XR4rider wrote:
Hi John,
Thank you for the link and info. Yes the 4400# axles are a concern for me. Eventually I will upgrade to 5200# and correct springs. The GVWR is 10,300. I also plan on adding an equalizer and shock kit. Thanks for that write up. I will definitely make sure I have all the clearances needed.
Hi XR4rider
Your welcome.
These new 4,400# axles they have come out with are a way to again downsize components. And they are thinner too which means they can bend easier too. By going with the lighter axles it also puts the need on the owner to really watch the loading of the camper left to right. The camper is built the way it is and there is usually a heavier side then the other and a heavier wheel location. By downsizing the axles, that one heavy side or wheel can be real close to or over the limit of the spring or axle on the heavy side. But still under the GVWR just due to the way you can load the camper. The storage is located by the floor plan.
The cost at the OEM level between a 4,400# axle and a 5,200# axle is not much. When I bought new axle tubes (fixing an axle mess up) it only cost me at resale cost, $15 an axle to go from 5,200 to a 6,000# axle tube. I spent the extra $30 bucks and moved on. Why do the mfg's cheap out so much.
Yes, if you plan to keep the camper a good long time, suspension upgrades are for sure worth it. Shocks and the rubber equalizer really do help. Your camper and mine are close to the same GVWR. I'm on 10,000# GVWR.
If you are adding shocks, (I did here
Adding TT Shock Absorbers (Long/lots of pics)) you need to watch out what schock kit they offer. Some of the shocks are mounted so close to horizontal they are not very effective. I have now seen this better shock kit with premade up brackets. They cost more but they have the angle of the shock right and even angled to help with some body roll. Just passing it along in case it helps. This was not available when I did mine in 2010.
RVimprovementsystems.comGood luck and hope this helps
John
