ARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!! I just got back from dropping the trailer off at a spring/axle shop to diagnose an uneven tire wear problem. After further inspection of the suspension I seem to have the same problem as everyone else. Flat, warped, under engineered springs. The owner of the shop (who specializes in large trailer repair) said this is an all to common problem that he sees and immediately noticed the Lippert tag. He said he has gone around with these guys in the past with little in the way of results. Clearly this is not a user error but a design issue. Personally it seems Heartland or Lippert needs to hire a real professional engineer to properly calculate their loads. We are a weekend warrior type family with the occasional week long trip and have 5-6k miles on the trailer in two years. You can see from the pictures below that our springs are not only flat on the slide side but very clearly warped. I will find out tomorrow if my uneven tire wear is associated with Lippert's misgivings, if so, I will be going after them will full steam. I am so peeved that we as a consumer are getting gyped like this.
Also, for the design (or lack thereof) problems I also noticed that every one of my shocks is bent at the connection to the spring plate. This is clearly a design flaw, when the springs flexes up and the shock no longer compresses the only thing it can do is bend. The geometry of this system is completely flawed. I would suggest that every Heartland owner look at their spring/shock/tread wear and let Heartland and Lippert know of their problems. I know Larryheadhunter is on a crusade to hold both of the manufactures accountable for their shotty designs.
<O
</O
Oh and by the way, I have left 3 messages over the last two weeks with Heartland customer service reps and have not received a call back. When we purchased our trailer back in 08' I was an avid board member and would talk Heartland up at every park we stayed at. I now am questioning if that was right move given the problems I am facing now. We have a slightly than two year old product and are experiencing major issues with little support from the manufacturer.
Sorry for the terrible picture quality, these were taken with the camera phone, I will be getting better ones tomorrow.
Here is the bent pair..
<O
<O</O<OThe rear spring is warped badly.
<O
</O
All four of my shock studs are bent.</O
<O
</O<O</O
Also, for the design (or lack thereof) problems I also noticed that every one of my shocks is bent at the connection to the spring plate. This is clearly a design flaw, when the springs flexes up and the shock no longer compresses the only thing it can do is bend. The geometry of this system is completely flawed. I would suggest that every Heartland owner look at their spring/shock/tread wear and let Heartland and Lippert know of their problems. I know Larryheadhunter is on a crusade to hold both of the manufactures accountable for their shotty designs.
<O
</OOh and by the way, I have left 3 messages over the last two weeks with Heartland customer service reps and have not received a call back. When we purchased our trailer back in 08' I was an avid board member and would talk Heartland up at every park we stayed at. I now am questioning if that was right move given the problems I am facing now. We have a slightly than two year old product and are experiencing major issues with little support from the manufacturer.
Sorry for the terrible picture quality, these were taken with the camera phone, I will be getting better ones tomorrow.
Here is the bent pair..
<O
<O
</O<OThe rear spring is warped badly.<O
</O
All four of my shock studs are bent.</O
<O
</O<O</O
