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Old 06-15-2019, 06:10 PM   #1
dadnjesse
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Broken Axle

Was leaving for Sebago Campground in Maine today on the road for 30 minutes going 55 after setting the cruise control, when I looked out the window and saw smoke. My kids said they heard me say Fu..,Fu..,Fu..Fu.. I then saw my tire passing me on the drivers side I swerved to keep it from hitting me as it passed in front of me and into the woods. My first thought was the lug nuts or a bearing failure. I got off the road to look and the axle sheared right off. I never hit anything and the break was clean metal not rusted. I spent 5 hours with progressive trying to find someone who could tow me. I requested a flat bed trailer as the RV dealer told me not to let them just try to tow it. I believe I'm at 13,500 pounds. The guy that finally showed up with a tow truck couldn't even lift it off the ground. I had to tow it myself to his Fathers house that was 1/4 mile down the road. It's a 2004 34 foot Montana Fifth Wheel
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Old 06-15-2019, 06:37 PM   #2
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Old 06-15-2019, 07:04 PM   #3
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That's not good! We use Coach-net for our road service provider and they will get you a flat bed and/or a wrecker if both need to be towed.
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Old 06-15-2019, 07:24 PM   #4
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This makes me one step closer to the Mor ryde IS
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Old 06-15-2019, 08:23 PM   #5
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In all these years of following RV forums I have never seen any thing like that. Spindle breaking off due to a seized or over heated bearing, yeah. But never an axle break off.

Broke right at the U bolt. And looking at that it appears the nuts on that one were tightened down much farther than the inside one. Wonder if someone overtightened that U bolt and weakened the axle tube? But that is pure speculation with no basis on fact.
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Old 06-15-2019, 08:50 PM   #6
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Looks like the collateral damage was not bad.
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Old 06-15-2019, 08:58 PM   #7
dadnjesse
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Originally Posted by BB_TX View Post
In all these years of following RV forums I have never seen any thing like that. Spindle breaking off due to a seized or over heated bearing, yeah. But never an axle break off.

Broke right at the U bolt. And looking at that it appears the nuts on that one were tightened down much farther than the inside one. Wonder if someone overtightened that U bolt and weakened the axle tube? But that is pure speculation with no basis on fact.
Well I put those leaf springs on myself so maybe I did tighten them too much.
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Old 06-15-2019, 09:09 PM   #8
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Looks like a lot of salt damage. Either road salt or parked by salt water. Not something you want to happen when rolling down the road.
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Old 06-15-2019, 09:10 PM   #9
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Looks like that's pretty thin wall thickness on that axle. How close to max weight are you? 15 years of crashing into pot holes on our fine roads can sure take a toll on equipment. I have never seen a 5th wheel on a flat bed, that would be 16 or 17 feet tall. I wonder if wreckers are exempt from weight and height regulations. Glad no one was hurt.
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Old 06-16-2019, 05:24 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Theunz View Post
Looks like that's pretty thin wall thickness on that axle. How close to max weight are you? 15 years of crashing into pot holes on our fine roads can sure take a toll on equipment. I have never seen a 5th wheel on a flat bed, that would be 16 or 17 feet tall. I wonder if wreckers are exempt from weight and height regulations. Glad no one was hurt.

Wreckers are not exempt from height restrictions and permits. Their liability is high. Our appointment is September can’t get here soon enough.
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Old 06-16-2019, 05:31 AM   #11
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Quote:
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Well I put those leaf springs on myself so maybe I did tighten them too much.
These should not be "tightened" but should be torqued.
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Old 06-16-2019, 07:14 AM   #12
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It would be interesting to take the wheel and drum off the backer plate to see if bearing or something about brakes came apart to lock wheel up.
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Old 06-16-2019, 07:26 AM   #13
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Years back we had an axle failure not too far from where the OPs came apart. In my case it was a big/heavy p'up. The cause was a poor weld - insufficient penetration and worse, a weld void on the bottom side then to top it off, the bumpy Maine road we were on ......
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Old 06-16-2019, 07:30 AM   #14
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Glad you are ok and no one got hurt except your wallet. When you get home I would replace the other axle just to be safe.
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Old 06-16-2019, 08:01 AM   #15
dadnjesse
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I think I'm just going to fix it then trade it in on a newer unit
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Old 06-16-2019, 08:33 AM   #16
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Wow, glad no one got hurt in the whole ordeal.
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Old 06-16-2019, 10:09 AM   #17
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DANG! Wow! Sure looks like thin axle tubing! Just DANG! I wish I hadn't seen this. Glad everyone is OK.
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Old 06-16-2019, 10:11 AM   #18
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It would be interesting to take the wheel and drum off the backer plate to see if bearing or something about brakes came apart to lock wheel up.
Since they saw smoke first, that would be my bet.
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Old 06-16-2019, 07:27 PM   #19
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Axles not enough for weight?
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Old 06-16-2019, 11:37 PM   #20
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If this is the only problem you are having with the trailer I would consider buying a couple of new axles and be done with it. I think the newer rigs are not built as well. My older trailer meets my needs!
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