New FW Southwind clunk sounds

[Craig G]

Hello, new RVer and New member here. I have a 2007 fleetwood southwind, we have had it for 3 weeks now, taken it on 3 weekend trips, loving it.
I took to dealer to get some few things looked at (ABS Light on, Cruise control not working, etc...) I also have it in for a weird noise....but I have a feeling it will not get repaired.

I know diagnosing weird noises with vehicles is like posting in a medical forum asking "I have an itch on my arm, what disease do I have??" haha

But anyways, I will post the symptoms here and see if I get lucky. (told same story to dealer), I will also ad, I know RV's will have noises, just the way it is, but I think this one is not acceptable or normal-I also posted in here because it sounds like a chassis issue.

Under driver seat, perhaps a bit back (over living room slide-behind driver seat) but really sounds/feels like its under my butt or feet, surely on that side of the coach is a heavy knock or clunk-not a thud, but a knock.

I notice it at very low speed, slowly rolling on throttle from a dead stop, slow easy turns in a parking lot or turning onto a fwy onramp-never heard it at speed. The weirdest thing is that often times it doesnt start clunking until its warmed up-which kind of blows my theory about it being a structural thing??
I also feel/hear it at the final stage of coming to a stop-but that is not as apparent as the starting from stop, turning.
It is almost as if something major was loose, like a leaf spring big ole bolt or something?

Again, I will not be surprised if this thread gets zero replies, but was hoping maybe someone had same issue and can say "oh ya, thats the bilateral cubic knocker bolt-needs to be tightened" hahaha

BTW, I think my Workhorse chassis is the W20 model on a 2007 fleetwood southwind 32vs.

thanks for your time in reading my rambling.

Craig in murrieta

[Craig G]

Hello, new RVer and New member here. I have a 2007 fleetwood southwind, we have had it for 3 weeks now, taken it on 3 weekend trips, loving it.
I took to dealer to get some few things looked at (ABS Light on, Cruise control not working, etc...) I also have it in for a weird noise....but I have a feeling it will not get repaired.

I know diagnosing weird noises with vehicles is like posting in a medical forum asking "I have an itch on my arm, what disease do I have??" haha

But anyways, I will post the symptoms here and see if I get lucky. (told same story to dealer), I will also ad, I know RV's will have noises, just the way it is, but I think this one is not acceptable or normal-I also posted in here because it sounds like a chassis issue.

Under driver seat, perhaps a bit back (over living room slide-behind driver seat) but really sounds/feels like its under my butt or feet, surely on that side of the coach is a heavy knock or clunk-not a thud, but a knock.

I notice it at very low speed, slowly rolling on throttle from a dead stop, slow easy turns in a parking lot or turning onto a fwy onramp-never heard it at speed. The weirdest thing is that often times it doesnt start clunking until its warmed up-which kind of blows my theory about it being a structural thing??
I also feel/hear it at the final stage of coming to a stop-but that is not as apparent as the starting from stop, turning.
It is almost as if something major was loose, like a leaf spring big ole bolt or something?

Again, I will not be surprised if this thread gets zero replies, but was hoping maybe someone had same issue and can say "oh ya, thats the bilateral cubic knocker bolt-needs to be tightened" hahaha

BTW, I think my Workhorse chassis is the W20 model on a 2007 fleetwood southwind 32vs.

thanks for your time in reading my rambling.

Craig in murrieta

[BellaBo]

Welcome to IRV Forum. There have been numerous posting about noises. I for one have had several. You might do a search (find) at the top of the forum for Clunking sound or noise. Mine turned out to be Hub caps and the air intake (tuba) loose.
Others have found spacers missing between their springs.
Good luck!

[Jeepster47]

Craig,

I had a similar sound coming from my front under drivers seat. Turns out that the clip on the wheel weight broke and the weight was sliding around between the wheel and wheeliner.
Sound would go away at about 40 mph. Centrifugal force at speed would prevent weight from dropping that created noise.

Ed

[FreshAir]

You might want to check this. Assuming you don,t have all aluminum wheels. Your front wheel covers might be loose or slightly misaligned. Loosen and retighten. I have had mine clunk and only at very low speed. Camp ground speed. If your getting a brown stain on the tire around the rim it's the wheel cover to rim wear and a slight film of grease will temporairly fix it and quiet the wheel cover noise.
Maybe a long shot but worth considering.
Pat

[M&EM]

Craig,

I have had very similar clunking sounds emminating in the areas you mentioned. The cause was located and isolated to the nylon spring spacers at the ends and between the spring leaves of the front springs. Replacement of missing spacers and worn(started since new)spacers totally eliminated clunk.
This is not to say the same cause is in your rig. Went thru hoops trying to get coach maker and Workhorse to identify cause. Finally crawled under and saw missing parts comparing springs from left to right sides. There certainly are many causes for clunks mentioned on this forum. So do some searching. Good luck .

Marty

[Redlands Truck and RV]

Craig,

Your noise is consistant with what others have heard on their new coaches. Look at the rear of the front springs, you will see a teflon block held in place with a metal clamp. To eliminate hte noise we clamp the springs and lube the underside of that block. We can take care of this for you and get your alignment done at the same time. Give me a call and we'll take care of it.

[Craig G]

wow...a lot of informative replies so fast!

I have never had so much help in any other forum I hang out at (motos, bikes, photography)...so far the RV forums have been real helpful and friendly.

Thanks all!

keith (Redlands truck and RV), I have it at my dealers service now, but like I said, I do not have a lot of faith in the dealer to discover and fix noise. You guys are a bit far for me, but willing to give it a shot once I see what dealer can do. BTW, would a repair like this be a warranty issue? or no?


Thanks again everyone!

[Redlands Truck and RV]

Craig,

It's a warranty item and so simple to do. Have your dealer call us and I can walk em through it.

I've been told excellent service is worth any distance.

[Craig G]

Keith-thanks ton
And yes, good service is worth any drive, just need to get coach back from dealer! ha

I probably should start a new thread, but another odd noise I want to ask about (since everyone is being so helpful )

At idle only, and starts to go away as throttle is rolled on there is a very audible clicking in the center floor firewall trap door thingy, tick tick tick tick tick.......

That tick^ and the clunking I mentioned in original post are the noises that need to go!!

Thanks again

[M&EM]

Craig,
On a older Fd MH
I used to get atick sound cold when exhaust leak was present. As things expanded with warmup the leak would be less noticable.
Marty

[Craig G]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by M&EM:
Craig,
On a older Fd MH
I used to get atick sound cold when exhaust leak was present. As things expanded with warmup the leak would be less noticable.
Marty </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Marty...this clicking is there cold (I am pretty sure) and surely whenever I come off freeway (warm)....pretty much does it always at idle.

[M&EM]

Ticking sounds that I am aware of might come from fan belt/pulley, spark arcing from ignition, and exhaust. There was a post some time ago refering to fan hitting bottom of fan shroud. But I haven't experienced that sound. Hope that helps.

Marty

[FrontRangeRVer]

I had the exact clunking noise only on hot days that I posted about HERE

I hope this helps!!!