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l1v3fr33ord1 · 03-27-2023, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericllucas

Oh there was something I learned about towing an RV. The towing company needed to see a picture of the front side of my RV before they would commit to towing it. Evidently some Class A RVs have a long distance from the nose to the front axle and not every wrecker can reach that far back to get under the axle. Fortunately, the distance on my Canyon Star is really short (according to the tow truck driver) and it was easy to hook up. I didn't know that.

A couple years ago I read some advice that said to keep a sheet of coach measurements handy, for just this case. That made sense to me. The sheet for my coach is below, as an example.

Flyer15015 · 03-27-2023, 03:29 PM

O.P.
In your 1st picture, it looks like the exhaust pipe took a hit and is split.
An easy job to fix with a MIG or torch, but it needs to be addressed.

Mike in Colorado

DriverRichard · 03-27-2023, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

A couple years ago I read some advice that said to keep a sheet of coach measurements handy, for just this case. That made sense to me. The sheet for my coach is below, as an example.

Good thought. Are thesse measurement listed somewhere or do we crawl under with a tape?

NXR · 03-27-2023, 10:16 PM

I'm astonished that the toad wasn't taken out by the driveshaft. Since the toad had some damage, do you have any idea how the driveshaft exited from under the motorhome? I was thinking maybe it flew out the side but how it could miss hitting any tires is beyond me.

Any idea how fast you were going? You obviously had enough speed to coast to the side of the road.

Ray

l1v3fr33ord1 · 03-28-2023, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pimprig1979

Good thought. Are thesse measurement listed somewhere or do we crawl under with a tape?

I measured "Distance from Front Bumper to Steer Axle" with a tape measure and the rest I lifted from the brochure for my coach or from Ford's online chassis info.

ericllucas · 03-28-2023, 02:18 PM

Hi - Looking at the video, I had hit the brakes and was going exactly 54 when I went over the tire. So based on the long experience of the man who helped me get the new driveshaft on the RV, he said that what I saw in the air behind me was most likely the exhaust tail pipe, not the driveshaft. He said the driveshaft likely tore away and went sideways and rolled down the highway. That means they definitely went under the driver side tires. I checked the tires and I have gouging on the driver side tires, and will be replacing one of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NXR

I'm astonished that the toad wasn't taken out by the driveshaft. Since the toad had some damage, do you have any idea how the driveshaft exited from under the motorhome? I was thinking maybe it flew out the side but how it could miss hitting any tires is beyond me.

Any idea how fast you were going? You obviously had enough speed to coast to the side of the road.

Ray

ericllucas · 03-28-2023, 02:25 PM

Hi -

You will need a measuring tape for measurement number two below. You will need dial calipers or some other very precise device for measuring distances to a thousandth of an inch for the others.

We measured:

1) The diameter of the splined shaft at the front of the third drive shaft 1.550"
2) The distance from the end of the splined shaft to the middle of the yoke of the differential - the centerline of the universal joint 63"
3) The width of the universal joint on the yoke 4.950"
4) The number of teeth on the spline on the shaft at the front of the drive shaft 24

The guy created a new Drive Shaft from those dimensions. The spline got banged up when the original drive shaft was ejected - it left at an angle and left the splines banged up. We had to replace the bearing assembly that the second and third drive shaft are connected to, so we just took the second drive shaft that had the splined shaft to the drive shaft guy so he could clean it up and make sure it fit perfectly to the third drive shaft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pimprig1979

Good thought. Are thesse measurement listed somewhere or do we crawl under with a tape?

ericllucas · 03-28-2023, 02:27 PM

The exhaust pipe took a beating. The muffler itself got punched like a boxer's punching bag. It all needs to be replaced. The tail pipe is completely gone. I imagine it got swirled around and ejected under the driver side tires, based on the marks on the inside of the underside of the RV and the gouges on the driver side inner dual.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer15015

O.P.
In your 1st picture, it looks like the exhaust pipe took a hit and is split.
An easy job to fix with a MIG or torch, but it needs to be addressed.

Mike in Colorado

ericllucas · 03-28-2023, 02:33 PM

Hey, that's a great idea. Thanks for sharing this...

Quote:

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

A couple years ago I read some advice that said to keep a sheet of coach measurements handy, for just this case. That made sense to me. The sheet for my coach is below, as an example.

