BurbMan wrote:
HI Mike, I installed the aftermarket Correct Track system on our 2008. The system only allows you to move axle mounting points front-to-rear in 1/4" increments. The alignment on a trailer is simple, the axles must be parallel to each other and also square to the trailer.
Loading does not affect anything you can adjust with the Correct Track. Loading WILL affect the camber, but the camber is built in to the upward curve of the axle when it's made. If you lose camber due to overloading, you must replace the axle, there is no adjustment for it.
If you don't have an indication that alignment is off as evidenced by uneven tire wear, then I would not pay the dealer to do any alignment.
Actually there are 2 versions of the Correct Track. The after the fact Correct Track which has 1/4" increments and is added to hangers on the camper and an OEM mounted one with 1/8" increments which includes the entire hanger that is welded to the frame in place of the standard hanger. We do not know which the OP has.
It is true the correct track system will adjust the thrust angle of the camper, thrust angle being tow ball distance to front axle equal on both sides within 1/16". But, camper design and loading affects how a leaf spring system settels.
If the camper is much heavier on one side then the other, the heavy side will compress the leafs more than the lighter side. This will change the thrust angle. How much the change depends on the camper itself and the loading. It can change it enough to be outside the Dexter declared tolerance. I have measured it and accounted for it to be intolerance.
Unknowns in all this is, where the hangers welding correctly in the first place? Correct track can adjust for some or all of that in some cases. Depending on how goofed a hanger is or how loaded one side/wheel is thus compressing the spring, a 1/4" move may help better than not having it. But you have to have a technician that can do the measuring correctly with a loaded camper to determine this.
My point was that the adjustment can be used to help depending on what is off.
MikeSR, I would ask the dealer if they have the ability to do a trailer alignment and will they give you are report stating what is out of alignment and what can be corrected? They need to provide you with thrust angle, front axle to rear axle parallelism, wheel camber and wheel toe and the specs to go with them.
There are many dealers who do not have the ability to do a trailer alignment and give you those answers. They do sell camper now with the correct track but that does not mean they can service it. But there are few that can. I would ask them if they can and how much it would cost. If they cannot quote me what they are looking for and the tolerances, I would find a trailer shop that can in place of the dealer.
It is true, if you look at the tire wear and understand it, you can tell if the trailer is out of alignment enough to need an adjustment. That is another skill for the finer wear but gross wear is fairly easier to see.
Hope this helps
John
