shovelguy
Well-known member
While towing south from Banff Alberta, on Highway 22, and just south of Longview, Alberta, a car behind me begin flashing it's lights, then pulled in front of me, pointing to the side of the road, I stopped as soon as it was safe to do so, the driver of the other vehicle got out and said I had a tire smoking. My first thought was, "those #*%##* Chinese tries!!". Upon really looking things over, I found that the passenger side rear spring had broke at the center pin, allowing the the rear axle to rotate to the rear a bit, putting the rear tires out of alignment with the front tires, thus the rear tires were begin to burn off at the outer edge. The spring must of broke just before the car got behind me, as the rear tires were not even hot to the touch, except for that melted outer edge.
Good Sam, even though we did not have their roadside assistance program at that time, was able to get a wrecker dispatched from High River, about 60 miles away, and eventually, by chaining and blocking the axles together we were able to get back to Longview.
To make a very long story a bit shorter, Steve at Heartland's Warranty Department and Bill at Lippert, the maker of the suspension, were very helpful and accommodating, shipping the repair parts out on Friday, overnight delivery by UPS. Unfortunately, Canadian Customs were not so accommodating, as we did not get the parts until the following Wednesday afternoon. We were back on the road again by 8:00 pm that night, but had to cut the Montana leg of our vacation off.
By coincidence, we spent Thursday and Friday night at Blackwell Island RV park, in Couer D'Alene, Idaho, and just a row over from us was another 3055RL. So after getting hooked up, and a cold one disposed of, we wondered over to talk to the owners of the other 3055RL. It turned out that in May, while in California, they also broke a right rear spring.
On looking over the two suspensions, it appears the springs on both units are just about flat, with very little if any arch or bow to them. I have weighed the 5'ver twice since replacing the springs and have 10,450 pounds on the rear axles, which are rated at 6,000 pounds, so it does not seem to be over loaded.
Has any one else had any experience with broken springs?
Dean
Good Sam, even though we did not have their roadside assistance program at that time, was able to get a wrecker dispatched from High River, about 60 miles away, and eventually, by chaining and blocking the axles together we were able to get back to Longview.
To make a very long story a bit shorter, Steve at Heartland's Warranty Department and Bill at Lippert, the maker of the suspension, were very helpful and accommodating, shipping the repair parts out on Friday, overnight delivery by UPS. Unfortunately, Canadian Customs were not so accommodating, as we did not get the parts until the following Wednesday afternoon. We were back on the road again by 8:00 pm that night, but had to cut the Montana leg of our vacation off.
By coincidence, we spent Thursday and Friday night at Blackwell Island RV park, in Couer D'Alene, Idaho, and just a row over from us was another 3055RL. So after getting hooked up, and a cold one disposed of, we wondered over to talk to the owners of the other 3055RL. It turned out that in May, while in California, they also broke a right rear spring.
On looking over the two suspensions, it appears the springs on both units are just about flat, with very little if any arch or bow to them. I have weighed the 5'ver twice since replacing the springs and have 10,450 pounds on the rear axles, which are rated at 6,000 pounds, so it does not seem to be over loaded.
Has any one else had any experience with broken springs?
Dean
