Removing and installing tires

[tackhammer]

We have a 1995 Coleman Stoney Creek and trying to get the tires and wheels on or off this camper is the most agrivating thing I have ever done.  I have checked and it has the correct size tire on it, I have raised the body of the camper as far as it will go to let the springs fall down as far as possible but still the only way that I can get the tires on or off is to let the air out of them, fight to get them on or off then pump them back up.  today I had to replace the wheel seals and repack the bearings, last person to do them didn't remove the slag from were the spindles were welded on.  Guess this explains the reason it has alway ate seals and slung grease.  If you want a job done right do it yourself right.  Anyway is this common with this model, Our old 1970 Star Craft was not this bad and it had the wheels with the studs you had to hold the wheel up to start.

[tlhdoc]

What are you using to raise the camper, the stabilizing jacks?  If you are use a regular jack instead.  At home I use a floor jack and have no problem raising the camper high enough to get the tires off and on.  On the road I have a small bottle jack to jack up the side of the camper.  The jack is positioned next to the axel, on the main frame of the camper.

[tackhammer]

I use a floor jack on the frame next to the axle.  then put jack stands under frame and let axle float free.  I am going to check today and see if tire width is right. I did notice that the springs never extend all the way to the end of the stops in the back.

[ReconMarine]

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUR 1986 STARCRAFT :banghead: . ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

[wynot]

I don't know if it applies, but I put a floor jack (19.5" lift) under one of the spring mounting locations.  This can lift the camper up enough to get the wheel to easily clear the ground, then I jack stand under the other end of the spring mount.
 
In fact, I usually store the camper for the winter with the wheels just barely off the ground, with a jack stand on each side, which allows me to chock the wheels or spin them occasionally.

[mike4947]

There are some models/years of PU that just are a real pain to change tires due to the wheels/tires not dropping far enough to get them out without major surgery...LOL

One "fix" is converting the axle to under spring mounting rather than having the axle on top of the spring. That gains the thickness of the srping and the axle thickness for clearance.

[tackhammer]

Ok I talked to the dealership today and they told me how to fix the problem.  The spring shackle bolts on the front rust the spring to the bolt, and this decreases the amount of travel when you lift the tires off the ground just enough to keep you from getting the tires on or off. They said this is an area that always needs to be sprayed with penatrating oil.  I have lifted the tires off the ground and have sprayed the bolts, now I will wait, spray, and so on til they loosen up.  They said when they find one like this they take out bolts oil and replace bolts, you can't reuse them at a price of $25.00.  H esaid the penatrating oil will work in a couple of days. then to just keep them lubricated. He also said this is a very common problem if stored outside or covered with tarp. But ours is stored in a building so I don't know.

[wynot]

Ok I talked to the dealership today and they told me how to fix the problem. The spring shackle bolts on the front rust the spring to the bolt, and this decreases the amount of travel when you lift the tires off the ground just enough to keep you from getting the tires on or off. They said this is an area that always needs to be sprayed with penatrating oil. I have lifted the tires off the ground and have sprayed the bolts, now I will wait, spray, and so on til they loosen up. They said when they find one like this they take out bolts oil and replace bolts, you can't reuse them at a price of $25.00. H esaid the penatrating oil will work in a couple of days. then to just keep them lubricated. He also said this is a very common problem if stored outside or covered with tarp. But ours is stored in a building so I don't know.

I'm just not picturing how the minor amount of rust that could accumulate here would keep the weight of the axle from breaking loose.  If anything, it should force the wheel to be higher than if it were totally free.  I'm basing this on the idea that the leaf springs are already compressed simply by the weight of the camper on them.  If one then lifts the camper, (based on this "rust"), then it would follow that the wheels would actually be higher, not lower.  What am I missing?

[tackhammer]

Well I can tell you that Tom Johnson Camping Center in Marion, NC's service dept don't know as much as they think they do.  I took back bolts out and let springs fall, then raised them up again, no binding, replaced the bolts, and still can't get the tires off.  Now they say maybe the springs are mashed out may need new springs they say.  I think that they are full of Huwy.

[wavery]

Well I can tell you that Tom Johnson Camping Center in Marion, NC's service dept don't know as much as they think they do.  I took back bolts out and let springs fall, then raised them up again, no binding, replaced the bolts, and still can't get the tires off.  Now they say maybe the springs are mashed out may need new springs they say.  I think that they are full of Huwy.

How much curve do you have on the springs? I was actually thinking the same thing when I first read this thread. It sounds like your springs may be flat and you have to jack the trailer up several inches, just to get to it's normal height. Then you have to keep raising it to get the wheels off the ground. If the springs are weak in one direction, they are weak in both directions and it is like stretching a worn out rubber band.

You might want to consider taking the trailer to a spring shop and having them check it out. That's what the dealer would do. They don't make springs. They have to order them.

[tackhammer]

With the body raise up tires hanging in the air I have 4" between the bottom of the frame and the top of the axle, does anyone know what that dimension should be on a 1995 coleman destany series.

[flyfisherman]

To add to the mix ...

A fishing friend who belonged to our group bought a used popup (hard pressed now to remember the brand), anyway, had the axle/spring system, and getting tires on and off was a real chore. Come to find out the previous owner had changed out the axle with a different used one. Seems he had overloaded the previous axle to the point where it had bent at the hubs ... and I suppose he replaced it with whatever used axle he could find in the vicinity ... just enough to sell it! Of course, my friend soon had another popup (traded that one in).


Fly

[tackhammer]

To add to the mix ...

A fishing friend who belonged to our group bought a used popup (hard pressed now to remember the brand), anyway, had the axle/spring system, and getting tires on and off was a real chore. Come to find out the previous owner had changed out the axle with a different used one. Seems he had overloaded the previous axle to the point where it had bent at the hubs ... and I suppose he replaced it with whatever used axle he could find in the vicinity ... just enough to sell it! Of course, my friend soon had another popup (traded that one in).


Fly

Well thats interesting, we bought this on from a dealership in Swannanowa, NC Last July, and we were told that it had came from eastern NC and was traded in, that the preveous owners, stepped up a notch.  Also I was told today by a body shop guy I know and trust that this is not the axle that came on this camper when comparing the bow in the springs to another camper the same series. The wheels set 1.5" up in the body, which means no getting the tires off or on aired up.  Now I wander if this is the same camper.

[tackhammer]

Well I got tired of the trouble, so I lowered the position of the spring hanger bolt in the front by 2" center hole to center hole.  Now the camper sets level with the van we pull it with, took it out for a test pull everything ok. Now I can take tires on and off no problem. What are the torque specs for the lugs.

[wavery]

Well I got tired of the trouble, so I lowered the position of the spring hanger bolt in the front by 2" center hole to center hole.  Now the camper sets level with the van we pull it with, took it out for a test pull everything ok. Now I can take tires on and off no problem. What are the torque specs for the lugs.

That makes a lot more sense to me  Turning the axle over sounded a bit radical. Glad it all worked out.