricted room in older ducatos & definitely the mark 1, complete with electric plugs & a box of tricks you can buy on line for £20 . I've a set here that I never got around to fitting on my last ducato.

Only hydraulic when I had mine fitted, a bit pricy but worked well.

 

[denisejoe]

A friend had an old Range Rover with no power steering he had no problem the only way I could steer was than standing up only drove it once

 

[TheBig1]

You lot are whimps worrying about no PAS on an old van. That was all we had at one time and a fully laden 5 tonne lorry was shall we say hard work. The older drivers fitted a ball on the steering which really helped

 

[denisejoe]

You lot are whimps worrying about no PAS on an old van. That was all we had at one time and a fully laden 5 tonne lorry was shall we say hard work. The older drivers fitted a ball on the steering which really helped

An 8 legged I was driving lost power steering to left picking a route through London was interesting

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[TheBig1]

An 8 legged I was driving lost power steering to left picking a route through London was interesting

 

[Vipar]

I just get Mrs vipar to sit in the back, steering light as a feather

 

[scally]

I used to drive Ambulances with no power steering, it was fine but hard work.

Lots more reversing and if you were stationary, forget it! That wheel would not turn!

Like every driving aid, you don’t “need” them, but they make it so much easier.

Precisly the reason I had to sell my beloved ambi. When rolling, fine but when trying to park or manouver in a tight space I had got to an age where it fair wore me out. Tyres were always up to pressure( plated on wing) just too hard. The answer is yes if your finding it difficult, no if your Mr Atlas.

 

[glenn2926]

An 8 legged I was driving lost power steering to left picking a route through London was interesting

Aye if they have power steering and it packs up it’s worse than ones with no power steering in the first place.

 

[busby]

An 8 legged I was driving lost power steering to left picking a route through London was interesting

Steering was heavier when power assist failed than on a vehicle without it.You are pushing against the hydraulics..BUSBY.

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