'U' bolts again - Montana Owners Club

psomers · 09-24-2012, 02:07 PM

There has been several threads about loose U bolts. It was disturbing to see something so critical being over looked. Well I have a new 2013 Mountaineer and while I thought it a waste of time, I checked the U bolts. Was very surprised to find them that loose. I'm wondering if the U bolts are prehaps stretching. Has any one that has tightened theirs sometime ago to re-check to see if loose again. I will be rechecking mine after a few pulls.

**DQDick** · 09-24-2012, 02:12 PM

Once I tightened mine they stayed that way no mater how rough the roads. Mine were very loose when I bought the rig.

BusyCarol · 09-24-2012, 02:50 PM

Ours were VERY loose...not even 50ftlb and since we tightened them to 75ftlb they have been fine. Kind of scary isn't it! Thank goodness for this forum!

1retired06 · 09-24-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

Once I tightened mine they stayed that way no mater how rough the roads. Mine were very loose when I bought the rig.

X2 agree, same here!

scductman · 09-24-2012, 04:00 PM

They are installed on the frame with no weight when the load is put on them the springs straighten out some and I think that is why the torque is less when you ck it. when I changed my axels I torqued them and then again when I put it back on the ground to make sure they were rite and they needed a little more. JMHO
Bobby

PackerFan · 09-25-2012, 06:13 AM

Mine were a little loose but after I torqued them down it has been just fine. I have rechecked them a couple of times since the initial torgueing.

oldelmer1 · 09-25-2012, 10:23 AM

Thanks for the reminder, everytime I read a new post here, I remember to go check. All is well, but I did find a few bolts loose on the X-FACTOR.

pineranch · 09-25-2012, 11:54 AM

Brought the unit home and someone posted the torque problem. Mine were scary loose. Mad as heck and needed to talk to someone so flipped a coin and called Dexter. Rep stated they owned it since they ship complete packages to Keystone and all KS does is bolt them up. Step torqued mine and still good 3 years later.
Mike

BusyCarol · 09-25-2012, 12:06 PM

Good to know that once you torque them they should be good to go for a long time! We started at 50ftlb and are now at 75ftlb per spec. Glad to hear I won't have to climb under the rig again for a while!

oldelmer1 · 09-25-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by BusyCarol

Good to know that once you torque them they should be good to go for a long time! We started at 50ftlb and are now at 75ftlb per spec. Glad to hear I won't have to climb under the rig again for a while!

Actually, I would think this should be on your 1 year checklist, depending on how many miles you pull. If its a lot, I'd check them more often.

grayghost03 · 09-25-2012, 03:27 PM

All U-bolts loosen to some extent, most trucks are intentionally overtorqued at the factory. This is because the spring pack will settle in, wear in, and loose powder coating and paint, which all inturn takes torque off the clamping pressure. All U bolt should be checked at 500 and 1000 miles after installation. Also, if you do suspension work, replace the U-bolts, once stretched they have lost strength due to torquing.

Parts Ed · 10-01-2012, 06:21 AM

Borrowed a torque wrench from one of our techs this last weekend and checked all my U-Bolts. I was surprised to find that I had to torque them quite a bit to get to the 75ft lbs., but got it done and now I feel alot better having done that. Now if I can only get those G614's installed before I put in storage......

CountryGuy · 10-01-2012, 03:43 PM

According to Dexter at the National Rally, maximum torque on a half inch U-bolt should not exceed 70 foot lbs. Minimum torque should be at least 40 foot pounds.

Al

Golferdave · 11-14-2012, 08:21 AM

Hey Guys:
Took delivery of 2013 Montana 3800RE 31August 2012 in Leduc, Alberta,Canada and hauled to Oliver, British Columbia before heading to Apache Junction, AZ, for winter. Saw posting on U bots and checked mine. ALL were loose so I torqued them to 65 ft lb.
Thank you for the heads up. We are new to Montana but not to RVing having been fulltimers for 7 years. The Montana Forum is one of the most useful tools I have found. THANK YOU

David ( Golferdave )

Stephen Underhill · 11-14-2012, 11:55 AM

So is 75 ft.lbs for all, or should I check before I re-tourque?

Art-n-Marge · 11-16-2012, 07:11 AM

I used 65 ft/lbs for my rig. The first time I checked, only a two out of the sixteen bolts were at that torque, however, the rest needed some amount of retorquing and there were a few that were very loose! Ever since I've done this, I check once a year and all of them have held the 65 ft/lbs just fine. I don't use my rig as often very much, so for you full timers or long timers I'd probably check more often unless the torque is holding, then maybe you don't have to check as often.

**DQDick** · 11-16-2012, 09:40 AM

I put all mine to 70 and had no problems until we went IS and got rid of them all together.

RKassl · 11-16-2012, 11:26 AM

I have checked mine many times and never have found any of the bolts loose. Why such a difference in different Montana's? Makes no sense to me, Any ideas?

richfaa · 11-16-2012, 12:08 PM

Mine were set at 40/45lbs from the factory.We are going to find out why that was.

jackel1959 · 11-16-2012, 04:47 PM

At the recommendation of a shop I trust, I loosened the U-Bolts, applied some "Blue" Loctite and torqued to specs (65 FT/LBS) in my case. No issues to date. I'm sure there will be those of you out there that will say the u-bolts will stretch and therefore I will never know if they loose. I guess time will tell.....but I feel comfortable with this fix.

Jack

You may also like: