SuiteSuccess

I feel we’ve sidetracked as these discussions often do.  My original post raised three questions based on individual opinions.  These were 1. As HDTers do you feel today, as opposed to several years ago,  we are a higher profile target? 2.  Has anything changed in how and where you boondock?  3.  Do you feel more vulnerable than before?  At no point was I suggesting opinions as to who should or shouldn’t boondock or how they choose to protect themselves.  That is an individual choice.  Early in our camping lives we used to tent camp with our children in some out of the way places.  Only scare we had was a raccoon scratching the tent near my daughters head and making her come alive in the middle of the night.

9 hours ago, DesertMiner said:

Hey Suite did this tire position suffer from your earlier disc brake failure?

No, it was right front.  This is right rear.

17 minutes ago, Chad Heiser said:

Thanks.  I sent you a PM.

Sent

 Independent Suspension System Alignment Guide
  
INTRODUCTION
DESCRIPTION
The MORryde “IS” Independent Rubber Suspension System uses 100% Natural Rubber Springs to support the trailer weight and absorb road shock. By absorbing the shock, the rubber provides a much smoother towing experience than steel leaf springs. With the new MORryde “IS” Independent Rubber Suspension System, there are no more broken leaf springs! The towing is virtually hassle-free with the smoothest towing available for fifth wheels and travel trailers.
The Primary benefits that you can expect from the MORryde ”IS” suspension are:
SMOOTHER TOWING - the MORryde suspension has up to 2 1/2 times the suspension travel of leaf springs or rubber axles, allowing the MORryde suspension to absorb road shock much better.
IMPROVED TOWABILITY - the MORryde suspension is designed to “block” body roll, improving the cornering and stability of the tow vehicle and trailer combination.
AUTOMOTIVE STYLE ALIGNMENT - a MORryde first! You can manage your tire wear through toe and camber adjustments, a feature no other towable suspension offers!
HEIGHT ADJUSTABILITY - the MORryde suspension can be adjusted easily to accommodate different tow heights and to compensate for side-to-side load variations.
PROVEN DURABILITY - the MORryde suspension has undergone strenuous testing to prove it’s durability. The result? No more broken leaf springs!
        U.S. PAT. NO. 5,899,470

ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES
The design of the MORryde Independent Suspension System allows for automotive style toe and camber wheel alignment. This allows the operator of the RV to effectively manage tire wear under normal towing conditions. There are four bolts and one torque bracket per wheel that allow for these adjustment. Refer to the directions below for proper tow and camper procedures.
NOTE: Always adjust the camper first followed by the toe. ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Camber (+0.5 degrees to +0.8 degrees) Toe (+0.01 inches to +0.06 inches)
ADJUSTING CAMBER
1. Connect the alignment machine and level the unit on the alignment turntables.
2. Loosen the four torque bracket bolts
3. If the camber is negative, add a shim(s) to the outside of the torque bracket.
4. If the camber is positive, add a shim(s) to the inside of the torque bracket.
5. A 1/4” shim will change the camber approximately 1 degree.
6. Tighten torque bracket bolts.
NOTE: The unit will need to be raised to add camber.
  CAMBER SHIM SPECIFICATIONS
Shims are available in three sizes: 1/4”, 1/8”, and 1/16”
1”
8”
1. Connect the alignment machine and level the unit on the alignment turntables.
2. Loosen the four torque bracket bolts.
3. Adjust the torque bracket assembly to obtain the correct toe readings on the alignment machine.
4. Tighten the torque bracket bolts.
   1/2”
ADJUSTING TOE
   NOTE: Toe adjustments can be eased by the use of a “port-a-power” or large adjustment bar.

