Lippert Suspension

[Haggis]

Lost all brake fluid from the right front caliper while travelling through Montana on route to Ontario. Managed to find a reputable trailer dealer named "Capital Trailer" in Helena to fix the problem. When the mechanic crawled under my unit he said the brake problem is not the only problem I had; there was a more serious problem with the suspension. The front axel was ready to drop off the frame. The inner part of the left hanger had broken and the right outer part of the right hanger had a fracture crack. If the brake fluid leak had not got my attension and the axel had dropped off, I could have been just another wreck on the highway.
The owner of Capital Trailer instructed the mechanic to drop what he was working on and get my unit into the shop and get me back on the road ASAP. More support was welded onto the hangers and a 2x4 steel tube was welded across from one front hanger to the other. An alignment was done and I was on my way four hours after the job was done.

If anyone has mechanical problems with their unit I "HIGHLY" recommend Capital Trailer to do work on your unit. The company is family owned and feel the customer is always our first priority.

Jake Schmeltzer
Capital Trailer & Equipment 403 422 1225
1941 N. Last Chanch Gulch, Helena, Montana

[wingnut60]

What are the chances of finding a gem of a repair shop in Helena? Great story. Really good that the leak led you to the big problem.
Are your hangars the strap type? Rectangular steel strap about 2" by 8"?
By the way, what was the cause of the leak?
Joe

[Haggis]

The brake fluid leak was in the Caliper.

[Haggis]

Hangers are the strap type!!

[Gemstone]

Any chance you could post some photo's of how the welder reinforced the factory job ?

Regards
Gemstone

[Haggis]

Have photo's but having trouble posting them. Seems the photo's are too large, having trouble shrinking them???

[Haggis]

Picture of cross member

[Gemstone]

Thank you ! That's quite a beefy repair. Time to have a serious look at my rig.

Regards
Gemstone

[Motor31]

I got curious so went out and looked at mine yesterday. It seems the older models already had gussets welded in place. I guess they thought they could improve it by not installing them in later models, either that or they "forgot" them on the OP's rig.

[Haggis]

Pictures of suspension before and after work was done.

I had a chat with the mechanic who repaired the suspension in Montana. He felt the work done on the suspension back in 2010 by Lippert did not do much to support side to side stress on the hangers it was only front to back support that was given more support, where it should have been the side to side that should have been addressed.

While I was at the Lippert facility in Goshen I talked to the owner of a Cedar Creel 5th wheel RV who had the front axel fall off while driving through a campground.

Do a check on those hangers before heading down the road to make sure they are OK.

Geoff

[anijet]

I see from your pictures your trailer is raised to the highest set of spring holes in the mounts (bottom holes). This gives more stress on the hangars then the middle or top holes due to the greater arm (leverage) to the frame monting point. I have ours in the same set of holes. This is why I installed the Mor/ryde Xbrace. Not quite as solid as your welded on braces but accomplish the same job and they are a DIY project.

I've had plenty of suspension problems. Bearing failed and I changed the axle in NE. Broke an aft spring bolt somewhere between TX & MO. Center Point (air) center spring assembly broke in KS. We are pushing the limits of the suspension components under these rigs. Especially with the condition of some of the roads.

[Haggis]

The highest set of spring holes were used because the shocks were bottoming out and finally broke off, but that's another chapter!

The suspension has been a continual P.I.T.A. since day one! My next step will be, either get rid of the unit or have Mor/ryde install their RE Suspension System.

The only reason I have persevered with the many problems I have had with my RV is; the support I got from Tom Peck.

Geoff

[RickandJanice]

Geoff,

I highly recommend MorRyde I.S. We had it installed last winter. Once you see how much strength this adds to the frame through the bracing of the I.S. frame, you will agree it is the best way to go. It also really makes the rig tow much smoother as advertised. The I.S. system is a complete replacement of the suspension and axles, not just an upgrade to the old suspension. They completely remove the springs and axles and weld the I.S. in its place. The rig actually rides on top of the MorRyde I.S. system. Price is not as bad as you would think and if done during winter, you can save 10% off the materials.

[Carny Bill]

I can tell you I have had 4 DRV units now and all were ordered with IS system. Wouldn't have anything but. Super ride and no problems

Bill

[porkchop]

We also are on our 4th DRV. 1 with Center Point, 3 with Equa-flex. Have towed these units a total of 150,000 miles in 6 years across 49 states and a lot of Canada. We've had 1 shock break . Replaced free by the factory. Took me 1/2 hr to change. No other suspension problems. I'll bet this is more the norm, although I do know others have some pretty bad failures. Stuff happens to mass produced items. Just shows how necessary it is to stay vigilant and constantly check for things that don't look right.

Bill

[sr]

Had the same problem a couple years ago. Seems like DRV just can't take these problems and correct them on newer models. Same issues year after year.

[Haggis]

Maybe DRV is doing something regarding suspensions.

I was at the Mor/Ryde factory at the end of October, talked to James and he said DRV now can install Mor/Ryde as an option. Mor/Ryde has trained DRV personel to do the installation now.

Mor/Ryde will inspect the installation at the customer request at no cost.