DEF Bracket Defect on K3 Chassis

[flyboy013]

While at the Newmar Service Center today the service tech checked my coach for a recently discovered chassis defect. On my 2018 Newmar Mountain Aire (Spartan K3 chassis) there is a bracket on the driver’s side in the tag axle wheel well that supports the DEF fill cap assembly and hose that connects it to the tank. Apparently the bracket was made backwards such that there is insufficient clearance with the tag axle tire. When the tag axle goes over a bump (such as a speed bump) the wheel retracts into the wheel well and can hit the bracket causing it to bend. This also causes the fill cap assembly to pull away from the coach body, as was the case on my coach.

A Spartan tech came over to the Newmar Service Center with a template for a modified bracket and cut the existing bracket so the tire will not hit it. He also straightened out the bracket with a hammer and re-caulked where the assembly attaches to the body.

I’m not sure if this issue is limited to K3 chassises or the build dates of the affected units.

[Jtrving]

Thanks for posting this - it will be an addition to my warranty checklist in the fall..

[flyboy013]

I would recommend you work with Spartan to determine if your unit is affected as this is a Spartan warranty item, not Newmar. I’m not sure if the Spartan tech in Nappanee will be taking care of the fix on all the units being worked on at Nappanee or if a visit to a Spartan service center will be required.

[Jtrving]

Just wanted to post that I received this in the mail today from Spartan so apparently it IS an issue on selected coaches. Kudos to Spartan for addressing this and making it right...

My apologies but I have tried to rotate this image 90 degrees 4 times and still cannot get it to display in the correct orientation

[Soniccruzer]

Got my Campaign Service Bulletin notice in the mail today. Bulletin CSB18-290-001 is for model years 2016-2019 for K2 and K3 chassis built between 12/19/2014 and 2/20/1028.

[TJ]

It does look like they corrected the issue on coaches built after 2/20/2018. I just went out and looked at my 2018 MADP 4047 built in May 2018.

It doesn't look like the tag tire could come anywhere near that bracket now. Here are some photos of what I found.

TJ

[flyboy013]

The tech had mentioned to me that the supplier had manufactured the bracket backwards. Not sure whose fault it really was, but you can see from the pictures that on your coach the bracket is behind the hose that goes to the DEF tank, while on my coach the bracket is in front of that hose. Given that the incorrectly manufactured bracket is positioned forward 4-5 inches than it was supposed to be, the tag tire would hit it.