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  1. #1
    Long Hauler
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    Broken Spring Hanger Data

    Was thinking maybe we should gather some data to see if we can narrow down the "broken spring hanger issue.
    PLEASE USE THIS FOR DATA ONLY.
    I have not had a spring hanger issue(crossing fingers) but will use my camper as example.

    Please if you had a spring hanger issue post your info here.

    Model--- Reflection 29RS
    GVW----10995
    GVW of axels---- 5200 x 2
    App. miles traveled----2000
    Disc brakes or drum ----- drum
    Suspension upgrades, moryde, correct track, etc-----none
    Equalizer type , dexter, equaflex, solide, etc.----Dexter
    Travel weight if known-----9925
    Have you had any hard stops?---- 1
    Where you on very rough roads when hanger broke?---no
    Do you have the 2" spacer tube between the frame and the spring hanger?----yes
    Spring hanger placement----- left front
    Hanger height from centerline of spring bolt to base of hanger (frame contact point)----

    Anything useful I may have missed please add.
    Again this is for data only.

    Thanks
    Brian

    Edit to add "spring hanger placement"
    Edit to add spring hanger height

  2. #2
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    Hi Brian . . . not sure where you are going with this . . . but, I will play

    Model--- Reflection 303RLS
    GVW----11,995
    GVW of axles---- 5200 x 2
    App. miles traveled----25,000
    Disc brakes or drum ----- disc
    Suspension upgrades, moryde, correct track, etc-----bronze bushings and MORryde shackles
    Equalizer type , dexter, equaflex, solide, etc.----LCI Equaflex
    Travel weight if known-----10,500
    Have you had any hard stops?---- Many (25+ estimate)
    Where you on very rough roads when hanger broke?---no
    Do you have the 2" spacer tube between the frame and the spring hanger?----yes (added by LCI after original build)

    The right rear hanger broke at crawling speed leaving a campground. The breaks were adjacent to the welds to the frame and were rusted 95% of the way across the break line.

    Rob
    Last edited by Cate&Rob; 11-24-2018 at 03:03 PM.
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

  3. #3
    Long Hauler Paul & Deb's Avatar
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    EDIT: I removed my data when I realized this was about spring hangers. DUH .... I had a spring failure not a hanger failure.
    Paul "Poppy" and Deb Cervone
    2022 Imagine XLS 22MLE
    2021 Imagine XLS 17MKE - SOLD ; 2015 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS - SOLD
    2016 GMC Denali 3500HD SRW Duramax/Allison CC 4x4; Tire Minder TPMS

  4. #4
    Big Traveler
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    Quote Originally Posted by Country Campers View Post
    Was thinking maybe we should gather some data to see if we can narrow down the "broken spring hanger issue.
    PLEASE USE THIS FOR DATA ONLY.
    I have not had a spring hanger issue(crossing fingers) but will use my camper as example.

    Please if you had a spring hanger issue post your info here.

    Model--- Reflection 29RS
    GVW----10995
    GVW of axels---- 5200 x 2
    App. miles traveled----2000
    Disc brakes or drum ----- drum
    Suspension upgrades, moryde, correct track, etc-----none
    Equalizer type , dexter, equaflex, solide, etc.----Dexter
    Travel weight if known-----9925
    Have you had any hard stops?---- 1
    Where you on very rough roads when hanger broke?---no
    Do you have the 2" spacer tube between the frame and the spring hanger?----yes
    Spring hanger placement----- left front

    Anything useful I may have missed please add.
    Again this is for data only.

    Thanks
    Brian

    Edit to add "spring hanger placement"
    If you have not had a hanger failure why are you listing the left front? I'm assuming the hanger placement is what position a failure occurred. It may also be helpful to list the hanger height as LCI has been installing hangers with different heights. Measuring from the base of the hanger (frame or box channel contact point) to the centerline of the spring bolt would be helpful.
    MidwestCamper

    Jim & Dawn
    Near Milford, Michigan
    2017 Imagine 2600RB
    2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab 4x4

  5. #5
    Site Sponsor livinthelife's Avatar
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    Well, I'll give it a shot (I'm not sure I have all the info necessary, though)
    Model--- Reflection 26RL
    GVW----9998
    GVW of axels----
    App. miles traveled----15000
    Disc brakes or drum ----- drum
    Suspension upgrades, moryde, correct track, etc-----none
    Equalizer type , dexter, equaflex, solide, etc.----equaflex
    Travel weight if known-----9600
    Have you had any hard stops?---- no
    Where you on very rough roads when hanger broke?---we were not on a very rough road at the time, but we had been traveling on very rough roads
    Do you have the 2" spacer tube between the frame and the spring hanger?----yes
    Spring hanger placement----- right rear
    Hanger height from centerline of spring bolt to base of hanger (frame contact point)----

    Just a little more info, it didn't actually "break", that is, all of a sudden. My husband discovered the frame was "tearing" above the weld joint after one of our stops. We drove approximately 40 more miles (very slowly) before it actually broke off.Click image for larger version. 

