Camper problems = $$$

[tlhdoc]

Last Friday I took my PU to the dealer to have the wheel bearings repacked and the brakes adjusted. They called me on Thursday and was informed that the axel needs to be aligned, that the camber is off and the tires are very worn on the inside. The place they take trailers to get an alignment wants $125 for the job. For a charge the dealer will take it and pick it up. I think the price is a bit high, but I don't really know. I also need to buy at least 2 new tires (I planned to do this a little later in the season). I picked the PU up today and brought it home. Usually I pull through our front yard, through our driveway and into the neighbors driveway and then back the trailer into our driveway. By pulling through the yards and driveways I don't have to do a 90 degree back in off of our busy road. DH put had moved our cars out of the way, BUT the neighbor had company so I couldn't pull through the normal way. Instead I had to back in off of the busy road between 2 humps, one with an electric pole in it. I did not put the towing mirrors on, this was a mistake. Of course cars came up behind me when I was slowing down at my driveway. I put on my turn signal. came to a stop and put it in reverse. I made it into the drive way on the first try, BUT I snagged one of my stabilizing jacks on the one hump. The jack is not strong enough to drag it along the bank of the hump without damaging it. Well now I need a new stabilizing jack, two tires and an alignment on the PU. Some of you know that I can't crank my stabilizing jacks up all of the way, or they un-thread and I have to craw under the PU to put them back together (you need two 1/2 inch wrenches to do this). The jacks come in pairs so I decided I might as well replace all 4 of them. It will eliminate having to bungee cord them in place. So I have 2 tires/wheels, 4 jacks with 2 jack handles on order and still have to find a place close to home to get the axel aligned. I am glad I didn't wait until closer to the trip do cause all of this damage. One more fun experience. I decided to remove the damaged jack so it would be out of the way when I take the PU to have it aligned. 3 bolts hold the jack to a metal plate. I WD-40ed the nuts to get them ready. The first 2 came right out, the 3rd nut is too close to the threaded part of the jack for me to get the socket on it. GERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR what a day. Over $400 spent and I still have to get the trailer aligned. Hope your day was better.

[dademt]

Ouch,  I haven't priced this out before.  As for the repacking, on my utility trailer my wheels were getting a little loose.  Everyone told me that I had to replace or at least repack the bearings.  Instead, I put bearing buddies on there and injected marine grade bearing grease.  That was about 5 years or more ago and they are still running strong.  Every year or two I refill them.  Seems to have worked great.  As for the alignment, I am not the one to ask there.  If they are off and "dragging" I would think that would also cause you to loose towing effeciency.  The $125 may pay for itself in the long run.  Besides the cost of tires.

[tlhdoc]

I am going to get the camper aligned before the new tires go on.  I want the shop to see how they are wearing and I will let him put the tires on.  If the axel will fit in the machine at the local alignment shop, with a very good reputation, I will take it there.  If not I am sure he will know a place for me to take it.

[copcarguy]

Good luck Tracy...  I know typing the story made you feel a little better.  Venting always helps!

We've had a few old Ford trucks in the family, ('65 F-100, '71 E-100, '77 E-150) and I remember going with Dad having to take them to frame / body shops to have the twin I beam front suspension aligned.  I am really curious how they'll align the straight axle on the PU.  You have the gears in my brain turning.  Please keep me posted!

[dee106]

you camp so much you wore the poor thing out!

[tlhdoc]

you camp so much you wore the poor thing out!

That is the problem in a nutshell.

[tlhdoc]

The new jacks and wheels/tires arrived on Thursday.   I didn't pay the extra $5 to JC Whitney for faster shipping, but the stuff came in 4 days anyhow.  Today I removed the old jacks, I needed to wack the bent one with a hammer a few times so that I could get the socket on the nut.  I was very, very, very happy that BAL didn't change the mounting locations on the new jacks.  Fleetwood has an iron plate welded to the corners of the PU.  They have 3 bolts welded into each plate for mounting the jacks to the PU.  I would have had to cut the bolts off and then drill new mounting holes IF the holes in the new jacks were in a different place.  I also lubed the new jacks and the lift cables and pulleys under the PU while I was down there.  

[HersheyGirl]

So now you are an RV mechanic.....you go girlfriend!

[tlhdoc]

So now you are an RV mechanic.....you go girlfriend!

:eyecrazy: :p

[dee106]

wow, great job! We are proud of you,,,,,,:D

[wynot]

Do you make housecalls?

[tlhdoc]

Do you make housecalls?

It depends on what is for dinner.  I have been known to make campground calls.

[tlhdoc]

I dropped the trailer off at an alignment place on my way to work yesterday and picked it up on the way home.  They bent the axel next to the tires on both sides and heated both sides to make the metal shrink to do the finishing touches.  The place does a lot of trailer axels for a local dealer and they do motor home axels for Fleetwood, there is a factory near where I word.  The price was $65 so it was much less than the other alignment place wanted.

[wavery]

I dropped the trailer off at an alignment place on my way to work yesterday and picked it up on the way home.  They bent the axel next to the tires on both sides and heated both sides to make the metal shrink to do the finishing touches.  The place does a lot of trailer axels for a local dealer and they do motor home axels for Fleetwood, there is a factory near where I word.  The price was $65 so it was much less than the other alignment place wanted.

And a loud cheer comes up from the audience
 :-()  :-()  :#  :!  :-()  :-()

[tlhdoc]

Let's see.  The wheel bearings are repacked, the brakes are adjusted, the axel has been aligned, the new tires/wheels are now balanced.  ONE new tire is mounted/torqued and filled to the proper psi.  Now I have to mount/torque the other tire and install the new breakaway brake switch.  Just about ready to go camping.:eyecrazy: