2007 Endeavor RR8R Overweight Axle

[LewF]

Does anyone have this problem or information about same. We have a 2007 Endeavor with the RR8R chassis and when new the rear axle, rated at 20,000 lbs, was very close to max weight. Of course as we began to use the coach and put gear on it the load increased. I am careful with what I have loaded on the coach and think I have the essentials but when ready for a trip we can be almost 20,800 or so pounds on the rear axle. I also do not fill up the fresh water tank except for the minimum necessary for the pump to get a suction (at 8 lbs a gallon a full tank weighs a lot), and I only travel with the back and gray tanks empty. The front axle is well within its limits and I try to keep everything I load in the storage bays as far forward as possible. Thoughts? How big of a problem is this? Oh by the way, I air up the tires to support about 22,000 lbs since one side is heaver than the other so it dictates rear tire pressure.

Lew

[Gordon66]

I have the same problem. Almost the exact same weight. With my water tank full I was weighed at an FMCA rally at all four corners total on the rear was 20,725 and 11,700 front. Hasn't been a problem yet. I also watch how I load before a trip. I guess this is why they went to the tag axle for the Diplomat and Endeavor.

[Mandys Man]

Here's another...20,800 on rear with all tanks, (water, black, grey, propane, and fuel) full. Weighed it that way on purpose. Don't plan on traveling that way. Just wanted to know what we could expect. 11,600 on front.

What's more troubling to me is that our axle, ( 19060S SPEC#0653121) is only rated at 19,000 per the manufacturer...Dana::::But is rated at 20,000 by the now defunct Monaco.

[LewF]

So it looks like we are not alone. Does anyone know what the limiting components are on the rear axle/suspension - air bags, structure, etc. If so then we can monitor them to see if they are holding up. I have seen no mention of failures on the rear of RR8R chassis as have been experienced on the RR4R so maybe we are OK. I will continue to travel with ours and load it carefully but have no hope of getting the rear under 20,000 lbs.

Lew

[DocUSAF]

Lew, Monaco maxed out the rear coach axle with the huge floorplans...one more reason the old monaco dumped everything prior to chapter 7...check the thread on "busted rear trailer arms" for Monaco coaches....real scary stuff...owners are all taking it in the wallett if you need to have 'em replaced...
I load up the toad with rear coach goodies and keep the rear coach compartments as empty as possible...no gray, no black water, very, very low propane, very low fresh water and toss out everything from the rear that I can get at arrival...grease your u-joints please...watch your inside rear tires treads also.. It's tag axle and IFS for me from here on....DocUSAF

[LewF]

Doc,

I think those scary stories all concern the RR4R chassis and weak trailing links. I don't know of any reported problems with an RR8R chassis. I will continue to monitor our coach closely but am not sure what component actually limits the rear load rating. If it is the axle itself then the other components like the large support truss, the air bags, and the controlling links might be sized properly. I have followed the case of the failing trailing links, and in one case a failed trailing link bushing, carefully and don't think, I could be wrong, that this applies to our coaches. Please let me know if you believe otherwise.

One thing I note is that in either 2008 or 2009 Monaco changed the chassis dimensions and rear axle load rating on the Endeavor and Diplomat - 23,000 lbs now. I think the chassis was changed to an RR8S vs. RR8R as part of this process. I have been trying to find out the difference but have had no luck. I am with you, I will get a tag axle next unless Navistar folks come out with a new design on a WorkHorse chassis. I have heard good reports on that chassis and it ride quality. The Roadmaster as you probably know only too well really beats us up on rough highways.

Well good maintenance an close monitoring for now.

Lew

[Gordon66]

LEW,
According to the build sheet on my coach I have a Dana S21-170 that has a 21000 weight rating. You might check on yours.

[DocUSAF]

Wow Gordon66/Lew, they (old Monoco) must have beefed up a bit when they realized the rear end roadmaster problems/concerns..couldn't get all those floorplans on...and still have room for some TP...I'm headed for a tag axle and IFS, nothing else. (maybe if Navistar) actually builds/brands/logo's and actually insures/backs the product with their 13-15 billion dollar exposure on a tag w/IFS....I might give 'em a second look... other-wise I'm cracking open my back up piggy bank in the next two years, count my blessings, maintain axle and all and trade out..Beat me now or later, both will hurt at trade-in..wonder if anyone else knows about the roadmaster rear axle issues :0)...Scrap-medal anyone!... Bigger question... Wonder if the same engineer who designed the roadmaster is now on the Navistar design payroll?..

[LewF]

Gordon, unfortunately my rear axle is a 19060S. If you look at most information it is rated at only 19000 lbs. I am with DocUSAF, I am going with a tag axle, ifs rig the next time. When ever I can afford the change. For now it means babying this rig.

Lew

[DocUSAF]

wow Lew, funny that i haven't met a Monaco owner yet who didn't actually want a smoother ride out of their coach,,,and we're all starting to understand why...the ride is just harsh..that front rail-road type axle and under-engineered rear end... Most of us have added upgrades including different shocks, bars, bags, new rear trailer arms, tires, new co-pilots, you name it...no, none of us expected million dollar Prevost quality ride, but I also didn't expect to go sailing aboard the RV Titanic ....some-body please toss me an extra airbag...my rear axle is dragging!...happy trails to you!

[Sixpack98]

Our '06 Endeavor rear axle is rated (by Monaco) at 20,000 and the build sheet says the axle is a Dana model #19060S and is rated, by Dana, at 19,000 and 300 HP. So, I guess we are not only over gross but also over powered. Don't know how Monaco got away with rating the axle 1,000 lbs and 100 hp more than the Manufacturer ratings but somehow they did. We are a few pounds over 19,000 so will be watching it closely.

We are looking at an '09 Allegro Bus with Tag Axle and things may get a little more serious regarding a trade up.

[AKBrick]

We also have the Dana 19060S rear axle that Monoco rated at 20,000lbs. At the FMCA ralley we weighed all four corners with all tanks full and came to 19,850lbs on the rear. In fact we were told that we were one of two people at that time who were under the weight rating for the coach.

Can you please tell me where you are getting the information stating that the Dana 19060S is rated at 19,000lbs so I can check on this. Is it on the Dana website?

I have yet to hear of any failures on the RR8R chassis that we are running on. I haven't really been listening all that hard though. I'm sceptical as to why Monoco would run the risk of a lawsuit even back before their closure. Even if they knew about it, would all of the chassis components added by Roadmaster/Monoco negate the one thousand pound difference in Monoco's and Dana's weight rating for that axle? Obviously I'm not an engineer, but the wheels do hit the ground before any of the other componants that are stacked onto the axle/axle body.
I'm not debunking anything that all of you have stated but it does tend to make me think. Great, something else to worry about.

Later,
Tom Brickwell

[Mandys Man]

Here

[Ed S]

I have the same, weighed in last time at 20,200#. Wow, what next..kinda feel like I just got raped by Monoco. Not real sure I can come in under 19,000#. We went out looking for a new coach today that may better meet our needs and wants.

Ed