Wheel Cracked

[Scheinin]

I can't believe it. For the second time one of my aluminum wheels on my 2016 36CKTS Cedar Creek has cracked.

Anyone else have a cedar creek wheel crack?

[Doppleganger]

Who makes the wheels on that one? Are they a Lionshead wheel? Might wanna let the manufacturer know, one could be a fluke, multiple issues could be a bad batch. I've never trashed a wheel on any vehicles I've owned. Everything from a fullsize Bronco, several Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge SRT-4. Cast and Forged wheels.

[Scheinin]

I have no idea who makes the wheel. No indication on the wheel.

[rsdata]

I have only heard that Lionshead supplies wheels/tires to FR. Try starting here...

Warranty

[Wampus Cat]

I had a similar problem on my 38EL. One of my tires kept losing air pressure. I took it to a tire shop and they could not find a leak in the tire. They just put air in and gave it back to me. A week later the tire had lost pressure again. So I took it back to the tire shop. This time they submerged the complete tire and wheel in a water tank. After a few minutes we observed small bubbles coming from several very small holes in the aluminum wheel. The RV dealer then exchanged the defective wheel for a new one.

[Scheinin]

Originally Posted by Wampus Cat

I had a similar problem on my 38EL. One of my tires kept losing air pressure. I took it to a tire shop and they could not find a leak in the tire. They just put air in and gave it back to me. A week later the tire had lost pressure again. So I took it back to the tire shop. This time they submerged the complete tire and wheel in a water tank. After a few minutes we observed small bubbles coming from several very small holes in the aluminum wheel. The RV dealer then exchanged the defective wheel for a new one.

Unfortunately, the wheel is out of warranty, although I sent e-mails to lionshead about the situation.

[dblr]

I have heard of this before from someone but they were on a Artic Wolf unit, actually believe they were replaced more then once for them.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Wampus Cat

I had a similar problem on my 38EL. One of my tires kept losing air pressure. I took it to a tire shop and they could not find a leak in the tire. They just put air in and gave it back to me. A week later the tire had lost pressure again. So I took it back to the tire shop. This time they submerged the complete tire and wheel in a water tank. After a few minutes we observed small bubbles coming from several very small holes in the aluminum wheel. The RV dealer then exchanged the defective wheel for a new one.

I imagine the holes were sand holes from when the wheels were cast. I see these from time-to-time in black malleable gas pipe fittings. They are not something you can usually see with the naked eye and they can be very hard to locate in a gas system with dozens/hundreds of fittings. I’m sure the only way to find them in a cast aluminum wheel is to do exactly what your tire shop did. It’s not really something you would expect to be the cause of a tire losing air, so I’m really surprised your tire guy caught it. He saved you a lot of hassle trying to work out what the problem was.

Bruce

[Chascin]

If not Lionshead try HiTek. My2017 Wildcat 32 WB has HiTek wheels

[Scheinin]

Originally Posted by Chascin

If not Lionshead try HiTek. My2017 Wildcat 32 WB has HiTek wheels

Thank you. For my year Cedar Creek, I think Lionshead was the sole supplier of the wheels. I will know tomorrow when I talk to them.

[splong16]

Scheinin, I have the same model Cedar Creek as you have. My wheels are Lionshead.

[Scheinin]

Originally Posted by splong16

Scheinin, I have the same model Cedar Creek as you have. My wheels are Lionshead.

Thank you. Does it say that somewhere on the wheel? or do you have a broacher that says that?

[Jim34RL]

My 2016 Cedar Creek had a sticker on the wheels that stated they were from LIONSHEAD. I also believe their was placard in the information packet from Forest River that stated the wheels were from LIONSHEAD.
I can't look now as my trailer is in storage with all of the information for the trailer in it.

[splong16]

a sticker on back side of wheel

[Scheinin]

Thank you all. I contacted Lionshead and they responded immediately with a claim form. No sticker or any other identification on the wheel, front or back that I could see. However, the wheel is still mounted on the 5th wheel.

Within hours of submitting the claim form, and pictures of the wheel and leak, Lionshead notified me they will be shipping me a new wheel within 36 hours.

How's that for service?

[dblr]

Originally Posted by Scheinin

Thank you all. I contacted Lionshead and they responded immediately with a claim form. No sticker or any other identification on the wheel, front or back that I could see. However, the wheel is still mounted on the 5th wheel.

Within hours of submitting the claim form, and pictures of the wheel and leak, Lionshead notified me they will be shipping me a new wheel within 36 hours.

How's that for service?

I'd say pretty good, glad you got help

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by nomad297

I imagine the holes were sand holes from when the wheels were cast.
Bruce

Holes yes, but more likely just from gas bubbles when cast. Wheel manufacturers usually "spin cast" to avoid this issue but how close they control the process depends on the factory.

These are Chinese mfr'd wheels. While I was still working out company had a line of wheels we owned the rights to. Had more than a few issues like this until we informed the factory we'd be rejecting shipments if they didn't fix the problem.

FWIW, if the leak is merely a "pinhole" or two, a suitable repair is to remove the tire, clean/de-grease, the machined surface between the bead contact areas, and apply a good epoxy paint.

If the leak is at a crack, stop using the wheel immediately. Pinholes rarely grow, cracks almost always do.

NEVER install a tube to fix a leaking wheel. Doing so increases the temp of the wheel and tire and when the tire fails it will actually explode with a huge BANG. Like a small grenade going off and in rare cases just as lethal.

[Splashes3]

On my 2019 Cedar Creek 34RL2 I had a very slow leak. Tire shop kept for 2 days, could not find the leak, even after remounting the tire. Put back on trailer and within a week it was down some.

Still under warranty, I contacted CC and their warranty department provided me a POC at Lionshead. They were great, asked for some pics and very soon sent me a new wheel & tire.....hasn't lost any air since. I still have the bad wheel, which does not leak just sitting in basement. I could use it in an extreme emergency as the leak is extremely slow

Great support both from CC and Lionshead. Glad to see they have helped you out Steve.

[wayne272]

On my 2020 36ck2 all 4 wheels from lionshead wound up with etching of the aluminum under the clearcoat. After speaking with Beth, sending claim form with pictures, they sent me 4 new wheels along with a check for remounting/balancing and didn't even ask for old wheels back. Like said before, great aftersale service.

[Doppleganger]

Sounds like Lionshead stands behind their products. Pretty nice.