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Old 05-21-2020, 04:07 PM   #1
CraigB
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Rear axle replacement

I recently had to replace my rear axle on my 3402 RL Montana 5th wheel. The tires were wearing on the inside badly. My question is why would the rear axle sag and not the front or both? I don't have any extraordinarily weighty items or even a generator.
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Old 05-21-2020, 05:26 PM   #2
CWtheMan
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Are you the original owner?

Is the trailer traveling nose high? Or parked nose high?

Load it up and find some scales. They may answer the question for you, especially if you're traveling with an onboard water supply.
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Old 05-21-2020, 06:18 PM   #3
CedarCreekWoody
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My Laredo is in the shop now for an axle replacement now. It had bent spindles, factory is replacing the axle.
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Old 05-21-2020, 10:01 PM   #4
LewisB
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Could the axle have been bent somehow? Did you recently have the tires replaced or the bearing/brakes checked & serviced?

(Just wondering if someone put a floor jack on the center of that back axle and tried lifting the trailer that way. One would think if the center of the axle was bent UP it would cause the outside of the tires to wear, but who knows.)
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Old 05-21-2020, 10:05 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CWtheMan View Post
Are you the original owner?

Is the trailer traveling nose high? Or parked nose high?

Load it up and find some scales. They may answer the question for you, especially if you're traveling with an onboard water supply.
I agree, are you towing nose high??
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Old 05-24-2020, 01:12 PM   #6
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Most likely if the rear axel is bent it is from turning sharp corners. I’m not criticizing anyone’s driving, it’s these cheap axels can’t take twisting that happens during tight turns. Some people have had success with having an alignment shop resetting them. Last resort would be to replace with a heavier model.

You can take a straight edge or even a string across the face of tires and see pretty quickly if there are any gaps. If the gaps are front to rear then it’s bent from turning. If they are not level up and down and it could be a weight issue bending them.
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Old 05-24-2020, 02:00 PM   #7
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If I'm remembering all the information I got from my axle failure, Keystone uses the same "axle tube/spindles" on their 3500, 4400 and 5000 pound axle assemblies. The difference is in the 3500 pound rating, there's small outer bearing and 10" brakes. In the 4400 pound rating, there's larger outer bearing and 12" brakes and in the 5000 pound rating, there's larger inner/outer bearings and 12" brakes.

I don't know if the larger axles are similar or not, but I'd guess the 6000, 7000 and possibly the 7500 pound axle ratings could well use the same axle tube/spindles with similar upgrades to support the increased weight.

I'd suppose Keystone isn't going to spend more money on upgraded components than any other manufacturer. The old phrase, "Industry Standard" for me anyway, just means "they all do it the same way"... (safety in numbers ????)
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Old 05-24-2020, 06:35 PM   #8
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I had the same issue several years ago during a trip to Alaska. Had the rear axle replaced in Goshen. We hit a bazillion crevasse-like pot holes during the trip so always figured that’s were the damage occurred. Doesn’t explain how only the rear axle got bent though. I had it replaced with a thicker axle tube. Even though it was only slightly more expensive than replacing in kind, it was all the insurance company needed to deny the claim.

No idea why the rear axle bent and not both of them, so perhaps my theory is wrong.
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Old 05-24-2020, 08:34 PM   #9
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At the factory the axles are shipped separately from the frames so it's not unlikely that the truck driver threw a chain or strap over the load & cranked it down bending several axles in the process, the factory workers don't check them just quickly bolt them on.
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Old 05-31-2020, 09:32 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
If I'm remembering all the information I got from my axle failure, Keystone uses the same "axle tube/spindles" on their 3500, 4400 and 5000 pound axle assemblies. The difference is in the 3500 pound rating, there's small outer bearing and 10" brakes. In the 4400 pound rating, there's larger outer bearing and 12" brakes and in the 5000 pound rating, there's larger inner/outer bearings and 12" brakes.

I don't know if the larger axles are similar or not, but I'd guess the 6000, 7000 and possibly the 7500 pound axle ratings could well use the same axle tube/spindles with similar upgrades to support the increased weight.

I'd suppose Keystone isn't going to spend more money on upgraded components than any other manufacturer. The old phrase, "Industry Standard" for me anyway, just means "they all do it the same way"... (safety in numbers ????)



I understand bigger brakes & hubs & tires on "heavier" axles but I do wonder how one would establish a load rating on the tube. Maybe as long as warranty claims are low enough the design is good enough. Haven't heard about many axles actually "failing", but if you figure the average trailer maybe sees a few thousand miles in 1st year (warranty) then you can wash your hands of the product can't you?
Would be interesting to get camber readings when new and each 3,000 miles of use along with scale weight. If there was any change in camber and load was always under the rating then the axle would IMO be too small for the application. Camber is easy to measure and getting one axle on truck scale is also easy.
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Old 06-01-2020, 10:21 AM   #11
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Tireman, do all Dexter axles have a camber built in OR are they straight across? My 2013 Mountaineer has what looks to be equal camber (high point of curve in middle of trailer) so load would flatten/straighten axle flat. Maybe mine are also bent??
Thanks
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Old 06-01-2020, 10:57 AM   #12
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Tireman, do all Dexter axles have a camber built in OR are they straight across? My 2013 Mountaineer has what looks to be equal camber (high point of curve in middle of trailer) so load would flatten/straighten axle flat. Maybe mine are also bent??
Thanks

Sorry I don't have specs on Axles The issue is not if the axle ture is straight, most are not but the spindle plate has to be welded on with a "Camber angel"


