Forum Discussion

snarkee's avatar
snarkee
Explorer
May 01, 2018

Suspension hangers

I have a 16 kz Durango fifth wheel
The leaf spring hangers on the drivers side are straight and square.
The 3 hangers on the passenger side are not square.
All 3 brackets look the same. The metal is straight with no signs of bent metal or a cracked weld. The factory square tubing that the hangers are welded to are also straight and level.

The trailer hasn't been curbed and hasn't hit any potholes. I'm careful when turning so I don't put too much stress on the axles. The trailer scaled under the max weight

My opinion is that these hangers weren't installed right from the factory.
If the 3 hangers on the one side are bent from road force, wouldn't the other side be bent as well? Tire wear is fine.

Opinions?
Pictures



Pics for reference
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    May 01, 2018
    Yeesh, that doesn't look right!
    But if it's solid and the axles are aligned and the tires track right and don't wear funny, it probably isn't hurting anything.
  • snarkee's avatar
    snarkee
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    My only concern is the leaf springs don't sit square in the hanger now. Im worried about the extra tension on the bolts
  • buc1980's avatar
    buc1980
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    That for sure it don't look good.I will take it to a suspension shop to re weld the hangers .
  • F-TROUP's avatar
    F-TROUP
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    Looks like a sloppy job from the frame manufacture, I'd have them redone.
  • snarkee's avatar
    snarkee
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    It's at my dealer now as the trailer still has warranty. I just wanted feedback in case they try and blame me!!!
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    Now is a good time to add wet bolts. They probably won't do any frame modifications under warranty but some day you may need to add metal for reinforcement depending on frame design

    I was looking to buy an insurance salvage tt years back. It had minor damage on the bottom edge of the drivers side and broke the sewer pipe off. The drivers side hangers were bent worse than that yet the passenger far less. It just seemed that if everything was getting slammed on one side more of that force would transfer to the other side as well.
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    May 01, 2018
    If it is an I-beam frame, I wold look for a crack in the spine of the I-beam above the square tubing. Lippert frames had problems with side to side movement causing the frame to flex and crack. If so, needs to have cross gussets welded in to stop the side to side movement flexing the I-beam.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    eHoefler wrote:
    If it is an I-beam frame, I wold look for a crack in the spine of the I-beam above the square tubing. Lippert frames had problems with side to side movement causing the frame to flex and crack. If so, needs to have cross gussets welded in to stop the side to side movement flexing the I-beam.


    ^^^ That's it^^^^
    Look for faint cracks in the paint. There have been posts where hangers and chunks of frame are broken off.
  • snarkee's avatar
    snarkee
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    Thx for the information. I checked the frame and it looks good. There are supports welded on an angle on the bottom of the I beam frame
  • wrgrs50s's avatar
    wrgrs50s
    Explorer
    May 01, 2018
    On my Heartland Sundance all the hangers are leaning inward. Once I noticed, I have watched very closely and 6 yrs have gone by with no issues.

    Afterward I have checked lots of trailers and found that it's not that uncommon. The only reason I can see for that happening from the factory is that the brackets on the axles being slightly off from the width of the frame of the trailer so they just bend them to attach and let it go.

    It's definately not right but probably wont hurt anything.

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