Frame / Axle Assembly

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
Howdy, I am pretty sure I have an issue with my axles.
Tuesday I took the BH in for the warranty fix's that required parts.
I never noticed before but the tire gap is an inch + different between the opposing sides of the rig.
I contacted HL, who gave me the #'s for Lippert, no reply yet.
My question is who mounts the axles to the frame?
 

Forrest Fetherolf

Senior Member
Heartland factory installs the suspension and axles to the frame at the first assembly line station. The frames are delivered to the factory without spring brackets, springs, and axles installed. Heartland will install depending on the model to be constructed.

My 3600RL wheel spacing to shocks varies from 1/2" to 1-1/4, the factory did not weld the spring brackets vertical causing the springs and axle to shift to the off-door side. I don't consider this a major problem as long as the axles are in line and the rig pulls straight. If the clearance between the tire and shock is less than 1", that tire may rub the shock on tight turns. Lippert's manual explains how to measure axles to verify proper alignment.
 

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
Forrest, I am feeling a little stupid here. I have the mor ryde suspension and from their website they show shocks along with the system. I seem to have every thing except shocks?
 

cdbMidland

Past Michigan Chapter Leader
From a much earlier thread, Scott explained that Mor Ryde suspensions worked better without shocks.
 

Forrest Fetherolf

Senior Member
Roger,

Don't feel stupid. My 3600RL should have had MorRyde, I only got shocks. Scott T@ Heartland was notified and sent me the TrailAir suspension, which I installed. There was much confusion as to MorRyde with or without shocks. Scott T. informed me they had switched to TrailAir because of problems with MorRyde. Whooooooooooooooooo knows!!!

Forrest
 

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
I just talked to Mor Ryde and was told that the unit as tested showed negligible difference with shocks. Who knows is right......
 

jbeletti

Well-known member
Here's a link to the thread that Chuck mentions. The discussion on shock not being needed with Mor/Ryde on the Heartland products. Bear in mind this does not mean all Mor/Ryde products, rather the RE suspension.

Jim
 

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
Thank you Jim, that link pretty much covers the shock issue. I was a little nervous until I talked to Mor Ryde and went through that thread.....

Now I just have to figure out the parallel axle issue...........
 

Forrest Fetherolf

Senior Member
Roger,

The main reason the shocks show negligible difference is because they are mounted at a 45 deg angle between the axle and frame. That means they are no more than 50% efficient. Bad design.

A good design would be airbag suspension, the rig could be leveled up during travel and at the campsite. That would eliminate leveling jacks, plastic leveling blocks, and/or driving around to find a level spot. The cost to convert would be about $700.00.
 

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
Air bags would be a great idea! A lot less $ than an automatic leveling system.
Still waiting to hear from Lippert.....
 

The RV-Ramblers

BigHorn Owners
Rog,
If I remember correctly and I am not sure that it is in the referenced thread, it was noted that other owner's wheels are closer together on one side. Mine are closer on the off-door side. I believe that it was speculated that it is because of the weight differnce from one side to the other. I believe our unit is heavier on the off-door side (2 slides on that side). Recreational Specialists checked ours earlier this year and said the axles were correctly aligned.
 

jbeletti

Well-known member
I'm pondering the Kelderman Air Ride suspension for the new Landmark. As Forest stated, you get both a suspension upgrade for traveling as well as the ability to assist with side-ti-side leveling. With the Kelderman, you get 3" of side-to-side adjustment and can adjust each side individually. Not inexpensive as a turnkey upgrade but when compared to the cost of any other "next-level" suspension system and/or the Quadra leveler system, it's a pretty good value.
 

ct0218

Well-known member
When my axles were replaced last fall I was told that Lippert had welded the brackets incorrectly, or used the wrong template, and was responsible for the correction. Lippert did send a crew over to do the correction after Dexter delivered new axles. I do remember seeing Heartland welding on the frames in the factory tour, so now I'm a little confused. Is it possible that some are done by Lippert, and most by Heartland?
 

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
Rv, the tight side on mine is the od side with three slides. I am sure that is the heaviest side. That might be a "logical" reason. Any body else out there with more distance on one side than the other?........

Jim, that Kelderman looks like a nice deal. Three inches of adjustment is a lot, as my days of parking on the side of a hill with 38' of Big Horn are numbered.......
 

ct0218

Well-known member
Roger-
I had that problem also. If you find my post from last Sept I'm sure I put in there what my measurements were. One of my axle brackets was welded wrong which led to a spring and axle failure. Too flat a spring because the brackets were too far apart ( and left, street side, tires close together). Reference my earlier post today where Lippert made the correction on mine.
 

Forrest Fetherolf

Senior Member
I contacted Kelderman for info, their system costs about $3100 to install, including the auto-level option. The auto-level monitors and maintains air pressure to the predetermined setting. They system requires much cutting, welding, and adding additional weight.

I would recommend installing an airbag over each spring, like add-on airbags for pickup trucks. Additional clearance between the frame and axle can be achieved by removing all leaf springs except the primary spring. A rubber stop should be installed between the frame and axle to prevent the frame from sagging onto the tire in case of a airbag failure. This method would not increase the total weight, if anything, a few pounds less. With an onboard compressor, gauges, and individual on-off airbag valves, the rig would be very easy leveled up. Shock absorbers should be installed to prevent bounce.
 

Uncle Rog

Well-known member
Late Report / Lippert Called!

Howdy, I can't believe I was called from back east at 2030 hrs edt! Wow..
A very pleasant girl too. Anyway we discussed my concern and was told that a "new" problem has been discovered.
Apparently the issue involves the distance from the front hanger hole to the mid line of the Mor Ryde assembly.
The proper distance is 33", and guessing from my sketchy info, she figured ours was probably 29 1/2", indicating incorrectly mounted hangers.
rvramblers, I was told explicitly that the distance on both sides should be balls on the same! The weight differential, even 500-1000#'s, with 7000# axles and G rated tires, would not cause that amount of deflection.
I post this late, for me, as this could be a problem for others.
More tomorrow after I head off to Fontucky (Fontana) to take some measurements................UR

Thanks for the call Lippert!!!!
 
Top