FYI-Has anyone had this problem? I purchased my 2011 Cruiser RV 24SD ViewFinder new. Used it about 3000 miles each year 2011 & 2012. I pulled & packed the wheel bearings each year. Jan 2013 had my local dealer pull wheels, inspect the brakes/bearings & repack bearings all 4 wheels. Near the end of a 3500 mile trip 9/12/2013 the right front bearing failed. It destroyed everything, even caught fire. After 2 days beside the road I got it patched enough to limp 150 miles to a Camping World. After 5 days of good intentions and some poor follow up. I was told a new Lippert axel could take up to 2 weeks to receive or I could stay in a hotel for another 3 or 4 days while the spindle was locally replaced. Each option was $700 plus. I called a little Trailer fabricator and repair shop about 25 miles away, Accutrak Mfg. Corp. Los Lunas, NM. The owner, Robert said he was very familiar with the Lippert axel problems. The next day for just over $500 Accutrak installed complete new Dexter axel assy. (axel hubs brakes bearings complete). Here is a RUB. The Leppert axels under my trailer has ID Tags showing they are 2800 LB load cap. The Dexter replacement is 3500LB. Robert said he had stopped using Leppert axels a few years back, but did not elaborate. In all fairness to Lippert. Because I am clearly out of warranty I did not try to get any restitution from them. However as soon as I can recoup from the almost $2000 total cost of this failure I am going to replace the other 2800 LB Lippert axel with a 3500LB Dexter assembly. 1stvee

1stvee wrote:FYI-Has anyone had this problem? I purchased my 2011 Cruiser RV 24SD ViewFinder new. Used it about 3000 miles each year 2011 & 2012. I pulled & packed the wheel bearings each year. Jan 2013 had my local dealer pull wheels, inspect the brakes/bearings & repack bearings all 4 wheels. Near the end of a 3500 mile trip 9/12/2013 the right front bearing failed. It destroyed everything, even caught fire. After 2 days beside the road I got it patched enough to limp 150 miles to a Camping World. After 5 days of good intentions and some poor follow up. I was told a new Lippert axel could take up to 2 weeks to receive or I could stay in a hotel for another 3 or 4 days while the spindle was locally replaced. Each option was $700 plus. I called a little Trailer fabricator and repair shop about 25 miles away, Accutrak Mfg. Corp. Los Lunas, NM. The owner, Robert said he was very familiar with the Lippert axel problems. The next day for just over $500 Accutrak installed complete new Dexter axel assy. (axel hubs brakes bearings complete). Here is a RUB. The Leppert axels under my trailer has ID Tags showing they are 2800 LB load cap. The Dexter replacement is 3500LB. Robert said he had stopped using Leppert axels a few years back, but did not elaborate. In all fairness to Lippert. Because I am clearly out of warranty I did not try to get any restitution from them. However as soon as I can recoup from the almost $2000 total cost of this failure I am going to replace the other 2800 LB Lippert axel with a 3500LB Dexter assembly. 1stveeThat is what I would do. A lot of "quality" axle manufacturers don't start giving you decent spindles, hubs and bearings until you get to the 3,500# rating. I had a local axle manufacturer take a Flexiride axle system and de-rate it to 2,000# by installing the rubber with about 1/3 of it removed from the center. This allows for the rubber torsion axle to "give" more, but also gave me the heavy duty axle components.By the way, Lippert strikes again. You would think that with all the bad info on the internet, most educated buyers would refuse to buy anything with Lippert components.

The Axles should definitely match. I would replace the remaining one with the same model.As for why the bearing failed? The last person to touch it did something wrong. It was either too tight, too loose or contaminated.

Thanks for sharing this information.We purchased our 2012 ViewFinder 24SD in 2011 and haven't had any problems with it. Presumably it has the same 2800 lb Lippert axels as yours, but I'll check on that.Our camper was just inspected last month and we had the bearings cleaned and repacked. We specifically asked if there looked like any axel issues and none were seen. We had already talked about going to a heavier-duty axel if/when that time comes.One thing we noticed about our ViewFinder is that it can hold ALOT of stuff and even with the generous weight limits, it's pretty easy to overload. We weigh, fully loaded, before our yearly winter trip so we know we're within the limits.