TORQUE BRACKET ALIGNMENT
ADJUSTING CAMBER
1. Loosen highlighted bolt and nut assembly.
2. Add shims to the inside or outside of the torque bracket to achieve proper camber alignment.
3. Tighten 1/2” bolts to 60 ft-lbs.
4. Tighten 3/4” bolts to 180 ft-lbs.
ADJUSTING TOE
1. Loosen highlighted bolt and nut assembly.
2. Adjust torque bracket side to side to achieve proper toe alignment
3. Tighten 1/2” bolts to 60 ft-lbs.
4. Tighten 3/4” bolts to 180 ft-lbs.
      

29 minutes ago, Chad Heiser said:

That would be very helpful.  I am starting to look for an alignment shop to take my DRV to and it would be nice to have the instructions.

Chad,

PM me an email address if you don’t see the instructions posted by tomorrow and I’ll email to you. 

3 minutes ago, Radar274 said:

These axles have both Caster and Camber adjustments

Yeah MorRyde sent me their instructions in case I had to take some place unfamiliar with IS.  Will see if I can post when I get to my computer. 

Thanks Rick, Rocky, Darryl. 

5 minutes ago, HERO Maker said:

Welcome to GoodYear Tires on DRV's with problems.  It will be interesting after all this time if it's really a MorRyde issue!

You think it’s a tire issue, not alignment?

My trailer has MorRyde IS 9k axles.  After returning from our 4 k mile round trip, noticed my right rear G114 has inside wear and scalloping. No one in Knoxville, TN area does trailer alignment especially on MorRyde. MorRyde sent me directions on how to align. Is there anyway to do a “shade tree” alignment until I can get it to either Nashville or Chattanooga so I won’t completely destroy another tire?  GeorgiaHybrid apparently has a place I can go  

3 hours ago, Hewhoknowslittle said:

I'm thanking National General Insurance for giving me the opportunity to miss the rally this year, as I have had a devastating miss fortune of missing a turn into my storage or short term parking at Kellogg RV repair center here in Wichita, Ks and as Kellogg RV and Kansas RV center has stated damages that exceed value of my DRV, and National General has at the Kansas Insurance Commissioners request sent out a independent adjusting company that as of now we don't know what that inspection says as National General will not share that information with me, and the adjusting company was instructed not to release any information of inspection we will not have a unit to take to the rally, so if we do go we will have to stay in one of the cabins or a hotel near by.

Roger and Karen  

Roger,

Won’t be the same without you guys. 😢 Hope things work out.

8 hours ago, bigredhdt said:

A shop diagnosed my truck with a loose kingpin.  This truck has the hendrickson air ride.  I am told these are not supposed to be serviceable, but there are some that will work on them.  Anyone have experience with this?

Yes they are repairable.  They don’t have the traditional kingpin but bushings.  Be sure the shop is knowledgeable about Hendrickson and have them use the brass bushings.  Had mine done several years ago by a shop in Knoxville, TN that specialized in Hendrickson.

Thanks to all that served and are serving. We owe you a debt of gratitude especially those that gave their all. Never forget and honor the sacrifice all our vets give. 

11 minutes ago, DesertMiner said:

So what did you end up doing?  Extended or retracted?  How did it turn out?  Results may be helpful to someone else in the same bind.

Just got finished.  13 turns, secured with cotter pin both ends. Slide retracted.  Tough reinstall with my 5’2”  wife fully extended on a ladder trying to hold up an end while I threaded fabric.  Should mention position of hexagonal bar in the bracket is important to get enough “stand off” from slide.

Al,

What’s on your new bag?  Just threads?

5 hours ago, spindrift said:

I hadn't heard of that situation, I'm sorry to say.  And I live in Texas.  What time frame?

Apparently very recently, this month on South Padre.

