axle/tire problems
I have a 27ft Forest River Travel Trailer, less than 2000 miles on tires, only camp local and only had 14 months. The tires on the passenger side have tread worn on the outside edges only, drivers sid...
Forum Discussion
First off there is no such thing as alignment on a TT...At least not like on a automobile, which has adjustments for that purpose.
On a TT the alignment is set when the TT is built. Welding the axle hangers on in the proper location sets the alignment.
Sometimes the factory gets it wrong. If this is the case you have three options. 1. As has already been suggested, a alignment shop can "bend" the axles to compensate for the improperly mounted hangers.
2. Have the hangers removed and reinstalled in the proper location.
3. There is a kit recently introduced that will lift a TT a little bit. Maybe 2 inches or so. A side benefit is that it also allows for axle alignment adjustment. Can't remember the name of it, but it has been posted here before.
I am not a fan of option one. Anytime you "bend" metal, it starts the fatigue process and becomes weaker. But the worst part is that this approach doesn't fix the real problem. If you were to damage a bent by alignment axle on the road to the point that it needed replacing.. The replacement axle would need to be custom bent by a alignment shop to match the old axle.
If you fix it using option 2, all you would need to do is unbolt the old one and bolt in a new one
and it's fixed. You could do it on the side of the road if need be.
Option 3 is a viable option if a lift is OK, and you know how to set the alignment.
The other reason alignment can be off is from road damage such as hitting a pothole or curbing a tire. This happens a lot as many TTs are built "under axled". This coupled with maybe a overloaded TT makes for easily damaged axles.
Once again the same options can be used to fix it. But option 2 is not the same as it doesn't apply as the spring hangers installed properly.
So another option 4. is the best one. replace the bent axles with heavier ones better suited for the job. Axles are surprisingly cheap. If you can do it yourself, then it is likely the cheapest way to go as well as the best. Labor can add to it, but it isn't the most challenging mechanical job, so some shopping around may find a reasonable rate
On a TT the alignment is set when the TT is built. Welding the axle hangers on in the proper location sets the alignment.
Sometimes the factory gets it wrong. If this is the case you have three options. 1. As has already been suggested, a alignment shop can "bend" the axles to compensate for the improperly mounted hangers.
2. Have the hangers removed and reinstalled in the proper location.
3. There is a kit recently introduced that will lift a TT a little bit. Maybe 2 inches or so. A side benefit is that it also allows for axle alignment adjustment. Can't remember the name of it, but it has been posted here before.
I am not a fan of option one. Anytime you "bend" metal, it starts the fatigue process and becomes weaker. But the worst part is that this approach doesn't fix the real problem. If you were to damage a bent by alignment axle on the road to the point that it needed replacing.. The replacement axle would need to be custom bent by a alignment shop to match the old axle.
If you fix it using option 2, all you would need to do is unbolt the old one and bolt in a new one
and it's fixed. You could do it on the side of the road if need be.
Option 3 is a viable option if a lift is OK, and you know how to set the alignment.
The other reason alignment can be off is from road damage such as hitting a pothole or curbing a tire. This happens a lot as many TTs are built "under axled". This coupled with maybe a overloaded TT makes for easily damaged axles.
Once again the same options can be used to fix it. But option 2 is not the same as it doesn't apply as the spring hangers installed properly.
So another option 4. is the best one. replace the bent axles with heavier ones better suited for the job. Axles are surprisingly cheap. If you can do it yourself, then it is likely the cheapest way to go as well as the best. Labor can add to it, but it isn't the most challenging mechanical job, so some shopping around may find a reasonable rate
