27RLWS

[Wmoses]

Originally Posted by Devilscreekw

... And when I say rain, I'm talking Biblical.

After each pull, I found water on the floor in front of the range which is getting the carpet wet. .... I think its being thrown up into that corner by the leading tire on the drivers side, and seems to be migrating through and around the corner heading to the rear of the trailer.

Anybody else run into something like this?

I have driven through some pretty heavy rain for up to 2 - 3 hours and although it was not "Biblical" it was a solid rain. No leaks. Something to look out for next time I encounter some heavy rain. If/when you find the gap fom the underside into the trailer, please make sure you update us in this thread.

Originally Posted by Devilscreekw

Also, it was my first run with the Equalizer 4 pt. Best $500 I ever spent. Trailer felt totally different. I lubricated mine (it did come with grease on those surfaces from the factory) so I've been refreshing it before each pull. I really haven't noticed any noise at all. My old Draw-Tite made more noise at low speeds.

Let me get this - there was water from the Biblical rain and on top of that you put grease. Some would say that you "overdefeated" the purpose of the anti sway function of the WDH.

[Slympicins]

Wayne I went to pick up the TT at the CG this morning and I find a couple weighing trailers with handy dandy portable scales. Much like the DOT does. Well I weighed the TT and truck and this is what they found:

Trailer axle weight:
Right Side 1600 - 1400 Left Side
Right Side 1650 - 1400 Left Side
Total trailer weight = 6650 including a 600 tongue weight.
The difference is 450 lbs which is NOT enough weight to cause the TT to lean on the kitchen slide side.
The truck was way within limits.

Took the TT to the dealer and they crawled under it. Seems the rear axle bolts were not secure and it shifted around. The left rear brake wires were almost cut off. They are going to jack it up and torque the bolts in the proper position and see how the lean the continues to the left. If this fix does not correct the lean, they will contact Dexter for replacements. Before you say it, no...it was too busy to snap and few photos.

If you look under yours, the axles are seated right under the frame and flat. The back axle front plate was raised about 1" and the back plate was flat against the frame. Perhaps it was the loose bolts and braking that caused the axle to become dislodged. Either way, Its still there and going to be corrected one way or the other.

[Slympicins]

I just got off the phone with Dexter Axle warrantee person, and she agrees the dealer should repair the loose axle but it will not actually correct the TT lean. She said it takes two days to build the axle and another two days to ship it out to the dealer so they would have them in a weeks time. Then the dealer will stare at them for another week and take yet another week to install them. Sound about right?

[Wmoses]

Thanks for updating the thread, Chuck. Pity there were no pictures.

I am out of the US at the moment and will inspect mine when I get back, and if nothing else, protect my brake wires.

Any idea what sort of wheel weighing scale the couple had? All I can find are commercial units with like prices.

[Slympicins]

They used scales like these:

The company is called "Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation" www.RVSAFETY.com

[Wmoses]

Yeah I saw those (http://rvsafety.com) and when I saw the price I figured they are not in my future.

[Devilscreekw]

Originally Posted by Slympicins

She said it takes two days to build the axle and another two days to ship it out to the dealer so they would have them in a weeks time. Then the dealer will stare at them for another week and take yet another week to install them. Sound about right?

Good luck...I'm still waiting for my skirting replacement from May 9th.

As for my leak...it's unfortunate that I can't look from the inside with the slider in, but I believe the water is coming from under the black plastic molding right at the front corner. You can see mud and moisture in the area.

There is a gap under the molding I can shove my fingers in. There was a loose piece of expandable foam insulating stuff in there. I'll try "Great Stuff" in the gap, and hopefully that will seal it up.

Last picture is the back of my truck after the two mile drive off the pavement to the farm.

I'd say that poor hitch needs some grease at this point.

[Slympicins]

At $60.00 a shot you could make up the cost in no time. Took about 20 minutes and I was done. They just happened to have time before their next appointment. I little pricey but I was on the way to the dealer and I knew the first thing they would say, "Your over weight!" That stopped that conversation before it got started.

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by Slympicins

They used scales like these:
Attachment 55409
The company is called "Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation" www.RVSAFETY.com

Just read through the blurb on that site. Somebody should invite them to Goshen. It would be beneficial to have the option to get the rig weighed without having to hold up trucks at the Cat scales.

[Slympicins]

They will be there. Check their weight schedule.
2014 RV-Dreams Fall Educational Rally, Goshen, Indiana - September 16 - 21, 2014
Is that the same time?

[Kaadk]

I did and they're not scheduled for the FROG rally.

Ok, I just double checked that they will be in Goshen, just not for the rally. I guess I mistyped my request.

[Slympicins]

You think they could make some money at the rally. I didn't know when the rally was and had just noticed they were in Goshen. You got it right. My brain is running slow. Too much input.

[itat]

Their websites says "Shane and Jami" are tentatively scheduled to be at the FROG rally in Goshen. It says "not yet officially confirmed".

[Slympicins]

I made my way back to the dealer today to snap some pictures of the rear axles. Here is what I have:
Back left rear axle

Back rear brake lines pinched

Back left rear axle bolt movement

[Slympicins]

Left axle sits lower than the right

Right axle sits higher than the left


I hope these picture make sense to you all. The difference between the right and left side is the location of the tire.

[Slympicins]

With the axle bolts not being torqued correctly, an application of the trailer brake will cant the axles. Reverse braking will have the opposite cant to the rear..

[Wmoses]

Thanks for posting the pictures, Chuck. Maybe once the dealer re-sets the bolts in the slotted holes and levels the axle the problem might be cured without the need to replace the axle ...?

[Slympicins]

Let's hope.

[Slympicins]

The dealer called me today and told me the TT has been fixed. He said the lean has been taken care of by the axle work. I'm crossing my fingers so let's see what happens when I pick it up Monday afternoon.

[Slympicins]

Here are pics of the final result:

Left rear axle:

Left front axle:


Right rear axle are flush against th frame:


Sent these pictures of to Dexter Axle and to their engineers. Although the official word has not come back yet from them, warrantee division believes the axles are the issues and need to be replaced.
I accepted the camper this way in an attempt to work with the dealer, but the TT will slowly slip down onto the axles and the lean will return. Then the dealer will have to accept the alternative of replacement. Just takes time and patience. I'm getting to know several folks from Forest River and Dexter Axle as well so all I not lost. I have time.


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