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Old 01-10-2019, 08:53 AM   #1
Deb & Ken’s Hoppy
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One worn tire

Hello, new member here. I've learned a lot from your posts and thank you.
I discovered the street side rear tire on our 2009 2980RL was completely bald just on the inside of the tire. The other three tires were fine and all four were new with only 8000 miles. The first thing I heard from others was it must be a bent axle. So, I put a level on the tire - perfectly plumb! I put a straight edge to the two axles - no deviation. I spun the wheel when it was off the ground - no wobble. I check the pressure before each trip.
I'm stumped! does anyone have some insight into what could be going on?
Thanks in advance.
 
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Old 01-10-2019, 09:08 AM   #2
waynemoore
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You need to take it to an expert like a trailer alignment shop. There is just no way you can check it without the proper equipment.

Also welcome to the forum.
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Old 01-10-2019, 10:38 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waynemoore View Post
You need to take it to an expert like a trailer alignment shop. There is just no way you can check it without the proper equipment.

Also welcome to the forum.
I agree with Wayne, you just can't tell without the proper equipment. Axle can be perfect but spindle or even the wheel might be bent.
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Old 01-10-2019, 11:14 AM   #4
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Only two problems tha5 I’m aware of will cause tire to wear on inside rig only...

Camber of that axle is not in spec...they come pre bent from factory with X amount of camber

If the wheel bearing on that wheel has an issue ...not properly torqued or greased it will also cause this issue..

Also you could take a laser level ... very inexpensive.. and place at center of that axle with laser beam resting just on bottom edge of axle...

Look at the laser beam from side to side and see if it hits the bottom edge across from center out at each wheel... if camber is way out you MAY see a variance but not certain.
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Old 01-10-2019, 03:04 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by waynemoore View Post
You need to take it to an expert like a trailer alignment shop. There is just no way you can check it without the proper equipment.

Also welcome to the forum.
This is not correct. With a level, string and tape measure I have aligned many a front end on a car. A trailer is much easier since the castor does not have to be measured or changed. Granted changing camber can be a pain on a solid axle on a trailer but not impossible with the right tools. The "Proper Equipment" makes it easier, but for the DIY "Gear Head" quality alignments are easily attained.

From what the OP posted, everything lines up as it should. I would check how level the ride is, loading of the unit, etc. I think he still needs a string to check alignment with the tow vehicle.

I purchased my 2009 used 3 years ago and it still had the original tires. The passenger side rear tire was worn severely on the inside. This concerned me greatly so I pulled out my camber/castor gauge and string and check the alignment and found nothing out of spec. I put four new Sailun tires on the ground and one as a spare. 10K later no discernible wear can be seen on the tires.
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Old 01-10-2019, 10:04 PM   #6
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Putting a level on a tire would work if rubber tires were precise in their shapes. They are not. I had the same wear on my monty and took it to a truck alignment shop. They bent the axle back to spec and problem fixed.
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Old 01-10-2019, 10:54 PM   #7
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You might have a weak leaf spring. I wore out a set of tires in one 8,000 mile trip. All were so worn on the inside that towards the end of that trip, We stopped at Les Schwab in Toolee, Utah and had them flip the tires so the worn part was on the outside. They were nice enough to let us boondock under their awning that night.

Turns out that my rig had two 6,000 pound axles with 2,500 pound leaf springs. Every time the rig bounced, the axle flexed and produced positive caster which wore out the inside of the tires. I replaced the springs with 3,000 pound ones (one extra leaf) and put on new tires.

Just completed 9,100 mile trip and tires still look new. I tracked tread depth on sides and middle of tires at start, mid, and end of trip. Tires wore evenly.

