Suspension problems

[biker2]

We have a 2013 Grey Wolf 28BH. We recently returned from a 4000 mile trip to Southern US. Prior to this trip the trailer has less than 200 miles on it. On examining the tires on our return, I noticed excessive wear on the inside of the right rear tire ( the tread is completely worn off) and some wear on the outside of the right front tire. Measurements taken between the center of the hubs on both sides indicate that the axles are not parallel.
Also a straight edge held across both right side tires shows that the tires are not in line which indicates to me that the camber and toe-in adjustments are out of whack. My dealer said that the axles cannot be realigned which is contrary to wheel alignment specialists. So I have asked for advice from the Forest River plant in Oregon (where my trailer was made), and am waiting for their reply. On searching the internet I read that it is not unheard of to have trailers leave the factory with axles out of alignment or improper wheel alignment. There is also excessive tread wear of the left side tires which means that after only 4000 miles I have to buy 4 new tires.
So my questions are:
1. has anyone experienced axle or wheel alignment problems with the Cherokee/Grey Wolf TTs? and
2. can anyone recommend high quality 14" tires? (Mine are made by Tredit and are the HS188 series).

[Papa GLS]

Does your TT have spread axles or are they standard ones? If spread, that may be your problem, if not I don't know.
Good luck!

[biker2]

The axles are tandem with leaf springs.

[DDC]

Never seen an RV with spread axles, I would make sure the axles are not 180 degrees turned, when you look under the trailer the axles should have a bow in them, that bow should be higher in the centre, as far as the hub centres not being the same make sure you don't have a broken main leaf on one of the springs.

[Papa GLS]

Have 2 friends with TT's with spread axles & have had nothing but problems. Both have replaced axles & can't keep tires on them. One even traded his because of this. They were both tandem axles with leaf springs.
Good Luck with yours.

[biker2]

DDC, springs are OK
PapaGLS, was the problem with the spread axles or the tandem with leaf springs? I would think that most TTs have tandem axles with leaf springs.
I think that my problem is no more than a construction issue.

[Papa GLS]

The issue with spread axles is that which ever axle has the least weight will drag the tires side ways causing excessive & rapid wear. When turning you can see the axle flexing very dramatically. This eventually bends the axles. That coupled with the manufacturer using lighter axles because the theory is with them spread apart the weight is spread out more on the axles. I know that there was a thread addressing these issues a while back with different points of view. You should be able to do a search & find it; lots of good info there.
Again; Good Luck

[Papa GLS]

biker2
Do a search on Opinion on standard dual axles vs. wide stance axles. May answer some of your questions. Lots of info.

[Swift 2]

I too had an alignment problem. My axles are perfectly parallel and straight with the trailer. When I say exactly, they were less than 1/16 of an inch out of parallel. However a straight edge on the tires show that the spindles had been welded on crooked. That was a tire alignment problem. After talking with four different alignment shops, I decided that Lipper would probably not warranty my axles. I sent Lipper many pictures of the axle, the measurements and the misalignment. They said it was all within tolerances & not to worry about it. I found a Dexter axle for $249 that was a 7K axle. It only took four hours to change the axles out and now the wheels are straight in line with a straight edge. I could not drag a tire up to Alaska this summer pointed off to the left. I do have equa flex and lipper shocks to help smooth out the ride.