Spring Hanger Failure and Odd Suspension Set Up

[Crespro]

Thanks to Jim and Dennis for a rescue! Good timing.
This highlights how important suspension knowledge is for RVers. We should probably all have the V-clips and X-Factor braces. Raising the RV without both is very bad design.
The hangers are an obvious weak link.
On a related topic, it seems that a decade ago Lippert should have been placing a mark on the wet bolts at the grease exit position to enable installation at 3 o'clock. If the moderators or Grand Design have a Lippert connection, they should ask for this simple but important change. It will greatly increase the correct installation of wet bolts.

Charles

[Yoda]

FWTW
Back around 2001 I bought a Thor Wanderer bunk house model - roughly 30' in length. Towed it with a 1995 7.3 diesel Ford F250. Did Ok for a few years, then I got an 03 F350 which set about 3" higher. Also noticed axle and spring damage. I had a spring/frame shop in Grand Junction Co sub frame it with 4x2 tubing welded to the original frame and axles upgraded to 6K. I think originals were 3.5 K. This raised the trailer over 6". I had to replace the two step entry steps to 3 and us a single step stool for entry. This set me up level with 7 to 8" of bed clearance. believe it or not the trailer towed better lifted than stock and I had no high wind issues. I think that was due to the stiffer suspension. Now back then an RV frame was heavy and solid, so no stress issues. I traded it in to down size, but sometimes I wish I had it back except the wood frame was failing and no headroom in the bedroom - was a 1/2 height model. It had a manual pull slide on ball bearings that was flawless (think of super heavy duty drawer slides bolted to cross frames).

Dealer made a killing on it selling it to a local outfitter for back country, off road use.

Nowadays I would not do that due to the light frames and thin webs, unless the original frame was fully boxed inside and out before the sub-framing. The frame above the sub frame in the first picture post #1 needs to have that done and hangers boxed and reinforced with plates.

Just my thoughts

Keith