Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Topic: Passenger Side Tag Wheel (Read 802 times) previous topic - next topic

Passenger Side Tag Wheel

January 01, 2023, 11:44:50 am

We have a 2022 realm presidential. We had our loaded coach axles weighed so that I had a baseline. While weighing, when we pulled up to weigh the tags, we noticed that the passenger side tag is staggered inward a couple of inches (from the outer dual) while the driver's side tag is "in line" with the outer dual. I probably would never have noticed it if I hadn't had the axles weighed. There is no unusual wear on the tires and drivability seems okay (maybe a little squirrely) - I have it in the shop at Nacogdoches to make some minor repairs and have them looking into it. They have Reyco working on a solution. My question is why?

I looked at another 2022 coach (built 5 coaches after mine) that was in the maintenance bay and it is the same way. Has anyone noticed this on their new coach? I wonder if it is/was a supply issue - it's almost looks like the axle is too short....?

Anyway, if you have a new coach, take a look at it. I will post whatever they find out about it.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #1 – January 01, 2023, 01:27:24 pm

Welcome to the Forum.

If you go in "My Account" you can set up a signature with the coach you have.

You have passive steer tag axles. When you turn at low speed they will turn to help make a shorter turning angle. Do you think it is not going back to straight or is it straight and just inset more then the drive outer tire?

I will be interested to see what Foretravel comes back and tells you. While you are at FOT there are a lot of coaches there that you would be able to look at and see if they have the same problem. You can also drive up to Motor Homes of Texas a few blocks on the freeway and they have lots of coaches on both sides of the freeway.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #2 – January 01, 2023, 02:05:37 pm

Attached is picture from Spartan's 2022 chassis. From the picture it looks to me that both tags are maybe a little in from the drive tires.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #3 – January 01, 2023, 03:01:58 pm

Quote

You have passive steer tag axles. When you turn at low speed they will turn to help make a shorter turning angle. Do you think it is not going back to straight or is it straight and just inset more then the drive outer tire?

No, the tag axle is returning to straight but as mentioned, passenger tag is staggered inward several inches with regard to passenger outside dual - driver's side is normal. Also, as mentioned, I looked at coach at FOT maintenance bay a couple of coaches newer than mine, and the tag on it was the same as on mine. It just doesn't look right on either coach - will post what I find out.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #4 – January 01, 2023, 03:09:09 pm

Quote from: myles1 – January 01, 2023, 11:44:50 am

We have a 2022 realm presidential. We had our loaded coach axles weighed so that I had a baseline. While weighing, when we pulled up to weigh the tags, we noticed that the passenger side tag is staggered inward a couple of inches (from the outer dual) while the driver's side tag is "in line" with the outer dual. I probably would never have noticed it if I hadn't had the axles weighed. There is no unusual wear on the tires and drivability seems okay (maybe a little squirrely) - I have it in the shop at Nacogdoches to make some minor repairs and have them looking into it.

I wonder what issues that might create backing up, particularly when backing in a curved path? You might not notice, but I would think stresses would be uneven on the axle components.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #5 – January 01, 2023, 07:45:05 pm

Michelle I don't know what system they use now, but the American Heritage coaches had a air operated cylinder on each tag wheel, that when you put it in reverse they would activate and keep the wheels straight.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #6 – January 01, 2023, 08:43:14 pm

There's some discussion (from around 2019-2020) on iRV2 about Entegra and Newmar coaches on the Spartan chassis having odd steering tag appearance. Spartan apparently uses some kind of "plungers" that lock the tag in reverse and at speed going forward (but not at low speed - sub 25 mph-ish).

Those discussions mention the tag appearing to be angled, not offset relative to the coach centerline, after a forward low speed drive. The discussion linked below describes the Spartan plunger system in a couple of posts.

Steering or non steering TAG AXLES/NEWMAR - Page 3 - iRV2 Forums

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #7 – January 07, 2023, 01:12:50 pm

Bumping this topic for myles1. He's added a photo to the original post.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #8 – January 07, 2023, 01:57:42 pm

Based on picture it looks like the tag is inset 2" I am going to assume (I know) that the other side is in line. Something is up. I guess he has not heard anything yet.

On side note. I was not aware you could add a picture after the original post was made.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #9 – January 07, 2023, 04:56:30 pm

Quote from: turbojack – January 07, 2023, 01:57:42 pm

On side note. I was not aware you could add a picture after the original post was made.

Only if it's within the "allowable post editing window", and I don't recall the actual time limit. To do so, rather than editing your post, you have to "modify" it (aka use the full editor so you get the attachments option).

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #10 – January 12, 2023, 05:21:46 pm

So, FOT was working with Reyco (which makes the components for Sparton) and they are going to add a trailing arm and replace the bushings on the axle. This should move the passenger side tag out. Apparently, the bushings have a "memory" that once set cannot be changed. According to FOT, this chassis change occurred beginning on chassis made in March or April 2022 - all chassis made before then were not refitted but all new chassis made after March/April have this change. There are no safety issues and the coach can be driven with no problems. It will take Reyco a week to ship to FOT, a couple of days to get it, then a couple more to install and check alignment.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #11 – January 12, 2023, 09:40:00 pm

That's kind of crazy. A chassis on a Motorhome at this level has to have a customer point out to FOT, Spartan and Reyco something that should have been caught in engineering. Kind of makes you wonder. What else did they miss on this million dollar bus?

