Community Forums

snowmo55 · 07-02-2014, 09:42 AM

I own a 2014 Thor Challenger GT on the Ford F53 chassis with 11,500 miles. I recently noticed the front tires are almost completely worn out on the inside. I brought the rig to Ford and the front end was toed out by 3/4. They told me that manufacturers sometimes don't check alignment after the coach is built on the chassis. I haven't hit any bad roads that would cause the alignment to be that bad. I'm in the process of dealing with Thor to re coop some of the replacement costs of new tires. Anyone with similar issues ?
Thanx,
Ed

Skip426 · 07-02-2014, 10:54 AM

Welcome to iRV2. My Freightliner owners manual , says to have the alignment checked with the first oil change. But the front end adjustments most effected by vehicle loading are camber and caster.
3/4" of toe out .

your coach would have handled like a bucket of...
Without damage, it shouldn't have been out that far from the weight of the RV build.
Hope you get some $$ back on the tires and can get back on the road with a great handling coach.

JMonroe · 07-02-2014, 11:30 AM

I agree, toe should not be affected by the weight of the "house". That far out suggests one of two things, a major curb or pothole collision (that would likely have caused damage to the tie rod ends, possibly other steering/linkage parts as well) or it simply was never set right to begin with.

Good luck getting satisfaction from either Ford or Thor.

bdpreece · 07-02-2014, 12:01 PM

Went through something similar a few years back. My motorhome ate a set of front tires to the cords in a little over a thousand miles. The manufacturer of the chassis said they they do an alignment when they build it. The motorhome manufacturer said they do an alignment when they put the house on it. Then in small print in my owners manual is a disclaimer saying I needed to have the coach aligned again after fully loading it. Lots of luck getting anyone to pay for tires or an alignment. I had my problems written up in Motorhome Magazine and the coach manufacturer finally agreed to pay up but it took a battle that lasted over a year.

djbmsu · 07-02-2014, 12:20 PM

On a previous MH this happened to us and returned it to the dealer and they said the owners manuel says for the owner to have the alignment checked. I asked them to point that paragraph out in the manuel. They aligned the front end and replaced the two tires at their cost.
This was on a Ford chasis.

snowmo55 · 07-06-2014, 11:04 AM

The coach handled fine. The toe out was equal on both sides so it didn't drift when u let go the wheel. We drove it all across the US and back. Thanx for the reply.
Ed

snowmo55 · 07-06-2014, 11:07 AM

The factory told me they are going to check the specs from Ford. Also the coach had 1069 miles on it when I got it. Who knows how it was driven then.?
Thanx for the reply.
Ed

snowmo55 · 07-06-2014, 11:12 AM

I'll be doing the same thing if Thor decides to blow me off. I have already had service at the factory service center in Elkhart and they did a great job in fixing my issues. They even agreed with me that their quality control was terrible and blamed it on the recession and then the come back and they lacked quality people. Thanx for your response
Ed

Gary RVRoamer · 07-07-2014, 08:15 AM

The toe could have been wrong from the factory, or could have been knocked out during delivery to the dealer, or it could have happened while you drove 10,000+ miles across country. There is no real evidence that the factory did anything wrong, but maybe they will do something in the interests of good customer relations. Or not...

The real lesson here is to keep an eye on tire wear. Take a quick look every couple thousand miles.

gcessac · 07-07-2014, 08:58 AM

HR Ambassador 2013 with toe out of 1/2 inch. Handled terribly in the crosswind on a two lane road with 18 wheelers going the other way. Wore the left front tire on the inside 1/8 inch more than the outside. Dealer told me that all the coaches of this type handled that way and if I wanted a better handling coach I should have bought a coach with a tag axle. No one suggested that I have the alignment checked and I found the toe out at about 1/2 inch. Took it immediately to alignment shop and had the tire checked at a Goodyear commercial tire dealer and they replaced it. The difference in handling and quietness of the ride is amazing. The quietness is due to replacing of the out of round tire,

Skip426 · 07-07-2014, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmo55

The coach handled fine. The toe out was equal on both sides so it didn't drift when u let go the wheel. We drove it all across the US and back. Thanx for the reply.
Ed

Equal toe out on both sides is an indication it was set wrong.
Disturbing the adjustments by clipping a curb would result in only one side being out and the steering wheel off centre.
JMHO: Keep after them they owe you for those tires.