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Old 07-22-2019, 10:56 AM   #1
Bierp
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Towing on 3 wheels?

2018 3950BR.

Had a wheel bearing catch fire yesterday. (Witness said fire, but I wonder if it was just destructive smoke?) Got into a parking lot, extinguished the area. Damage was localized, but the whole assembly is really fouled up. The brake assembly has several inches of side to side motion. Putting a wheel on there, even for a 1 mile slow haul is likely to do more harm than good.

I’m working with Good Sam Roadside assistance and they say I need mobile service and not a tow. I was skeptical, but after talking to some tow places they seem to be right. Trailering this unit makes it too tall. They won’t do it.

So the hunt for a mobile tech who can fix this is being worked by GoodSam.

Meanwhile, I’m 1 mile away from Les Schwab, who can fix this thing. They can’t do it remotely though and I can seem to bridge that final mile.

I’ve heard you can chain up an axle and limp short distances, though that really scares me. There’s also really no place to chain it to the frame. The spring isn’t broken. It might be possible to do a 5mph drive to Schwab on 3 wheels but we’re close to load capacity and frankly that idea terrifies me.

Anyone have any experience with that? It’s the passenger side rear wheel.

Exploring all options. Feedback would be appreciated.


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Old 07-22-2019, 11:06 AM   #2
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Jeremy,

Would let the mobile tech look at it before trying something else. Where are you stuck?
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Old 07-22-2019, 11:53 AM   #3
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Sketchy parking lot in Monroe, WA. Only 12 miles from “home” though we’re full time so the 5er is our home.

Kiddo had a camp this morning, so I had he and the wife get a hotel near that and I stayed with the rig. I spent the night in my truck instead of inside so I could keep an eye on things. This is kind of a drug dealing parking lot after hours I guess and I didn’t want to chance vandalism or worse. I left the awning and cap lights on as well as the parking lights on my truck. I was equipped for potential ugliness, but nothing happened.

There is a mobile mechanic en route now. Not sure who or what they do. Fingers crossed!


J
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:17 PM   #4
richfaa
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Had exactly the same thing happen to us on our 3402 on our way back from Florida on I-95. We were able to get into a Weigh station before the wheel came off.The inner bearing had failed and the drum and everything in it was destroyed. This has been reported a lot on this forum and we need to get keystone to address the issue.

Here is what we did. First we called keystone Customer service for assistance.They gave us the number of a Keystone dealer nearby. We called the keystone dealer and they told us not to attempt to bring it to the dealership.Between the dealership and the folks at the weigh station we were able to get a Mobile service that the weigh station used for interstate break downs. We called our service plan (cornerstone and explained our situation. Short story the mobile service came within the hour and tore it down between the dealer for the parts, the mobile service tech and cornerstone we were able to have the repair done on the weigh station grounds and back on the road in less than 5 hours.
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Old 07-22-2019, 01:43 PM   #5
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Bierp just did this on I70 in Denver. I limped to the next exit with my axles chained together with a police escort around midnight. I had no choice as no mobile tech was available via my roadside assistance. I don’t think I went over 15 mph. Not fun but doable. I would have preferred the mobile tech.
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Old 07-22-2019, 03:19 PM   #6
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That’s what ended up happening here. Roadside assistance strapped the axle up and I drove to Schwab. ...who then told me that because I had the disc brake conversion they could get it done for 8 weeks. Sigh.

Mercifully, they told me about Kirshner down the road. A few harrowing miles later I pulled in. They have the parts and are bending over backwards to help me, despite being solidly booked for weeks.

Strong endorsement for Kirshner trailer in Monroe, WA.
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Old 07-22-2019, 04:04 PM   #7
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We limped into Laramie Wy on I80 for 20 miles on 3 wheels. We had China Bombs on before we knew better. It can be done. What kind of tires do you have? Are they in good shape, how old?
If I were you I would check the air pressure then limp over there when traffic was light.
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Old 07-22-2019, 05:36 PM   #8
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I have Sailuns, thankfully. I may need to replace the passenger side ones tho. They took a beating in the last 24 hours. Tomorrow will tell me more.
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Old 07-22-2019, 08:28 PM   #9
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I have had more than one trailer loose bearings and ruin the spindle and hub in the process. Hearing your story just adds to my commitment to have a spare spindle/bearings and hub on board when we get to retirement and start traveling again (5 years and counting every second here in this desert hell).


I wonder if independent suspension would allow for rolling minus one wheel? Especially on a 6 tire rig?
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Old 07-28-2019, 02:08 PM   #10
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I wonder how this happens too. I lost a Tire/Wheel/Hub last summer on I-59 in "nowhere" AL but within 45 minutes of Gadsden AL and a Mobile RV guy there keeps his afternoons free for emergencies (life is slower down south?) and we sent him a picture of our Spindle and Brake/Axle info and he just went to the Trailer supply and got a new Hub and Brake Assembly. Took about 3 hours total.
From watching him I decided to join the DIY Greasing Club and when we got home I regreased all Hubs, replaced bearings, races, brakes, etc. However NONE of the other Hubs were shy on grease so I have to wonder what went wrong with that failed Wheel...
Maybe the shop didn't put the Retaining Ring on right? Hopefully I'm doing it right...
More proof the trailer technology is NOT designed for longevity?
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Old 07-28-2019, 02:26 PM   #11
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I had a wheel come off of my previous unit a 2008 3475. It did no damage not even to fender skirt. I drove several miles at 60mph before another motorist waved me down and told me I lost a wheel. he turned around and went back and got it for me but the studs were fouled so I replaced the brake drum and all. the brake drum was several inches above the road at all times.
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Old 07-28-2019, 05:43 PM   #12
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Wheel bearings

These are the reasons I had all bearings replaces after about 25,000 miles.
Replaced the Made in China with Timken made in USA. Cost about 5 times more than what came from KeyStone. About $75.00 per axle vs the $15.00 ones that came new with rig.
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Old 07-28-2019, 06:24 PM   #13
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Chain the axles?

PI need somebody to explain what “chain the axles together” means.
Wrap a chain around both axles and tie it in a knot? Or are you chaining the axle to the frame somehow to hold it up? And then if I understand correctly it sounds like some of you guys limped along on 3 tires at 5 mph or so until you arrived somewhere “safe”. I have had blow-outs on previous China bomb tires on other RVs but have never lost a wheel or bearing. I figure my day will come and I would like to have understand the options.
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Old 07-28-2019, 09:27 PM   #14
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So here's what it looked like when they chained (actually, strapped) the axle up.



I drove it this way across town. Pretty nervewracking, but I got it there.

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Old 07-28-2019, 09:30 PM   #15
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Some follow up. The spindle on that axle was toast (meaning the whole axle had to be replaced.) The bearing was toast and the other three were approaching the same state. There appears to have been an issue with the installation and perhaps some interpretation of the methods allowed for EZ Lube Dexter Axles.

Anyway, I have it home now. It's going to be covered under warranty (from the Brake supplier or installer, still hashing that out.) Miserable week, but we're all fixed up now.
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