You can get low cost Camber measurement tool for $20 or less which would be good enough. Dexter should be able to tell you their spec
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Old 06-01-2020, 12:43 PM   #13
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Very interesting post.
We too have a bent rear axle on our 272UFL. I've been trying to figure a way to solve or diagnose this long distance (we live in Australia and the trailer is in Dallas) but haven't started anything yet because of the virus and now the violence situation. In he mean time, we're likely to come up against the warranty limits. I think the axles have a 5 year warranty, but I'd have to check the docs (which are in the trailer) to know for sure.
Curious that just the rear axle bent. Our hitch was set up by a specialist hitch shop in Elkhart, so I'm banking that they knew what they were doing.
BTW, I completely don't buy the idea that simly turning the trailer can bend the axles. I know the trailers are built cheap, but I don't believe they would be built such that you would bend axles in the first campground you backed into. I've experienced very few CGs that didn't require sharp turns to get into the campsites.
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Old 06-01-2020, 01:00 PM   #14
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Very interesting post.
We too have a bent rear axle on our 272UFL. I've been trying to figure a way to solve or diagnose this long distance (we live in Australia and the trailer is in Dallas) but haven't started anything yet because of the virus and now the violence situation. In he mean time, we're likely to come up against the warranty limits. I think the axles have a 5 year warranty, but I'd have to check the docs (which are in the trailer) to know for sure.
Curious that just the rear axle bent. Our hitch was set up by a specialist hitch shop in Elkhart, so I'm banking that they knew what they were doing.
BTW, I completely don't buy the idea that simly turning the trailer can bend the axles. I know the trailers are built cheap, but I don't believe they would be built such that you would bend axles in the first campground you backed into. I've experienced very few CGs that didn't require sharp turns to get into the campsites.
Good luck with warranty. Dexter is replacing my rear axle as a customer concession, not a warranty. They have an entire host of reasons that they will use to not warranty an axle. Really what they are avoiding is paying labor costs.

Below is what I got as a reply:
Good morning,



We have assigned case number: CAS-66745 for the tracking of your reported bent axle issue causing inside tire wear.



Possible causes of Inside tire wear are static or dynamic overloading/overstressed condition, loss of camber, not towing the unit level, worn or loose suspension parts, out of balance tires and wheels, defective tires, or toe-out or alignment issues.



Our warranty policy does not arbitrarily cover alignment, bent axle/spindle, camber, toe, abnormal tire wear complaints or regular or inadequate maintenance issues. We have no control over how the unit is towed, loaded, serviced or what other conditions the axles or parts may encounter during usage so our warranty policy normally does not arbitrarily cover these conditions, unfortunately we must respectfully decline warranty consideration for this claim request.



What we can offer to help assist the customer with this reported issue would be a customer concession for a replacement rear axle shipped to you at No Charge. We would not be able to cover labor or any other expenses for this reported issue that is not covered under our warranty policy.



When Dexter Axle agrees or offers to supply a replacement rear axle to a customer as a “customer concession” this is being done strictly as a goodwill gesture. Customer concessions are not intended to convey or construe this action as warranty.



Where would you like us to ship the replacement rear axle to?



Thank you,



David Switalski

Dexter Axle Warranty Department
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Old 06-01-2020, 01:22 PM   #15
Tireman9
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Hey why would you provide an axle good for 50,000 miles when you can plan on 90% of them to be out of warranty in 3,000 miles?
The mentality that Detroit had in the 70's is still strong in the RV market today. People shop for low price and "bling" not for durability as that will cost more.
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Old 06-01-2020, 07:49 PM   #16
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I don’t believe them!

ME TOO! Bent back axle and badly worn tires and the goodwill crap - it should be warrantied for poor quality plain and simple. I don’t believe any of it. Dexter has sold some bad axles, but I guess at least they paid for the replacement. Not the tires though, I had to pay for them I sent them email about the tires and never got any response... The new axle has no issues but more miles than the 1st. Original front axle still good. How can it possibly be my fault or anybody’s fault? how could you ruin an axle with tires 5 inches behind the front? You don’t hit one bump and not hit it with both on that side. Hmmm Sorry I’m still mad about having to buy tires
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Old 06-02-2020, 02:57 AM   #17
CedarCreekWoody
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Keystone just replaced an axle and tire on our Laredo. The tire wore out on the inside after 2300 miles, our second trip. This was handled by our dealer (Welome Back RV, Athens TX) and Keystone, not directly with Dexter.
Edit: We paid for installation of a lift kit at the same time. We were nose high.
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Old 06-03-2020, 06:12 AM   #18
GHen
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This happened on my daughters trailer. If the tire wear is on the inside and just on the rear axel, then it could be bent from sharp turning, not weight issue. Dexter sent replacement axels and paid for installation, unit was still under warranty.
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Old 06-03-2020, 03:47 PM   #19
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This happened on my daughters trailer. If the tire wear is on the inside and just on the rear axel, then it could be bent from sharp turning, not weight issue. Dexter sent replacement axels and paid for installation, unit was still under warranty.
I don’t believe that answer every campsite is a sharp turn! Pulling into my driveway the tire looks like it’s gonna rip off - inward , BUT why did the first axle “bend” and the second axle didn’t? I’ve pulled in my driveway more times on the second axle than the first one???
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Old 06-08-2020, 06:56 PM   #20
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Next time you hit a dip in the road with a longer 5th wheel, watch your trailer in the mirror. Your rear axle will take the brunt of the load, especially with large trucks. The pin won't take any on the down pressure, it's mostly taken at the rear axle. Watch how much your trailer bumper goes down versus the pin.
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