Bending axle

[Robbiestl]

I have a 2016 wildwood 27RKSS Travel trailer and have the rear axle bending to negative camber on both sides. Was wondering if anyone else has had any issues. Thanks Rob

[Bama Rambler]

There have been a couple reports of axles bending, but it's pretty rare.

Is it bowing in the center or are the cantilever ends bending at the spring hangers?
How are you accessing the bending? (Loaded, unloaded, jacked up, etc.)
Can you tell how much bend there is?

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Robbiestl

I have a 2016 wildwood 27RKSS Travel trailer and have the rear axle bending to negative camber on both sides. Was wondering if anyone else has had any issues. Thanks Rob

Is it possible that someone took the (impermissible) shortcut of jacking the trailer up with a single jack in the center of the axle?

This used to okay on cars with a solid cast-iron rear-end. It is not acceptable on newer cars with a multi-part rear axle or on trailers. Maybe some old-timers don't know this.

Larry

[Robbiestl]

The axle appears bowed to the naked eye, it’s a leaf spring axle. Haven’t put a camber gauge on it or checked toe yet. It’s easily visible all the time, in fact bad enough my wife asked about it and she doesn’t pay attention to those things.

[Bama Rambler]

You don't suppose that it could be installed upside down? Though unless the other one is also that would have been pretty evident before now.

[dward51]

Did someone flip the axle without doing the spring perch modification (ie, just flipped it upside down which would also flip the built in camber)? From the photos I could find of your model, it looks like the axle is under the springs already, so not sure why they would want to flip it.

Another possibility is someone had an axle issue and bought a used axle or the wrong axle to replace it (one with the spring perches set up for springs UNDER the axle).

[Robbiestl]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Is it possible that someone took the (impermissible) shortcut of jacking the trailer up with a single jack in the center of the axle?

This used to okay on cars with a solid cast-iron rear-end. It is not acceptable on newer cars with a multi-part rear axle or on trailers. Maybe some old-timers don't know this.

Larry

Good thought.
But it’s bowed down, not up. But that’s how I’ll try to straighten it!

[Robbiestl]

Originally Posted by dward51

Did someone flip the axle without doing the spring perch modification (ie, just flipped it upside down which would also flip the built in camber)? From the photos I could find of your model, it looks like the axle is under the springs already, so not sure why they would want to flip it.

Another possibility is someone had an axle issue and bought a used axle or the wrong axle to replace it (one with the spring perches set up for springs UNDER the axle).

Hope not. I bought it brand new! Nah I think it’s just not enough axle for the size of the trailer. Was fine when new. Just wanted to know if I was the only one.
Thanks for the help.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Robbiestl

Good thought.
But it’s bowed down, not up. But that’s how I’ll try to straighten it!

Okay. I hadn't bothered to mentally figure out which direction "negative camber" implied.

Before attempting this at home, how about contacting a really good truck alignment shop and getting measurements and a quote from them?

Larry

[Iwannacamp]

Any alignment shop can put the heads on it and see what’s happening. My axle tubes are arched....I think most are.

One could pull a string on the tube to see if they are equal.

I THINK as long as the axle is plumb(proper caster/camber) I don’t suppose it matters much about the arch.