Well I just pulled into a campground last minute because of the beautiful weather we are having in Mississippi and Alabama Mobile to be specific. Wanted to stay in the Gulf Shores area but got a late start waiting on the weather in LA. Anyway I pull into the campground and had to make a couple of sharp curves to get it into the sight. Well I get out of the truck and notice the RW is leaning big time wasn't like that when I pulled in. Sure enough the rear spring on the drivers side broken snapped off. Now I am one to be a preventative maintenance guy but how can one tell when they need a new spring. The roads coming through LA towns on I-20 Shreveport to be specific are in terrible shape and by the time I hit the first bad spot at 5 under the posted 55 speed limit it was to late. I slowed down to 45 minimum posted SL and still got some pretty bad hits.

Now does anyone live in the Mobile area and have any idea where I can get a replacement 7000 pound spring? Looks like tomorrow is going to be a down day for must need repairs. One thing I can say is I count my blessings that it didn't happen on the road as I feel it would have been catastrophic not to mention with the 150 miles of snow cover 3 to 5 inches it would have $ucked the big one.

Mother Nature can be real mean at times but all is well and warm in the RW.........

Just curious, since you have to spend ca$h to solve the spring issue, have you considered just stepping up to the MorRyde IS suspension? (I'd go 8k not 7k) It will cost a bit more but you won't have to worry about any other spring issues down the road.

I feel for you on the weather issue. Woke up to 4" of heavy wet snow in Baton Rouge this morning. Had to get the snow off our slide toppers this afternoon before the freeze that's coming tonight. That was a very cold and wet experience to say the least.

Ken nothing I would like better to do but I don't have time I need to get to Port Charlotte before I can get this done. I will for sure upgrade my axles when I get home and I just put new wet bolts and the Moryde 4000s. When I look back I have some major problems getting this spring lined up almost looked like the spring might be bent. This seems to be right where it broke. If I can find the spring it should only take me a couple of hours to replace it.

Check your e-mail Bob L. we are at Mearhar State Park lot 16 Bad wifi connection tonight

Just google a truck spring shop close to you.. I am sure they will be able to tell you what measurements they need to make a spring up...

x

The CRE 3000 is the same as what he already has only in a Lippert version. I don't see that as any kind of improvement. The 4000 yes, and compatible with the 7K springs.

I had to have my spring shopped by Redwood from Lippert. It came fairly fast. (few days)

Well after around 15 calls around this morning I found a spring that will work and new Ubolt kit. Now to let it warm up a little more and back under her I go. Man I hate driving through LA the poor people in the cities there have absolutely no representation from the political leaders The highways are way past the crap stage. Might as well hire out a horse and buggy team because I am starting to believe that a rutted dirt road would be much smoother. Coming through Shreveport on 20 I recommend doing the minimum speed limit to keep from beating you up to bad. You would think that with the technology they have today they could grind the bridge ends smooth on all highways. Just a little common sense would go along way with our DOT;s in every state. That is my 1st rant for the day. One more, Thor industries needs to be held accountable for making the specs on these large rigs more at the percent that would allow more safety and stress levels that can account for the terrible roads we encounter everyday.

The MorRyde 4000's do a great job for the money the RW has had far fewer shakeups on the interior than it did with the original suspension. As far as the axles I may go to the new heavier 7000 pound axles that Ron was starting to sell. Then go with a heavier spring keeping the same configuration. I will contact MorRyde about my plan but if common sense plays into it, it should be no problem. Oh yea, I do not drive like a wild man either, the top speed around 65 if allowable.

As far as the broken spring I am sure it was because of a combination of issues mostly trying to get it into a tight place and torquing it because of no give on the soft grass. No different than the crap rims that broke the spokes on my Montana 6 years ago trying to get out of a Flying J in Kansas City on both rims.

If I ever come back to life on this planet I will become an attorney just to make it a mission to stuff it up the RV industries butt for all of us having to deal with the inferior product they are putting out.

x

Tom, glad you found the spring. I completely agree with your assessment of I-20 in Louisiana - I think at one point we slowed to about 35 mph through Shreveport and will avoid that in the future if at all possible. In October I was in your same situation in southern Michigan and found a replacement spring to get us south. Working with Ron Russell (titanguy) I replaced all four springs with 8000# rated springs and new Dexter EZ Flex equalizers at our site in Arkansas. Even though Ron is retired I'm sure you would get a good price on heavier springs through Performance Trailer Braking and get them shipped to your new location in Florida. I think you would have a stronger suspension for a fraction of the cost. We had no issues making our way to FL, and If I have any more problems I will upgrade to IS.

The CRE 3000 is the same as what he already has only in a Lippert version. I don't see that as any kind of improvement. The 4000 yes, and compatible with the 7K springs.

I had to have my spring shopped by Redwood from Lippert. It came fairly fast. (few days)

Agreed but due to the undersized axles and springs to begin with, one can be miles ahead by changing to 8000 lb axles, springs and suspension if it is within budget. At least the springs as a minimum. They add an extra leaf and 8000 lbs is more in line with the weight of the RV to begin with. The weak link will still be the axles and suspension until they can be changed.

That's what I thought, so I ordered our Redwood with 8K axles. The problem we had was that extra leaf kept hitting the shackle, the same reason the 4000 is not compatible. Within a month of delivery, one spring came apart.

We replaced parts we got from Redwood and just let them rub. I was so dissapointed I bought my 3rd fifth wheel with suspension issues right out of the box. Right before we sold it, Redwood engineering called and said they may have spaced the spring hangers too close together for the 8K springs and that shorter shackles would fix it, but we never did the changeout. We were headed to get an IS system installed, then changed our mind altogether and sold it.

Ironically our fully loaded Redwood with water never put more than 12,900 lbs on the rear axles, so to me the 8K were a waste of effort anyway. It gave us no real advantage other than raise our GVWR to 17,500 lbs from the factory.

Hopefully the heavier springs Ron has does not cause the same problem we had.

New Spring is in and fits perfect except it looks like it the leaves are thicker. Took less than an hour to do it....Yea!!! I'm sure Lippert saved a dime on every set they purchased because they cut a 1/2 a pound off the specs. Paul, I ordered another Spring to be shipped into my mothers place in FL we are just staying there for 10 days then returning home. I will replace the front one as it looks like it is bent on the end also. I also am going to change out all the springs to 8000# on the new heavy duty axles Ron has. Time or some lunch a shower and head to Gulf Shores area for the night. Give me time to check out all the bolts for tightness. Have to stop by Billy's Seafood and pick up some Royal Red Shrimp when we get there.

Of note: One thing about bronze bushings.... they are a one time use item. Had to use the plastic ones the new spring came with until I get home where my extras are in my tool box.... Go figure!

Atom, I believe if I would have had the problem I would have cut the leaf for clearance or had a spring shop adjust the length which would have involved cutting it to fit.

Atom, I believe if I would have had the problem I would have cut the leaf for clearance or had a spring shop adjust the length which would have involved cutting it to fit.

I did go to a spring shop and they offered to cut the corners off of those leaves, but it wasn't cheap! Each spring had to be removed and disassembled, then reassembled and reinstalled. I chose just to grovel and close my eyes 🙂 After two Montana's with crummy suspension problems I wasn't eager to deal with it again. Ironically Redwood sent me a whole bag of shackles so I could replace them as they broke.... That was the best they could come up with at the time.