BurbMan
Louisville, KY
Senior Member
Joined: 09/20/2001
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
The blowout on our TT back in May got me looking at tires, and when I got the opportunity to pick up 4 slightly used BF Goodrich Commercial TA LT tires on 16" rims from a forum member, I jumped on it. The slightly taller tires (1/2" larger radius, 1.1" overall) really showed me how little clearance I had above the tires, so I decided to add the Correct Track Alignment Kit that also provides 2" of lift to the trailer. At the same time, I decided to replace the shackles with heavy duty shackles from Lippert that are twice as thick, along with NeverFail bushings.
Turns out it was a timely decision, this is what one of the shackle plates looked like:
One of the TrailAir equalizers was frozen, and the shackle bolt was frozen to the bronze bushing in the equalizer. The only thing left to move was the shackle plate, and you can see the result.
This TT is a 2008 model with about 10k miles on it.
Out of the 8 shackle plates, this one was was the worst, but 3 others were pretty worn as well. All of the OEM plastic bushings as well as the bronze bushings in the Trail Air units were toast. I would have done this job sooner had I suspected this was an issue. Funny thing is, I just did the wheel bearings in the Spring and I thought the suspension looked fine. Now I know what to look closer at...
So if you are running a TT or 5er, be sure to check your suspension components for wear. I was only a few bad bumps away from a ruined camping weekend on the side of the road.
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
I found mine on the verge of failure like that several years ago. I wen't with wet bolts and inspect them both at the beginning and several times during the year.
What are the never fail bushings made of?
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
|
naturist
Lynchburg, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/24/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks for the tip. I know I for one will crawl under there to have a look-see this very weekend.
|
Lynnmor
Red Lion
Senior Member
Joined: 07/16/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
If you have the Trailair with the split arms at the bottom, you will need a custom wet bolt with 2 holes. The factory wet bolt has a hole in the center inline with the split so the grease just goes out between the halves.
|
BurbMan
Louisville, KY
Senior Member
Joined: 09/20/2001
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
According to this site the NeverFail bushings are made from modified polymide, some space-age polymer that's better than teflon. The are plastic like the OEM bushings but claim to be good for a lifetime. The HD shackles came with wet bolts, so I'm doubly covered.
|
|
|
tsetsaf
Full-Timer
Senior Member
Joined: 10/28/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Similar experience here. As stated above even after upgrading you still need to be vigilant on monitoring the "good" upgraded parts.
'06 Dodge 3500 5.9L CTD 6spd Manual SB SW - Pullrite SG - Ride Rite Airbags
RV Park and Campground Directory
'06 Keystone Challenger 37' 4 Slide 5th
|
RCMAN46
NorthWest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/24/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
There was another posting about greasing wet bolts. The op was unable to get grease in some of them. One suggestion was to turn the bolt and then try to grease. We warned him the result could be what we see in this post. If you look close you can see the serrations that hold the bolt in place on the left hole. But when the bolt froze to the bushing then you can see the result when the bolt turns in the shackle and not the bushing.
Lessons to be learned from this posting. Very good picture.
|
renojack
Reno
Full Member
Joined: 09/20/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Are you aware of the recall of certain BFG TA Commercial tires for blowout and tread separation problems. I read on this site two weeks ago and turned mine in for new tires of equal value.
"The journey IS the destination"
RENOJACK
2007 Pilgrim 30'TT 278rlss NV Plate "THETRLR
2005 SUBURBAN 3/4T 4wd 8.1 Liter NV Plate "THESUB"
|
MegaJohn
NW Geogia
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I've added "check camper suspension components" to my weekend to-do list... If not this weekend, before our next trip is planned. 
I inspected the suspension last spring, but really didn't know what I was looking for... basically looking for cracked/bent components, loose bolts, and otherwise stuff that just didn't look right. Our Pilgrim unit is 6+ years old and has over 10,000 miles on it... I would hate for a failure like this to sideline a camping trip and deflate our wallet.
Do the shackle bolts need to be removed to inspect the shackle hangers & bushings?
What are some things I should be looking at under there?
Happy Camping!
John.
Stock 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 MegaCab, 5.9L Cummins, Automatic, 2WD, Dually
- 30' 2006 Pilgrim Interntional travel trailer, dry weight ~7k pounds, GVWR ~9k pounds
- Husky weight distributing hitch, friction anti-sway control, electronic brake controller
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I had some wet bolts that wouldn't take grease. Turned out they weren't completely drilled!
|
|
|
