Excessive tire wear, 98 Golden Falcon 5th wheel

[Ken Robins]

Looking for advice from others with similar trailers. I seem to be going thro tires, usually the right rearward, every couple of seasons with less than 10,000 miles. Feathering on the inside edges is the symptom.

Are my axles shot ? By that I mean is the camber wrong ?

How common is axle replacement ?

My other guess is the (2) assist shocks are worn out allowing the whole lot to pitter patter down the highway. I can't see the springs being the culprit. Maybe I am wrong.

I always install Goodyear ST's. Sadly now made in China.

Any advice much appreciated. Ken Robins, Deep River. Ontario. Canada.

 

[Riverc]

Not a pro here,but most complaints I hear about this problem seem to always be the axles.

 

[Molaker]

Not a pro either, but how level is your 5th when towing.  If too front high, there could be excessive weight (and wear) on the rear axel.

 

[Riverc]

Not a pro either, but how level is your 5th when towing.  If too front high, there could be excessive weight (and wear) on the rear axel.

Very true have also heard this can cause a problem

 

[Lou Schneider]

It's fairly common to get one or more trailer wheels out of alignment.  Watch them during a sharp turn - there's lots of sideways forces being placed on the wheels and tires.

If your last parking move is a sharp turn, all of the cornering stress remains locked in the axles as long as you are parked.  Try to make your final parking move a straight run.  If this isn't possible, pull straight forward 10 ft. or so then back up in a straight line to remove the cornering stresses.

The good news is you don't need to replace the axle.  Many larger tire shops have the equipment to bend the axle back into alignment.  Look for a shop that also sells truck tires.

Worn shocks cause flat spotting as the tire bounces down the road - feathering wear sounds more like an alignment problem.

 

[denmarc]

Not a pro either, times two. 

BUT, I do know that feathering on the inside of the tire usually equates to negative camber (Ex auto mechanic). Molaker may be correct as far as the weight distribution of the 5ver.  If the negative camber (assuming that is your problem) isn't corrected, your problem will not go away.  A higher than level towing configuration may put more weight on that axle, making the problem worse.

It is also possible that the axle is not true to the 5ver.  It depends on the direction of the feathering of the tire.  Or due to the year of the RV, maybe a wheel bearing problem (too sloppy).  Feathering could also be nothing more than you might be backing in to your site from your right side more than your left.

Bad shocks usually cause a "cupping" pattern in tires.  Doesn't sound like that is your problem.

An afterthought...
Is it safe to assume tire pressure has been checked regularly?  Specifically, the wheel in question?

 

[kjansen]

Could be a bent axle.  My friend hit a rather large pothole last summer  and bent both axles.  After driving 500 mi to my place his tires were cupped
on the inside.  We replaced both axles for $129.00 each and a mornings worth of work.

 

[Ken Robins]

Thanks everyone. I will try and get some info from Dexter to verify the axle tubes are arched. I may also try dropping the hitch (1) hole. It was set up at a Golden Falcon dealer when new and the trailer overhang gets close to the box siderails on anything but even ground so can't be far off.  The truck is a 96 GMC dually. I am usually fussy with tire pressures however I may have run them too high on occasion when the summer weather got ahead of me. 65/70psi hot perhaps from 50 psi cold. Wheel bearings have no slop. I did them a few years ago.

Luckily I have Valley Truck and Spring, Pembroke nearby. I want to make sure I don't send them up a blind alley.

Apologies for repeating myself here. Are axles frequently changed out on 15 year old 5th wheels ?

Ken Robins.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Frequently? No, I wouldn't say that, but neither would I say it is rare.

Bent axles are fairly common, though. Most trailers have axles that are barely adequate for the weight, so striking a pothole or curb can overstress them to the point where they bend a bit. So can the  long term wheel turn stress that Lou Schneider described. Any suspension shop ought to be able bend it back for you - it is a common enough repair on a solid axle.

 

[denmarc]

Thanks everyone. I will try and get some info from Dexter to verify the axle tubes are arched. I may also try dropping the hitch (1) hole. It was set up at a Golden Falcon dealer when new and the trailer overhang gets close to the box siderails on anything but even ground so can't be far off.  The truck is a 96 GMC dually. I am usually fussy with tire pressures however I may have run them too high on occasion when the summer weather got ahead of me. 65/70psi hot perhaps from 50 psi cold. Wheel bearings have no slop. I did them a few years ago.

Just a couple of quick notes.  Judging by the more recent info, I have to agree with an axle problem. 

Tire over inflation would move the feathering more toward the center tread of the tire.  And it sounds like you stay on top of that sort of thing.  Few occurrences on hot days wouldn't point a finger at just one wheel. Not a likely candidate. 

Wheel bearing adjustment doesn't sound like an issue.  Although, do keep tabs on all wheel bearings and have them maintained as scheduled.  In a lot of cases, it's not the time elapsed since last serviced, it's the miles since last serviced.  Can be a big difference sometimes if you don't pay attention.  Things change when you say "I just serviced them a few years ago" after 128K miles go by!  You get the drift.   

Get the questionable axle checked out.  If not, both axles while at it.  By a reputable spring/frame shop.  Might be the long dollar, but get it over with.  I think then you will get the answer to your question about the bandit wheel.