Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-01-2015, 10:44 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
17FQ Axle flip

Hello, New owner of 2015 17FQ. Doing walk around in 3 weeks. Does anyone have any anything in particular we should keep an eye out for? Also, has anyone flipped the axle for added clearance? We plan on doing some back roads camping.
BnTinNV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2015, 11:16 PM   #2
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,600
What kind of axle is it?
leaf springs, yes
Torflex, no
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2015, 11:47 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Leaf spring
BnTinNV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2015, 10:47 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Just outside Durango CO
Posts: 154
There's lots of info in the forum on what to look for during a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). There should be water in the fresh water tank and a full bottle of propane so you can operate all faucets, flush the toilet, make sure the water heater and furnace work, etc. The refrigerator takes awhile to cool down so hopefully they either plugged it in or put it in gas mode. Open all cabinet doors and storage doors checking for loose or missing hardware. Check all lights and switches. If this is your first camper it's best to have two people listening to what the dealer is saying and take notes.

I did an axle flip on a pop-up to increase ground clearance. But as a result it also caused the stabilizer jacks to max out where I had to carry blocks to place under them. So far I haven't had a problem with clearance even on dirt roads. But obviously you could drag the bottom - as with any trailer.

Looking at my 17FQ I'm more concerned with damage to the drain point if something was kicked up from the tire. I'm considering adding a plate (or even a heavy mud flap) just behind the tires.
__________________
Barry, MSgt, USAF, Ret. & Rose

2017 Ford F150 w/ 3.5 EB
2014 Coachmen Viking 17FQ

Colorful Colorado
La Plata View is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2015, 10:49 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 19
I did a 16FB. The 13 inch tires looked a little odd and the axle was still low. I changed to 15" tires and rims which gave me another inch and a half and look like they belong. Right now I am using a box step as the single step is quite a reach! I plan to add a double step soon. If this is a new trailer will it affect your warranty if this is done? Mine is used and since I needed to replace the axle I had it made with the perches on top.
KenW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2015, 04:27 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Henderson, KY
Posts: 104
Quote:
Originally Posted by La Plata View View Post

Looking at my 17FQ I'm more concerned with damage to the drain point if something was kicked up from the tire. I'm considering adding a plate (or even a heavy mud flap) just behind the tires.

I added some flaps to my 17FQ for that very reason.
__________________
2014 Coachman Clipper 17FQ
2011 Ford Ranger 4X4
Kenrod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2015, 01:32 AM   #7
Wanna be Sir Campsalot
 
K4RGD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by KenW View Post
I did a 16FB. The 13 inch tires looked a little odd and the axle was still low. I changed to 15" tires and rims which gave me another inch and a half and look like they belong. Right now I am using a box step as the single step is quite a reach! I plan to add a double step soon. If this is a new trailer will it affect your warranty if this is done? Mine is used and since I needed to replace the axle I had it made with the perches on top.

Any chance we could get a pic of this? You have me curious. I'd like to get a more standard size tire....


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
__________________
--------
Coachmen Clipper 17FQ / 2013 Chevy Silverado
K4RGD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2015, 11:36 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Thurman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Albany, GA.
Posts: 1,359
I would really like to do an axle flip on my 2015 310 BHDS, but in the opposite direction you guys are talking about. I noticed that most all of the new units at the dealers were sitting way up high. This 310 unit has some serious wind resistance as compared to my former Grand Surveyor GS29. I looked at the possibility of lowering mine but I would have to reduce the tire outside diameter a lot to clear the inner tire wells.
Thurman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2015, 11:27 AM   #9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 18
We did it on our 17FQ and now have 15 inch tires and wheels. The way we had it done is the spring perches were relocated on top of the axel and then the springs go on top of axel. We really like the added clearance.
Bizelisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2015, 04:05 PM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 19
Have you done anything yet to adjust for the step being a lot higher off the ground ?
We made a 7 inch high box step that is also used as a box when we travel for now.
I'm watching and will hopefully find a double or triple step that fits in the opening or will break out the welder and move things over so the ones I have found so far will fit.
KenW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2015, 01:45 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 18
We changed the single step to a double step got off amazon it bolted right on and works great.
Stromberg Carlson SM 24-20 24" double tread manual step. It cost us 95 dollars.
Bizelisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2015, 03:41 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Poconos, PA
Posts: 79
Quote:
Originally Posted by KenW View Post
I did a 16FB. The 13 inch tires looked a little odd and the axle was still low. I changed to 15" tires and rims which gave me another inch and a half and look like they belong. Right now I am using a box step as the single step is quite a reach! I plan to add a double step soon. If this is a new trailer will it affect your warranty if this is done? Mine is used and since I needed to replace the axle I had it made with the perches on top.
KenW,

What size tires and wheels did you end up using??

Thanks, Joe
meganjoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2015, 11:32 AM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 18
205 75R15 Tires 15 inch rims. Don't know about the warranty we set up thru the dealer and they never mentioned warranty issue. We have gone places with trailer that make your teeth chatter for miles (wash board road) and trailer pulls great
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	11138125_10205451630353597_5827126705791015940_n.jpg
Views:	270
Size:	119.1 KB
ID:	86731  
Bizelisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2015, 03:34 PM   #14
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Poconos, PA
Posts: 79
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bizelisa View Post
205 75R15 Tires 15 inch rims. Don't know about the warranty we set up thru the dealer and they never mentioned warranty issue. We have gone places with trailer that make your teeth chatter for miles (wash board road) and trailer pulls great

Thanks for that..

If its not too much trouble , could you tell me how high your ball for the hitch is now.. I might have to get a new shank for my EQ hitch..

Thanks , Joe
meganjoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2015, 03:08 PM   #15
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 18
Joe,
the ground to top of the ball is 26 1/2 inches.
Bizelisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2015, 04:31 PM   #16
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Poconos, PA
Posts: 79
10-4..

Thanks
meganjoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 11:08 AM   #17
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
After axle flip

Here is ours after our axle flip. Still need to get the double step.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20150916_104903.jpg
Views:	282
Size:	376.7 KB
ID:	90038  
BnTinNV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 02:08 PM   #18
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 18
looks great
Bizelisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
axle

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:02 PM.