I also did the hillbilly alignment using a straight edge, level, chain, and bottle jack. Right side was way out, bent axle with chain and jack and got it aligned.
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Old 01-11-2019, 04:25 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hblick48 View Post

I also did the hillbilly alignment using a straight edge, level, chain, and bottle jack. Right side was way out, bent axle with chain and jack and got it aligned.
I had my driver side rear tire completely bald on the inside after my trip from Florida back to Michigan. I did exactly as Hblick did with a hillbilly alignment, put on a new Sailun tire, and its been great ever since....
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Old 01-11-2019, 06:26 AM   #9
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get an alignment.
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Old 01-13-2019, 02:13 PM   #10
Deb & Ken’s Hoppy
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Thanks for all of the feedback. Anyone have the process for the hillbilly alignment?
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Old 01-13-2019, 02:22 PM   #11
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Try
Https://youtu.be/pRyTeqYuGBk
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Old 01-13-2019, 02:42 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deb & Ken’s Hoppy View Post
Thanks for all of the feedback. Anyone have the process for the hillbilly alignment?
In the owners manual right next to how to duct tape a broken black tank.
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Old 01-13-2019, 04:50 PM   #13
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Here is a better video. https://youtu.be/H3tbsnVKxjU

First place a straight edge across face of tires, around mid point. All 4 tires should touch the straight edge. If one (or more) points have a space, the axle is bent. My right front was out over one quarter inch. Used a 30 ton Harbor Freight bottle jack and chain. Has to do the right front twice and the right rear once to get it right. Then check the vertical alignment with a level. Should be slightly "bubble out."

Like I said in an earlier post, it worked for me.
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Old 01-13-2019, 05:33 PM   #14
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Did you measure distance between tires on each side?
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Old 01-13-2019, 06:01 PM   #15
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I just don’t understand? My Montana is part of the family and I want it to have the best care possible. Just like the TV it gets the best of care, all the required maintenance is done on time.

I know how to do a lot of thing myself on the TV and rig. But I am no expert and I just don’t have to Proper equipment or facilities to do do it correctly.

I want an expert doing that type of work on my baby. Plus I spent far to much money to be messing around with it myself.
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Old 01-13-2019, 06:33 PM   #16
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KOLCB..I didn't measure anything. Waynemore..I've been wrenching on cars for over 50 years. I hate to pay someone for something I can still do myself.

My hillbilly alignment was successful. In fact I just finished installing new brakes and drums on the Montana. Have the parts to replace brakes on TV.

However, TV developed a transmission problem midway through our last trip. I thought that if I needed a rebuilt one, I'd attempt to do it myself. If I were 20 years younger, I would attempt it, but now that repair is beyond me at this point in my life. Going to a Powerstroke Specialist for that one.
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Old 01-15-2019, 04:24 PM   #17
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Most likely alignment. Take it to shop that can do alignments on big rigs and trailer.They have to bend axle to align. None of these trailers come aligned fro factory.
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Old 01-16-2019, 01:47 PM   #18
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I had the same thing happen to my driver side rear tire. Took it to a truck alignment shop, and he instantly showed me what was wrong. Those yellow octagon plates on the front and back of the leaf spring, have a grease fitting, and they all should be lined up and be at the 6 o'clock position. Apparently the factory did not tighten those bolts to 75 ft. pounds and that bolt came loose and the octagon spun bending one of the side rails that are supposed to keep it from spinning. So now before every trip, I make sure those yellow octagon plates have not rotated. So the truck guy had to take off everything and bend the side rail back into position and rotate the octagon to the right position and he measured the axles and they were good to go. I then got 20,000 more miles on my remaining tires and the new one I put there. So just do a quick check and make sure those octagon plates have not moved. and those 4 bolts are 75 ft. pounds
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Old 01-16-2019, 02:41 PM   #19
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This happened to my friends Montana Mountaineer on the rear axle.
He had broken a leaf spring center pin and the axle had shifted back about two inches on one side. Probably when he hooked a curb somewhere.
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Old 01-16-2019, 04:57 PM   #20
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worn tire

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deb & Ken’s Hoppy View Post
Hello, new member here. I've learned a lot from your posts and thank you.
I discovered the street side rear tire on our 2009 2980RL was completely bald just on the inside of the tire. The other three tires were fine and all four were new with only 8000 miles. The first thing I heard from others was it must be a bent axle. So, I put a level on the tire - perfectly plumb! I put a straight edge to the two axles - no deviation. I spun the wheel when it was off the ground - no wobble. I check the pressure before each trip.
I'm stumped! does anyone have some insight into what could be going on?
Thanks in advance.

I had the same problem and it turned out that although the other three tires were okay both axles were bent. They are made with a bend but mine were way out of whack. Have your RV dealer check the axles.


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