In the past month I have had both rear leaf springs break. The first broke while I was backing into my driveway to load the trailer, no harm done other than getting it repaired. The last time the other one broke while I was driving 60 mph on I40 in Memphis, this time it destroyed both tires when the frame dropped onto the tires. I don't carry any water in any of the holding tanks and am sure overloading wasn't a problem either time. Has anyone else experienced a problem with the cheap leaf springs? My trailer is three years old with less than 10,000 miles on it. Pete
Leaf springs on Trail Runner 26rlss
- Thread starter Pete1518
- Start date
danemayer
Well-known member
Hi Pete1518,
It's more common for the shackle links to wear out and break allowing the springs to move out of place. Sounds like you actually had one or more of the leafs break. Is that right? Do you have any pictures or can you describe in a little more detail exactly what broke.
It's more common for the shackle links to wear out and break allowing the springs to move out of place. Sounds like you actually had one or more of the leafs break. Is that right? Do you have any pictures or can you describe in a little more detail exactly what broke.
Hi Dan and Ann, yes I did have the leaf break on both occasions, I have pictures of the first but don't know how to add an attachment to this post. I didn't save the leaf because I thought this was a freak accident. The second time I didn't take pictures because it looked just like the first time but I do have the leaf. They both broke about 4 inches from the leading shackle. I don't remember if I mentioned my trailer is three years old.
I have had a chance to do some checking and find the springs are rated for 1700 lbs and the gawr is 3500lbs, so it appears it was only a question of when, not if. I have found sturdier springs and will have them all replaced as I have no confidence in the remaining factory installed ones and suspect the ones I had replaced were replaced with the lighter duty springs because the repair guys just replaced what they had. Wish I had been smarter sooner. Pete1518
louieb2112
Member
Hi Pete, I have a 2013 Wilderness. Just had the a right rear spring break. Same as you i don't carry water in any tank, i am 100% overloading is not an issue. My trailer has 5200 miles on it. I have no explanation as to why this spring broke other then poorly built from the factory. I wonder if more people are experiencing this same problem and just not reporting it?
JohnD
Moved on to the next thing...
Our previous 2013 Trail Runner 22RK was rubbing on the tires, plus several other issues.
We were 1000 miles away from home when all this came to the limelight.
I was told I overloaded the trailer (which I also knew I didn't), so I completely emptied it (except for the two flat screen LED TV's - 15 pounds) and then had it weighed.
Turned out that the trailer weighed over 1000 pounds more what than the axles and springs were rated for.
After having the axles and springs upgraded to heavier duty components, plus replacing all five wheels and tires . . . we traded it in for our 2015 Heartland Prowler.
Here is a before and an after repair shot, plus the old tires with the gouges and uneven wear from the trailer resting on them:
That trailer was a beast after the repair was done . . .
I was kinda' sad that we only used it one final time before we traded it in (was actually at a Colorado HOC Campout when we traded it in the weekend after it was fixed).
We were 1000 miles away from home when all this came to the limelight.
I was told I overloaded the trailer (which I also knew I didn't), so I completely emptied it (except for the two flat screen LED TV's - 15 pounds) and then had it weighed.
Turned out that the trailer weighed over 1000 pounds more what than the axles and springs were rated for.
After having the axles and springs upgraded to heavier duty components, plus replacing all five wheels and tires . . . we traded it in for our 2015 Heartland Prowler.
Here is a before and an after repair shot, plus the old tires with the gouges and uneven wear from the trailer resting on them:
That trailer was a beast after the repair was done . . .
I was kinda' sad that we only used it one final time before we traded it in (was actually at a Colorado HOC Campout when we traded it in the weekend after it was fixed).
