Axle issue Montana High Country 343RL

[N5PHT]

AXLE too small for 5er

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Hello,

I have a Montana High Country - 343RL. It is a 2012 and I bought it new. Axle is Dexter 5200 pound 6 lug. I believe it is too light duty for the 5er.

My calculations: Trailer dry weight: 10040 lbs
Max Payload: 2400 lbs
Tongue weight: 1720 lbs

NOTES: The dry weight and max payload figures on the sticker on side of trailer and the 2012 Montana specs page is a little different but not much
(9580 and 2920) and the tongue weight I got from specs and don't see that listed on trailer.

So, to calculate the axle need: dry weight + payload and then subtract tongue weight and divide by two (2 axles): ((10040+2400))-1720/2 which then equals 5360 pounds per axle.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING OR DID KEYSTONE PUT TOO LIGHT DUTY OF AXLES?

I have not weighed us loaded but certainly believe the axles should be able to handle the load as noted above. Some calculations I have seen would take off 10% for tongue weight and that would result in an even worse situation on the axles.

My action: I have sent the above to Keystone today (1 July) and they claim they will investigate and get back to me within 2 days. I have sent the above to Dexter to see the possibilities of upgrading to a higher rated Dexter axle.

I bought this new last year and I am now in Washington State (Spokane) and the dealer is in Shreveport, LA so I have not yet contacted them for comments.

We searched for this floorplan and love it - with nice desk for my ham radio activities and the floorplan is perfect for us. I think the Montana Mountaineer 362RLQ is the exact floor plan but I think it has 7000 pound axles - don't know the weights exactly. But I think Keystone should do something with this situation - are all Montana High Country models in likewise situation?

Your thoughts greatly appreciated.

Gary Stone

[therink]

I am also interested in this post. The gvwr of my 340fbh fiver is 12,400 and I also have 6 lug 5,200 lb axles. I too feel it should have 6k axles. My payload is only 1800 lbs.
Steve

[N5PHT]

Thanks and hope we can get some answers. We selected this floor plan because of the desk area (and other things). I am ham radio op and loved this arrangement.

Gary

Originally Posted by therink

I am also interested in this post. The gvwr of my 340fbh fiver is 12,400 and I also have 6 lug 5,200 lb axles. I too feel it should have 6k axles. My payload is only 1800 lbs.
Steve

[therink]

My gvwr is 12,400 with dry weight of 10,600. If I calculate 20 percent of the gvwr at 9,920 lbs, that equals max load at gvwr would be 4960 lbs per axle. That doesn't leave much room for error. What if my pin weight is only 18 percent of totally loaded weight? Does this mean I am overloading my axles? Also, 1,800 is not much payload for a 37' fiver. I have seen other Keystone fivers in same size/class (not drop frame) come equipped with 6k axles. Why is this?

[hankpage]

N5PHT, The pin weight you stated is for an empty trailer. Most of the storage on a 5er is forward of the axles. Plus propane, battery and other front compartment goodies and your pin weight on a fully loaded trailer (12440lbs) will be closer to 2500 lbs. (10% is tongue weight is for travel trailers, 5ers are closer to 20%+ ) Using these figures your axles are marginal but acceptable and hopefully you are not loading to the max. My concern would be tire capacities before axles. JM2¢, Hank

[therink]

Originally Posted by hankpage

N5PHT, The pin weight you stated is for an empty trailer. Most of the storage on a 5er is forward of the axles. Plus propane, battery and other front compartment goodies and your pin weight on a fully loaded trailer (12440lbs) will be closer to 2500 lbs. (10% is tongue weight is for travel trailers, 5ers are closer to 20%+ ) Using these figures your axles are marginal but acceptable and hopefully you are not loading to the max. My concern would be tire capacities before axles. JM2¢, Hank

Hank
Tires are 16" LRE LTs, (Firestone Transforce HT). Without looking, I believe they are rated for around 3400 ea at 80psi.
Tires are no problem. My calculations did assume 20% pin weight. I will have some time weds to weigh it loaded for camping before we take off for the CG. I think I will hit the scale, then I will know.
Steve

