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08-06-2017, 03:30 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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Voltage 3605 leaf springs
Has anyone replaced the leaf springs on their voltage or had problems with them ?
I've had my 3605 now 4 weeks just returned from a trip to the Bighorn mountains in Wyoming and I've got flat leaf springs 2 of them are actually slightly beyond flat I hinkle one may have a broken leaf I'm thinking these springs are not heavy enough for the trailer took it across the scales today on the way home it is under the GVWR of 16,800 lbs not by much at 16,600 but it is under .
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08-06-2017, 02:24 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Lancaster
Posts: 263
Pennsylvania
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Yes, twice actually. I've told this story a few times so sorry to the folks who’ve heard it before.
Rig was still quite new and we were in the Black hills intending to explore points southwest when I noticed the right rear tire worn badly on the outside edge, other three were ok. Decided to return home (1,400 miles) after talking with the dealer & Keystone.
I was of course accused of being overloading and denied warranty coverage. We were carrying food, clothes, lawn chairs, hoses, required household items, many empty cabinets, 30 gallons of fresh water, and a 900 lb. golf cart (about the weight of one full dress cycle). It was useless trying to explain to Keystone that overloading does not wear one tire on the outside edge.
I contacted LCI and they requested pictures of the under carriage to try and determine what could be wrong. The unit was unloaded when the pictures were taken. Axles still had the proper arc as shown with a long straight edge, but they immediately noticed the springs had failed, and were concerned with the overall installation of the suspension. They denied making the suspension installation statement the following day. During a three way phone call with Keystone and LCI, it was suggested we were carrying too much food in the kitchen (let that sink in for a while).
After six weeks of “negotiations” LCI agreed to replace all four springs. Some weeks later after taking it in for the repair I picked it up and brought it home, it's about a 50 mile drive from the dealer completely empty. Got home and looked to find the springs were again flattened out. Having grown weary of the fight I took it to a spring & axle shop and had it repaired correctly. They installed another leaf just below the main leaf that also backs up the eye bolts, fixed the Equiflex mount allowing it to move freely, and did an alignment. Springs look good now with an arc and it actually lifted the unit about 2”, no problems ever since.
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![](/attachments/signaturepics/sigpic4618_1.gif)
2015 Voltage 3305, Gone for Good !
2014 Ram 3500 dually, Aisin, Gone but not Forgotten.
2018 Winnebago Sunstar 32YE
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08-06-2017, 02:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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Well that's what I figured thank you for your reply guess I will just fix it on my own the right way
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08-08-2017, 12:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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I ended up ordering a set of 4000 lb springs online to replace the originals we are fultimers and can't be jerking around with them on warranty claims so I will just fix there short comings my self kinda use to it by now lol
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08-08-2017, 11:14 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Lancaster
Posts: 263
Pennsylvania
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottxpc
I ended up ordering a set of 4000 lb springs online to replace the originals we are fultimers and can't be jerking around with them on warranty claims so I will just fix there short comings my self kinda use to it by now lol
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Good call, I was in a hurry to get it done so we could get back on the road. It was in the shop and on jack stands so we got er done that way.
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![](/attachments/signaturepics/sigpic4618_1.gif)
2015 Voltage 3305, Gone for Good !
2014 Ram 3500 dually, Aisin, Gone but not Forgotten.
2018 Winnebago Sunstar 32YE
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08-08-2017, 01:05 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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I could not find a local spring shop where I'm at so I ordered them online need it fixed asap so I can hit the road I will have them Thursday
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08-09-2017, 03:36 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houma
Posts: 244
Louisiana
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The RV industry is pathetic. They knowingly put out inferior products and continue to do so, but this crosses the line. Yes it sucks that we regularly have to repair fit and finish items inside of our RVs, but when they deny safety issues such as this, it is outright negligence. What is it going to take for them to become responsible like the automobile industry has had to become? I'm guessing a few unnecessary fatalities due to faulty frames/suspension/etc.
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2013 Voltage 3600 (sold)
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08-09-2017, 08:28 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Redmond
Posts: 32
Oregon
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Voltage 3200 leaf spring shackle
Have not had actual leaf spring issues on my 2013 Voltage 3200 but did have the passenger side shackle completely tear out. The repair shop said they had never seen anything like it as one end just completely ripped out as to the usual elongated holes which will eventually fail. Said must have hit the mother of all pot holes or something, which of course we never felt! Amazing that they would make such a critical part out of aluminum!
