Bent axles

[04 VICTORY LANE]

Is anyone experiencing bent axles on the toyhaulers?

[04 VICTORY LANE]

Is anyone experiencing bent axles on the toyhaulers?

[Erich]

How about a slightly better description. Do you mean the actual axle ends where the brakes are or do you mean the slighly upward bend at the center of the axle that provides the correct camber?

[Ironhorses]

Hi Smart 1's!
I have not been on the forum in a very long time. I am in a almost one year old toyhauler. I have a dual axle rig and my rear axle seems to have issues. One wheel is really crooked (off camber?) and smoking??? The rear axle also seems to have a bow in it, in comparison to the front! I am over 1000 miles from home. Called a dealer that sells my brand. The dealer doesn't seem to want to even look at my problem!!! I made an appointment for Monday. In the meantime, my generator stopped working, so I had a Onan a. dealer fix it and asked them to look at my axle/wheel/? problem and was told to have my selling dealer take care of it. Like I said, Ï am over 1000 miles from home. I seem to get a "ättitude" about even looking at, or solving the problem. The economy is so bad? I don't understand? Feeling really stupid at owning a TH!!!
Should I take it to another kind of business? One that does alignments? And forget taking it to a RV shop? Thanx in advance!

[RustyJC]

A trailer alignment/repair shop is most qualified to straighten and realign axles. If they're bent because of being overloaded, the repair won't be permanent, but it should get you home.

Rusty

[Ironhorses]

Thanks very much! Anyone have a good experience with any shops in S. Cal? I was also thinking of just putting on heavier load capacity axles, if that is the problem? Anyone do that already?

[Wayne M]

It is normal for a trailer to have a bow in the rear axle. It sets up the proper camber on the wheel. The Bow will rise in the center of the axle by several inches and is not a concern for alarm. If for some reason the axle is loose and rotatedl, then the camber will be off and you have a problem. As stated, any good trailer/frame shop should be able to help you out.

Could you define what you are seeing as a bend?

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhorses Hi Smart 1's! One wheel is really crooked (off camber?) and smoking???

I was going from this statement which doesn't seem to be normal camber. It sounds like that particular wheel may have been curbed.

Rusty

[Ironhorses]

~Thank you again! That makes a lot of sense that it might have been curbed! You people are soooo good!!!!

[John-D]

One suggestion: If your expierence a bent axle.. SCALE THE THING

Bent axles can be caused by two or 3 things

1: Overload (The scale will tell you)
2: Under size axle (Design flaw)
3: Defective axle (Material flaw)

Oh, "Off-roading" or "Pot-hole highway" may be able to do it if you are near limit too. I try to avoid those.

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

^^ Absolutely get a wheel by wheel weight.

I think I'd forget about messing with a dealership. Many aren't equipped to do trailer alignment. They would probably claim that the damage had to have come from overloading, or from hitting a curb or big hole, and wouldn't warranty it anyway.

Take it to a trailer repair shop.

As far as heavier axles go, you could probably do that, but before you do make sure you are getting a thicker axle tube, as opposed to just stiffer springs. Too much overkill, axle capacity wise, might also give you a really rough ride.