Yahoo Message Number: 113408 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113408)
OK, CC folk. Had one today that I've not heard of, and nobody on the FaceBook forums seems to have experienced. So - beware the missing Tag bracket bolts:
We arrived yesterday in Willits CA after a 220 mile slog down US 101 from Crescent City. Looking over the rig, we were concerned that the right rear quarter was covered in an unusual amount of black "stuff" coming from the tag wheel - more than the usual crud from a day on semi-wet roads. Pondering overnight, I decided I had either 1) a blown axle seal and therefore potentially a dry tag axle bearing, or 2) a dragging brake. Either could not be ignored, so we located a truck repair shop in Willits and went over there first thing this AM.
Turned out the problem was totally unrelated to either of my diagnoses. (DUH)! When we pulled the tag wheel, we found that the bracket which attaches the tag pivot to the frame by a half dozen hefty bolts, had lost two of those bolts. This had allowed the bracket to rotate rearward, putting that tag wheel about 2" out of alignment with the drives. The consequence as you can imagine was loss of almost all that tire's tread from "scrubbing" on the pavement at an angle to the rest of the rig. I'm at a total loss to imagine how those two bolts went missing, but there you go - they were flat GONE. We have had NO events of any magnitude that might have loosened or broken those bolts, and had noticed nothing like that before yesterday.
So: we replaced the missing bolts, and pulled the bracket forward until at it's extreme travel the wheel was "almost" true to the drives. It's still very slightly out of alignment due to bending of the bracket, but it's as good as it's going to get without major straightening. We pulled the opposite tag wheel, which still has almost all it's tread, and switched sides so the slightly misaligned tire is the one with plenty of tread left to sacrifice. The nearly bald right tag is on the properly aligned left side, so further wear will be minimized. We'll continue our snow-birding in So Cal this Winter (only have maybe 1500 more miles of travel planned) then will stop in Grant's Pass on the way home at Henderson's Line-up and get the damn thing straightened out, then we'll replace both tag tires.
I have to say I'm REALLY glad we stopped today. The consequences of losing that tag tire when ALL the tread had scrubbed off are not pretty to think about. So: have a look between the drives & tags from time to time, and make sure everything in there is as it should be. There are no guarantees! I would never have imagined this happening.
Don Hutchins
'08 Allure 470 #31613, 40' tag, Cat C-9 w/ Cat tranny
Kingston, WA
Yahoo Message Number: 113410 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113410)
Our coach is #31619, 2008 allure #470. We had the very same problem 2 years ago. Lost 3 bolts and destroyed the tires. Had we drived another 50 miles, we would of blown a tire for sure. I posted at the time and warned everyone to check the axel bolts....
mike spinetti
las vegas, nv
Yahoo Message Number: 113411 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113411)
Glad you caught it before it became catastrophic. If your snow birding brings you near Colton Truck, and or the Phoenix area where you could hook up with Gary Oldstrum(SP?), you might be wise to pull up the repair and alignment early.
I'd also be very careful with the scrubbed tag tire. Sound like it was subjected to quite a bit of heat build up, and the tire may look sound, but the casing could have been compromised. Of course, the last thing you'd want, is a tag blowing and adding damage to your coach.
$.02:)!
Best to you,
Smitty
Yahoo Message Number: 113413 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113413)
Do you not mean Eric Olstrom in Phoenix?
Yahoo Message Number: 113414 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113414)
Don, My question is...Do U have to remove the tag wheels to see these bolts? or can you just lift either side up to the max and crawl underneath and
locate them? My coach is in storage for the winter so will have to wait until Feb or March.
Thanks
Dave
07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495
12 Jeep GC Toad
Mountains of So Cal and
Henderson, Nev
Yahoo Message Number: 113415 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113415)
Don,
Any chance of a picture showing the bolts? Is it the 4 bolts (on each side) running perpendicular to the driveshaft when you look between the dual and tag tires?
I know this has been discussed years ago but didn't have a tag at the time. Now I do and it concerns me.
thanks
Buddy Bordes 08 Allure 37 Sunset 31597
Yahoo Message Number: 113417 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113417)
I just posted the following message with 3 photos on the Tag mount failure problem at the Country Coach International Facebook page. Check it out.