[therink]

ok, so I hit the scales (loaded and about to go camping):

Truck and trailer (GCW) - 20,120
Trailer rear axle - 5,060
Trailer front axle - 4,740
Pin weight - 2,480
Trailer weight (GCW)- 12,280
Trailer GVWR - 12,400

Truck weighed (GCW - unhitched) - 7,840
Truck weighed (GCW - hitched) - 10,320
Truck GVWR - 10,800

So I am within the trailer axle rating specs of 5,200 ea (barely). I am also well within the truck GVWR. I only have 120 lbs left on trailer payload. Time to go camping.
Steve

[hankpage]

WOW! Sounds to me like you have a lot of "stuff" in that trailer. Have fun and travel safely, Hank

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by N5PHT

AXLE too small for 5er

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

I have a Montana High Country - 343RL. It is a 2012 and I bought it new. Axle is Dexter 5200 pound 6 lug. I believe it is too light duty for the 5er.

My calculations: Trailer dry weight: 10040 lbs
Max Payload: 2400 lbs
Tongue weight: 1720 lbs

NOTES: The dry weight and max payload figures on the sticker on side of trailer and the 2012 Montana specs page is a little different but not much
(9580 and 2920) and the tongue weight I got from specs and don't see that listed on trailer.

So, to calculate the axle need: dry weight + payload and then subtract tongue weight and divide by two (2 axles): ((10040+2400))-1720/2 which then equals 5360 pounds per axle.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING OR DID KEYSTONE PUT TOO LIGHT DUTY OF AXLES?

I have not weighed us loaded but certainly believe the axles should be able to handle the load as noted above. Some calculations I have seen would take off 10% for tongue weight and that would result in an even worse situation on the axles.

My action: I have sent the above to Keystone today (1 July) and they claim they will investigate and get back to me within 2 days. I have sent the above to Dexter to see the possibilities of upgrading to a higher rated Dexter axle.

I bought this new last year and I am now in Washington State (Spokane) and the dealer is in Shreveport, LA so I have not yet contacted them for comments.

We searched for this floorplan and love it - with nice desk for my ham radio activities and the floorplan is perfect for us. I think the Montana Mountaineer 362RLQ is the exact floor plan but I think it has 7000 pound axles - don't know the weights exactly. But I think Keystone should do something with this situation - are all Montana High Country models in likewise situation?

Your thoughts greatly appreciated.

Gary Stone

According to your figures and those on your trailer’s spec sheet you are absolutely right about having undersized axles.

Before making waves you need to verify the figures on the trailer’s certification label and the axle manufactures tag on each axel.

To comply with the current regulations the 1720# hitch weight must be used in conjunction with GAWRs found on the certification label. Total GAWR and hitch weight MUST be equal or greater than the listed GVWR.

If you find you do actually have 5200# axles with those figures you should contact Keystone and give them the opportunity to initiate their own recall. Make sure you talk to someone at Keystone that is knowledgeable with DOT/NHTSA regulations. If they don’t think a recall is necessary then send NHTSA your information and they will force the recall.

Your certified GAWR - according to Keystone’s specs - should have been 5400# ea axle.

CW

[RubyDually]

Sorry for resurrecting a year old thread but.....

I also have a 343RL and agree the axles are too light... Hind sight is always 20/20.

Another point I'd like to make is that with 3 slides, kitchen and bathroom the left side is approx 800 pounds heavier than the right!

Last year we went on a 5000 mile trip and upon return I saw the left rear corner was noticeably lower than the right. The left springs were flattened out and right side still had the arc. I ended up replacing all four springs with a heavier duty spring.

Perhaps this was the reason Keystone lowered the GVWR?????

[pjhansman]

Oddly enough, the axles in my '11 Laredo are 6,000# 8-bolt with a 10,000# dry weight.

Can't imagine why a very similar (and likely more expensive) unit, made by the same company, would have smaller axles.