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Old 06-08-2019, 09:42 AM   #1
lundwc16
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Could Have Been A Disaster

Jacked up the Montana it was time for new tires & rims. While under the trailer saw that on both the right & left side, on the rear axle, the shackle bolt that goes through the eye of the rear spring & the spring perch was gone. About 6-7 years ago I installed a wet bolt kit. We are snow birds, & the last time the trailer was used was from Fla back to the North East the first week in April. Prior to the 1250 mile ride home I greased the wet bolts so I know they were in place then, I haven't been under their since. Both spring perches look like they are spread a little, I guess from the spring bouncing around, but other than that I don't see any damage. Hard to believe I didn't feel something wrong but I didn't.
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Old 06-08-2019, 09:49 AM   #2
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Old 06-08-2019, 10:59 AM   #3
richfaa
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IMO the suspension on these things are a very weak point. We lost those shackle bolts in route on our 06 3400 a few years ago.It was only that an alert trucked saw the axles shifting and got us off the road before a disaster occured

We replaced the suspension with the Mor ryde IS and also replaced the suspension on our next Montana the 13 3402 the first fall rally it went to some 5 months later and before we hit the road on any extended trip. If you are a high end user we strongly suggest the Mor Ryde IS.
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Old 06-08-2019, 03:06 PM   #4
PNW Fireguy
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Originally Posted by richfaa View Post
IMO the suspension on these things are a very weak point. We lost those shackle bolts in route on our 06 3400 a few years ago.It was only that an alert trucked saw the axles shifting and got us off the road before a disaster occured

We replaced the suspension with the Mor ryde IS and also replaced the suspension on our next Montana the 13 3402 the first fall rally it went to some 5 months later and before we hit the road on any extended trip. If you are a high end user we strongly suggest the Mor Ryde IS.

Could not agree more with Rich. Just spent 6 hrs on the side of interstate 70 in Colorado after blowing out the rear axle spring pack on the door side. Have been scheduled for IS install since Feb after the ralley but the potholed road beat me to the punch. As bad as it was I really dodged a bullet. A new pair of spring packs, U bolts, hardware and I will need a new Sailun spare...could have been much worse. Tow company wanted $1200 alone...but that's another story.
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Old 06-12-2019, 04:58 PM   #5
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Lost our cams and bolt..more Ryd 4100 correct track..wth. is going on? This is a public safety issue! Right rear...
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Old 06-12-2019, 05:20 PM   #6
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Left with three leafs from the spring pack after hitting a pot hole on the interstate.
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Old 06-12-2019, 06:13 PM   #7
Dave W
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22,000 miles on the sig HC, one set of OEM Nylon bushings and two sets of well greased wet bolts have worn out. I have the Lippert Never Fail polyimide bushings there now and hope they last a bit longer.



The bronze bushings wear through then it's the actual bolt and spring contact with eventual failure of that bolt
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Old 06-16-2019, 01:22 PM   #8
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Unsafe

Dexter Axle Leaf Springs Cheap Steel Made in China. Ours cracked, failed and left us stranded for 20 hrs when the axle dislodged. I replaced all 3000 lbs with 3500 lb , when removing noticed MADE IN CHINA painted on the old Springs. I suppose the new are made in china as well but are not marked that way.
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Old 06-16-2019, 02:58 PM   #9
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After hearing of some of the suspension problems with the stock setup it seems like there is something more to worry about when towing down the road. I realize that the IS is the way to go to remedy this weak point, but price for IS keeps me from investing in this. It looks like constant inspecting and plain luck with your rig is the only option. Poor quality from Chinese products is part of the problem, but we don't have a choice there. I don't need more things to worry about going down the road.
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Old 06-16-2019, 04:54 PM   #10
wade
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it is sad how cheap of a suspension they put on these campers. my shackles and spring hangers on my 2017 310RE HC look like something that belong on a utility trailer. I know about the up grade on the shackles and wet bolts but the front and rear hangers are to light weight. I've seen some older 80's 5th wheels and what a difference,much stronger.
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Old 06-16-2019, 05:17 PM   #11
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Old 06-16-2019, 05:46 PM   #12
cgeis48
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Compared to the 2013 Montana my 2019 has far inferior suspension. Now I'm worried.
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Old 06-16-2019, 06:33 PM   #13
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Yep me too - I have a 2010 347THT with Equaflex and wet bolts. 2 years ago one rear bolt fell out going down the highway. We heard the noise and I could see the trailer was dog-tracking pretty bad in the rear view. Due to shifting of the Equaflex, that side of the rear axle instantly shifted to the rear about 3 inches and actually bent the axle and wrecked the spring perch. I think in my case the nut on the wet bolt loosened up then eventually the bolt sheared and fell out.



Stopped a rest area, got the axle lined back up and used a 3/8 socket extension held in place with vice grips to get us to the next campground. Then a grade 8 bolt from the hardware store got us home.


Now I carry a couple of extra axle bolts and brass sleeves just in case. And I try to look at all the suspension once in a while to make sure something isn't about to fall apart.
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Old 06-16-2019, 07:33 PM   #14
GreG L.
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2020 on order, thinking about IS now, but from the above not thinking of wet bolts.
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Old 06-16-2019, 09:14 PM   #15
gregdan24
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The point I was trying to make was keeping an eye on the rig and being prepared is important. No suspension is fool-proof if it's not inspected and maintained. I'm guessing there are thousands of trailers running on leaf springs and wet bolts and they are doing fine.
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Old 06-16-2019, 09:29 PM   #16
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The point I was trying to make was keeping an eye on the rig and being prepared is important. No suspension is fool-proof if it's not inspected and maintained. I'm guessing there are thousands of trailers running on leaf springs and wet bolts and they are doing fine.

I agree, mine are in great shape on my 2008 3400RL. I did let the shear springs go longer then I should have, but upgraded to the wet bolts ,and the heavy duty shackles early on, I check everything periodically , and also the torque on all the bolts .
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Old 06-16-2019, 11:27 PM   #17
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I agree maintenance is key. I just finished a 10,000 mile cross country trip and only had 1 flat tire. I check tires and suspension regularly!
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Old 06-17-2019, 07:01 AM   #18
Rod Spohn
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We are new at his 5th wheel experience, we have the 3811MS, moved up from a C class. So excuse the ignorance on this subject. Other than just looking and inspecting the springs and shackle what do you do as far as maintenance? Should I have certain spare items on hand when traveling. Such as the bolts people are talking about here. We have only taken our Monte out a couple of time so it only has 6 to 7 hundred miles of towing.
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Old 06-17-2019, 08:38 AM   #19
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Why should we have to work on these. All my cars, from 55 chevies, to trans am we never had a problem. This is bad..
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Old 06-17-2019, 09:07 AM   #20
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Why should we have to work on these. All my cars, from 55 chevies, to trans am we never had a problem. This is bad..
You have been pretty lucky if you have never had a problem with all those cars. I have worked on just about every vehicle I have owned, these fifth wheels are no exceptions .

We can't jump in our trucks and blindly tow these things until something comes apart , u-bolts will loosen, some come from the factory not even torqued etc, the nylon bushings will wear out ,and then there go the bolts ,and shackles. I agree why should we work on them, but we get to see the results if we don't.
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