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #12 – January 12, 2023, 10:06:12 pm

myless1 Thanks for the update. I do not understand exactly what or where this bushing is. If you are there, please get a picture, I would like to see it. I have read what FOT has said about the dates but I am still confused. Maybe if I read it again in the Morning I might understand it.

Foretravel has always made a big deal about their coaches being the most stable with the use of outside air bag locations. I don't think a tire being located in by 2" would make that big of a deal but I bet it makes some difference as to stability.

Res777 It is disappointing that this was not caught and corrected before a customer found it, but that seems to be more of the norm these days with everything. I kind of feel that if Foretravel was still making their own chassis the guys install the wheels would have notice the problem. If they would have corrected, may be a different thing. It very well could have been caught by Spartan but they decided to let it go. Spartan has the reputation of knowing they have bad parts but continue to install them instead of waiting for the updated part to get the chassis out the door.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #13 – January 12, 2023, 10:35:27 pm

It still boggles my mind that not only Spartan didn't catch this but FOT didn't catch it. These are not Winnebagos they're selling to people. I'm new to this RV game. I spent considerably more than I wanted to because of what I had read about Foretravel quality and the great driving experience. My dad had an 87 GV that would wear me out driving it. Mine is not a lot better. I don't have any experience driving other coaches so the comparison is not there. This one road walks and is a bear in any kind of cross wind. What did the OP mention? "Kind of squirrelly". Yes. I guess they haven't improved on that.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #14 – January 12, 2023, 11:26:38 pm

Quote from: Res777 – January 12, 2023, 10:35:27 pm

My dad had an 87 GV that would wear me out driving it. Mine is not a lot better. I don't have any experience driving other coaches so the comparison is not there. This one road walks and is a bear in any kind of cross wind. What did the OP mention? "Kind of squirrelly". Yes. I guess they haven't improved on that.

You should get yours checked out. My 2000 drives like a dream, crosswinds and all.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #15 – January 12, 2023, 11:33:05 pm

Quote from: Tommy D – January 12, 2023, 11:26:38 pm

You should get yours checked out. My 2000 drives like a dream, crosswinds and all.

Well it sounds like they haven't figured it out in 2022.
I'm sure it's an improvement over the Bounder.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #16 – January 13, 2023, 08:42:55 am

I can not speak for the new ones build on the Spartan chassis but mine build on a FOT chassis drives like a charm. Driving it is no difference then driving my Tahoe except I am further up from the road and alot larger.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #17 – January 13, 2023, 09:28:55 am

Quote from: myles1 – January 12, 2023, 05:21:46 pm

So, FOT was working with Reyco (which makes the components for Sparton) and they are going to add a trailing arm and replace the bushings on the axle. This should move the passenger side tag out. Apparently, the bushings have a "memory" that once set cannot be changed. According to FOT, this chassis change occurred beginning on chassis made in March or April 2022 - all chassis made before then were not refitted but all new chassis made after March/April have this change. There are no safety issues and the coach can be driven with no problems. It will take Reyco a week to ship to FOT, a couple of days to get it, then a couple more to install and check alignment.

So they clearly identified an issue and changed the chassis design months ago as a result. I suspect this will be a "silent program" where they don't notify owners of the older coaches (much like the dry PTO one) until or unless the owner reports it. I wonder how certain they are that this isn't going to lead to a safety and/or driveability issue as components wear?

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #18 – January 13, 2023, 10:20:13 am

Quote from: turbojack – January 13, 2023, 08:42:55 am

I can not speak for the new ones build on the Spartan chassis but mine build on a FOT chassis drives like a charm. Driving it is no difference then driving my Tahoe except I am further up from the road and alot larger.

Mine is going to MOT next week. While there I'm having new shocks installed. I'll have them check the front end for worn parts. At 113,000 miles I wouldn't think there should be any. When I get back to Dallas I'm having new tires and an alignment done. I'll be curious to see what difference that makes.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #19 – January 13, 2023, 10:38:30 am

Just curious as I have 2007 Nimbus and I was thinking I might need new shocks/air bags. Has your air bags been changed out? I was going to do both at same time. My air bags are not leaking, but are definitely showing wear around the bottom area.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #20 – January 13, 2023, 10:52:13 am

Quote from: Bigoil76 – January 13, 2023, 10:38:30 am

Just curious as I have 2007 Nimbus and I was thinking I might need new shocks/air bags. Has your air bags been changed out? I was going to do both at same time. My air bags are not leaking, but are definitely showing wear around the bottom area.

I'm the 3rd owner and there is no record of them being changed that I'm aware of. They still look good to me but I'll have them take a look while it's in the shop.

Re: Passenger Side Tag Wheel

Reply #21 – January 13, 2023, 10:00:59 pm

Quote from: Res777 – January 12, 2023, 11:33:05 pm

Well it sounds like they haven't figured it out in 2022.
I'm sure it's an improvement over the Bounder.

Actually Bounder wasn't bad, 36' with a tag, I was younger but could drive it all day. Took a single axle Winnebago on a 3 wk trip once and could only drive it 4 hrs and was whipped. Current Gv320 is hands down best riding, tracking, creature comfort coach I've ever owned.

But man I sure was jealous of the 2011 Newmar Dutch Star I drove for 500 miles. The wheel cut of 60 degrees and comfort steering were really really nice features.

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