DR60 · 03-28-2023, 02:38 PM

Glad to hear no one was hurt. It could have been much worse. Best of luck DR

spuds · 03-28-2023, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericllucas

they definitely went under the driver side tires. I checked the tires and I have gouging on the driver side tires, and will be replacing one of them.

Later on you mention it's the inner dual.

Unless the tires are fairly new with very little wear, it's generally recommended that you replace BOTH tires on a dual axle end at the same time if you need to replace one of them.

ericllucas · 03-28-2023, 02:47 PM

Hi Everyone!

I got parked at home at 1AM Eastern last night and so I can bring closure to the story for everyone.

Monday morning at 0730 I was there when the Ford Dealer opened their doors. The nice lady said "can I help you?". Yes ma'am, I sure am happy to see you today. I explained the situation and she said using her best Southern Charm and manners "We don't work on RVs because none of our mechanics will work on the ground. There is nothing we can do for you. Have a nice day". I said, wait now, you can't help me because your men won't lie on the ground and lift up a drive shaft? She shook her head no. I smiled and said you aren't joking, are you? She continued shaking her head. She said we can't help you. I said do you know anyone who can? She continued shaking her head. I said a person I spoke to on Saturday said that you work on RVs all the time, they are here all the time. She said, that was a salesman, you can't trust what they say. I said a representative of your company encouraged me to bring the RV here, assuring me that you DO work on RVs all the time and something as simple as a driveshaft replacement is simple for your team. She shook her head no and said we can't help you. I turned and walked out.

So, I found a guy in Marietta who can make a driveshaft, but he is a one man shop and couldn't drive up and install it. He didn't recommend any of the other drive shaft shops in the area for various reasons. I said - if I find someone who can install it, can you make it? Yes.

So I started calling around and found a Mobile Truck and RV Service company. Let's call him Anthony because, well, that is his name. I explained my situation and he calmly said, yeah, I can fix that. I gave him the name of the Drive Shaft Guy (Russell) and he made a call to find out what measurements are needed.

Anthony drove to my location, crawled underneath, made an inspection, took measurements, and watched the video of where I drove over the tire. Then he drove out to that place in the highway to see if he could find the driveshaft. Nope, likely some scrapper picked it up. He called in the measurements to Russell the drive shaft guy.

Anthony came back and replaced the carrier bearing. While he was replacing it, Russell called and said the driveshaft was ready. Imagine my surprise - two or so hours after getting the measurements, the drive shaft was ready.

Anthony drove over, got the drive shaft, and he and I installed it.

I left Cartersville, GA at 3PM yesterday. I noticed that when I got up to 65 MPG, I had a purring vibration proportional to road speed. I am assuming it is related to that chunk of rubber missing from the driver's side inside dual that took a beating from the muffler tail pipe, I assume. There are some pieces of tread missing on that tire as well. I'll be replacing that tire.

So, I drove through Atlanta Traffic, to the delight of many I have no doubt, at 60 mph. I normally get around 500 miles to a tank of gas driving at 65 to 70 mph, but at 60 mph, I can get 576 miles. Things seem to come at you at a more reasonable rate at 60 mph if I'm honest. Food for thought.

Anyway, everything ran fine at 60 mph. Lots of inexplicable traffic jams on I75 south to North Florida, but patience is the order of the day and I got home at 0100 safe and sound.

Boy did I learn a lot. This is a class I don't want to take again. I appreciate everyone's help here. I'm smarter for the next time something happens.

So today I've been calling around to find tires and a new muffler. Apparently, 255/80R22.5 only come in Michelin at about $800 or so each :-) Oh boy!

ericllucas · 03-28-2023, 02:54 PM

Hi - Yeah, I knew that manufacturers recommend replacing tires after six years. Mine are seven and three months old. I'm pricing out replacing all six at this point. May as well. Bad things happen when you have an odd number of good tires under your rig :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by spuds

Later on you mention it's the inner dual.

Unless the tires are fairly new with very little wear, it's generally recommended that you replace BOTH tires on a dual axle end at the same time if you need to replace one of them.

Rockwood27 · 03-28-2023, 04:04 PM

Since you're planning replacing all 6 tires, you should look at other brands, like Toyo, etc. They will be a slightly different size, but will fit and be less expensive. If you aren't familiar with this, you should search on this site for the alternatives.

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