Roadmaster Slipper spring 350M install

[Ds98zs]

I have been pecking away at installing the Roadmaster 7k slipper springs on my 350M and it has been smooth and not so smooth.

For starters removing the leaf eye bolt on the driver's side was a chore. The bolt was installed from the frame side towards the street side of the rv. Right behind the bolt is the 1/2 bath 3" rigid black pipe. You have two choices... either cut the black pipe or cut the bolt. I cut the bolt because I had extras and figured it would not be an issue
Turns out the bolt is longer than all of the other bolts and it is necked down. All my local trailer shop has was non necked down bolts but the thread ended roughly at the same point as the neck. Well, it doesn't work as it pulls the leaf hanger together. I am now in search of the correct bolt.

The other issue I have ran into is my leaf eye outer hangers are bent pretty bad towards the trailer. It looks like mine were welded up for a 2" leaf and a smaller leaf was installed. I am not sure if I should straighten them and add some sort of a spacer or just get new necked down bolts an call it a day (I have to replace the one I cut so I will order 4 and go with all new).

More of a rant here but any input on the bent eye bolt hangers or if anyone had trailer allingment info it would be much appreciated. We put a lot of miles on our rig so I would like it to track as best as possible and have the best tire wear I can.

I will post some pics of the install later as well.

This is the 3" black pipe behind the leaf bolt.

This is the longer step bolt used for the leaf eye hangers to the frame (all four frame mounts are the same length which is longer than the equalizer hanger bolts)

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Would there be any reason you couldn't ream out the hole in the hanger so it would be the same size as the other side. I can't imagine why they would be different sizes. I think I would repair/replace any of the bent hangers. Have you owned the trailer since new? Or are some of these issues the result of the PO's modifications?

 

[Ds98zs]

I bought the trailer pre owned but it was like new and stored indoors. The frame leaf hanger hole sizes are the same for the 9/16" bolt. The bolts are just longer for the leaf eye to frame than the leaf to equalizer/ hanger.

The problem I am running into is the new bolts I got are not step bolts but the threads end in the same spot as they do on the step bolt. When I tighten them down the outer hanger bends well before I am anywhere near the proper torque. The hangers look like they were welded for 2" leafs and the leafs I pulled off were like 1-3/4". The roadmasters are 1-7/8".

I am thinking I need to straighten the outer hanger and maybe box in one end of the hangers to keep them from bending. I'll take some pictures next time I am out there.

Leaf eye bolt to frame/ equalizer wet bolt comparison. I was not able to find the same step bolt. So, I went with the same bolt but without the step.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Not good, you need a shoulder bolt, just like the one you took off. A hardware house like Graingers, Gemplers, Fastenal, etc. will have the bolt you need. You can't use a non-shoulder bolt in this application. The nut tightens down and the shoulder ensures that it is able to be tightened to the proper spec without bending anything. This absolutely has to be done right. No shortcuts, no doo-fers.

Are you saying the bolts that came with the Roadmaster kit are NOT shoulder bolts? That would be inconceivable. With an aside to Vizzini.

 

[huntindog]

Cutting the black pipe is not a big deal. Go to Home Depot or Lowes. They have fittings made out of rubber? or a like material. They install using hose clamps. So you can remove/reinstall them easy whenever that pipe is in the way again. They have a pretty good assortment of bends, Ys etc.

 

[Ds98zs]

I found this picture in the Roadmaster Slipper spring thread. I think I am going to add the V brace to beef up the hangers and keep them from bending. We put a lot of miles on our rig and I dont want to have any issues that strand us on the side of the road.