Axle Broke Loose - BRAND NEW 5th WHEEL

AG

agoutdoors

Guest
We recently purchased a Momentum 385TH (November 2014) and haven't used it as we are waiting for some items to be fixed at the dealership. I attempted to take it to the dealership on Friday and just down the road from my house the rear axle broke free from the mounts and wedged itself at the back of the leaf springs sending my rig off to the side of the road. Luckily I was only going about 5 MPH on the road (more of a long driveway).

I was stuck, blocking the road to all my neighbors houses.

I called the local dealership to report it (they are new and still building their location) and figure out how it was going to be resolved. Needless to say they were like deer in the headlights...

Long story short - after a couple hours sitting there, the mechanic and I removed the rear set of tires and read axle, and were able to limp the rig off the 1 lane road and park at a strangers house down the road (luckily I have some nice people that live around me). No one within 30 miles had the correct size U-bolts (which were all bent), so our brand new 385TH is stuck in someone else's driveway (wish I was there when the guy's wife came home to a new 5th wheel sitting in the driveway!)View attachment 1221View attachment 1222

Who knows what kind of damage was done by moving a 15,500lb rig on a single 8,000lb axle...

When the mechanic removed the nuts on the u-bots, he said they were very easy to remove - maybe not tightened correctly. He did go ahead and tighten the other axle's U-bolt nuts to be sure.

Our rig was manufactured sometime between August and October 2014, so if you also have a new one you may want to have the dealership check the U-bolts and nuts to make sure they are tightened correctly.

Looking at the damage to ours, we are going to need new axles, U-bolts, 1 drum/brake hub, leaf springs, mounting bolts, electrical lines to brakes, etc... Hopefully it doesn't take them too long to get the parts in - I will update this as I learn more.

I did receive a phone call from one of the guy's in the service department at Granddesign, so at least they were made aware of the situation and wanted to hear directly from me.

I look forward to actually staying a night in our new 5th wheel...
 
Agoutdoors, I am sorry to hear of your situation, but love your positive attitude and even sense of humor (neighbors wife coming home...). That's just funny to think of her reaction.
I hope all is resolved soon, and thank you for the heads up.
 
It could have been MUCH worse. Thank God you weren't driving down the road at 65mph. Who knows what may have happened to you or those around you. I'm very glad to hear you were safe, and wish you good luck in getting it back on the road quickly. When I get my reflection back from the factory, you can bet that I'll check the torque on those bolts ASAP.

Jim
 
agoutdoors,

Your post just went to the top of everyone's tracking list.
Please keep us posted on how this gets resolved.

Thanks
Rob
 
Did you have the recall done on the shackle bolts?? There is a recall on the 2 axle set up....

If the dealer DID the recall before you took delivery, then they may not have tightened everything correctly.
 
I thought by November the 385 and 380 were already using 3 axles. Maybe it was during the transition.
 
I thought by November the 385 and 380 were already using 3 axles. Maybe it was during the transition.

Was probably on the dealer's lot.

We still have 2- 380's and a 385 on the lot with 2 axles.
 
Mine was built May of 2014 and I was told that it did not fall into the bolt recall that it was earlier models that needed the recall done. Agoutdoors was built after mine so it should not need the recall if I was given the correct information. This makes me question even more why they switched to 3 axles on the newer ones. Something like this could be deadly on the Hwy at higher speeds.
 
Did you have the recall done on the shackle bolts?? There is a recall on the 2 axle set up....

If the dealer DID the recall before you took delivery, then they may not have tightened everything correctly.

As far as I have read on the internet, this rig was manufactured well after the dates shown on the recall - so it shouldn't been involved but I have posed the question at least to GD.
 
You are right, with build dates in that range, they were after the recall.

I've never seen u bolts loosen up that quickly, but it is one of my yearly jobs to check. They do loosen over travel time, and should be on a maintenance schedule.

Just like the 4 bolts that hold the a/c units to the roof, they will loosen over time from the compressor vibration.
 
As far as I have read on the internet, this rig was manufactured well after the dates shown on the recall - so it shouldn't been involved but I have posed the question at least to GD.

I double checked my VIN sticker and is shows manufactured August 2014, so a month or so before what I thought it was.
 
Today, Monday - have been told the temporary replacement U-bolts did not arrive today as promised from the local supplier. Will see what tomorrow brings.
 
Late today I was asked to contact someone at Grand Design. Turned out to be a lead service technician. He stated he would spear head some efforts tomorrow morning to make sure it was taken care of properly. I am e-mailing him more pictures, including the label on the axle so that it can be traced to when it was manufactured. He did say that GD received the axle, U-bolts and leaf springs as pre-assembled package from the manufacturer and they just install directly to the mounts on the frame and put on the tires. More to come in the next few days.
 
For those that are following this...
Temporary U-bolts arrived today that were custom made by a company in the Seattle area. They were a little oversized but the mechanic and I made them work so we could get the rig out of the strangers driveway. About 1 1/2 later, we the axle re-installed and was able to get it down the dealership about 11 miles down the road.
Further communication with GD has been good, parts are being shipped from both the axle manufacturer and from GD to completely repair and replace most of the suspension. Parts should arrive around the 19th, so we'll see how long it takes once they arrive to get them installed.
I am just happy to have it at the dealership!
 
@agoutdoors,

Appreciate the ongoing updates. I hope that you eventually get to know the cause for your situation.
Good to hear that GD is directly involved . . . which we have all come to trust and expect.
I have learned that my rig will not move one more foot before I check the torque on the axle U bolts !

Rob
 
Like others, I've been following this thread from the beginning. I still shudder at what could've happened if you were headed down the highway at highway speed. And, like others, I am rechecking those bolts. Thanks for posting this.
 
Well I will recheck my bolts too, but I have a question that hasn't been asked.....What is the correct torque spec for these bolts? Are they different from each unit axel size? I have the two 7,000# axel.
 
Per the Lippert Manual . . . U bolt torque is
65 ft lbs for 5.2 K axles and
90 ft lbs for 6 - 8 K axles.
There is a substantial amount of internet information saying that suspension U bolts should not be re-torqued after they are initially set. Since Lippert gives a torque in their service/maintenance information and does not say anything about U bolt replacement, this would seem to indicate that re-torqueing their axle U bolts is OK.

Rob
 

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