Bobi and Dick McKee Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Just got moving when I saw smoke coming from the drivers side of the rig. Pulled over and the front tire was against the rear tire. When I looked underneath the rig the wet bolt through the spring to the front frame hanger had broken in two. The part of the bolt with the zerk fitting was still in the hanger. The bolt had crystalized and broken right at the hole that is drilled to allow grease to flow out of the bolt to the spring. There is absolutely no wear on the bolt. Kudos to Good Sam road side assistance. 1 1/2 hours later they had put in a 9/16 bolt to allow us to return to the park in Flagstaff. Hopefully we will be able to get a new wet bolt tomorrow.My concern is this. I baby this rig. 25000 miles on it. The suspension is lubed 2 times each year. We bought it new and this is our attempt at a 4th season on the road. Each of the other three have had a major failure. Tires, bearings. slides and now the wet bolt. We are giving it some time for us to cool down, but we are considering returning home and putting the rig up for sale. We didn't spend 100k for this kind of problems. Thanks for the rant time.Dick edit to add photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 What kind of rig? It might be worthwhile to bite the bullet and upgrade to the Moryde IS. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 X2 on morryde Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 I believe he has a HitchHiker. Bet it has the Lippert frame and suspension components. Â Spend the $$$$ for Mor/Ryde IS. Â Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 I hear ya Dick....a hundred grand dont buy you much these days. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 It is a 2012 Hitch Hiker 363RSB. It has a Youngs frame and Dexter 8000 axles with disc brakes and 17.5 wheels. Spent $3000 for the Dexter axles to avoid this type of stuff. I am not about to spend another 3000 and throw away the 8000 axels and hope it will be better. Just had the rig weighed and we are 800 lbs. under max. Gota figure out what to do next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richfaa Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 We feel your pain. We had the Mr Ryde IS installed on our 06 3400 Montana and got rid of the OEM suspension after we broke a shackle and a spring , We also had the Mor Ryde Is installed on this 13 3402 Montana Big Sky before the OEM suspension had a chance to fail. Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mptjelgin Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Wow, that is some terrible luck. We too have a 2012 Hitchhiker DA, though a smaller one than yours. We've been full time in it since purchased and haven't had a lick of trouble. It seems like you've just had a terrible run of luck but can understand your frustration with the whole thing! Mark & Teri 2021 Grand Designs Imagine 2500RL, 2019 Ford F-350 Mark & Teri's Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deezl Smoke Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Ya,................good thing nothing ever breaks at home. Neighbors spent 200k for a house that has a repair man show about every other month. Â But it does suck to have majors on every outing. I cant offer anything really. I hope things go better for you, but you have to do what you have to do. At least you have the receipts for a reason to quit. I'm a work'n on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Shackle bolts do wear out. That is an item that needs periodically checking. Sorry for your problems though. Know this is frustrating. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilmorvn Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Regardless of what you do, stuff happens, especially with the road conditions out there. We say that we have adventures and misadventures and hope that the adventures outweigh the misadventures. Bill, Mo Rex & Princess Fulltiming since 8/1993 06 Duramax 08 Cardinal 35 SKP 27411 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Glen there was no wear the remaining part of the bolt looked like new. I think it was just a bad heat treating job that got the bolt too brittle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Bummer. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Some rigs were built on Monday morning when crew was still hungover. Some rigs were built on Friday afternoon when half the crew had already started their weekend. Not saying either of these happened to your rig but you do start to wonder about the ones that have problem after problem. Â Linda Sand Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaH Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Just had the rig weighed and we are 800 lbs. under max.  Did you have each tire position weighed? If not, you should since a tire could be overloaded.  I don't know which direction you're planning on heading when you leave Flagstaff, but the SKP park in Congress has the scales to weigh each tire position, so you might want to make that your first stop. LindaH 2014 Winnebago Aspect 27K 2011 Kia Soul  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 First thanks for all comments and encouragement. The morning always brings a better perspective. Linda, yes we had each position weighed and are not near max on any corner. We have decided to replace the wet bolt and head on down the road. It has to just be a bad, i.e. too hard, bolt that broke. I will buy several spars when I find them. We will be hanging around the Rockies fly fishing this summer and will probably put less than 50000 miles on the rig. When we get home I'll tear it apart and replace all the bolts and shackles with the heavy duty MorRyde suspension parts. again thanks for all the comments. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 On my fiver ( Heartland Bighorn ) I had a broken shackle. Repaired it in an RV park in Deming NM myself. Bought 2 new sets of shackles and welded them together to make them twice as thick. The suspension did not have wet bolts so I installed those as well. Â I am not sure if Lippert makes junk or the fiver manufacturers buy under engineered frames for these machines. I swear for what they charge for thse RVs I could build a lot stronger and more reliable one myself. Only problem is I'd be too old to enjoy it when I got done. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Scott cundiff broke a spring in half. Luckily he was parked and I found it and fixed it. Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Wet bolt update. Bought 4 new bolts today and had an RV service, (not allowed to work on your own rig in this park), replace the four bolts at the spring ends to the chassis. The 3 remaining bolts looked like new. The 8000 lb. Dexter axel comes with bronze bushings so if they are greased regularly there should be no wear. The mechanic said he had never in 15 years seen a bolt crystalize and brake like ours. (our luck)He figured bad bolt or way over torqued during assembly. The guy was great, about 1 hour and the job was done. Thursday we will continue on our summer trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mptjelgin Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Hopefully that will be the end of your worries and you'll be trouble-free from here on out. Mark & Teri 2021 Grand Designs Imagine 2500RL, 2019 Ford F-350 Mark & Teri's Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I found out the hard way not to make "spot" turns. It places tremendous strain on the springs, shackles, and bolts, especially when the trailer is loaded close to GVWR.  2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 some of those older RV parks in Mesa area have Tight little streets and 90 degree parking. They are definitely not built for the big fivers. You pretty much need to jacknife the fiver to get it in place...very hard on suspension and tires. Â Another reason I like having a MH <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulltimer51 Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Dont discount the affects that tire problems (or the great roads we have) can have on your suspension. George2011 F350 6.7PSD CC 4X4 DRW Lariate2015 Mobile Suites 41 RSSB4 5th Wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobi and Dick McKee Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Ray that's an interesting point. We had just made a sharp u turn at a gas station about 10 minutes prior to the bolt breaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Ray that's an interesting point. We had just made a sharp u turn at a gas station about 10 minutes prior to the bolt breaking. Sorry I lost your thread and didn't reply. I don't have a clue to the level of force on tandem tires during a spot turn, but I have seen what happens to hot blacktop(TX in July) during a spot turn. The sliding tires peeled up about 1" deep "divots" in the city street. I think your bolt broke during that "U" turn, but one part didn't fall out until it was relieved of pressure while going straight, then vibrated/worked out. Only the head-end of these bolts have a knurl to hold them in the spring hanger.  2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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