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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Hensly hitch bar - straight vs 4' drop
Well, I ended up ordering a new straight hitch bar from Hensley for $242 delivered. It should show up here tomorrow.
Don
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wesseld
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10/09/08 06:42pm |
Towing
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Hensly hitch bar - straight vs 4' drop
Hi all,
I just completed the replacement of the Tor-Flex axles on my Alpenlight Aspen TT, and the net result is a 3" lift for the trailer. (Long story, see this link HERE ) I had been using a 4" drop hitch bar in my Hensley hitch, but that is obviously not the right one now.
I do know that Hensley will swap them out, but I am the second owner and did not buy the warranty that would permit the swaps.
Thanks!
Don
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wesseld
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10/01/08 11:05pm |
Towing
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RE: Talk to me about Aspen 28RL
Since I am the second owner, Dexter would not cover the axles under warranty, but they let me purchase new axles (with a 45 degree down angle that should give me a 4" lift) for only $151 each plus shipping. I have not installed them yet because the driveway has been hot enough to cook me if I were to lay down there! Here is a link to my other topic on the axles story: LINK
If you are the original owners of the trailer, they may replace the axles under warranty, but be aware that they might want you to send them the axles first so they can check them out.
We tend to go off on dirt roads, and I was a little uncomfortable with the existing ground clearance, so this will be a good thing for us. Let me know if you have any other questions about this. I have exchanged quite a few emails with a product engineer at Dexter, and have probably asked more than my share of questions.
Don
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wesseld
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08/10/08 11:00pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Replacing Tor-Flex axles - Alpenlite Aspen TT
Update on my axle issues:
Dexter rocks! After at least 10 emails back and forth, Duane (product engineer) said that I may have a warranty claim on my axles, saying they could have taken on more of a permanent set than they are supposed to. He even gave me the phone number of the Warranty department. I spoke with Connie (very nice lady) in the Warranty department, and we determined that I could not get new axles under warranty because I am the second owner of the trailer, but she did give me a VERY good price on two new axles. She even conferenced-in Duane to help determine which axles to order. All this took almost 30 minutes on the phone, they were in no rush, and answered all of my many, many questions. Duane even worked up some specification drawings and emailed them to me to show the differences between the 22.5 degree and the 45 degree down-angle axles.
I chose the 45 degree down-angle because that would give me about a 3" lift over what I currently have on the trailer. I gave Connie my credit card number and shipping address, and we were all done.
I told Connie and Duane that it's very rare to run across a component manufacturing company that will help out the end user like they are doing. I highly recommend calling Dexter if you are having any trouble with your axles, and see what they can do for you.
I will post more when I receive the new axles and get them installed.
Don
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wesseld
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07/13/08 09:31pm |
Tech Issues
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Replacing Tor-Flex axles - Alpenlite Aspen TT
Our 2005 Alpenlite Aspen 28RL TT had a tire (Mission brand) start to lose its tread on our last trip, and because it essentially got larger in diameter as the tread started to separate, it actually wore a hole through the inner wheelwell. Luckily, the tire stayed together and didn't do any other damage.
Picture of wheelwell hole.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o116/wesseld/IMG_0302Medium.jpg
Normally, there is only about 1" of clearance between the tire and wheelwell, and the trailer sits very low to the ground. I inquired with Dexter axle about somehow remounting the Dexter Tor-Flex Axle lower on the frame to gain some clearance. I also sent them a photo of the axle bracket to help identify the axles I do have. They said:
"Your axles have the “Norco” brackets for mounting to the trailer frame. These are made to fit the axle to the Norco made frame. I believe the bolt holes have coined indentations that match indentations in the frame rail. These interlocking indentations are carrying the vertical load so that the flange on the bottom does not have to contact the frame. If you rotate the axle and create new mounting holes you will not get the same engagement between the bracket and the frame rail. I cannot say if that will work or not."
Photos of axle:
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o116/wesseld/DSC03584Medium.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o116/wesseld/IMG_0281Medium.jpg
The person I was emailing is named Duane, and was very responsive and understanding. I just sent another email with my actual axle info, but he is on vacation for the next two weeks.
Here are some of the questions I have sent them, along with Duane's responses:
1. Do you have any information on the Norco brackets and/or frames?
2. Using the current axle and brackets, would it be feasible to remount them using spacers between the frame and bracket?
3. Would it just be easier and/or cheaper to replace the axles, and if so, how would I specify the new ones?
4. Can my current axles be modified or reassembled (by Dexter or a shop) to change the down angle?
Answers:
1. I do not have any information on Norco. Perhaps you can contact them through their web site.
2. I cannot recommend repositioning the brackets because I believe Norco plans the axle bracket to be an integral part of the frame and you may be compromising some of the frame strength.
3. A replacement axle is all that DEXTER AXLE can offer you. You would need to order a greater down start angle to gain trailer height. It would be best if you could get the serial number from your present axle and we can look up the build specs and duplicate it except for the start angle. The serial number should be engraved directly onto the axle tube to the right of center on the back side. Look for a 9 digit number.
4. The DEXTER AXLE Torflex axles cannot be rebuilt or modified to change the start angle.
I was wondering if anyone has ever modified or replaced their existing Tor-Flex axles with ones that have a greater start angle so they could gain some ground clearance?
Thanks,
Don
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wesseld
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07/02/08 05:13pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Talk to me about Aspen 28RL
Funny you mention the low clearance. On our 2005 Alpenlite Aspen 28RL, I had a tire (Mission brand) start to lose its tread on our last trip, and because it essentially got larger in diameter as the tread started to separate, it actually wore a hole through the inner wheelwell. Luckily, the tire stayed together and didn't do any other damage.
Normally, there is only about 1" of clearance between the tire and wheelwell. I inquired with Dexter axle about somehow remounting the Tor-Flex Axle lower on the frame to gain some clearance. I also sent them a photo of the axle bracket to help identify the axles I do have. They said:
"Your axles have the “Norco” brackets for mounting to the trailer frame. These are made to fit the axle to the Norco made frame. I believe the bolt holes have coined indentations that match indentations in the frame rail. These interlocking indentations are carrying the vertical load so that the flange on the bottom does not have to contact the frame. If you rotate the axle and create new mounting holes you will not get the same engagement between the bracket and the frame rail. I cannot say if that will work or not."
The person I was emailing is named Duane, and was very responsive and understanding. I just sent another email with my actual axle info, but he is on vacation for the next two weeks.
Here are some of the questions I have sent them, along with Duane's responses:
1. Do you have any information on the Norco brackets and/or frames?
2. Using the current axle and brackets, would it be feasible to remount them using spacers between the frame and bracket?
3. Would it just be easier and/or cheaper to replace the axles, and if so, how would I specify the new ones?
4. Can my current axles be modified or reassembled (by Dexter or a shop) to change the down angle?
Answers:
1. I do not have any information on Norco. Perhaps you can contact them through their web site.
2. I cannot recommend repositioning the brackets because I believe Norco plans the axle bracket to be an integral part of the frame and you may be compromising some of the frame strength.
3. A replacement axle is all that DEXTER AXLE can offer you. You would need to order a greater down start angle to gain trailer height. It would be best if you could get the serial number from your present axle and we can look up the build specs and duplicate it except for the start angle. The serial number should be engraved directly onto the axle tube to the right of center on the back side. Look for a 9 digit number.
4. The DEXTER AXLE Torflex axles cannot be rebuilt or modified to change the start angle.
I was wondering if anyone has ever modified or replaced their existing Tor-Flex axles with ones that have a greater start angle so they could gain some ground clearance?
Thanks,
Don
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wesseld
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07/01/08 05:35pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Why RV Tires Suffer So Many Blowouts
Speaking of tires...
We just returned a couple of weeks ago from a 11 day 3000 mile trip starting in Phoenix, up through Moab, UT, Bryce Canyon, and Lake Powell, then back to Phoenix. After backing the trailer into the driveway, I noticed that the right rear tire looked funny. Looking closer, I noticed that the tire tread was bulging all the way around the tire. Holy crap! The tire was starting to separate and we got home just before it shed the tread. I think we dodged a bullet! The only thing that did happen was that because the tire basically grew in diameter, it rubbed a hole through the fenderwell. Normally, there is only about 1" of clearance between the tire and fenderwell anyway, so it didn't take much to make contact. Looking inside the cabinet where the fenderwell is, I noticed that one of the propane gas lines runs only about 1" above the tire tread poking through. Whoa nelly!
Anyway, I just put 4 new Maxxix tires on to replace the 4 year old Mission brand tires. Hopefully, these will do fine for us.
Don
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wesseld
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06/24/08 09:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Help: Entertainment Center Modification
We have a 2005 Alpenlite Aspen 28RL, and our entertainment center looks like this:
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o116/wesseld/EntCenter.jpg
And looks like this with the TV removed:
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o116/wesseld/DSC03277.jpg width=640
Does your ent. center look like this? We would also love to replace the tube-TV with a flat panel, and use the space behind it for more junk, but we can't justify the cost right now.
Cheers!
Don
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wesseld
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01/26/08 11:05pm |
Travel Trailers
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