Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Topic: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading (Read 10493 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #150 – May 08, 2021, 01:34:23 pm

A laser level and a tape measure would be illuminating. 'Aint rocket science, why all the guesswork?

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #151 – May 09, 2021, 03:30:35 pm

Quote from: John44 – May 08, 2021, 04:36:55 am

Sounds like your insurance is good,what company?

State Farm. This is my second RV claim with them. During the last one they paid for a new roof on my 5th wheel. Hoping they don't drop me after this ordeal...

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #152 – May 09, 2021, 03:45:40 pm

don't be a three time offender - State Farm dropped me on homeowners when that happened -

Price Progressive if they do drop you - good rates, great claims experience....

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #153 – May 17, 2021, 06:31:41 pm

Alright, the estimate is back, sort of. The frame/walls/bulk heads/etc.. all look good. There is some minor body work to the front end cap that requires some light glassing + paint and they need replace the windshields, but it's mostly superficial stuff. They also need to repair the base of the airbags where we trimmed them down... I'm not sure how they're going to do that and am waiting on an answer. All said and done, the whole shebang so far is up to about $13k in labor + parts. I'll share the actual bill once all the work is done and paid for but for the sake of insurance, I want to keep it close to the vest right now.

The reason I said "sort of" is because they are outsourcing the suspension issue to Freightliner before they do anything else. They can't see anything visibly damaged so freightliner is going to start with an alignment and go from there. If they aren't able to align it or they find something that's damaged, the estimate will change and cost will go up. I'm waiting for State Farm to approve the estimate (hopefully in the next day or two) and then the coach will get shipped off to Freightliner.

While they have the wheels off for other repairs I'm going to have them put four new bags on in front since I hadn't yet gotten around to that. I get to buy my own bags and they'll just charge me the additional labor. Pretty happy with the shop so far to be honest.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #154 – May 17, 2021, 06:49:46 pm

Glad to see movement for you. Bag mounts should be a easy fix by replacing what was cut off. I still think there is more to come unfortunately. Genuinely hope I'm wrong
Scott

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #155 – May 17, 2021, 08:34:39 pm

Think they would remove the old round plate and weld in a new one.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #156 – May 17, 2021, 11:23:39 pm

Glad to hear you are happy with the shop.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #157 – May 18, 2021, 08:11:03 am

So, they have yet to determine exactly what allowed the axle to move enough to have the tires contact the air bag support plates?

WOW. That much movement should not be that hard to discover.

Elliott-- keep us posted. Inquiring minds are still puzzled.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #158 – May 18, 2021, 09:35:17 am

So what happened to the straight edge and the 4 bent torque rods?,seems like they were not bent.
While on the subject I read back to Ken Hats post from 6 years ago where Foretravel told him these bushings were "Hutch bushings",not sure who told him but they are NOT hutch bushings,Foretravel sells the style that Elliot has in his picture,4 bushings
per rod,2 nuts and bolts per rod and 2 metal spacers per rod.Looks like the ones in his picture are well worn and replacement would probably make the coach ride tighter.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #159 – May 23, 2021, 11:04:44 am

Subscribed. Looking forward to seeing the outcome of this story.

SPLIT: RV racing (split from Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading)

Reply #160 – May 25, 2021, 04:29:01 pm

One or more of the messages of this topic have been moved to Around the Fire Ring - https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42431.0 since they aren't related to the frame/suspension issue of this topic.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #161 – June 01, 2021, 02:45:06 pm

Welp, State Farm approved the full $13k estimate without any hassle

. So, off it goes to Freightliner for the alignment/suspension inspection. The collision shop said it should only take 2 -3 weeks to do their work once its back from Freightliner so I'm hoping things start to pick up momentum soon. The one big monkey wrench that could be thrown in all of this is if Freightliner needs to buy new parts from FOT. In that case I suspect it could be quite a while before I get her back. Every account I've heard from folks here on the forum suggest that FOT has had a wild summer so far and my parts probably won't be a priority if something needs to be fabricated.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #162 – June 02, 2021, 07:20:42 am

Just keep us posted on the suspension damage,dying to know what actually happened.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #163 – June 02, 2021, 10:08:04 am

Quote from: Elliott – June 01, 2021, 02:45:06 pm

Welp, State Farm approved the full $13k estimate without any hassle . So, off it goes to Freightliner for the alignment/suspension inspection.

I want to know the the alignment shop found. Everything else is plastic.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #164 – June 21, 2021, 10:04:20 am

So any progress? Any updates? Hate dangling participles.

