Get underneath & check

[Tequila]

Noticed this after my trailer did not feel quite right. I drove down a steep mountian road windy & narrow with shear drop-offs yesterday from Guadlajara to melaque. Scary. Here is the picture of the broken side and the other side which is very close to breaking. i am trying to get replacement parts shipped down, if not I will have to see if I canget them machined in Mexico and get me home. I will be replacing this assembly with a MoreRyde of something better quality. The trailr is 2 years old, get underneath and inspect yours!!!!!!

[rhagfo]

Lynnmor wrote:
I found that the shackles are made of cheap steel that is 5mm (.196") thick instead of the designed .250". The bolt holes are punched in rather than drilled or bored resulting in a tapered hole. The taper has very little engagement with the bolt splines so they start to move. The movement will cause rapid wear and a failure like yours will follow. I made my own shackles from .250" thick, heat-treated alloy steel and bored straight holes. I also made the plates a bit wider and longer for more strength. I don't know if the thicker heavy duty parts have straight holes or not, but if they are tapered they too will fail, but take longer. I also added wet bolts and made a special one, that an Equa-Flex like yours would need, because of the split arms at the bottom.

Do you have a fifth wheel or a travel trailer?

X2!

I decided to compare mine.
The stock unit Mics out;
Thickness .249 or 1/4" (Lynnmor, you got the really cheap ones!)
the part above the hole .37 about 3/8"
The hole showing wear .573" X .580 a difference of .07" or 1/16".

The new Shackle mics as follows.
Thickness .5" or 1/2"
The part above the hole .470 or about 15/32" very close to 1/2"
The hole was .56" or 9/16.

The much thicker shackles will hold up WAY better than the old 1/4" or less.
In addition the bronze bushings replacing the mashed nylon provide a much stronger system.

[Veebyes]

Nobody likes to crawl aound underneath but it must be done at least a couple times a year especially if you are a high mileage RVer.

The mounting areas on the frame of mine look nothing like they did the day the frame left Lippert. Each spring hanger area was cut out, re engineered & made far stronger than original. Wet bolts went in. Installed Equaflex. Correct Track system installed. Replaced 6 stack springs with a 7 stack.

Everything is checked thoroughly & greased at the beginning of each season.

[Lynnmor]

I found that the shackles are made of cheap steel that is 5mm (.196") thick instead of the designed .250". The bolt holes are punched in rather than drilled or bored resulting in a tapered hole. The taper has very little engagement with the bolt splines so they start to move. The movement will cause rapid wear and a failure like yours will follow. I made my own shackles from .250" thick, heat-treated alloy steel and bored straight holes. I also made the plates a bit wider and longer for more strength. I don't know if the thicker heavy duty parts have straight holes or not, but if they are tapered they too will fail, but take longer. I also added wet bolts and made a special one, that an Equa-Flex like yours would need, because of the split arms at the bottom.

Do you have a fifth wheel or a travel trailer?

[Cdash]

20k is about what I would get out of a set, but they'd be nowhere as bad as yours. How are you doing weight wise?

[Tequila]

I am going to do what I can to get ne hime then its wet bolts. I coudl have beeen killed on the road I came down yesterday if both sides had have given way. This trailer is half way through its 3rd return trip to Mexico since new, has not been used for much else, I am a RV Caravan wagon master, so I am guessing 3 - 3000 mile reurn trips. Add on 3 return trips through the US and its total mileage is likely about 20K since new.

[grampscamper]

Yes. Cost me $100.00 and took one afternoon to install.

[rhagfo]

grampscamper wrote:
You need to install heavier shackles along with a wet bolt kit. Shame all manufacturers don't install when new.

X2 just did this upgrade this weekend.

Wet Bolts, I got mine for less than $100.


Wet Bolts

[grampscamper]

You need to install heavier shackles along with a wet bolt kit. Shame all manufacturers don't install when new.

[2oldman]

Been there.

[Learjet]

I bet you would have heard some squeaking before it broke, that is how I new something was going on.

Also, if the bolts are loose, they will wear on the metal.

[gbopp]

Good information. It applies to all RV's. I get under our Southwind every year to look for any problems.

[justafordguy]

Wow, hard to believe they wore that much in two years? How many miles do you have on it?