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Old 08-02-2004, 05:44 PM   #1
ragdoll
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Tires/Axles - Update on Repairs

Picked up Monty today - still 2 parts on order and they say they are to be here in 10 days - we will see. I told them I would be in their face until everything was fixed. This has been in the works for over a year. Our new shower started leaking this last trip - wrong screws used in the glass enclosure and not sealed seemed to be the conclusion. On our new door the window had not been chaulked letting the glass slide around causing gaps and leaks. Other minor repairs were done.

Now for the axles/abnormal tire wear - we took it directly to a specialist from the dealer (they don't do that type of work). Tires aren't aligned the way autos/trucks are - they actually have to bend the axles. Alignment (tracking off) is needed if the tire is wearing and being cut across all the trend. If they are wearing just on the inside it is called camber or tow depending how the tires wear - the only way to adjust this is to bend the axle. This is a big problem so have them checked by someone that knows what they are doing. Cost here is $155 - I am guessing this is per axle, Jack talked to the guy so now sure since we are just having problems with the right rear - it has worn 2 tires in the same pattern. This problem has been from day one on buying the unit and Jack happened to rotate the tires this time or the problem would have continued. Hope this helps the rest of you with abnormal tire wear.

Safe Travels.
 
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Old 08-02-2004, 05:48 PM   #2
Northstar
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Thanks for the post. Nice info to be aware of. Happy rving....
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Old 08-03-2004, 02:27 AM   #3
lightningjack11
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Great info ragdoll. Thanks for the update.
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Old 08-04-2004, 04:27 PM   #4
Montana_1197
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There's a lot of folks, including me, that have experienced the same tire wear as you have described. Mine also wore badly on the inside. We checked around and found a shop that manufactured axles in a nearby town that aligned both our axles for only a $40 shop charge. After replacing the tires, we also had them balanced. No long vacation planned for the rest of the year so not sure if it will solve the problem or not. The mech say both were a little off camber. I'm also going to be much more careful with curbs, potholes,and such. "RV there yet?"
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Old 08-07-2004, 04:28 AM   #5
ragdoll
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Well here goes an explaination on what we discovered from the specialist here to the tune of $234 due to bad installation and lower standards at the factory.

The axles were off an inch, causing the cambering of the right rear tire. Both the springs and axles had to be taken off and put back to I must say higher specs than used at the factory.

So through no fault of ours it has cost us time and money for the problem to be corrected and now also 2 tires. No long trips are planned for the rest of the year since we had just gotten back from the NW.

Monty is ready to be picked up and I will do that Monday (closed for the weekend) and yesterday late afternoon I had just gotten Jack home after having knee surgery.

Safe travels.
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Old 08-07-2004, 04:44 AM   #6
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Even though I have been fortunate to not have this problem, thanks for the information. Plus I hope you will be contacting AL-KO about this issue. Hopefully they will look into the situation and refund your money for the repairs.

The knee surgery, now that I know about. Good luck with your tire issue and take care of that knee.
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Old 08-07-2004, 06:20 AM   #7
lightningjack11
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Thanks for the update. I would certainly send the findings to Keystone by registered mail. Give TEAM MONTANA a chance to get your money back. This was obviously not a warranty item since it was not a failure. It was a mfgr error, pure and simple. It may be a key to solving this problem for Keystone.

Glad things are working out.
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Old 08-07-2004, 08:07 AM   #8
Dave Anderson
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It sounds to me that the 2850's have a definate axle problem!After replaceing 4 tires on our Alaska trip,we discoveredour axles were extremely out of alignment,and had to have them recambered inDawson creek,where the technitiontold us he thought they were too light. I wonder if Keystone would put on 6000 pounders if requested, also 16" wheels.
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Old 08-07-2004, 08:39 AM   #9
lightningjack11
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Guess I will really have to look at mine again. Still have two 99 tires on it and replaced two only because of bulges. Over 20000 miles and my 99s still look like they will make it to the rally.
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Old 08-07-2004, 08:43 AM   #10
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Thanks for the great posts. Something to watch. Keep us posted. Happyrving.....
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Old 08-07-2004, 11:41 AM   #11
aljolleyjr
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I had the original tires (Generals) replaced with Michelins, not because I was having tire wear but I just don't like General tires. I then took it to a local alignment shop and had the alignment checked and the camber was off a little bit on the rear axle and a lot off on the front axle, cost me $96.00.
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Old 08-07-2004, 12:30 PM   #12
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Until we get the unit back Jack can't remember the poundage of these axles but know he asked the guy to make a note of it. Our tires, I do know are Tacoma 16 E's. All tires are original and show little wear except the inside on the 2 that were on the right rear - we have about 15,000 miles on them more or less.

