Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Tow Vehicles & Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-12-2019, 12:30 PM   #1
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
Trailer Leaning while towing

I've pulled my new 305RL just once, but I noticed that it tended to lean a little to one side. I've been pulling mostly 5er's for 25 years and have never had that happen.

Anyone have experience with this? What should I be looking for?
 
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2019, 01:39 PM   #2
rescue7
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Traverse City
Posts: 149
M.O.C. #15913
Check for a broken spring or missing shackle bolt.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 dually
2014 3725RL
rescue7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2019, 02:55 PM   #3
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
Tall trailers will have a natural lean on roadways with a high crown. But if it is leaning on flat pavement I would certainly be looking at the suspension on that side.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2019, 04:32 PM   #4
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
Thanks for the replies. I'll keep an eye on it. The suspension looks good. Perhaps this rig is a little more top heavy than I've had before.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2019, 08:46 AM   #5
beeje
Montana Master
 
beeje's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
A lot of trailers are heavier on one side. My unit is drivers side heavy do to the fact that there are 3 slides on that side with all the heavy kitchen stuff/batteries/water heater/fireplace etc on that side. Just sitting still, hitched up to my truck in my perfectly level pole building, the campers left side is around an inch or so lower than the right side. And that's with an all new suspension under it.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
beeje is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2019, 08:52 AM   #6
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
Good to know...just never had a rig do that before. Thanks for the insight
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2019, 10:03 PM   #7
rohrmann
Montana Master
 
rohrmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,676
M.O.C. #12947
Even if everything looks good underneath, be aware that you can have a broken leaf in a spring pack that won't be visible and can cause the rig to lean. You might take the rig in to a trailer repair shop just to be inspected instead of continuing to pull it. You just might save yourself from major damage if a spring pack totally comes apart.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
rohrmann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2019, 10:50 PM   #8
Ram Montana High Country
Montana Master
 
Ram Montana High Country's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,877
M.O.C. #19944
Good chance to get IS under trailer
__________________
RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
Ram Montana High Country is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 05:19 AM   #9
Dave W
Montana Master
 
Dave W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
If it's leaning a bit to the right, that side on a 305RL has the kitchen slide, and if equipped, a washer/dryer so may have a slight list. Have someone follow you on a smooth level road. It may be just an illusion in your mirrors. Many that we have followed tend to 'dog track' rather then lean.



A SOB another family owned similar but a larger version then ours needed an added spring leaf to level theirs out.


If indeed it leans, check the spring packs. These springs are no longer made in the US (China) and you may also have a weak one or even missing a leaf
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
Dave W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 09:24 AM   #10
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
Thanks, again, for the feedback. I've had older trailers that didn't have these kinds of issues so have never dealt with this before. I may just need to get used to this new rig but will definately take a closer look at the suspension in case I've got a bad part lurking there. I will also take a look at when it leans or if it's leaning all of the time. I need to get it out again and experiment a bit.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 09:27 AM   #11
Ram Montana High Country
Montana Master
 
Ram Montana High Country's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,877
M.O.C. #19944
Amen - had a truck spring break behind bolt, wasn't till the second broke before it was really noticeable - hate building springs unless you're tooled for it, especially when trying to match other springs - no two are the same exactly
__________________
RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
Ram Montana High Country is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2019, 02:53 PM   #12
Seumas59
New Member
 
Seumas59's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Delaware
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #23926
My 385BR is leaning a little towards the driver side. Upon inspecting the springs everything looked okay but the arch of the spring pack on that side is a little flatter than the one on the other side. As was mentioned to n a previous post, there are 3 slides, fridge, pantry, etc. on the drivers side. That is a lot of weight so could be the cause? It’s handling fine so I am going to keep going while watching it closely.
Seumas59 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2019, 03:21 PM   #13
PNW Fireguy
Montana Master
 
PNW Fireguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
Spring packs are inexpensive. They are a lot easier to replace in a controlled environment then on the side of an interstate with 75mph traffic wizzing by. Trust me I know.
PNW Fireguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2019, 04:56 PM   #14
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
I realized after that first tow home that there was quite a bit of water in the fresh tank from the dealer. I emptied that, loaded the trailer for regular use and all seems well. It pulls level just fine. I am looking into wet bolts and brass bushings, though
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
jsb5717 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2019, 07:35 PM   #15
Slufoot733
Montana Master
 
Slufoot733's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wampum
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #9928
Jeff, I highly recommend the wet bolts. I added them to our 2010 Monty. I was surprised when the stock shackles were removed. Even though I kept them oiled they still showed wear at the bolt holes. And the nylon bushings were pretty well worn out. Plus, with the wet bolts the shackles are twice as thick. The wet bolt kit includes bronze bushings, everything you need to make the conversion. Much better all the way around.
__________________
"What happens at camp stays at camp"
2018 3121RL
2016 Ford F350 SB SRW
Slufoot733 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2019, 05:52 AM   #16
WeBeFulltime
Montana Master
 
WeBeFulltime's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
I realized after that first tow home that there was quite a bit of water in the fresh tank from the dealer. I emptied that, loaded the trailer for regular use and all seems well. It pulls level just fine. I am looking into wet bolts and brass bushings, though
High Country doesn't come from factory with wet bolts? Our previous 2012 3585SA had them from factory.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD


Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
WeBeFulltime is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2019, 12:00 AM   #17
martinbrown238
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: United States
Posts: 1
M.O.C. #24484
Amen - had a truck spring break behind bolt, wasn't till the second broke before it was really noticeable - hate building springs unless you're tooled for it, especially when trying to match other springs - no two are the same exactly, we have experienced on our truck which we use for Long Distance Towing services.
martinbrown238 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.