2008 Niagara - inside edge tire wear

[vicmen]

OK.  I've read the messages regarding highwall Niagara's and bent axle's.  Now I'm experiencing the dreaded inside edge tire wear.  Looking at the trailer, the upper part of both tires "seem to lean in" with the slide side worse than the other, but I don't notice any "bend" in the axle.  How can I determine if I have a bent axle or if it's just time to replace with better tires.  It still has the original Loadstar bias tires.  I took the camper and had it weighed - 3,260 lbs hitched / 3,600 lbs stand alone.  Thanks

[blw2]

I was casually looking at a Fleetwood Niagra the other day at a local dealer.  Barely used edition... maybe a 2008.  I noticed some unusual cupping on the inside of that one, too.  Must be a common problem.
Sorry i can't help with a solution, but I would empirically say you are on to somhthing that might indicate bent axle by noticing that camber

[Bama Rambler]

The axle should actually have a slight crown in the middle (for lack of a better way to describe it) If the tires are leaning out at the top I'd start by jacking up the RV by the frame and checking for that crown. I'd also check to make sure the bearings are tightened properly.

[BillnFran]

If you are the original owner, you may have a warranty through Dexter axle. I looked at the manual and you have a two year warranty on the axle, 5 years on the easy lube bearings and 7 years on the Predator braking components. The tire chart on page 71 shows inside wear as a sign of overloading the axle or tire under inflation. I am just barely under the max weight and don't have a lot of gear on Niagara. you will see a lot of people here easily are right at the max capacity without even trying. I would weigh your pup and if it is under 3500lbs on the axle then I would call Dexter Axle and talk with them. My Niagara is two years old and tire wear looks even. I am a fanatic at not overloading the pup,I have weighed both sides of the axle load, tounge weight and total weight which leaves me a slim margin to stay under the max weight. My axle does appear to have a slight "crown" in the middle with it being the high point. Let us know what you find out.

[dmyers7]

Got my brand new 2007 Niagara this year on left over, so I have not had much time on the tires to tell anything.  Please make sure you reply to this thread with your finds, as I too would like to know the outcome.

Interestingly enough, I found it interesting that a trailer of this weight was single axle to begin with, but they've been building them this way for quite awhile.  Take a look at the 2010's though and magically a second axle is now standard; .... hum ...


The cupping previously mentioned is usually under inflation.  I had that on my Sequoia which we owned prior to the Niagara.  That is an issue with biased tires.  When you replace the tires next, I would suggest non-biased trailer tires like they are putting on the hybrids and travel trailers now; especially with the Niagara being on the heavy side.

[vicmen]

Thought I'd post what I've found out so far. 

Took the camper to a truck frame & suspension shop - and yes - it has a BENT AXLE!!!  I called the dealer this morning and they suggested calling Coleman direct - which I did.  Their response was that bent axle's are ALWAYS the result of customer overloading, which I disputed with them, and that no warranty was available.  I told them that I had the unit weighted and it weighted in at 3,600 lbs - no water - no fluids in the tanks - not even the bathroom door, which I removed because it was too heavy.  Coleman's response was that it weighted 3,193 lbs when it left the factory - within design limits.  I guess the dealer installed options of A/C, battery, awning, and twin gas tanks weigh 407+ lbs.

So, so far the dealer is no help and Coleman is no help.  They both are now telling me to contact Dexter Axle to see what they can do.

More to follow.

[Bama Rambler]

What's the GVWR of that unit?

Dexter might come to your rescue. I've heard of them making good on axles before. I wish you luck.

[Bluesman]

I've replaced one set of tires on my 02' Bayside due to wear.  Inside edge......  I think it's a common trait.

[Kavoom]

I gotta tell you people, first Fleetwood/Coleman can't get their roofs right and now I'm reading this?  Perhaps there was a reason Buffet invested in Forest River...

[vicmen]

What's the GVWR of that unit?

Dexter might come to your rescue. I've heard of them making good on axles before. I wish you luck.

BamaRambler - the GVWR, per owners manual, is 3970lbs.  That's right, 3970 lbs on a axle rated for 3500lbs.  Coleman's response is that "470bs should be on the tongue - not the axle - so design is within limits."     

[austinado16]

Well, since you aren't getting love from the dealer or Coleman, it might be worth your time and effort to just buy yourself a new axle.  They aren't that expensive and if you've got "some" mechanical skill and basic tools, you can swap it yourself.

Is this a "Torflex" axle built by Dexter?  If so, you can call them directly and order via phone.  I just did this 2 months ago and had them special build an axle for my '87 Starcraft Nova.  It wound up being $180.23 for a new (bare) 2,200lb rated Torflex axle.  I know you're camper is heavier, so your price won't be the same.  Just giving you that as a reference.

If you go this route, maybe ask them to build it to be a 4,000lb or 4,500lb axle.....whatever their increment is.

[rabird]

Maybe 'snug to the ground' (stabilizers) doesn't support enough weight while camping! 
Adding people without enough support sure could overload the axle not to mention the dynamic loads while towing!

I'm with Kavoom on this, this model seems to have tire/axle/loading issues! PUs once were not so heavy.

Contact Dexter for axle warranty service.

Take a gawk at Nick's niagara upgrade

[AZemptynesters]

We were experiencing the same inside wear problem on ours as well.  We switched to radials as our dealer recommended and it solved any wear problems.

Dan

[dmyers7]

Come on gang. Do you really think that an axle rated for 3500lbs is really going to fail at 3501lbs of load?  Not to discount your truck / trailer repair garage, but I'm sure there is some interests there to replace a not so bad axle. Just be careful before paying a few bucks.  I would switch to radial trailer tires; bias trailer tires wear like the cheap tire they are. Bais tires have been used because they are affordable to make and are really flexible for the purpose of trailering. Just make sure you use radial trailer tires and not light truck of car tires; much different in there design and handling.

But yes, I do think the design could have been better.  There is a big sticker on the side that says it's a 3500lb axle with a max weight of 3979.  Keep your tires inflated. Move loads forward for tongue weight; careful how much though. And yes, don't try and lift your trailer with the stabelizers, but snug them up tight so the load is through them when parked.     

Still interested in hearing more.

[rabird]

Come on gang. Do you really think that an axle rated for 3500lbs is really going to fail at 3501lbs of load? 

Yes, the weight police suggest a fea's weight over a rating is over the rating and VERY dangerous. So far they don't have enforcement authority.

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