We are going to let Keystone know and hope they will give us a refund. Since the axles weren't bent it isn't a warranty issue with Al-Ko but they did say there wouldn't be a problem with replacement if they were. We will also let them know of our findings. I believe there are 2 different brands being used - I don't know if all Montana's have the same brand or not. This could be a lot of the problem with tires if all springs and axles used don't seem to be standard sizes.

Safe travels.
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Old 08-07-2004, 04:59 PM   #13
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Been reading a lot of posts about 'aligning' axles on 5rs. Didn't even realize such could be done so obviously don't know where to check into it. Would you all mind giving recommendations (i.e. Goodyear dealer (autos primarily)? Am in a smaller town in Kansas so will probably have to go to either Topeka (hour from here) or either Wichita or KC (both 2 hours from here).

Just got our Mountaineer 3 weeks ago - haven't even had her out on a real 'shake down' yet. Looking forward to it though.

Thanks.
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Old 08-07-2004, 05:52 PM   #14
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skypilot - congrats on your new purchase.

You should call around but go to a specialist for brakes and alignment. Normal tire places usually don't have the setup for trailers, plus equipment needed to do the job - some don't know how to align them - some truck places do but you want someone that knows how to align trailer tires.

Safe travels.
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Old 08-09-2004, 06:53 AM   #15
Montana_1197
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There's one thing we can all do before heading to the shop. Remember how we used to align the front end on our cars when we were young and poor. Grab a tape measure and measure as accurately as you possibly can from tire to tire in front and behind the axle. you can also make various measurement to check axle/frame alignment to see if you might have a problem. Everytime I've been around where they working on axles/trailers in a shop that's what they're doing. I'm told that a slight "toe-in" is needed on all axles?. No hi-tech laser stuff here just good old measuring.
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Old 08-10-2004, 02:36 PM   #16
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babymakes3, you are right everyone needs to measure to see what they find out regarding wear on the tires - Jack did exactly that that is why we knew we had a problem, not only the abnormal tire wear on just the one tire. The specialist confirmed it.

We picked up our unit today and they had to re-adjust the springs so they matched and axles to get them to track correctly. It appears that there isn't a good standard for making matched spring sets that are on the units. This problem also caused one shock to bend so that will be the next thing that has to be replaced. One thing always leads to another one .

Safe travels.
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Old 08-10-2004, 02:56 PM   #17
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Sky pilot, I had mine done in Pittsburg Ks. but can't remember the name of the shop.
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Old 08-11-2004, 12:47 PM   #18
Montana_1741
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Our 2004 3670RL after six months all four tires were bald on the inside. Our dealer replaced the axles. Had to wait for Keystone to inspect the axles before they would put on new tires. It is in the shop now for the second time for slide outs coming out during traveling, a repetative gas leak and a cracked window in the rear and we are getting four new tires two months after they replaced the axles. Hope things get bettee.
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Old 08-11-2004, 04:53 PM   #19
larryngail
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by curmuddgeon

Our 2004 3670RL after six months all four tires were bald on the inside. Our dealer replaced the axles. Had to wait for Keystone to inspect the axles before they would put on new tires. It is in the shop now for the second time for slide outs coming out during traveling, a repetative gas leak and a cracked window in the rear and we are getting four new tires two months after they replaced the axles. Hope things get bettee.
Dear curmuddgeon,
Just want to say...we really hope things get better for you too!
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Old 08-20-2004, 11:41 AM   #20
sreigle
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Skypilot, if I may ask, where are you in Kansas? I graduated H.S. from Wamego, and we sold our home in Topeka when we started fulltiming. I have family in Wamego, Belvue, and Tecumseh.

Jerryb, are you from Kansas also? Neither of you has city/state in your profile so if you'd prefer not to answer, that's ok. Or email me - click on the envelope above this post.

Thanks.
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