Thanks for sharing. I wonder what the root cause is. Without knowing this we can't really blame Lippert. That said I am glad that both my RVs so far have Dexter axles and in the previous RV I only re packed the bearings once in the three years I had her and the bearings and brakes were in excellent shape when serviced. This after a trip to Canada and lots of shorter trips in the southern US.

69 Avion wrote:1stvee wrote:FYI-Has anyone had this problem? I purchased my 2011 Cruiser RV 24SD ViewFinder new. Used it about 3000 miles each year 2011 & 2012. I pulled & packed the wheel bearings each year. Jan 2013 had my local dealer pull wheels, inspect the brakes/bearings & repack bearings all 4 wheels. Near the end of a 3500 mile trip 9/12/2013 the right front bearing failed. It destroyed everything, even caught fire. After 2 days beside the road I got it patched enough to limp 150 miles to a Camping World. After 5 days of good intentions and some poor follow up. I was told a new Lippert axel could take up to 2 weeks to receive or I could stay in a hotel for another 3 or 4 days while the spindle was locally replaced. Each option was $700 plus. I called a little Trailer fabricator and repair shop about 25 miles away, Accutrak Mfg. Corp. Los Lunas, NM. The owner, Robert said he was very familiar with the Lippert axel problems. The next day for just over $500 Accutrak installed complete new Dexter axel assy. (axel hubs brakes bearings complete). Here is a RUB. The Leppert axels under my trailer has ID Tags showing they are 2800 LB load cap. The Dexter replacement is 3500LB. Robert said he had stopped using Leppert axels a few years back, but did not elaborate. In all fairness to Lippert. Because I am clearly out of warranty I did not try to get any restitution from them. However as soon as I can recoup from the almost $2000 total cost of this failure I am going to replace the other 2800 LB Lippert axel with a 3500LB Dexter assembly. 1stveeThat is what I would do. A lot of "quality" axle manufacturers don't start giving you decent spindles, hubs and bearings until you get to the 3,500# rating. I had a local axle manufacturer take a Flexiride axle system and de-rate it to 2,000# by installing the rubber with about 1/3 of it removed from the center. This allows for the rubber torsion axle to "give" more, but also gave me the heavy duty axle components.By the way, Lippert strikes again. You would think that with all the bad info on the internet, most educated buyers would refuse to buy anything with Lippert components.Not really.Lippert like Dexter manufactures the axles to the SPECIFICATIONS GIVEN TO THEM BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TRAILER.Niether Lippert or Dexter sells to the general public.The axle tags specify the MAX weight allowed for the entire axle/wheel assembly which is including the wheels. It is taken as a full assembly and the weakest component of that assemble mandates the max load available.For instance, my Dexter axles have a tag of 3300lbs but yet the axle is in the 3500 lb "class" of axles and uses brakes and drums for 3500 lb axles.Lippert gets a bad name more so since they manufacture so many axles when it is actually the manufacturer of the entire trailer SPECIFYING the axle weights..

FYI Axel Failure | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

gon2dadawgs
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
ScottG wrote:
The Axles should definitely match. I would replace the remaining one with the same model.
As for why the bearing failed? The last person to touch it did something wrong. It was either too tight, too loose or contaminated.

I agree with this 100%. Being a machinist for....way too long....there is no reason for a bearing to fail so quickly after service. Too loose and they will load up unevenly, too tight and they will rapidly wear the hardface off and tip causing the brakes to rub at all times....there is the cause of fire. A good practice is to check hub/wheel temp when you can, an infrared thermometer works great for this.

Michael
1stvee
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
1stvee here; Before leaving Camping World to get the new Axel Assy. I had them inspect and repack all the bearings. I can only go by what they said. The Tech told me every thing looked good. No visible wear or damage. But, he was also the same one that told me the new tires they installed had 51 PSI in all 4. When they pulled the Trailer out for me to hook up and go I could see one tire noticeably low. I checked them all. 1-52 1-50 1-45 1-34. Another reason for DIY.
69_Avion
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
According to that they didn't get the axle company. That is good news. I like to see competition in suppliers.
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
Jayco254 wrote:
I have been told that Lippert bought out Dexter not too long ago, does anyone know if this true? From what I have heard about Lippert recently and in the past I sure hope not.

