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Old 03-16-2020, 02:16 PM   #1
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Name: Phil
Trailer: Escape
Minnesota
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Axle-caused tire wear

2018 5.0TA bought new. At approx. 7k miles discovered very bad tire wear on driverside rear. Bearings on both driver side axles had not been lubed or seated. Moved iffy tire forward and discovered similar excessive wear at rear axle within a few thousand miles, so bearing issues apparently not the cause. Where to get axle checked for being bent or mis-aligned or other cause? (Axles are Dexter.)
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Old 03-16-2020, 09:39 PM   #2
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minnesota rv alignment

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Originally Posted by Phil Murray View Post
. Where to get axle checked for being bent or mis-aligned or other cause? (Axles are Dexter.)
I'd search "minnesota rv alignment" and start asking shops about RV alignment.
It could be bent or damaged, or if you are lucky maybe just bolted a little out of place. Good luck.
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Old 03-16-2020, 10:58 PM   #3
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Since you have tandem axles, here is a quick check that can really help: Lay a long straight edge, like an 8' level, for instance, alongside the tires. Hold the level, level at the height of the hubs. If the wheels are in perfect alignment, the straight edge will touch in four places, the front and rear of each tire. If the tire that wears fast appears to be not running straight with the tire next to it, you have probably found the reason for the wear.

Do this on each side and you'll likely see the fast wearing tire is not running straight because of a bent axle. Typical tandem axle setups are not able to be "bolted a little out of place", such that only one tire will wear excessively. And axles can be bent.
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Old 03-17-2020, 07:14 AM   #4
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Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
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If possible measure from center of one axle spindle to the other center (same side). should be the same on both sides of the trailer. Shop I worked in had a device to set in each wheel that had a pointer sticking out past the tire that located center. Do this measurement with wheels on the ground and after rolling to a stop from moving forward without applying the brakes.
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Old 03-17-2020, 07:54 AM   #5
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Trailer: Was A-Liner now 13f Scamp
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tire wear

My neighbor had a 5th wheel that did this.. He called everywhere no one would even look at it! Finally he traded it off and got another!

bob
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Old 03-17-2020, 10:02 AM   #6
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Trailer: shopping
Texas
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Our new Escape 21 did the same thing except on the passenger side rear. I had the bearings checked and they were fine. Reace at Escape said he thought a defective axle. Dexter said they would as a "goodwill gesture" send me a replacement axle but would not cover any labor to install it. Said it could have been damaged in shipment or installation, or by my driving.

Had my local shop put it on and now several thousand miles later all is well. Reace had said let him know how things went so I did. He wanted to know the cost of installation (about two hours labor) and he then reimbursed me for that cost though I did not ask for that. So, you may have a defective/damaged axle. Talk to Excape and then I think they will have you talk to Dexter. That is how it went for me.
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Old 03-17-2020, 10:04 AM   #7
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Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ
Lanesboro, Minnesota, between Whalan and Fountain
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Picked up our new Escape 5.0 on October 26, 2018. At 5,000 miles realized we were getting extreme wear on the inside of the left rear tire. Dexter replaced the axle at 7,000 miles under warranty. At about 10,000 miles we found the front right was also prematurely wearing in the same fashion. We were 2,000 miles into a 6,000 mile trip.

When we arrived back in Minnesota (with 14,000 miles on the camper) we took our camper to Kremer Services, 1095 50th Street E. Inver Grove Heights, MN, 651-455-1604, to have our axles checked. Kremer was highly advised by our axle guy (Kullot Trailer in Rochester). Kremer is one of the few with the equipment that will also check campers in Minnesota. There are many others, but most made me wonder if they actually knew what they are doing. Kremer found the spindle was welded on incorrectly.

Turns out both our axles were assembled by Dexter on "Hangover Monday." I turned in the diagnostic report to Dexter and they sent us another new axle. They also compensated us for two new tires and we ate up our other two tires by waiting until we got home to Minnesota both times. Our choice.

While Dexter replaced both axles and two tires under warranty, including installation, they would not pay for the diagnostic at Kremer Services. Oh well.

We currently have around 22,000 miles just hauling the camper (both our F150's keep mileage of our trailer as long as we are plugged in). Our tires still look perfect!

Enjoy,

Perry
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Old 03-17-2020, 10:38 AM   #8
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Name: BJ
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21' Formerly 2015 Escape 19'
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We had the same problem with our 2019 21' Escape. We went through hell trying to get Dexter to address the problem, and they never would have had the Escape Repair staff not gotten into the mix. they would not even answer their phone until the Escape staff contacted them. They still have not reimbursed us for the expense of having the new axle diagnosed and installed, to say nothing about the cost of a new tire.
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Old 03-17-2020, 03:23 PM   #9
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Minnesota
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Dexter

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We had the same problem with our 2019 21' Escape. We went through hell trying to get Dexter to address the problem, and they never would have had the Escape Repair staff not gotten into the mix. they would not even answer their phone until the Escape staff contacted them. They still have not reimbursed us for the expense of having the new axle diagnosed and installed, to say nothing about the cost of a new tire.
Seems those folks have a well-earned reputation all over. My repair place would have high 5ed me (but for Covid-19) as I have had the same issues as you - and so has the repair shop. Time for a class-action suit I think. They answered their phone the 4th time I called, spoke for a moment, put down phone for several minutes, then hung up! Legal notice directly to the President of Dexter?
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Old 03-25-2020, 12:35 PM   #10
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Name: Bill
Trailer: shopping
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I had tire wear on my Scamp due to a damaged axle.
Scamp connected me with NTI Ltd who supply the axles to Scamp.
They recommended Crystal Welding
17601 113th Avenue North, Maple Grove, Minnesota 55369.
Phone: 763-428-8281
Great service, got the job done quickly.
https://crystalwelding.com/
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Old 03-25-2020, 02:03 PM   #11
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I experienced a similar problem 2 years ago. Moved the worn tire to spare, new spare to right side and right side to left side where the worn tire was mounted. Before mounting, I balanced both mounted tires - no weights were present. I'm assuming they were not balanced when installed at the factory.

After driving about 3,000 miles last summer, no signs of abnormal wear on either tire. Assuming the badly worn tire was the result of not having been balanced when initially installed.

My initial thought was that I had a bent axle. Luckily I didn't panic and started with the simplest attempt at a solution. Score one for the owner!!! :
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Old 03-25-2020, 05:12 PM   #12
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Occam's Razor in action!

"My initial thought was that I had a bent axle. Luckily I didn't panic and started with the simplest attempt at a solution. Score one for the owner!!!"
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Old 03-25-2020, 06:00 PM   #13
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It's important to describe the type of wear if trying to determine the cause of that wear. Mine wore on one side only, as though it was running out-of-line, and it was. Bouncing causes another type of wear. "very bad tire wear" isn't enough information
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Old 03-25-2020, 06:49 PM   #14
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Wear was on the outside tread of the tire......
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Old 03-25-2020, 07:55 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by daltenes View Post
Wear was on the outside tread of the tire......
I don't see how that could be a balance issue. Bent axle seems like the answer.
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Old 03-27-2020, 05:33 PM   #16
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I don't see how that could be a balance issue. Bent axle seems like the answer.
I agree, and 3,000 miles probably just hasn't been enough to reveal the wear on the replacement tire.
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Old 03-27-2020, 05:50 PM   #17
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Wife talked to Adam Dexter 3/27/20, who agreed to replace the axle and two bad tires. It really pays to work with someone in authority!
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