Horrible tire wear

[jmcrae3891]

The other 2 on the front axle are still good. The company I work for has tire guys so I get a good deal on tires.

I watched them balance them so they are good to go!


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[jmcrae3891]

Nee tires on. Figured out the problem kinda sorta. While putting the new tires on I noticed the front axle is noticeably larger than the rear. According to the specs, they are both rated for 4400 GAWR. Should I try to match the front axle or try to see whats wrong with the rear. Here are the tags off the axles.

The dexter axle is in the rear and is smaller. Should I try to put the larger axle in the rear?


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[RPAspey]

Again, you need a new axle. I'll bet, the previous owner replaced a bent front axle then sold/ traded it in. If I'm right, and I'm pretty sure I am, just replace the bad axle with one the same as the good (larger) one.

[jmcrae3891]

I misread. The d35 is a 3500lb axle that somehow made its way under my trailer. The dealer will be getting a call monday


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[Crockett]

i found its a lot of times the rear axle gets the damage. when the front axle hits, it preloads the suspension, being allowed to move upward with the walking beam. then, the rear axle gets hammered with the preloaded suspension.

[OntarioFireFighter]

Not for nothing - but the 18ish month difference in mfg dates is a dead giveaway the Dexter axle is a replacement...

Guessing? Damaged rear axle was replaced with one that was too light; and it's been squatting, causing the tire wear you see.

[jmcrae3891]

Yup. Exactly right. Ive called twice now waiting for a call back.


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[jmcrae3891]

Update:

I took my trailer to the dealer Wednesday. An employee tells me as Im pulling in my axle is bent😂. I said thats why its here. So yesterday they call to confirm the axle is too small and was replaced at some point like I told them. Im currently waiting for a call back to see what they are going to do. Either way, no money is coming out of my pocket for their mistake.

I don't even know how they bought this trailer from the previous owner without checking everything out


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[jmcrae3891]

Update #2. The dealer left me a message saying Lippert has to send the axle to Forest River first??? Then to them. So my camper will be in the shop on the 22nd to start repairs !


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[jmcrae3891]

Just 2.5 months later an axle. Wow! New axle, leaf springs, u-bolts, etc.


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Crockett

i found its a lot of times the rear axle gets the damage. when the front axle hits, it preloads the suspension, being allowed to move upward with the walking beam. then, the rear axle gets hammered with the preloaded suspension.

If the front axle hit and is taking the load, the rear axle will be hanging loose and thus not pre-loaded. IMO

[SuicideSaints]

Originally Posted by snapper

An easy way to check and see if the axle is bent is to place a 4 foot or 6 foot level on the bottom of the axle in question. Then measure the gap between the axle and the level. the bugger the gap the better the axle . if it flat in the level you have a bent axle for sure. Someone mentioned earlier to upgrade to the next weight class. Great idea.

I think you may have this wrong, a good axle bows up in the middle so you would have to put the level on top of the axle for their to be a gap, an axle bowing down in the middle is a bent/bad axle.

[jmcrae3891]

It was the wrong rear axle, and no cost to me. Between forest river and the dealer, they took care of it


2003 Dodge Ram QC 2500 4x4
2005 Nissan Altima
2011 Forest River Lacrosse 301RLS

[Crockett]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

If the front axle hit and is taking the load, the rear axle will be hanging loose and thus not pre-loaded. IMO

the front axle hits, moves upward loading the rear axle through the walking beam just as the rear tires impact whatever loaded the front axle...whats so hard to understand there??

[wana65stang]

Originally Posted by SuicideSaints

I think you may have this wrong, a good axle bows up in the middle so you would have to put the level on top of the axle for their to be a gap, an axle bowing down in the middle is a bent/bad axle.

If you place a level on the top of a good axle you will not get a gap between axle and level, you will get a rocking action, place the level on the bottom of a good axle and you will get a gap between the center of the level and the axle.
Snapper is correct.

[SuicideSaints]

Originally Posted by snapper

An easy way to check and see if the axle is bent is to place a 4 foot or 6 foot level on the bottom of the axle in question. Then measure the gap between the axle and the level. the bugger the gap the better the axle . if it flat in the level you have a bent axle for sure. Someone mentioned earlier to upgrade to the next weight class. Great idea.

I was thinking he meant measure the "rocking distances" (the gaps on the end of the level) which lead to my statement.

Originally Posted by SuicideSaints

I think you may have this wrong, a good axle bows up in the middle so you would have to put the level on top of the axle for their to be a gap, an axle bowing down in the middle is a bent/bad axle.

Originally Posted by wana65stang

If you place a level on the top of a good axle you will not get a gap between axle and level, you will get a rocking action, place the level on the bottom of a good axle and you will get a gap between the center of the level and the axle.
Snapper is correct.

You are exactly correct and if that is what snapper meant then he is correct also, I just got confused in the wording, I apologize.

[wana65stang]

No need to apologize, you just weren't as right as you normally are Just joking with ya!!







You are exactly correct and if that is what snapper meant then he is correct also, I just got confused in the wording, I apologize.[/QUOTE]

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Crockett

the front axle hits, moves upward loading the rear axle through the walking beam just as the rear tires impact whatever loaded the front axle...whats so hard to understand there??

The rear axle will not be loaded until after the tire contacts the object and the spring shackle reverses from hanging down to pointing up is there going to be a load seen by the rear suspension. The difficulty is understanding how an axle can be loaded while hanging in mid air and before the shackle is reversed and also how it would be subjected to more load than the front from hitting the same object. Defies logic.

[Crockett]

the answer is inertia. with the vehicle at speed, the front axle is still traveling upward and loading the suspension as the rear tire loads into preloaded suspension. sounds pretty logical to me.

[Crockett]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

The rear axle will not be loaded until after the tire contacts the object and the spring shackle reverses from hanging down to pointing up is there going to be a load seen by the rear suspension. The difficulty is understanding how an axle can be loaded while hanging in mid air and before the shackle is reversed and also how it would be subjected to more load than the front from hitting the same object. Defies logic.

oh...at lower speeds its worse. say you drive over a curb/sidewalk. the front axle loads the walking beam and then the rear axle hits and is basically forced to lift the coach.