Leaning 297RSTS

[howson]

Fellow Forum Members,
A friend is visiting and owns a 2018 Reflection 297RSTS. We're installing an inverter and a Renogy DC-DC system...but that's a subject for another thread.

For the last several days I've been looking at my friend's trailer and something just didn't seem right. If you look at this first picture, what I tried to capture is the camper tilting towards the camp side.




I crawled under the camper and measured the exact same spot from the concrete to the frame of the camper just in front of the forward axle.



This what the front springs look like:




TucsonJim or other 297 owners--are the springs bad? What do you think is the issue, Rob ( Cate&Rob )?

Thanks in advance for any and all inputs.

Howard

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Howard,

This is not unlike the way a Reflection 303RLS leans the other way (not that much) because the left side of the trailer weighs nearly 1000 lbs more than the right side. Is this side-to-side weight imbalance similar in a 297RSTS? The next step is to measure loaded spring arch as I have described elsewhere. Weight on each tire can be measured with a Sherline scale (also described elsewhere).

Rob

[Jlawles2]

Howard, My 303 the springs look just like that. Note the reversal of the arch over the top of the axle. This kinda concerns me a bit and I need to measure the arch when the weather gets a bit better and I can close everything up and retract the rear jacks.

[Country Campers]

That curb side spring looks terrible.

A 297 has the outside kitchen and tv door on the curb side, as well as the kitchen on the inside. If that side is heavily loaded with kitchen "stuff" then it could be adding quite a bit of weight to those springs.

Does he have the weigh sheet as new to show the difference from side to side, ours was less than 100# difference, same layout just a fifth wheel. Maybe time to hit the scales.

Brian

[ncitro]

howson I went through this last summer with my father in laws SOB trailer. It had a similar lean to one side, and construction wise was built to be fairly even side to side. We used my tongue weight scale and verified he was pretty close to the same weight all around. We decided to replace his springs (they looked similar to your friends) and went up a size, careful with that as you know too stiff isn't good either. His was a small jump, I think from 4400 to 5200. After the change it sits level and leans into turns way less. We think his springs were definitely shot.

[Cate&Rob]

Post 7 on how to use your Sherline scale to measure the load carried by each wheel. https://gdrvowners.com/towing-and-hi...g-helpful-info

Rob

[howson]

Hi Howard,

This is not unlike the way a Reflection 303RLS leans the other way (not that much) because the left side of the trailer weighs nearly 1000 lbs more than the right side. Is this side-to-side weight imbalance similar in a 297RSTS? The next step is to measure loaded spring arch as I have described elsewhere. Weight on each tire can be measured with a Sherline scale (also described elsewhere).

Rob

I had forgotten about your Reference Material post, Rob! Measure Spring Compression and Arch Height (How To): https://gdrvowners.com/forum/referen...-height-how-to

[Ellis D]

My transcend xplor leans to the curb side too, and the leaf springs look flat, like those shown on the 297rsts. I'm guessing the springs are bad, is this a doable diy job?

[howson]

My transcend xplor leans to the curb side too, and the leaf springs look flat, like those shown on the 297rsts. I'm guessing the springs are bad, is this a doable diy job?

Absolutely. There are multiple individuals here on the forum (and threads) about the process. One example is here: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...-silent-member

Howard

[Ellis D]

Thanks, gonna check it out.

[howson]

Thanks, gonna check it out.

As noted in the Welcome Letter, consider tagging (or quoting) if you have a question. Amongst the many here that know about suspension is my fellow moderator, Cate&Rob. By tagging him (like I just did) he'll know you have a question.

If tagging and quoting is "greek" to you, please re-read the Welcome Letter.

[Cate&Rob]

Ellis D

Start by measuring the loaded arch height of each spring. See the process linked in post 9. This will give you an objective measurement and tell you where you are in the spring’s design range. Spring arch is nominally 3” unloaded and should be in the range of 1.5” loaded. Much less than this and the spring is overloaded or starting to collapse.

Rob

[TucsonJim]

Here's an interesting observation. I use a Level Mate Pro for making sure my trailer is level when parking. It's very repeatable and consistent. After replacing all the springs a couple of months ago, the passenger side was showing that it was higher by about 3/4". After driving the rig a couple hundred miles, the springs have already started to settle, and the heavy side is now at about 1/4".

Jim