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Scotty D · 10-06-2018, 06:15 PM

Well everyone I got my problem taken care of.

The result is excellent and ultimately "free" at least in cash paid out - time and gasoline burned running the coach back and forth to Camping World notwithstanding.

It was probably a one hour job once they got the parts - a metal 1.5" thick block and new longer u-bolts.

Now, I can say my motorhome has a lift kit

Stay the course!

Scotty D · 10-06-2018, 07:28 PM

I couldn't get the photos right-side-up and the level photo doesn't show true level because my parking spot isn't level but trust me it was "a half a bubble off.

THenne1713 · 10-07-2018, 01:33 PM

First question is what does it do as you fill/ drain tanks, assume you are talking about the rubber bumper? One side only or both? Does it stay level?

Scotty D · 10-08-2018, 12:31 PM

From the outset it was obvious that it was leaning to the driver side. So, that is the side on which they installed the block(middle photo).

I am not sure what you mean by "rubber bumper".

The bottom photo shows the passenger side without. There is less than a 1/4" difference between the grey and black tanks when full and empty and there has been neither a positive nor negative effect on filling and emptying them.

It is now level and stays that way. My wife drove behind me on the way home and says that there is no lean whilst driving. When parked there is no hint of a lean any more either.

Good questions

Scotty D

Bill Gail · 10-08-2018, 02:22 PM

Good to hear CW took care of you.
Was a cause found for the leaning ? I mean the root cause , not the fix .
Have you separately weighed each side of the rear axle ? I'm curious what that might show . 1-1/2" is a significant displacement.
Happy Trails.

Scotty D · 10-10-2018, 11:57 AM

Indeed! 1 1/2" is a lot.

The 2018 Thor Freedom Elite 26HE that I own is on a Ford E-350 platform w/ a single driver-side slide out room for the bed aft of the rear dual wheels.

Slide out rooms are heavy and so basically it was fulcrumming down on the left-rear side.

I will, at some point, weigh the vehicle front and rear axles together and separately and the four corners separately but as of yet haven't done so.

Ideally, I would also like to weigh it empty and fully laden just for kicks.

But, anyway that is where I am at the moment and will update when I get around to doing all of these silly things.

Scotty D

Bill Gail · 10-10-2018, 05:16 PM

Based on your reply , I assume the coach was delivered leaning towards the driver's side.
Did CW talk to the manufacturer and their engineers about the condition and the correction?
The reason I ask, is that the fix CW provided , rather than adding additional leafs to the spring to maintain the original arch, the 1-1/2" block has left that spring in a negative arch . There by reducing the vertical travel the axle can move on that side. Potentially causing the axle to bottom out .
It may not be an issue and I may be over thinking the issue , which I've been know to do , but "The Price of Safety is eternal vigilance" .

Dave11 · 10-10-2018, 05:51 PM

Getting a side to side weight comparison to see if a weight imbalance was the cause of the lean would have been my first step. Assuming it was the cause a better solution would be to have the spring modified to carry the weight properly. Any good chassis shop could do that quite easily.

My other thought was that at 27 feet you may be near the limit of the E350 GVWR of 12,500. If that is the case and the weight is heavy at the rear corner you may be overloading that side of the rear axel or just have handling issues. To me a spacer block may have just been done because it is cheap and easy but necessarily the best method.

Scotty D · 10-10-2018, 06:33 PM

To the last two replies - I had considered the better part of all of that and knew(hoped) that it should not cost me any $$ to get it right.

With this in mind, I got CW to fix it. The best fix maybe not but it handles the same as it did before, tracks well and it's level. I am satisfied.

Without knowing what chassis it "should" be mounted upon I can only go with what I have in hand.

My first Class C MH was just 5 inches shorter but had no slide out rooms and was manufactured by another company on an E-450.

Other units of the same model that I've seen do not lean as far as mine did. Something I mentioned in my original post was that I failed to notice the imbalance when I took delivery of it. Shame on me for not discovering it, shame on them for not noticing when they took delivery of it from the manufacturer.

Mistakes happen. I don't blame anyone but as in all of my business transactions I do expect it to be made right.

On an unrelated note: my new one gets way better mileage than the old one using the same engine(V-10 gasser) yet performs the same - LOVE that!

Ultimately. I hope this helps someone in avoiding what I had to go through.

I am still open to keep the discussion going...

Scotty D