Flattening Leaf springs

[Steven1961]

Hello everyone! I've recently purchased a 2021 Fuzion 369. We've only used it 3 times so far and have noticed the leaf springs no longer have a nice curvature! They've begun to flatten out, ALREADY! What gives, here . . . only about 1800 miles, and certainly not overloaded. Has anyone else realized this issue?

[chuckster57]

I would be contacting my selling dealer and showing them those pics. I’ve seen spring packs flatten out on different brands and various sized trailers. You might ask for heavier springs.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Steven1961

Hello everyone! I've recently purchased a 2021 Fuzion 369. We've only used it 3 times so far and have noticed the leaf springs no longer have a nice curvature! They've begun to flatten out, ALREADY! What gives, here . . . only about 1800 miles, and certainly not overloaded. Has anyone else realized this issue?

Maybe in the frenzy of completing trailers in a high demand year they installed the wrong spring pack and possibly axles on your trailer.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Maybe in the frenzy of completing trailers in a high demand year they installed the wrong spring pack and possibly axles on your trailer.

Wrong axles: Possibly, Wrong spring packs: Doubtful... Lippert ships the axles/springs as a unit to Keystone. All they do is pull them from stock and install them on the spring hangers while the frame is "upside down" at the head of the assembly line....

Entirely possible that Keystone pulled axle/spring assemblies from the wrong pile, very unlikely that they "installed the wrong springs" on an axle assembly. That's done "miles from Keystone"....

[Steven1961]

Thanks for the replies. I've contacted the dealership, but have only received an automated reply. It is a Holiday weekend, so I'll give them a few days. I certainly hope this doesn't turn into a cluster *$&k!!. The axles are 7k, but they might not be spec'ed for this trailer. And the fun begins. Thanks again

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Steven1961

Thanks for the replies. I've contacted the dealership, but have only received an automated reply. It is a Holiday weekend, so I'll give them a few days. I certainly hope this doesn't turn into a cluster *$&k!!. The axles are 7k, but they might not be spec'ed for this trailer. And the fun begins. Thanks again

First, your trailer has a "weight certification placard" on the front roadside corner. Check the "Axle weight ratings" listed on that placard, crawl under your trailer and make sure the axles are "rated the same as that placard.... If the "math on the placard and the label on the axles both match, chances are that the axles are the correct ones....

That doesn't mean the springs are correct or that even if they are the right ones, they're not "defective or inferior quality".... Just that "the numbers match"...

Then crawl around in your wheelwells and look for any signs of rubbing/contact between the tire tread and the DARCO lining in the wheelwells... DARCO is fairly fragile so if there's been any rubbing, you'll see it directly above the tires.

I think your "dealer's argument" and "Keystone's argument" will boil down to the wheelwell clearance. If it's adequate for suspension travel without damage to the wheelwells, and the axles are the same as the ratings on the weight placard, they likely won't be agreeable to any "axle/spring swap"....

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Steven1961

Thanks for the replies. I've contacted the dealership, but have only received an automated reply. It is a Holiday weekend, so I'll give them a few days. I certainly hope this doesn't turn into a cluster *$&k!!. The axles are 7k, but they might not be spec'ed for this trailer. And the fun begins. Thanks again

With a GVWR of 17,000 lbs subtract the "empty pin weight" of 3015 equals 13,985 for the axles to support opr a whopping 15 lb (7.5lbs per axle) cushion according to the published numbers. Obviously those are not realistic numbers as we all know the pin weight would be much greater than the "published" numbers.

If it were me, I would hit the scales and have the weight slip at the ready incase someone plays the "overloaded card".

[Hblick48]

My rig came from the factory with 6,000 pound axles and 2,500 pound springs. After I got the rig, I put on a new set of tires and did a cross country trip. 3/4 way through the trip, all 4 new tires were extremely worn on the inside. Replaced springs with 3,000 pound ones (1 extra leaf). New set of tires later, they wore evenly on next cross country trip. I kept a log of tread wear the whole trip.

Keystone probably saved a couple of bucks, bit it cost me a set of tires, springs, and a bunch of my labor.