Good Sam Roadside Assistance has noticed a pattern of suspension failures that might have been prevented by routine inspection and maintenance. Let’s examine a towable’s running gear and what can be done to prevent costly roadside breakdowns.
Your travel trailer’s suspension is made up of three primary components: leaf springs, shackles and equalizers.
The leaf springs are attached in two places; one side is fixed directly to the frame and the other side to the equalizer by two flat metal brackets known as shackles. The shackles attach to the equalizer, which is a triangular shaped fixture with three pivot points. It can be seen between the tires on each side of your unit. These components allow the suspension to articulate when going over large bumps or potholes, ensuring a smooth ride.
A possible indication of a broken suspension component is the leaning or swaying of the trailer while driving. Upon inspection you may notice that the tire nearest to the broken component is tucked further up in the fender, and in many cases the tires will be close together or rubbing. If one these components break you will not be able to proceed until costly roadside repairs are made.
So, what causes broken suspension components? A broken suspension component is most commonly caused by overloading the interior of your unit because they bear the full weight of your loaded trailer. According to experts, overloading is the #1 cause of RV accidents.
Here are some steps to take to prevent a roadside disablement:
- Have your truck and trailer weighed when fully loaded to ensure you are not exceeding the rated capacity of your equipment. Overloading will cause extensive damage to your trailer’s frame & hitch assembly; consult your owner’s manual for reference. You can find your local scales in the yellow pages under “public scales” or “weigh stations.”
- Take your trailer into a qualified repair facility to have it inspected and maintained. The key to proper maintenance is lubrication of all moving parts; they must be checked for wear and greased annually. If operated in extreme environments (hot or cold), this should be done more often. Periodic inspection and lubrication of your suspension will allow for a smooth ride and longer component life.
- It’s very important that your travel trailer receives annual PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services) inspections, which should be performed at a qualified repair facility. It can be performed at either an RV service center or a qualified trailer repair facility. It’s recommended you have this done several weeks prior to travelling to give yourself time to complete any necessary repairs.
Take care of your trailer and it should take care of you. If you take the time to have your RV properly maintained, then you should plan to spend some unwanted time on the side of the road.
How should a qualified repair facility evaluate a trailer?
- Remove wheels; check tire tread depth (min 3/32”), check wear pattern, check pressure, balance wheel assembly to prevent unwanted vibration.
- Remove hub assemblies; inspect bearings for pitting or wear, advise if in need of replacement, repack bearings, replace wheel seals if needed, inspect and replace any damaged wheel studs at this time.
- Inspect brakes; ensure all hardware is present, examine remaining friction material.
- Remove spring shackle mounting bolts, and replace worn bolts and grease on reassembly.
- Remove equalizer pivot bolts, Inspect equalizer pivot for excessive wear or elongation, Advise if equalizer needs replacement, replace worn bolts, grease on reassembly.
- Pressure-wash between leaf springs if needed and apply a light spray lube such as WD-40 to prevent binding.
- Reinstall hub assembly and adjust brake shoes.
- Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts.
- Inspect undercarriage for loose wiring, plumbing or underpinning, and secure as needed.
- Inspect hitch assembly and landing gear; lightly lubricate all moving parts with WD-40 or an equivalent.
- Inspect frame welds for cracks or damage.
- Check all trailer wiring with tester or with vehicle hooked up, replace bulbs as needed.
- Check electric brake operation and breakaway with tester or vehicle hooked up.
- Visually inspect exterior for any loose items.
Of course, even if you take all the precautions and your trailer still breaks down, you’ll be thankful you have Good Sam Roadside Assistance.
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Photo: Redwolf Journeys