Columbus axle alignment

VenturaBill · 03-10-2013, 11:36 AM

The axles on our Columbus 295RL are set forward so either the frame is wrong or the fender flair is in the wrong place. Take a look at the photos. One shows the position of the axles and the other shows how close the flair is to the tire on the front edge.

The same is true on the left side but not as extreme. Has anybody else had this issue? This trailer is new, but we have had all sorts of warranty issues that were going to be taken care of. We picked it up yesterday after a 3-week return to the dealer and still have most of the issues left, plus now we seem to have more to deal with...

Hopefully the factory will have some answers for us on Monday morning.

lbrjet · 03-10-2013, 11:52 AM

When it rains it pours. That looks pretty messed up.

Dave_Monica · 03-10-2013, 12:11 PM

Did it look like that when you did the PDI? I don't understand how it left the factory or the dealer's lot looking like that!

Dave

VenturaBill · 03-10-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

Did it look like that when you did the PDI? I don't understand how it left the factory or the dealer's lot looking like that!

Dave

I've noticed it since the beginning, I just haven't had the trailer because it's been at the dealer for the last 3 weeks, and we only took delivery 4 weeks ago. I was waiting to see other Columbus' before determining if there was a problem. When we picked it up at the dealer yesterday I was able to make that determination.

SYE · 03-10-2013, 04:36 PM

I hope Christopher Columbus will see this. It is not right!! When I get mine back I will tack some pics of it as I have plenty with the slides open but none with them closed.

VenturaBill · 03-10-2013, 04:51 PM

There was another 295RL at the dealer while we were there so I made sure that I took photos for reference. You can see from this photo of the other Columbus 295RL that the wheels are centered in the wheel wells.

SYE · 03-10-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VenturaBill

There was another 295RL at the dealer while we were there so I made sure that I took photos for reference. You can see from this photo of the other Columbus 295RL that the wheels are centered in the wheel wells.

If I can recall, this is more familiar to mine!!!

skylarcamp · 03-10-2013, 05:50 PM

I hope Columbus gets this issue resolved because I just ordered a 295 and its scheduled for delivery towards the end of April!! This issue is unexceptable!!

Dave_Monica · 03-10-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VenturaBill

There was another 295RL at the dealer while we were there so I made sure that I took photos for reference. You can see from this photo of the other Columbus 295RL that the wheels are centered in the wheel wells.

That looks better than the axles on yours but in this case they look too close together.

Dave

VenturaBill · 03-10-2013, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

That looks better than the axles on yours but in this case they look too close together.

Dave

I agree with you that the centering is better but the axle spacing is off. Like I said the left side is off a little but nothing like the right side.

I went out and crawled underneath thinking it might be the fender flair that is mounted wrong and it appears that RV Supercenter might have drilled new holes farther back when they replaced the cracked fender flair under warranty. I don't have that particular photo angle of our Columbus before it went back to the dealer.

I'm going to take photos of the underside and send them to the factory for review. I'll post whatever answer I get from them...

bakken · 03-10-2013, 09:41 PM

I would take a tape measure and compare your camper to the other new one on the lot. If they are different, I would demand they take it to a frame shop to get the axles moved and re-aligned.
I sure wouldn't be happy with what you have, and cannot believe they allowed it out of the factory like that. It is a rolling advertisement to not buy a Columbus.

SYE · 03-10-2013, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakken

I would take a tape measure and compare your camper to the other new one on the lot. If they are different, I would demand they take it to a frame shop to get the axles moved and re-aligned.
I sure wouldn't be happy with what you have, and cannot believe they allowed it out of the factory like that. It is a rolling advertisement to not buy a Columbus.

I would not bash the whole Columbus line!!!! This is just one of many produced, It might have left the factory correctly but happened on the way, due to the person that delivered it, after all of the other stuff that was bad upon delivery. Don't jump to judge until you have all of the information. I am surprised the dealer let it go out he should have rejected it upon receipt and never delivered it to the customer!!

bakken · 03-10-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syencer

It might have left the factory correctly but happened on the way, due to the person that delivered it

And just how would that happen?

VenturaBill · 03-10-2013, 11:22 PM

I just wanted to pose a question concerning the alignment of the wheels and not start an issue about Columbus. We are having issues, true, but we're working with Columbus to get them resolved.

I have sent photos to Columbus and hope to hear back from them soon. It is a good possibility that this is a dealer issue since they had it for a couple of weeks and we just got it back on Saturday.

As I said, I will post what I find out...

ByronCR · 03-10-2013, 11:36 PM

My columbus has the wheels centered in the wheel wells. I checked photos I took in front of the house when hooked up to my truck and went outside and checked (stored on the side of my house) and definitely are centered.

joelek · 03-11-2013, 06:37 AM

Looks like axle slid back towards rear. Crawl under camper and check to see how tight or loose the fasteners are that hold axle to frame. If axle moved from original factory position, you should also see scratch marks at mount area.

I recall a couple people mentioning during factory tour, workers running from here to there as they were in such a hurry to get subassemblies and campers finished. That practice of running is nothing but trouble waiting for a place to happen. Accidents, insurance claims and shoddy workmanship is the results of going too fast.

You will learn quickly of the axle moved, or was simply mounted in wrong place. I would also do a measurement from rear of frame to center of rear wheel on both sides of camper. The two measurements better be even - I would guess anything more than 1/2" off is too much. 1/4" to 1/8" is realistic.

VenturaBill · 03-11-2013, 09:21 AM

Thanks Joel and Byron...

I've contacted Columbus. I've also been underneath and inspected the u-bolts, perches, shackles, etc. No visible damage. The problem is that the wheels appear to be forward. Any looseness or breakage would move the axles rearward and that's not the case.

ByronCR · 03-11-2013, 09:24 AM

Hopefully that just becomes an easy fix by having the dealer or someone just moved the axles back where they should be. Keep us updated.

joelek · 03-11-2013, 09:18 PM

During heavy breaking, if something was loose the coach could move forward thus making axle look like it slid backwards. You can brake faster and harder than you can accelerate. But you say nothing is loose, marked up, etc.

I wish it wasn't winter and I could go look underneath mine. Quite possible fender flair or axle is mounted wrong. Here is a big view of my signature pic. Wheels should be obviously centered in fender flairs.

TeJay · 03-11-2013, 09:39 PM

You really can't reference a tire to a part of the fender flair. You have to pick a point on the frame and measure to the front of the tire. Don't get me wrong it does look wrong and it may be but a frame alignment shop needs to look at it to make it right. It is very difficult to align tires and axles using a tape measure. A 1/4 - to 1/2 of a degree is significant.
JMTCW
TeJay

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