Surprised when I found this shackel bolt

[Wood_chip]

I am getting ready for a trip this weekend and craweled under the trailer to install a new sewer cap. This trailer is only 5 monthes old so not sure when the nut may have backed out. Lucky to have found it now.

[oldbeek]

Now the problem is that the shackle bolt hole is wallowed out. The factory bolt has serrations on the head end that forces into the support hole to keep the bolt from turning. Now the bolt is going to turn in the shackle support instead of in the bushing. In a short period of time the bolt will start to be cut by turning in the support instead of the bushing. The only long term answer for any RV is to install a wet bolt shackle kit. (Greaseable)

[othertonka]

Please report back on what they did to repair this, enquiring minds want to know. Good luck

[Wood_chip]

psford wrote:

Wood chip wrote:

psford wrote:

psuce wrote:

psford wrote:
Probably all he is going to get told is its his issue ,should check the suspension, which he did, and caught the problem.

Bingo. Should be part of your visual check list before leaving on any trip.

I don't think he is going to get much resolution, but hopefully they will do something, but as I said fix it ,and move on ,the sky is not falling at this point.

I have an RV repair shop that is well thought of that is 1 mile from my house and OutdoorsRV has told me to limp it over there in the AM and they would take care of it. I can easily keep it under 20mph on a backroad so should be good.

Good for them ,thats good news, it won't be much of a fix.

I think it is great when you can directly talk to the factory and bypass the dealership. Not sure if this is the norm or not.

[psford]

Wood chip wrote:

psford wrote:

psuce wrote:

psford wrote:
Probably all he is going to get told is its his issue ,should check the suspension, which he did, and caught the problem.

Bingo. Should be part of your visual check list before leaving on any trip.

I don't think he is going to get much resolution, but hopefully they will do something, but as I said fix it ,and move on ,the sky is not falling at this point.

I have an RV repair shop that is well thought of that is 1 mile from my house and OutdoorsRV has told me to limp it over there in the AM and they would take care of it. I can easily keep it under 20mph on a backroad so should be good.

Good for them ,thats good news, it won't be much of a fix.

[Wood_chip]

psford wrote:

psuce wrote:

psford wrote:
Probably all he is going to get told is its his issue ,should check the suspension, which he did, and caught the problem.

Bingo. Should be part of your visual check list before leaving on any trip.

I don't think he is going to get much resolution, but hopefully they will do something, but as I said fix it ,and move on ,the sky is not falling at this point.

I have an RV repair shop that is well thought of that is 1 mile from my house and OutdoorsRV has told me to limp it over there in the AM and they would take care of it. I can easily keep it under 20mph on a backroad so should be good.

[psford]

psuce wrote:

psford wrote:
Probably all he is going to get told is its his issue ,should check the suspension, which he did, and caught the problem.

Bingo. Should be part of your visual check list before leaving on any trip.

I don't think he is going to get much resolution, but hopefully they will do something, but as I said fix it ,and move on ,the sky is not falling at this point.

[B_O__Plenty]

face_down wrote:
Lowes sells different grades of bolts, a grade 8 bolt is a grade 8 bolt no matter where you buy it. You can identify the grade of a bolt by the lines on the top of the hex head.

None of these bolts are suitable as they do not have the knurled portion below the head. The shackle bolts do. It is designed to lock the bolt so it cannot rotate and wear out the holes in the spring hanger.

B.O.

[psuce]

psford wrote:
Probably all he is going to get told is its his issue ,should check the suspension, which he did, and caught the problem.

Bingo. Should be part of your visual check list before leaving on any trip.

[psford]

fj12ryder wrote:
So he should just lie if there's a problem later and he's asked about this? Nice advice.

The problem already exists , replace with OEM Bolt, and nut ,there is no secret to a shackle bolt ,and nut. Get one at any axle shop. Check the nylon bushing replace if necessary, probably chewed up a bit.

Its could of been bad, but at this point it was caught the sky is not falling. Contact whomever you want on the issue . IMO the hassle is not going to be worth it, nuts come loose all the time, and that can very well be the issue here. . Probably all he is going to get told is its his issue ,should check the suspension, which he did, and caught the problem.

[face_down]

Lowes sells different grades of bolts, a grade 8 bolt is a grade 8 bolt no matter where you buy it. You can identify the grade of a bolt by the lines on the top of the hex head.

[psuce]

"IF" you have to do it yourself, local Tractor Supply carries 9/16" diameter shackle bolts with nuts. I replaced all of mine on an open car trailer last year. I think they are around $10-15 each. Make sure of the diameter of your bolt as 9/16" is not a typical bolt you can find at Lowes. Also check the bushing inside the spring eye to make sure it's not beat up from the bolt being backed half way out. Tractor supply sells them also if it's a standard size. It's not a hard job to replace them if you need to do it yourself.

[Ohiojude]

Please contact the manufacturer. We had something similar and they sent a mobil guy out to our house to fix. CYA like someone else has said.

[Wood_chip]

I have emailed and left messages for OutdoorsRV + the dealer (Pan Pacific Sacramento) to let them know the situation. Making me nervous about getting it resolved by Friday. Like I said, I may have to do it myself if it gets to Wednesday and I have no resolution.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Not sure if mentioned, but anyway with what you've already found, it sure would be a good idea to go around and check the remainder of those bolts under the fifth wheel.

One loose, there sure could be more.

[fj12ryder]

So he should just lie if there's a problem later and he's asked about this? Nice advice.