Camper not tracking right

[Osborne]

When I first bought my 5th wheel is was tracking to the driver side alot. Well the service center suggested we put a Correct Track 2 system on it to straighten it out and CT2 guarantees it to fix it. So I pick it up and its whole lots better, go first trip, look at all tire and checked them with a temp gun. All four tires where pretty close to the same as my truck tires. Well now on the second trip out I see this on two of the tires. My wife comes out of the store and says the camper looks like its not tracking right. I wanted to hear your thoughts. Are the tires trying to wear in the old pattern or what do yall think?[/IMG]

[JayC]

You might want to measure between the tires on both sides and compare the numbers. You might want to locate a large trailer alignment service that can help.

Good luck.

[Ray,IN]

You should not need any aftermarket device to make a trailer track properly. I suspect your axles are out of alignment. Look in the phone book for a truck and trailer alignment shop. Meanwhile, try this website: Tandem axle alignment That is the same method Dexter axle had on their website, but it has been removed/relocated for some reason.

[tvman44]

Find a good big truck trailer & alignment shop and get the axles checked, you should not need any after market device to make any trailer track correctly..

[Ray,IN]

I just read the correct track 2 installation pdf. It explains the same tape measure/plumb bob method Dexter axle recommends.
Upon further investigation I discovered the correct track 2 also raises the trailer 2". The axle adjustment feature is innovative.

[IC2]

On a correctly built trailer of any sort, it is difficult to see it dog leg down the road from manufacturing misalignment. The axles are held in place by a center bolt to a welded in place axle bracket What isn't difficult is to bend or break something ranging from bent axles and/or spindles, broken or loose U-bolts or hangers ripped loose from the frame. A couple frame manufacturers have had an occasional problem with ripped out spring eye end hangers. While it's fairly easy to correct, it isn't always inexpensive.

One more item to look at - spindle/hub bearings

The first thing I would do is to crawl under and determine if there is any visible mechanical failure - then off to the alignment shop. They then will be either able to re-bend the axle or replace it. Replacing it if a Dexter is relatively inexpensive and fairly quickly done. I have to assume that any other brands are about the same.

And that 5er in my AVATAR - I replaced both axles in about 4 hours working time (done for other reasons)

[RJay]

I would call the alignment place and ask if you should replace the tires before it's aligned.

[caissiel]

After breaking springs and wearing tires on my previous 5th wheel I decided to do the proper measurement from the pin and found thatthe rear tire wear was caused by the front axle being out of alignment. The trailer had not been build right and the front axle was off by 5/8". I do beleive if anyone finds the spring attachments out of alignment its best to use the Kit. I was impressed by the design and for someone without a welding machine its well worth it to align the springs on the frame. Also I was able to bend the rear shackles to suit the wheel spacing but it was to much to make up for the 5/8" required at the end. I did the repairs while raising the trailer by 2" like the Kit does but only needed to realign on side of the front axle becausae the rrear axle tracked perfectly.
Transport trailers have a solid attached axle and the second on has a one side alignment adjusting tie rod.
So I beleive with the money we spend on our units these adjusters should be a standard equipment, both to save tires and springs. At over $300 per tires its well worth the effort to try to standerdize the system. Might not need it on both axle but at least like Transport trailers have one on one axle.

[Osborne]

thank all,my tires are new and im tring to take care of them. When I bought the camper it was tailing awlful. After putting the CT system on it it seemed to be ok. Now on the 2nd trip its fussing the right front tire on the outside and the left rear tire on the inside. One of my buddys said that the tires maybe trying to wear like they were when it was way out of alignment.

[Mike Thomas]

If you want a really good alignment, don't buy new tires first. A good alignment tech will look at the old tire wear pattern to help determine what the vehicle needs to fix it. Put on new tires, and all he has to go by is what you say or what he can measure. The tire wear pattern will tell him everything he needs to know. Now that said, the tire wear pattern will probably continue, even after alignment, but it will track/drive better. Buy the new tires after the alignment is done if you want.

[Ray,IN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Thomas If you want a really good alignment, don't buy new tires first. A good alignment tech will look at the old tire wear pattern to help determine what the vehicle needs to fix it. Put on new tires, and all he has to go by is what you say or what he can measure. The tire wear pattern will tell him everything he needs to know. Now that said, the tire wear pattern will probably continue, even after alignment, but it will track/drive better. Buy the new tires after the alignment is done if you want.

Humm, every time I've had a vehicle aligned, they recommended I put on new tires first if I wanted the best alignment.

[IC2]

New tires/old tires - not going to make a bit of difference to the tape measure method of home alignment of your TT/5er or even the pro electronic aligners. What will make a difference is the tire diameter or different brands on the same axle as well as suspension hard parts.

On your daily driver, the caster and camber are set in degrees, the toe in inches (or mm).

Caster is the number of degrees the spindle support leans forward or back, camber is how many degrees the tire tops lean in or out. Toe in/out is the measured distance between tire centers at the horizontal centerline. You get shops that brag on about adjusting thrust angle/4 wheel alignment - this is baloney unless you have adjustable(seldom) and usually independent rear suspension or have been in an accident and need some chassis work