 Thanks for the discussion everyone.  We all know the world is a different place than when we were kids.  Can’t leave front door unlocked or let our kids play unattended in the front yard like we did.  My sense from the above discussions is all of us are more attentive to surroundings than we once were.  I also hear most folks saying they aren’t changing their locations or plans for boondocking in remote places which is reassuring. (Not talking about overnights in WalMart, truck stops, or rest areas).  I will admit my comfort level has decreased over the past few years and fairly recently we overnighted in a campground in a sketchy part of town in Oklahoma surrounded by some sketchy people in old trailers.  I dozed through the night with my “protective device” close at hand.  Something I rarely even considered twenty years ago.  I opened this discussion because for me I have changed and it was hard for me to come to grips with some of those changes and I had to reorganize my thinking.  I’m not a small guy (6’4, 245#) but I’d last about one minute in a fight due to age, arthritis, and conditioning. My means of protection changed.  My awareness changed.  We’re going to do some boondocking with friends and it is exciting.  Will we do it in a remote area by ourselves?  Probably not and probably missing out on a great experience thus my reason for getting some perspectives and experiences from others, cause I may change my mind.

Also John, Thanks for the LEO perspective.  Very good info.

Want to open a discussion about a particular aspect of boondocking for comments and perspectives.  First please do not get political in this discussion.  I was appalled at hearing about the young couple on South Padre who were murdered and their rig stolen and apparently taken to Mexico.  As HDTers my opinion is that our rigs might be a more attractive target for nefarious activity.  It is my impression that there has been an uptick in semis and commercial trailers stolen and crossing the border, so might we be a target?   For those that boondock do you feel more vulnerable than the last few years?  And have you changed your locations and preparations based on those feelings?  Now I know there will be one or two “machismo “ replies that “nothing scares me” but I’m sure that young couple felt safe also as they had been doing it over a year.  I would also be interested in any encounters anyone has had.

1 hour ago, COFLTravler said:

As an old RV Tech I can tell you after doing MANY of these - yes those turns are in the retract position (well really 6 inches out - because that is where/how you remove and replace the roller tube).  Just be careful, the topper is not as bad as the patio awnings, many DIY RVers have hurt themselves working on awnings in the fully extended position.

Mark

Thanks Mark.  Talked with RVs For Less here in Knoxville.  They agree with you.  I have replaced several garage door springs and can assure you “stored” energy is dangerous.  I always approach from the side of the spring, not the front.

1 minute ago, rickeieio said:

That would make a really cool hauler, but grandma would likely not be fond of the climb into the cab.  Well, neither would grandpa.

I find the lack of gauges and switches odd.  The dash looked empty.

Yes, but....but....it’s got an ashtray!!  Grandma could have her Pall Malls rolled up in her t- shirt sleeve and hanging out the drivers window.  Scare every trucker within 30 miles.

Now this would be cool.

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/hvo/d/jefferson-city-1986-peterbilt-362/7013531864.html

2 hours ago, Darryl&Rita said:

The spring tension increases as the slide goes out. Decreases as the slide comes back in. The 13 turns is preloading the spring to maintain enough tension, while in, to prevent billowing from the wind. 

Great thanks Darryl.

2 hours ago, scubadave said:

I have replaced all my slide toppers and with them fullily extended, wound them 13 times. I have had no billowing issue in over 2600 miles. Remember that plastic retention bracket, if you started with the slide in how much more strain is placed on it when you extended the slide.

Dave

Thanks Dave.  It’s my impression that the spring unwinds as the slide extends.  Am I wrong?

31 minutes ago, mptjelgin said:

When I replaced my big awning motor the spring was wound with the slide retracted. Looking at the AE Topper instructions it appears that all work is done with the slide room in the retracted position. In fact, in the instruction sheet the assumption is that the topper is off of the slide and wound on a bench, pinned, and then installed onto the slide room. So if the topper is not removed I would still wind the prescribed number of turns with the slide in. 

AE Topper Instructions

Thanks.  

4 minutes ago, Jim & Wilma said:

I’m with the retracted position to charge the spring. But I speak from no practical  experience, only my theory. As Einstein was quoted, “In theory, practice and theory are the same. In practice, they’re not”.

Just so I’m thinking this through clearly.  The spring is going to want to “unwind” as the slide extends.  That would be it’s natural state.  Since it is fixed to the slide, retraction of the slide would “rewind” it.  Correct?