Check your springs / suspension

[Bob Weis]

New (January 2014) Keystone Laredo 315 RE. 7500 dry, 9500 max, 1000 tongue.

About 1000 miles on it since "new".

Annual wheel bearing repack.

Curb side front leaf spring flat, other 3 spring packs various stages of cracked and broken.

Replacing all 4 with 5 leaf (had 4 leaf), replacing bolts with wet, all new hanger U Bolts, shackle bolts etc, both axles (4.4k) replaced with 6k Dexter.

Only good thing about the repack were the bearings were actually packed with grease as they should have been.

About $4k for new heavier springs, hardware, and axles.

From what I am reading this is more common than we would like to think that the suspension system is carrying maximum design weight right from the start.

[Kurmudgeon]

It's a sad fact that many RV manufacturers use the lightest, cheapest suspension components feasible. It saves them money and is out of sight.

[monkey]

Originally Posted by Kurmudgeon

It's a sad fact that many RV manufacturers use the lightest, cheapest suspension components feasible. It saves them money and is out of sight.

I totally agree Jim... suspension along with cheap tires just to get you off the lot.... We learn SO much from a great site like this, from others experiences, etc... It's a darn shame to have to spend extra thousands on a new rv,,, but it doesn't supprise me....

[wwsmith111]

I agree! I don't understand why they don't offer upgrades. Better tires, etc. I would gladly pay for a tire/wheel upgrade from the factory just like I did with my pickup. I just doesn't make sense to me. In the long run, it costs us all more money. I just changed out the D rated China made tires that came on my new Jayco Eagle to E rated Maxxis tires. Piece of mind is worth a lot and I certainly don't want to deal with blown out tires on my vacation.