Community Forums

jerichorick · 10-02-2013, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan JS

An earlier post also suggested unless it is a "battle at the wheel" let it settle in to place and get the chassis lubes, bolts re torqued, wheels aligned , with belts and hoses inspected also after a spell.
At Orlando RV Robin generally suggested front tires 115, drive axle 95 and tag 85 psi but that is disregarding any specific weight or alignment so I am remiss on getting weights. Break in period was told to be as the initial 1000-1600 mile drive to us the consumers. Question is how much to do?

I don't understand 'break in period'. Most of us have close to that just from the delivery drive. I don't think that is an issue. About the tire pressures? I trust Freightliner over any RV dealer.

My earlier post #24 is still my best advise to you. We were at Forest City at Winnebago last year and the owners of a Tour were telling us of the problems they and others had with the chassis not handling well after it was loaded with the personal stuff. When they had the Freightliner factory go through it they were so surprised how differently it drove. Tire pressure, tag pressure and axle/frontend alignment is always critical.

TeJay · 10-05-2013, 01:45 PM

I don't know where this idea of a break in period for alignment came about. If the alignment is off it is off. There is no break-in period for alignment. There are different ways of aligning chassis. The Best way is to find a place that has an alignment specialist with many years of experience. My coach road OK. It was aligned at the WBGO factory and with only 600 miles I had it aligned again and all angles were off. Did you all understand what I wrote?? "All alignment angles were off". There were corrected and it rode better than before which was not bad. The guy told me that I should get 150,000 miles of steer tire wear with no abnormal wear.

I mentioned this before. Ask around and find a decent shop for your alignment. They are few and far between.

TeJay

johnnyreno · 10-06-2013, 09:30 AM

http://www.josamusa.com/ Orlando fl. will be my first stop next week for alignment thx DOC

Dr4Film · 10-06-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyreno

http://www.josamusa.com/ Orlando fl. will be my first stop next week for alignment thx DOC

Trust me you WON'T be disappointed.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Curtisgeiger · 10-06-2013, 12:36 PM

Is there a "reputable" Spartan Chassis approved alignment shop anywhere near eastern NC?

Reputable = you have taken your coach there and would recommend to your mom to take hers there.

(This of course assumes you love your mom)

Curt

Alan JS · 10-15-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Trust me you WON'T be disappointed. Dr4Film ----- Richard

We were not close enough to get to Orlando so we looked up the Spartan chassis approved shop.
Our entegra aspire had 1300 miles on it from delivery to dealer and only 500 from our travels.
Computer reported few degrees off of toe in both front wheels meaning it came that way from factoRy that way.
As many of you said earlier, every motorhome needs to get aligned from day one of purchase.
Along with 24 point chassis inspection they checked ride height and put 120 psi in each tire per Goodyear.
I was surprised that the alignment was off just as was recommended on forums.
I will ask Entegra for reimbursement as I don't think it is right.

Curtisgeiger · 10-15-2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan JS

We were not close enough to get to Orlando so we looked up the Spartan chassis approved shop. Our entegra aspire had 1300 miles on it from delivery to dealer and only 500 from our travels. Computer reported few degrees off of toe in both front wheels meaning it came that way from factoRy that way. As many of you said earlier, every motorhome needs to get aligned from day one of purchase. Along with 24 point chassis inspection they checked ride height and put 120 psi in each tire per Goodyear. I was surprised that the alignment was off just as was recommended on forums. I will ask Entegra for reimbursement as I don't think it is right.

I had my brand new Aspire aligned yesterday.

The shop Forman at the Spartan Authorized Service Center (Cummins Atlantic Kenley NC) said the Toe was way out of alignment. They have me the alignment worksheet to show me the numbers and the corrections they had to make.

If anyone is curious on the exact numbers let me know. I will send you a copy of the worksheet.

Mine has 1900 miles on it.

Entegra took care of the bill.

Curt

TerryO · 10-15-2013, 09:52 PM

We waited until we went to the factory and had the alignment as one item on our punch list. It was out of alignment and since we had 19,000 miles on it our front tires are a little cupped. Entegra paid for alignment but not shaving the tires to bring them into true. I'm fine with that because I don't think they are that bad and they did swap them right to left. The coach definitely does drive better.

So, the moral of the story is have it done soon after you take possession, that way you won't mess up your tires.

TeJay · 10-16-2013, 03:35 AM

Curt,
I'd be interested in the toe and caster settings, just as a point of reference. Toe is usually referred to in fractions of an inch, but can be referred to in degrees. The guys who set mine did not use a computer because he proved to a Hunter alignment man from Hunter that their computer was off and wrong and so was what ever he used to set the alignment machine. Toe is best at 1/16" of total (both tires) toe in. So each tire is toed in 1/32".

Thanks,
TeJay

Curtisgeiger · 10-16-2013, 06:15 AM

See the attached worksheet.

brobox · 10-16-2013, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryO

We waited until we went to the factory and had the alignment as one item on our punch list. It was out of alignment and since we had 19,000 miles on it our front tires are a little cupped. Entegra paid for alignment but not shaving the tires to bring them into true. I'm fine with that because I don't think they are that bad and they did swap them right to left. The coach definitely does drive better.

So, the moral of the story is have it done soon after you take possession, that way you won't mess up your tires.

Learned the hard way and cupped the tires pretty bad on the Travel Supreme in the first 6,000 miles. I will be heading to the alignment shop as soon as I leave LD with the Anthem.

At least I was able to put my cupped tires on the inside rear, but I can't do that with the Anthem because of the different size tires Another BIG reason to align the front end and often. I have mine front end alignment checked ever other year and they throw in a "free" lube job while it's over the pit.

jerichorick · 10-17-2013, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

I have mine front end alignment checked ever other year and they throw in a "free" lube job while it's over the pit.

Where do you go? Besides watching for trouble on the front tread this sounds like a good practice. I think some of the bridge expansion joints are worse for the frontend than most potholes.

Alan JS · 11-01-2013, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryO

We waited until we went to the factory and had the alignment as one item on our punch list. It was out of alignment and since we had 19,000 miles on it our front tires are a little cupped. Entegra paid for alignment but not shaving the tires to bring them into true. I'm fine with that because I don't think they are that bad and they did swap them right to left. The coach definitely does drive better. So, the moral of the story is have it done soon after you take possession, that way you won't mess up your tires.

As a compliment to Entegra, in less than three weeks they had a check in my hands for full cost of front end alignment done by Spartan repair center locally near Ft Lauderdale. Came to $199.95.
They hold up their end. Great customer service.

wmpbauer · 11-01-2013, 10:25 PM

Interesting posts. When I took delivery at Lazy Days, I turned right around and went back for an alignment cause it was pulling. When I left, it was better, but I wasn't happy.....still pulled to the right.

I knew I was heading to Spartan Chassis for their owners school, so I didn't bother complaining. At Spartan, they found my front axel was not square to the frame rails, and one of my tag axles was out as well. Tightened all my suspension bolts and completed the full alignment. Now I can steer with one finger. Entegra picked up the tab.

I'm happy!