Newbie says "What a WELL MADE trailer!!!"

[Cheaperrooter]

2010 318RLS. Commenced full timing this past week. First stop? Kids house high in the mountains of NC. Freezing cold, ice, snow and mud galore. My instincts told me to stay clear of this narrow road up a mountain side, better fit for a dirt bike, but my adventurous spirit was in denial

I was dying to test out my new 2015 Duramax diesel 3500 crew 4x4 with this longer than needed, fiberglass lead weight on the back. Man oh man. Got stuck more times then I care to remember and I don't mean only mud rut stuck, though that did happen constantly. I mean also like stuck stuck. Stuck between a creek and tree or stuck with one side of the trailer on an incline and the other wheels in a ditch, as i rounded curves obviously not made for this tractor trailer combination of length. At times it was leaning at a precarious 45 degree angle. You name it, this trailer was doing every Kamasutra postion in the book for hours on end.

But moral of the story? I tweaked, twisted, squeezed, winched, jacked, turned, tipped and lifted this thing so many times I was convinced I had completely and utterly trashed my 17k investment.

When I FINALLY arrived, I had ripped the entire aluminum side molding clean off, bent all of my tank rods, broke two stabilizer jacks and dented the roof when it slid 5 foot into an electrical pole on a muddy incline.

Set it up with two floor jacks as stabilizers I brought just in case.... Leveled it out, hit the slide out button and the thing came out so smooth and perfect it was like it rolled off the factory floor. Everything and i mean everything worked without a hitch.

In short, other than the ascetics of it all and some minor mechanical (Amazon had replacement parts at my front door 2 days later) there was no frame damage and or roof damage and or leaking and or anything I could see wrong with it

Man, what a WELL MADE UNIT Jayco puts out. Can't say as a Newbie, I bought a Jayco for any other reason than it had the floor plan I wanted. But now? I am a Jayco owner for life!!!

One question and this was an issue BEFORE my lapses into stupidity. If you are hard turning this thing, one tire will be out of alignment with its mate in front. Is that normal? Like it will protrude out some and not be in a straight line with the other?

Thanks and I'm here to end again in saying, I highly doubt anyone has put their trailer through such a torture test as I did. May be wrong. But it passed with flying colors . I just can't see how a trailer could be made any better

[clubhouse]

Pictures?

[clubhouse]

I too have noticed that the tires seem to move in ways the shouldn't.

[Flyrotor]

Tire movement is normal

[Roadwarrior]

I had visions of Ricky and Lucy and the Long,Long Trailer after that recap.

[SecretCoveDave]

Most excellent! Hope the kids enjoyed the visit.

Carry on.

[Seann45]

Yes they tires will appear out of alignment at times.. just pull forward a few feet then back to allow them to right themselves.

[Donedroolin]

Dude that is crazy. Sounds like you had fun, but must have been mad everytime you got stuck. What do you mean dented the roof that is concerning amongst all the other damage. The roof is wood. Glad to hear she held up otherwise. Like the Star ship Enterprise.

[tjpolsin]

I also notice my tires flex everytime I jack-knife my trailer beside the house for storage. it is normal.

my old trailer had smaller diameter "U" shaped axles that flexed even more.
Watch an 18wheeler when it backs up. The axles don't flex, but he tires will skid sideways. Again, normal.

Your trailer tires probably skid sideways as well when you turn sharp.

As for damage, I had a tree fall on mine as it was parked next to the house.

Tongue jack fell of the stand, the front of the trailer moved sideways enough to hit the house, and the trailer side and roof cracked from the tree hitting it.

the tree then rolled off the trailer and hit both cars parked in the driveway.

one car was totaled (wasn't worth much anyway). The other car, the house, and my Jayco were all fixed and work great.

[Cheaperrooter]

LOL. Tree vs Jayco. Jayco won . Glad to hear about the tires having a mind of their own. The roof hit where the top meets the sides and dented it. I should have added it was an Eagle super lite, though...there's NOTHING light about it I can see as of yet

Oh yeah, in retrospect, it's all laughs now. But at the time, it was pure hell and scary as could be and I will never attempt it again!!

[norty1]

[QUOTE=Cheaperrooter;277745]2010 318RLS.
One question and this was an issue BEFORE my lapses into stupidity. If you are hard turning this thing, one tire will be out of alignment with its mate in front. Is that normal? Like it will protrude out some and not be in a straight line with the other?

QUOTE]

The axles are supposed to flex when turning to relieve strain on the tires somewhat. It is normal. When you park, make sure you back straight for a few feet to relieve the strain on the tires and axles.

[Vasquez Kid]

Gad zooks that sounds like Mr. Toads wild ride! Glad that it all faired so well for you. And congratulations on going full-time!