Originally Posted by
Petervs
Howard Active Steering is a Pneumatic/Hydraulic power steering assist system. It adds stability and reduces the amount of steering corrections you need to make to track straight down the road.
But the main feature is you can easily adjust the steering if you have a crowned road or a crosswind, then the Howard adds a constant force in the direction and amount needed to cause the coach to roll straight without a constant steering wheel correction angle. There is a hydraulic cylinder that pushes against the steering linkage to actuate the system.
There is a little panel mounted near the dash which turns it on and off, adjusts the strength of the force by means of a pressure regulator with a pressure gauge, and a "trim" button. When you push that , then that amount of steering correction is added. Then the steering wheel magically returns to neutral even if you have a side wind. The main components are mounted in the area behind the left headlight.
We use it all the time except when maneuvering in parking lots, etc. Then it adds just a little steering force.
Once while driving across Iowa with at least a 50 mph wind coming from nearly 90 degrees to our direction of travel it could not keep the bus straight, any less wind it does fine. I like the system a lot.