Forum Discussion

bandj0521's avatar
bandj0521
Explorer
Sep 13, 2019

Would appreciate the groups thoughts on tandem axle issue

We bought this 2018 Shadow Cruiser 20' TT with rear slide out June 2019. The trailer was supposed to be new. Since purchase we had been waiting to take it back to the dealer for cosmetic warranty repairs we discovered at time of pickup. we took it on one trip three weeks ago (140 miles round trip). I took it back to the dealer two weeks ago for the warranty work to be completed and picked it up last evening.

On the drive home, I was flagged over by a passing construction guy who said i was about to lose my rear axle. I immediately stopped and found the right rear tire of the second axle bowed and showing wire cording four inches across the tire. I limped to a place to change the right rear tire, then limped another 6 miles at 10 miles an hour to my home.

can anyone tell me what would cause this? Again, I only put about 180 miles on the unit since purchase (including back and forth to the dealer). I have been told the axle is probably shot, and may have been put on upside down? I have not idea, but the front axle has a bow (as it should) the rear axle is level.

Appreciate any responses as i await a response from my emails and phone calls to the dealer.

I have pics, but i don't know how to post them in here. Would appreciate help on that too..

thank you,

Jay

https://imgur.com/zTFzvkr
https://imgur.com/M1qz7fw
https://imgur.com/LE6sPqq
  • There's a good chance it was overloaded during factory delivery, by a truck with the hitch too high. Once the limits of the spring equalizers are reached, the rear axle quickly becomes overloaded. Same with the tires. The proper fix is a new axle and rear tires.
  • Trailer axles are supposed to have a slight upward bow at the center. No bow in the axle means it has been straightened either on purpose or by accident.
  • With that low of miles I think it's a case of a poorly welded spindle. Seems like whom ever was welding the spindle on screwed up and welded it on crooked.
    It normally takes a while for an over loaded axle to bend enough to get bad tire wear. If you only towed it 140 miles and then figure in how far it was from the factory to your dealer that would be the total miles. Being delivered from the factory it should've been empty so overloading wouldn't be an issue.
  • Hard to say without looking. However its under warranty so call the dealer and get it back to them.

    One tire on one side worn like that sound like the axle stub (usually where the axle stub is welded to the axle tubes) was bent like happens as the trailer is drug around a corner and impacts a curb as its side scrubs. Doing so can take the end of the axle out of toe and camber at that end only.

    Or the tire was a run flat or at low pressures causing high heat and the tread cap came off.
  • Same thing happened to mine . Undersized axles right from the factory. My rear one straightened out thus causing the both reat tires to wear on the inside on my maiden voyage. Had to rotate tires to get home ...ontario to nefoundland..big trip. .
    Front tire was ascue from the start . Could be caused by poor weld from the get go or transport company hitting a curb delivering it. Lippert admitted that axles shouldnt do that so thay shipped 4400# axles and springs in liew of the 3500 # ones on it . I was under weight also. Maybe have bigger axles installed under waranty. Company shipped me 4 new tires too.
  • My first thought is the dealer may have placed jacks incorrectly under the axle to jack it up and caused the axle to lose the bow. Or as you wrote the axle is installed upside down which is unlikely since the spring pads would have to be welded on the wrong side of the axle from the factory.

    Second thought is a curb or rock strike which bent the axle

    Third thought is the tire went bad. This is common with original equipment tires.

    Good luck in solving this mystery.