I reported on this major problem back in 2011. Both Coaches currently being discussed are 2008 Allures. Apparently at build time Country Coach had changed one of the mounting plates that connect each tag wheel mount to the Chassis. If you have a tag axle you can see the mounting area clearly by looking in the space between the tires and just aft of the mud flap. The 3 pictures I'll include in following posts show our 2007 Intrigue with the old style set-up. Note both plates are nested and bolted together and both are 90 degree bent plates. I am not aware of any failures with this configuration. The other two are before/after pictures of the newer styles, for which I've heard of 4 or 5 coach failures. Note the outer plate is not a single curved plate but 2 welded, flat plates. Bottom line, check your mounts to see which set-up you have, and inspect regularly. If you have the welded flat plate, you need to be aware of a potential failure. I have no knowledge as to whether this affects models other than Allures. I can't figure out how to add 3 photos as a group so you'll have to sort them out at Facebook.
Lee Zaborowski
Yahoo Message Number: 113428 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113428)
Eric is in Gilbert at Premium Coach Group
Yahoo Message Number: 113433 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113433)
Lee,
Did it post on facebook? I'm looking but not good on facebook. I can't seem to find that post.
Buddy
Yahoo Message Number: 113434 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113434)
Yes it's there. Facebook has a weird way of layers entries. I'm not savvy enough to tell you what to do. I plan to add it all to our clubs new technology website page. Keep hunting.
Lee
Yahoo Message Number: 113438 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113438)
Dave,
You can see the bracket just inside the tag tire at its front edge - look between the tag and drives. It's triangular, with a flat vertical face and flat horizontal face each with a pair of bolts holding it to the frame. If you don't see bolts - get the wheel taken off asap!
Buddy,
That's it. The two horizontal bolts are the ones I lost.
Lee,
Thanks much for that info. We're only a year and a half into this rig, so I hadn't heard of it before. Sure know now! Will check FB for your pics.
I'll be inspecting that bracket OFTEN from here out. What a shocker!
Don
Yahoo Message Number: 113440 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113440)
Have A 07 allure . Pulled the tags and found I have the good plate But there was a bolt missing from the passenger side. I was the inside bolt you cant see unless you pull the tire. The drivers side has all the bolts. just had bus ailment fixed no proof but think there is where it was lost. Everyone should check one new bolt is cheep .
07 allure 31490
Yahoo Message Number: 113465 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113465)
Is the problem with the wrong bolts and they brake? Or is it that that just loosen up. On mine it looks like I could double nut most of the bolts an take care care of the coming loose problem.
Thanks
Buddy Bordes 08 Allure
Yahoo Message Number: 113468 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113468)
Had this happen in my 08 Affinity. I remember hearing a loud noise when I lowered the tag, we were just leaving a campsite and the tag was up due to the tight turns getting out. I lowered the tag and the road dropped off pretty sharp. We gussed we popped the bolts then.
Fast forward 300 mile later, tag tire blows out and takes the air bag with it. Tire was completely bald from being towed out.
Went to a shop in Utah, they installed a new airbag and bolts and been good ever since.
Check these bolts for sure.
Attached pictures shows the bolt locations.
Yahoo Message Number: 113476 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113476)
Yup, this failure confirms my earlier report on the chronic problem with the 2008 and later welded mounts.
lee Z
Yahoo Message Number: 113477 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113477)
Buddy,
Don't know how the bolts came out. They just disappeared. You can see that it's happened to others as well. Keep a close eye on the buggers!
Don
Yahoo Message Number: 113481 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113481)
Lee, I haven't heard of this issue is this only on the 2008 and newer?
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android (https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android)
Yahoo Message Number: 113482 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113482)
Brian, I am aware of about 6-8 failures, all 2008 and newer.
Lee
Yahoo Message Number: 113483 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113483)
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Yahoo Message Number: 113484 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113484)
Thanks Lee, check my 07 Allure Siskiyou Summit. Appears okay
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android (https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android)
Yahoo Message Number: 113488 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113488)
The bolts do not loosen they break and fall out.
Mikee
Yahoo Message Number: 113490 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113490)
WOW.....hope these bolts where never used on aircraft.......
Yahoo Message Number: 113495 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113495)
No true mikee...3 of my bolts fell out, the other 5 were loose. One just a couple more threads and it would of fell out. My axel shifted more then a inch tearing up the tire on the right side of coach....
mike spinetti
las vegas
2008 allure 31619
Yahoo Message Number: 113498 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113498)
Are they locking nuts or nylocks?
Yahoo Message Number: 113499 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113499)
I don't know, to old to climb under there. Freightliner in sacramento fixed it after a friend replaced the tire and tighten what was left, we drove it over there and left it. They said specks say 400 ft pounds if that helps.
mike 31619
Yahoo Message Number: 114222 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/114222)
Lee,
Thanks again for your input on my tag axle problem in Dec. I'm at Henderson's Line Up in Grants Pass to have it fixed. If you know what the usual repair has been, could you please send me a text? 360 550 3242.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Don Hutchins
'08 Allure