Why live on roomers when the information is so easily available… much of what you hear is roomers born out of rants that normally have some truth to them, but how much…

“Every Jayco trailer begins with a tubular steel frame built by a firm that specializes in RV frames.” Wonder who that might be…

Published 24 August 2011

Lippert Components, a subsidiary of Drew Industries (DW), a supplier of components for recreational vehicles (RV), has acquired the towable RV chassis and slide-out mechanism operation previously owned by Dexter Chassis Group from EA Technologies for $13.5m.

"After completing this latest acquisition, we have available cash of $10 million, no debt, and $185 million of available borrowing capacity."
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
I read that too. From what I have seen of my present TT which is Lippert equipped, compared to my previous TTs which were Dextern equipped.... Dexter is on a lower tier quality wise.
Jayco254
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
I have been told that Lippert bought out Dexter not too long ago, does anyone know if this true? From what I have heard about Lippert recently and in the past I sure hope not.
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
ReferDog wrote:
Say what you want about axels but until you have to deal with LIPPERT you will change your mine. They could care less about you. It may be true that they only put what is specked to them but it's still poor quality, hard to polish a turd!

I’ll be nice and just say I don’t know what you are talking about, normally I would state that differently… I say that because Lippert was always more than helpful for me and yes I have contacted them more than a few times… I don’t know and would give odds none us know what any failure rates are for any of these companies that can be attributed directly to them…

I will bet they have the largest market share and are dealing almost exclusively with someone that constantly demands the cheapest product they can get from the RV industry… and no matter what frame is under your trailer it is not over built and most likely is under built to save weight…

A friend of mine has repaired many RV frames for 3 or 4 area dealers, so many that were trade-in it’s almost scary to think people were towing these things… these frames were not all Lippert frames I can assure you…

That said I wouldn’t give them hi accolades either… while the power-coat and welds are all in great shape on my Lippert chassis I have had low preforming made in China bearings and also a cracked Chinese made equalizer and the worst bushings I have ever seen that I assume were imported from the same geographic area… and for Lipperts part I am not sure their specs are as close tolerance as they should be
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
69 Avion wrote:
I'm not making an assumption on anything. I'm just saying that the odds are that if the other bearings are set up fine, than the one that went bad was probably fine when it was packed and installed, especially if the bearing on the same side is checked. If two people do the work, they usually each take one side. What I wouldn't assume is that the bearing quality was 100% fine. Bearing do go bad. Cheap bearings go bad more often. I have no idea what brand bearing that they use. If it were mine, I would check the existing bearings on the old axle to find out what brand they are.
If the OP wants to save some money, he could put new Timken (or other quality bearing) on the old axle and run it for a while. I like to match axles, but in the short term it won't hurt anything on leaf springs with an equalizer. I wouldn't do that with a set of rubber torsion axles.

Sure bearings can go bad. But they usually have a little help as improper adjustment, lube etc. Even then, they don't go from perfect to failed instantly. There are many early warning signs that a mechanic should see. My shop manuals actually have pictures of bearings with these types of signs, along with a diagnosis of what type of abuse is causing the bearing degradation.

BTW, Timken is moving or maybe already has moved production to China.

China gets a bad rap, some of it deserved, but just as the Japanese grew out of their quality problems in the 60s, so will the Chinese. You might be surprised just how many Chinese bearings are in cars that don't fail.
69_Avion
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
ReferDog wrote:
Say what you want about axels but until you have to deal with LIPPERT you will change your mine. They could care less about you. It may be true that they only put what is specked to them but it's still poor quality, hard to polish a turd!

I wasn't going to go that far. LOL But, you do have a point.

The real tragedy is to look at all of their frame failures, especially on the fifth wheel trailers. I really feel for those buyers who end up with a trailer they can't even tow. I remember reading about one family who lost their home in the Great Recession and bought a fifth wheel trailer with a Lippert frame that failed. They were "down and out" and the frame failure just made things that much more difficult for them. It has to do with companies trying to save a buck. That is the bottom line. I'm not saying that this case was a bearing failure or a mechanic's mistake, but if it were mine I could figure out what it "probably" was.
ReferDog
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
Say what you want about axels but until you have to deal with LIPPERT you will change your mine. They could care less about you. It may be true that they only put what is specked to them but it's still poor quality, hard to polish a turd!