New Company Opportunity !!

[bobsals]

I have no idea how Dexter Axle got to be #1! Maybe it's because there is no competition that I know of. Wouldn't it be nice to have a company come along and manufacture axles with heavy enough and high quality wheel bearings that don't need annual service (or any service for that matter) (Dexter Never-Lube ???) More on that later. Think about it,,,, when was the last time you had to re-lube the wheel bearings on your tow vehicle? When was the last time you had to lubricate the suspension on your tow vehicle? Wet bolts anyone? I think vehicles lost them in the 1930's. Some company should have a field day putting Dexter out of business or at least make Dexter come up to the plate and make suspension products that are maintenance free. EVEN AS AN OPTION. When buying a new unit, if the dealer said " We have a heavy duty option for your unit that will eliminate most maintenance but will cost $500" I'd say "ADD IT". A new company could make axle, suspension, brake, and wheel bearing assemblies MUCH more robust and reliable with little or no maintenance. Again - at least as maintenance free as the suspension on our trucks.
Now I'm almost done... The Never_Lube bearings, poor design, two bearings that are too close together to provide lateral support (my opinion) I had to replace all of my "Never-Lube" bearings on my last unit - Big $$$$. This is just my observation.

[DQDick]

From the suspension point of view it's here now in IS. The problem is you can't get them or hydraulic disk brakes as an option from Keystone.

[1retired06]

Dexter does make heavier axles with sealed bearings. Unfortunately Keystone does not use them.

[mlh]

If you went to Keystone or almost any other trailer manufacturer and told them you had a better axle but it cost more they would tell you to have a nice day and come back when you had a better axle that cost less.
Lynwood

[bobsals]

[quote]Originally posted by mlh

If you went to Keystone or almost any other trailer manufacturer and told them you had a better axle but it cost more they would tell you to have a nice day and come back when you had a better axle that cost less.
Lynwood

Yup, I agree 100%. That is the problem. I don't think the manufacturers realize how much of a PIA it is for us to maintain the suspension systems and that many if not most of us would pay a little more for a more maintenance free system.

[Hooker]

Follow the money.

[hookman]

Th reason they tell you to repack the bearings every year is that most RV sit for extended periods of time and the bearings siting like that will develop flat spots. Most people who only use their RVs on weekends in the summer and holidays but if you use yours a lot then every couple of years is OK.

[mhs4771]

A comment on the Never-r-Lube Bearings: We had Mor/ryde put them on our 2955 when we did the IS & Disc Brake upgrade after the 2011 Fall Rally. I talked to the Tech and asked his opinion on them. His feelings were that they were OK on medium weight units such as our 2955, but he felt they would not hold up on bigger and heavier units for the reasons mentioned above by Bob. So when we have the IS added to our SOB in May we'll stay with the conventional bearing setup.

[RJI47]

My opinion is that to put 7k axels on a unit that has a GVWR of well over 15k is absolutely insane. I agree, someone would have a field day if they came out with something better, and more appropriate.