Roland

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #165 – June 30, 2021, 05:57:32 pm

Sorry for the radio silence...life's been a little hectic and the FT hasn't been on the front of my mind recently. I just got off the phone with Freightliner and I'm still sorting through things mentally myself but I'll share what I was told.
1) The coach aligned perfectly. All the measurements they took were equidistant and nothing is bent. They noted a couple bushings that're showing signs of wear. "5 or 6 years left".
2) When there is no air in the suspension, the tires are too big. They literally don't fit between the bag plates I guess

3) When there IS air in the suspension, there's enough room for normal operation.

Again, I'm a couple hours away from the coach right now so all I know is what I've been told.

Without having had time to digest this, is it possible that I've always had this problem but never been in a situation where I had to move the coach without air in the suspension??? Why would the driver's side tire rub on the back plate and the passenger side tire rub on the front if this is the case? Is a bit of "play" normal and it's just super noticeable now due to the decreased space caused by larger tires?

Tires are 295/75/R22.5

Thoughts? Not what I was expecting to hear...

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #166 – June 30, 2021, 06:09:16 pm

The tires are the same diameter. There is no practical difference between a 295/75R22.5 and a 275/80R22.5. The difference is the width and that only makes a slight difference with the coach leaned over at slow speeds in a turn. And then, it just barely polishes the air bag plate.

Here are all of the comparison numbers for the two sizes: 295/75-R22.5 vs 275/80-R22.5 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator | Tacoma...

With no air in our bags, there is plenty of clearance to the bag mount in front and the other behind the tire.

From what you are saying, there is no damage to the coach and you could have driven away from the incident. Not trying to put a thumb in the eye but it sounds like what happened.

Pierce

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #167 – June 30, 2021, 06:42:24 pm

Elliot the part that rubbed and was cut off to clear is unsprung ie attached to the axle and moves with the axle. The upper bag mount plate is on the frame and could never interfere. Raising or lowering makes no change to the lower bag mount to axle and tire position. Yes they do scrub a little when bringing turned but they do not impact as yours was shown
Scott

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #168 – June 30, 2021, 07:01:31 pm

We have always run 295s with no problem rubbing. If you have a chance, take a look at the 4 bolts at the end of the axle that bolt the front axle to the subframe. I believe they are 7/8 inch bolts. Just make sure they are tight...... An off the wall thought....who knows.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #169 – June 30, 2021, 09:45:09 pm

Quote from: Elliott – June 30, 2021, 05:57:32 pm

3) When there IS air in the suspension, there's enough room for normal operation.

I think it's safe to say that no one on this list would consider checking tire clearance without air in the suspension.

Congratulations on doing something new.

Art Joly

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #170 – July 01, 2021, 09:08:46 am

Correct me if I am wrong. Just going from memory.
The front straight axle is rigid mounted to a rectangle frame. This frame has 4 air bag mounts ( 2 on each side) that are outboard (inline) with the tires. The air bags on the frame then pushes up on the coach to raise the coach up. If the above is true the distance between the tires and the air bag lower mounts on the frame should never change since everything is fixed.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #171 – July 01, 2021, 10:02:34 am

I agree with turbojack. The lower mounts for the air bags are mounted to the frame and are not raised or lowered with the air. They are the base plates for the system and the bags lift the coach off of the frame and tires. The distance to the base plates would only change when the front or rear tire hit a bump causing the axle to absorb the upward jolt.
Strange tho....

Glen

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #172 – July 01, 2021, 04:00:27 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – June 30, 2021, 09:45:09 pm

I think it's safe to say that no one on this list would consider checking tire clearance without air in the suspension.

Congratulations on doing something new.

Art Joly

All coaches will eventually equalize the air systems. If the tires make solid contact with the fender wells then the fibreglass will break. Checking the clearance with no air is a good idea.

I dont think that the issue has been solved yet, BTW.
And, I cant imagine the insurance paying for the cosmetics before the structure has been diagnosed. Ducks are out of order.

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #173 – July 02, 2021, 08:19:02 pm

Quote from: Townrestor – July 02, 2021, 08:21:21 am

2618 so wasn't worried about age yet. Not sure why it blew checked all pressures before we left the beach in Texas. Roads were extremely rough going down from Kansas maybe a sink hole in the road damaged a belt. Replacing all tires except steer with Firestone 291 series, looks like a much tougher tire and definitely weighs more. First ft blow out for me hope it's the last. Did 16,000 damage to coach. Thankfully I can fix it all myself as I'm an old body and paint man.

Larry

Please post pics of repairs!! I would greatly appreciate it

Re: Coach/suspension Damage From Torquing While Off-Roading

Reply #174 – July 03, 2021, 03:07:38 pm

WOW!! Sure makes me glad we have a chassis designed by John Deere (off road equipment you think?) built by Oshkosh Truck (who also build garbage trucks and military vehicles) and finish assembled by Foretravel (who build some of the greatest Class A coaches in the world).

And after 31 years the bathroom door closes perfectly, along with the entry door and the closet doors!
We sure are lucky!!

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