Check your High Hats

[Robert M]

Just returned from Memphis and Branson. For those going to Branson with "Bob", you will enjoy it. I didn't want to leave. We left Branson and went up "65" and picked up "60" east until we reached "24" and took it to Nashville. I wouldn't recommend it now because they are working on the bridges over the Ohio and Missippi and the lanes are very close.
We stopped in Nashville and I noticed my High Hat on the tag axle had come off. I called Spartan and have a new one on order. So, check your High Hats on your drive and tag axle.

[Robert M]

Just returned from Memphis and Branson. For those going to Branson with "Bob", you will enjoy it. I didn't want to leave. We left Branson and went up "65" and picked up "60" east until we reached "24" and took it to Nashville. I wouldn't recommend it now because they are working on the bridges over the Ohio and Missippi and the lanes are very close.
We stopped in Nashville and I noticed my High Hat on the tag axle had come off. I called Spartan and have a new one on order. So, check your High Hats on your drive and tag axle.

[Robert M]

Sorry, MISSISSIPPI !!!!!!

[Robert M]

OK. I bought a High Hat to replace the one I lost. Several trips since May I have checked the Tag High Hat and found it had moved away from the hub anywere from 1/4 inch to about 3/4 inch, I would push it back on. I have made it a habit every stop to check it. Several trips to my Dealership over other issues I included a write up about the High Hat. They have changed the installation ring several times. Well, last week coming from TN I lost that very High Hat!!! Maybe this time Dealership and Spartan can come up with a fix. At $86 a piece, this could get costly!!!! Hope this time since Dealership put it on last they will replace.

Robert M

[Cruzer]

I lost a couple at first and Spartan took care of it. In my opinion this is the worst thing I've seen in my Spartan chassis. The design could be better. Then again, if everything else works that great and this is all I can complain about, I guess I should count my blessings.

What I did to eliminate the walking of the top hats was bend the tabs on the brackets. Squeeze each pair together so that they exert more pressure on the top hats and they will stop walking away on you.

This is the one (and only one ) area where Freightliner had a better idea with their positive retaining nut system.

[Robert M]

Thanks for the info. After my last trip, without the right rear tag "Hat" I noticed my left rear tag "Hat" had walked out a little bit. Had me thinking maybe the brakes or some kind of vibration may be causing it.

Robert M.