Hey y'all,
As a follow up to my question from a few weeks ago about where to get my trailer inspected, I'm going to ultimately take it to Harbold's in Dover, PA. I was out there on Saturday and spoke with one of the owners/techs (I think he's an owner), Steve. He explained to me how they check trailer suspensions/components for state inspection and even helped me with tips on how to change out some components. I talked his ear off for at least 15 minutes and he was willing to stay and talk to me which I really appreciated.
When I got home and checked my rig, I found yes, it does need a suspension rebuild. The center Equalizer, along with all shackels and bushings are wiped. No big deal. Harbold's was closed on Saturday so I went to Ben's RV in York on Rt 30, They did not have the standard plastic bushings and regular shackels so I bought a new Dexter HD kit with bronze bushings and greasable bolts.
Problem is one of the bushings was cracked out of the box so I took it back and explained that and they looked at me like I had 6 eyes or that I did it intentionally. Anyone could have looked at it and saw there were no tool marks on it and that it was craked from the manufacturer. THey gave me another one, reluctantly.
I took it back hom and removed my original dexter Center equalizer, which has 13/104 cast into it. I took the original parts with me to Ben's to ensure the replacemens were correct and they assured me they were. The lady who waited on me seemed to have no clue whatsoever, but that's another story.
This brings me to my issue....When I installed the greasable Dexter Center eq, I torqued it down to spec, 50 ft-lbs. The bolt is shouldered so it can only go so far, which is a good thing. Some kits have straight shank bolts and those can be over-tightened.
My issue is this. Ben's RV told me "oh those are the new design Center Eq's they will work. Well in fact the new ones are a full 1/16" UNDERsize and when the bolt is torqued down the center Eq seems very sloppy. Clearly this is not correct so I took it back and all Ben's said was "you have to bring us your trailer, this is all we have". I thought to myself, why would they need my trailer, I have all the old parts (they want to do the labor obvisouly).
They did allow me to return the kit in full, which was good, as it was overpriced to begin with . 183.00 + tax, over 190.00! When on Dexter's website the same kit is 147.00 their price! I really didn't want to use the HD kit anyway, as on m 25 yr old rig it's overkill for as long as I'll have it (maybe another 5 yrs or so?)
I didn't want to do some half A** rig and install a washer to take up the slop inbetween my frame brackets (which are in good condition by the way, no wear so they are out of the equation.) As an aside, I will never go to Ben's RV for anything again unless I'm despearate. Their attitude towards me, instead of being apologetic for me having to waste my time and gas going there 3 times, was arrogant.
I sent an email to Dexter today and their response so far is that they didn't change the center eq and theirs is the same as what I have now. Well clearly it is not. Either their quality control is extremly poor or it has changed.
Do any of you all have any thoughts on how I should proceed? My original Eq's center hole is slightly egged because the bushing was totally gone, so I really can't use it unless i take it to a machine shop and have it bored out and an appropriate size sleeve pressed in and then put a bushing in that? The right side eq seems much tigher and does not have as much slop.
Sorry for the very long post, but now you know "the rest of the story"
Thanks,
G
2017 Dodge Ram 2500 HD, 4x4, CCSB, 6.4L HEMI, Snow Chief, tow package.,1989 Skyline Layton model 75-2251.