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    2017 Reflection 26RL "Mili"
    2016 Ford F250 Extended Cab Gas Engine "Buck" (the truck)

  6. #6
    Rolling Along Gyro Gearloose's Avatar
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    Here is my cut..... Added a couple of lines also....

    Model--- Reflection 303RLS

    GVW----11,995
    GVW of axles---- 5200 x 2
    App. miles traveled----10,000
    Disc brakes or drum ----- drum
    Suspension upgrades, 3K springs on Drivers side
    Equalizer type , OEM-LCI Equaflex
    Alignment, OEM-Correct Track
    Travel weight if known-----
    Have you had any hard stops?---- a couple
    Where you on very rough roads when hanger broke?---no
    Did you ever have a spring hanger break, no
    Do you have the 2" spacer tube between the frame and the spring hanger?---- no
    Spring Hanger modifications: Will install Panhard Bar's early 2019
    Pat&Marlene Gyrogearloose - 2010 Itasca Meridian 34y - 6.7 w/Allison 6spd - Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - previous Reflection 303RLS

  7. #7
    Big Traveler
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    Quote Originally Posted by livinthelife View Post
    Well, I'll give it a shot (I'm not sure I have all the info necessary, though)
    Model--- Reflection 26RL
    GVW----9998
    GVW of axels----
    App. miles traveled----15000
    Disc brakes or drum ----- drum
    Suspension upgrades, moryde, correct track, etc-----none
    Equalizer type , dexter, equaflex, solide, etc.----equaflex
    Travel weight if known-----9600
    Have you had any hard stops?---- no
    Where you on very rough roads when hanger broke?---we were not on a very rough road at the time, but we had been traveling on very rough roads
    Do you have the 2" spacer tube between the frame and the spring hanger?----yes
    Spring hanger placement----- right rear
    Hanger height from centerline of spring bolt to base of hanger (frame contact point)----

    Just a little more info, it didn't actually "break", that is, all of a sudden. My husband discovered the frame was "tearing" above the weld joint after one of our stops. We drove approximately 40 more miles (very slowly) before it actually broke off.Click image for larger version. 

Name:	P1180770.jpg 
Views:	72 
Size:	93.4 KB 
ID:	16455
    It looks like you have the short correct track hangers. I believe your hanger was tearing from the back to toward the front? Though not conclusive due to many factors, adding the brake gain setting may also help to see if there is a pattern on high gains. Your call.
    This is a great thread in sorting out the hanger issue.
    MidwestCamper

    Jim & Dawn
    Near Milford, Michigan
    2017 Imagine 2600RB
    2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab 4x4

  8. #8
    Big Traveler
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    Mar 2015
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    How about just cutting to the cause. The hangers are not installed properly, the workmanship is poor and these hangers see a high bending moment when turning the trailer. It's not a GD issue but is common on small trailers with this type suspension. Any shop that works on trailer suspensions on a regular basis will have a number of ways to beef up the spring hangers as they see this all the time.
    Jim & Georgianne
    N. California
    2016 Reflection 29RS
    2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty PSD
    B&W Companion hitch
    Rubber turtle with no name

  9. #9
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    Jim & Jim:

    The hangers in the picture posted by livinthelife appear to be the "long" hangers . . . the same as mine.
    I don't think there is an issue with how the hangers are installed . . . it is more about the design of the hangers that are selected. These are too long to be installed without some type of reinforcement. In the various posted pictures, the welds are never broken and the hanger never separates from the frame . . . the hanger breaks . . . usually right beside the weld.

    Attached picture of mine (the hanger has flipped over) shows a failure mode nearly identical to the the picture by livinthelife.

    Rob
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_2896.jpg  
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

  10. #10
    Big Traveler
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    That seems to be the case that they break right next to the weld...where there shouldn't be any weld. LCI welds them all the way around. The weld shouldn't extend more than about an inch on the sides of the hanger and 100% along the front and back edge. Otherwise you get a heat affected zone all down the side of the hanger. The quality of the welds (at least on our trailer) is terrible also. Of course the length of the hanger has a play in this I'm sure but starting with proper installation would help. I think the number of hanger failures is low overall (maybe like 1% ).
    Jim & Georgianne
    N. California
    2016 Reflection 29RS
    2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty PSD
    B&W Companion hitch
    Rubber turtle with no name

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