Rear Axle Spring Hanger Broke off

[303 Living]

Has anyone had this happen?
We got home from a camping trip today, noticed the right rear axle looked out of place after investigation we found that the rear spring hanger on the right hand side for the rear axle was broken off the frame.

[303 Living]

We have a 2017 303RLS 5th Wheel

[howson]

303 Living -- unfortunately, yes, this has been seen before. There's a few members here that will be able to advise.

Guest
Cate&Rob

[Cate&Rob]

303 Living
This is not an unknown problem. Several 303s have encountered this (including ours). There are several threads on this forum about this problem and what we have done to resolve it. The hanger should be completely replaced (not just repaired) and there is a reinforcement method called a “V Brace” or “V Clip” which seems to solve the problem.

Rob

[303 Living]

Cate&Rob can you help direct me to these threads? what should I search for?
It would seem to me that this would be a safety issue

[Cate&Rob]

Cate&Rob can you help direct me to these threads? what should I search for?
It would seem to me that this would be a safety issue

See https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...-busted-hanger post 7 for the “abridged” version of the V brace discussion. The rest of this thread is also related to your question.

Rob

[howson]

303 Living -- do an "Advanced Search" using the keyword hanger and limit the results to the Suspension channel. Unfortunately you'll find a lot of reading...

If you need help using the Advanced Search, there's an example in the Forum Use channel. Here's a link to the thread: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/gdrv4li...hing-the-forum

[OurNewEra]

Here is a picture of the 'V' brace I snagged from a YT video. This was done at the Lippert Components facility by Lippert.

[303 Living]

Thank you all for all of the information and help.

[Ken_ega]

Yes, October 2019 I had the exact same failure.

Packed up and left the campground after the usual pre-flight inspection. Two hours later I noticed the 2017 Reflection was not tracking straight. I stopped at a rest area and found both inner and outer right rear spring hangers snapped off the frame and the axle shifted to the left. The spring and hangers were lodged up inside the frame. This applied a lot of lateral pressure on the side frame member. I was lucky to find a heavy truck/trailer shop open 24 hours. It was clear to both of us the welds were poor. There was very little penetration on the welds of either plate. This failure mode could have resulted in tire failure or an accident. I documented this safety issue with the NHTSA. They are responsible for tracking safety issues.

Upon returning home from that October 2019 trip, I noticed the sheet metal warping at the RR corner. I crawled underneath and that corner had opened up where the side and rear frame members meet. We (myself and the dealer) suspect the spring and broken hangers lodging up inside the frame may have caused that failure at the RR corner as well.

A friend told me he met a Solitude owner that had the same RR spring hanger snap off. So, the failure mode may include other models. After seeing the welds on those spring hangers, I am concerned about the welds I can't see.

[howson]

Yes, October 2019 I had the exact same failure.

I noted this was your first post so welcome and thank you for taking the time to document your experience here on the forum. Unfortunately your trailer is not the first to experience this failure (nor, I'm afraid, the last).

When you get a chance, please check out the Welcome Letter so you know how to get the most out of your time here: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/main-fo...to-new-members

Again, welcome!

Howard

[Cate&Rob]

It was clear to both of us the welds were poor. There was very little penetration on the welds of either plate. This failure mode could have resulted in tire failure or an accident. I documented this safety issue with the NHTSA. They are responsible for tracking safety issues.

If you look carefully at the part of the hanger still attached to the frame, you will see that the welds did not fail, they are still in place. The breaks occur in the heat affected zone adjacent to the weld. This has been discussed at length in the other threads. This does not mean that this failure is acceptable . . . it is just not a failed weld, it is a fatigue break of the bracket itself.

NHTSA seems to take little interest in on-the-road failures on towable RVs. They have been notified of this situation and before this, a number of greased brake incidents. No replies to any of these reports (that I am aware of).

Rob

[Guest]

Why would manufacturers not install the V Clips or use other techniques in supporting the rear hangers on these rigs? Its ridiculous that we keep reading of continuous failures.

Jim

[Cate&Rob]

Why would manufacturers not install the V Clips or use other techniques in supporting the rear hangers on these rigs? Its ridiculous that we keep reading of continuous failures.

Jim

V Clip reinforcements have been added to Solitude . . . but, not to anything smaller (as far as I know). See https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...aded-axle-mean

Rob

[webpilot]

V Clip reinforcements have been added to Solitude . . . but, not to anything smaller (as far as I know). See https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...aded-axle-mean

Rob

I am disappointed that my 2020 Solitude 380 FL does not have the V-Clips nor wet bots in the spring eyes.

George