Comfort Drive

[Jim]

Keep in mind that the ‘old‘ version of Comfort Drive that Ken Sherwin guided a lot of us on was the ‘older system’ and their is a newer system that has some differences.

Thank you for the reference link.
Regards

What differences would those be? Are they significant?

 

[Jim]

great info, can't wait to try mine out, salesman really talked it up, this reassures me, thanks

When will you get this new beast?

 

[FloridaSon]

What differences would those be? Are they significant?

The differences are that according to Freightliner, you cannot ‘wake up’ comfort as described my Ken Sherwin and one youtube video. I have lost Comfort Drive (CD) on rough interstates and the temp fix is to stop, turn the chassis battery off then back on. That seems to reset it even if FL does not agree.

Another difference is the old CD had an open source diagnostic program written by Ken and his peers. Anyone could use it to diagnose the older CD. The new CD (which has been called Column Drive, ReAx Drive and the latest from FL is Smart Steering or Smart Wheel)

The last difference is only one I have heard from others and that is the newer CD is not as effective as the old. I have not driven an older version and think my newer version works find - when it works.

After experiencing multiple failures driving on South Carolina I-95 roads, I submitted a safety report to NHTSA, called my dealer, called Newmar and Called Freightliner. Newmar conferenced me with Freightliner (FL) and all agreed that I might check the two plugs to make sure they were inserted and locked. They were. Then Freightliner had me drive the coach to their facility and that facility said I was experiencing multiple faults of the ‘clockspring’ and replaced it. Both Newmar and FL not consider it fixed. I won’t know until I hit some rough roads. The CD plug connections Do not run through the clockspring so I don’t know how that helps. Unless it is the dash and CD steering effort somehow faults and the error “steering effort ctrl disabled” appears.

I still believe in the benefit of CD and hope it is really fixed. It does make a difference.

The differences to me are not significant. The significant issue is losing Comfort Drive after hitting a pothole, bridge abutment of something causing a hard bump. NOTE: These occur when I am unable to take evasive action due to traffic. I see the obstruction buy cannot avoid them. It is important to realize this happens on DOT roads that are open for traffic.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[Jim]

The last difference is only one I have heard from others and that is the newer CD is not as effective as the old. I have not driven an older version and think my newer version works find - when it works.

Thank you, FloridaSon. This is all news to me, but that's no surprise as I have never owned a coach with CD before. I wonder, what years are considered to be the "old" CD? My coach is a 2016, do you know if that would be the Old CD?

 

[Gizmo]

I do know that the new coaches have the CD controls buried in the dash menus instead of a knob that is easy to locate and adjust.

 

[team bradfield]

When will you get this new beast?

Picked it up on Halloween

 

[Rustymayes]

I do know that the new coaches have the CD controls buried in the dash menus instead of a knob that is easy to locate and adjust.

Yes, I find it distracting and so does my co-pilot. I would prefer to have a dial on the panel to simply reach over and select a setting instead of going thru a menu on a small screen. This is fine for X generation folks but many of us are getting up there in age and it would seem that in designing controls and systems for rigs marketed to our demographic, they would keep that in mind.

 

[FloridaSon]

Yes, I find it distracting and so does my co-pilot. I would prefer to have a dial on the panel to simply reach over and select a setting instead of going thru a menu on a small screen. This is fine for X generation folks but many of us are getting up there in age and it would seem that in designing controls and systems for rigs marketed to our demographic, they would keep that in mind.

The 2023 coaches have Comfort Drive on the dash top menu. No digging for the control.

 

[FloridaSon]

Thank you, FloridaSon. This is all news to me, but that's no surprise as I have never owned a coach with CD before. I wonder, what years are considered to be the "old" CD? My coach is a 2016, do you know if that would be the Old CD?

This is from Ken Sherwin.
KenSherwin
I retired in 2016 and newer coaches have a next generation CD that I did not develop and have no knowledge about.

Not sure but if you search for ken and contact him you may find out. Thx

 

[Rich W.]

I’m sure I’d get used to the new system, just like paddle shifters or however they do it now on a FL chassis, and I’m sure it works just as well if not even maybe better (?) but I like my knob on the dash, just like my shift pad on the left, and my old fashioned light switches and thermostat and all that. These days I just don’t even want to try to learn new tech. That’s probably a symptom of something else I don’t want to think about, but at least it works for me.

 

[FloridaSon]

I’m sure I’d get used to the new system, just like paddle shifters or however they do it now on a FL chassis, and I’m sure it works just as well if not even maybe better (?) but I like my knob on the dash, just like my shift pad on the left, and my old fashioned light switches and thermostat and all that. These days I just don’t even want to try to learn new tech. That’s probably a symptom of something else I don’t want to think about, but at least it works for me.

Haha, I am with you on that!

 

[Just George]

@FloridaSon I just experienced the hit a bump, Comfort Drive get's disabled "feature" this afternoon. Could you provide some additional info regarding where the connectors you checked are located. Once I shut the ignition off and restarted the coach Comfort Drive came back but I've not driven any distance since it recovered.

 

[ARD]

Thank you, FloridaSon. This is all news to me, but that's no surprise as I have never owned a coach with CD before. I wonder, what years are considered to be the "old" CD? My coach is a 2016, do you know if that would be the Old CD?

I will admit that i miss the "old comfort drive" on my 2018 DSDP which I could adjust by a separate knob. I now access comfort drive via the settings on the glass dash and cannot tell a significant difference between the settings.

 

[NWIP]

I will admit that i miss the "old comfort drive" on my 2018 DSDP which I could adjust by a separate knob. I now access comfort drive via the settings on the glass dash and cannot tell a significant difference between the settings.

I couldn’t notice any difference in changing the settings in the glass dash on our 2020 DS. Complained to Spartan they found a known issue and suggested a work around; after starting engine immediately turn key off and back on.
I thought this was unacceptable and not sure how you would even do this on push button start. Ultimately they installed an update to glass dash the next visit which fixed the problem.

 

[ARD]

Ultimately they installed an update to glass dash the next visit which fixed the problem.

I mentioned it to my tech when I was at Spartan and he didn't mention anything about an update. Hmmmm, will hit them up next year when I get service. Thanks!