How many bolts hold your axels on?

[4runner]

I was under my 2011 2304s today cause slide motor died and noticed they used 2 bolts per side on each axel their is holes for 2 more bolts per side oneach axel above the others but were not used.I hope that is strong enough.4 bolts per axcel does'nt seam like much.

[capucine]

Our 1809s also has 2 bolts per side for each axle. All together there are 8 bolts to hold the 2 axles.

[donn]

?
There is only one ubolt per side that the axle tube bolts to the spring pack with. There is only one bolt on each end of each spring. What more do you need? My spring hangers have three holes each, but they are for raising or lowering the trailer.

[jwuertz]

You said that your slide motor died. Is it a wiring issue or is motor burned out? Seems premature for a motor to fail since the unit is a 2011. This connerns me since I also have a 2304s TT.

[capucine]

Donn: The trailers that uses the rubber ride suspension are this way. Each axle are mounted on a flat steel plate that is bolted to the frame L brackets. This bracket is welded to the frame. One thing is my trailer does not have 4 holes on this bracket but only 2 holes to fit the bolts from the axle.

[4runner]

Originally Posted by jwuertz

You said that your slide motor died. Is it a wiring issue or is motor burned out? Seems premature for a motor to fail since the unit is a 2011. This connerns me since I also have a 2304s TT.

I was doing a little cleaning today and went put the slide in and it struggled and blew the fuse and kept blowing them .Itook the motor out and took it apart and the gears were gone.My warranty ran out march 20th.Ill be calling forest river tomorrow my 2304s has had very little use.I also noticed none of the slide stops are adjusted correctly not even close.

[crocus]

"There is only one ubolt per side that the axle tube bolts to the spring pack with. There is only one bolt on each end of each spring. What more do you need? My spring hangers have three holes each, but they are for raising or lowering the trailer."
=============================================
Talk about a Homer Simpson moment. DOH!
I guess donn has never heard of the rubber torsion axles.

Actually, I wrote a post about this very subject, and how the axles can slip and rotate on the mounting plates, causing the tires of the related axles to lift. If only one axle slips and causes its tire to lift, that puts more weight on the other axle and tire. Not a desirable situation.
I solved the problem by drilling up through the axle flange where the camper frame rests on it. Actually, mine already had holes there, so I used them as a guide and drilled through the camper frame, then put 1/2 bolts in. I jacked up the camper, loosened the original mounting bolts, tightened the new bolts, which snugged the axle mounts tight against the trailer frame, then retightened the original bolts.

Now take note that where I say 'camper frame', it is actually the carrier frame for the torsion axles, and that in turn is mounted to the bottom of the trailer frame.

It all sounds a bit confusing, but anyone with these axles will know what I am talking about after they look under their camper.

[4runner]

Originally Posted by crocus

"There is only one ubolt per side that the axle tube bolts to the spring pack with. There is only one bolt on each end of each spring. What more do you need? My spring hangers have three holes each, but they are for raising or lowering the trailer."
=============================================
Talk about a Homer Simpson moment. DOH!
I guess donn has never heard of the rubber torsion axles.

Actually, I wrote a post about this very subject, and how the axles can slip and rotate on the mounting plates, causing the tires of the related axles to lift. If only one axle slips and causes its tire to lift, that puts more weight on the other axle and tire. Not a desirable situation.
I solved the problem by drilling up through the axle flange where the camper frame rests on it. Actually, mine already had holes there, so I used them as a guide and drilled through the camper frame, then put 1/2 bolts in. I jacked up the camper, loosened the original mounting bolts, tightened the new bolts, which snugged the axle mounts tight against the trailer frame, then retightened the original bolts.

Now take note that where I say 'camper frame', it is actually the carrier frame for the torsion axles, and that in turn is mounted to the bottom of the trailer frame.

It all sounds a bit confusing, but anyone with these axles will know what I am talking about after they look under their camper.

I wiil be doing the same to my 2011 2304s

[DAISY BOYKIN]

Got a answer back from Forest River about my post on 4/10/2011 with pictures. Statement was made to me by FR, that it was not common for this to happen but unusual. was that the axles have to be realigned to
the frame by an alignment shop (I have an appointment for this to be done) to be sure axles run true. FR production mgr said, "whoever bolted the axles to the frame at alignment failed to torque properly" thus causing slippage. I will pay (under warranty) for the work, submit bill, get reimbursed. I also have other issues about the brakes that is on going also. I contacted a local company for the work that specializes in alignment, repair of axles and electric brakes. camping world didn't fix the brakes and another local BIG RV dealership attempted to repair.

So next Tuesday, I will take my toy to the axle and brake specialist for repair.

[crocus]

" Statement was made to me by FR, that it was not common for this to happen but unusual."
================================================
I find that EXTREMELY difficult to believe. I am an engineer, and there is no way I would design it that way. There is all of the weight of the trailer on those bolts, and they are supposed to hold only with a clamping force?

But please, report back to us what the alignment shop tells you.
That would be greatly appreciated.

[rockwood06]

I have a 2006 8314 and i had to change out an axle because of a bearing failure in 2009. I have posted a pic of the axle i had to replace.
The pic that you are looking at was taken while i was laying on my back looking up. There are only two bolts that hold one axle each in place and they are located on the back side of the flang mount, it's hard to believe but this is the way it is design.
I had made a phone call to Forest River and Alco axle company about the way they were installed and both said it was correct, one bolt on each

Now the other reason i had called Alco is because i had another issue with the new axle, if you look at where the hole is located you will notice that the flang that is welded to the axle dose not set flush to the bottom of the frame but the other side dose ( that pic is not shown) they welded the two flanges out of square from each other so only one side is flush and this side is not, i was told by Alco's Engineer that it was ok, just make sure that when i install the axle to make sure the axle is pushed to the back as far as i can get it.

I email Alco pic of my issues with the axle and it toke two days for them to get back to me on how to handle this, so far i have not had any problems with this and it has been two years.

[crocus]

"they welded the two flanges out of square from each other so only one side is flush"
=============================
Gawd, how pathetic is that!
I took another look at my camper, and it appears that when it left the factory, the axle flanges were all tight up against the frame.
Daisy said that FR said the axles had to be re-aligned, but the existing bolts don't have anything to do with alignment. The slotted holes in the mounting flanges only regulate how high /low the tires run. So I am waiting with interest to see what the alignment shop has to say. Something isn't adding up here.

[rockwood06]

Originally Posted by crocus

"they welded the two flanges out of square from each other so only one side is flush"
=============================
Gawd, how pathetic is that!
I took another look at my camper, and it appears that when it left the factory, the axle flanges were all tight up against the frame.
Daisy said that FR said the axles had to be re-aligned, but the existing bolts don't have anything to do with alignment. The slotted holes in the mounting flanges only regulate how high /low the tires run. So I am waiting with interest to see what the alignment shop has to say. Something isn't adding up here.

crocus, the info that i received from Alco is that both sets of axles when installed have to be pushed back as far as they can go to keep the axles square to the camper and to keep the axles from slipping out of position, if the axles were bolted more to the front of the camper and you hit a curb this could cause one or both axles to slip to the rear of the camper on one side and that would knox the axles out of alignment. They said that the slottes are for alignment, they never said anything about how high or low the tires run......You are right this is all pathetic.

[crocus]

The slots on mine run up and down, and there is no adjustment front to back!
AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! !!!

[rockwood06]

Sorry, i was not aware that the 5th wheels were different, thanks for bring it to my attention.

[crocus]

rockwood, you certainly have nothing to be sorry about, as you didn't design the crazy axle mounts on my camper!