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08-09-2017, 08:34 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Redmond
Posts: 32
Oregon
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The industry as a whole is pathetic. The quality of workmanship and inferior parts is ridiculous. Need a couple of good class action lawsuits to wake them up I guess.
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08-09-2017, 09:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
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I never had any spring problem on my V3605 that I had for two years. One difference could be that I was 1,000 lbs below the 14,000 lbs rated axles.
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Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
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08-10-2017, 12:30 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Alvin
Posts: 727
Texas
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Isn't the industry as a whole Lippert, when it comes to the chassis we all roll on?
__________________
2017 Aerolite 213 RBSL-ND
2018 Wolf Pup 17RP Limited (Tiny THauler)
2018 F150 King Ranch 3.5 Beast
2003 Ram 2500 Cummins (can't kill this beast)
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08-10-2017, 12:34 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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Yes it is Lippert who makes most everything in our RV'S
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08-10-2017, 12:44 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Alvin
Posts: 727
Texas
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I also suspect Dutchman often specs Lippert rolling packages that leave far less "headroom" than we desire.
My Aerolite tandem axle 213 has barely more gvw capacity than my single axle toy hauler.
My brother just bought a "Retro" that weighed 4000 empty, rolling on a tandem trailer with almost 7000lb gvw. His cargo capacity is as much as my toy hauler!
I told him he should feel really good about towing a gorgeous TT that was light on it's feet!
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2017 Aerolite 213 RBSL-ND
2018 Wolf Pup 17RP Limited (Tiny THauler)
2018 F150 King Ranch 3.5 Beast
2003 Ram 2500 Cummins (can't kill this beast)
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08-10-2017, 01:15 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snakebitten
I also suspect Dutchman often specs Lippert rolling packages that leave far less "headroom" than we desire.
My Aerolite tandem axle 213 has barely more gvw capacity than my single axle toy hauler.
My brother just bought a "Retro" that weighed 4000 empty, rolling on a tandem trailer with almost 7000lb gvw. His cargo capacity is as much as my toy hauler!
I told him he should feel really good about towing a gorgeous TT that was light on it's feet!
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Yeah what's worse is I left the dealer lot went straight to a truck scale and the trailer weight was 14,600 compared to the door sticker and factory claimed dry weight of 13,700 so now with my 16,800 GVWR that means I have a toy hauler with 2200 pounds of cargo capacity and leaf springs that can't even handle that these things are really a joke if you think about it the 3605 should have been a three axle trailer the you would have some CCC !
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08-10-2017, 04:01 AM
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#15
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Schaumburg
Posts: 9
Illinois
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Broken hanger
That's what happened last trip
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2016 Voltage 3200
2017 GMC Sierra Denali HD Duramax
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08-10-2017, 11:16 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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Are those spring hangers ripping off ?
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08-11-2017, 12:05 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 521
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This week we went out on an excursion with some family and friends. The Voltage was loaded out with about 2000 in the bay of motorcycles. About 100 miles into the trip another camper following us called me and told me my unit is leaning to the right maybe 4 to 6 inches. We continued to the camp site and checked under the rig. Nothing was obviously wrong yet something was wrong. That evening I read this thread and said I bet my springs are weak.. Another look under the belly and sure enough the springs are flat now without any Motorcycles in the bay. I suppose I will have to take it to an undercarriage shop and have the suspension rebuilt.
Our Voltage is 5 years old. What a weak and crappy suspension system. Thanks Lippert.
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08-11-2017, 12:13 AM
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#18
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Schaumburg
Posts: 9
Illinois
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Yes
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2016 Voltage 3200
2017 GMC Sierra Denali HD Duramax
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08-11-2017, 12:15 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 132
Arkansas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanman
This week we went out on an excursion with some family and friends. The Voltage was loaded out with about 2000 in the bay of motorcycles. About 100 miles into the trip another camper following us called me and told me my unit is leaning to the right maybe 4 to 6 inches. We continued to the camp site and checked under the rig. Nothing was obviously wrong yet something was wrong. That evening I read this thread and said I bet my springs are weak.. Another look under the belly and sure enough the springs are flat now without any Motorcycles in the bay. I suppose I will have to take it to an undercarriage shop and have the suspension rebuilt.
Our Voltage is 5 years old. What a weak and crappy suspension system. Thanks Lippert.
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Sorry your having trouble on the road however at least you got 5 years out of them mine is 1 month old lol
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08-11-2017, 11:44 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Quarantine
Posts: 366
Ontario
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That's one of the reasons I insisted on a tri-axle instead of a tandem for this hauler.
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