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07-30-2015, 12:33 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Tucson
Posts: 872
Arizona
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Trailair Tri-Glide hitch failure
Anyone else have issues with their Tri-glide hitch going south? We just got back from a month long, 5000 mile trip, and the lower portion of the hitch, the part that slides back and forth, has apparent broken welds; it's not supposed to hang down in the back like that. It's rated for 21,000 pounds but my 17,000 pound Voltage and terrible roads caused its demise. I'm working through Camping World to get it replaced.
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__________________
2014 Voltage 3600
2013 Chevy 3500 CC DRW
2019 RZR 1000XP Trails and Rocks Edition
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07-30-2015, 12:41 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Cody
Posts: 1,764
Wyoming
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Ouch!
First one I've seen like that. Sorry you had the trouble, and hope CW takes care of it.
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Tom
2013 VOLTAGE 3200 (EPIC I & II)
2014 Ford F-450 PLATINUM
2018 BMW R1200GS RALLYE
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07-30-2015, 12:01 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,616
Michigan
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My father-in-law had similar issue on this Elite Suites last year. I believe he ended up getting a new lower jaw. His was 10 years old though.
__________________
2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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07-30-2015, 01:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
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17k & bad roads didn't cause that. Poor workmanship is to blame!! Less than two years old & failed. So I wonder where those are made China maybe.
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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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07-30-2015, 02:43 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Youngstown
Posts: 712
Florida
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I would be afraid to tow that to CW (or anywhere)
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Thom & Rose
DD-250 ALUMNI
The problem child: 2014 Voltage 3950
The problem solver: 2017 Tiffin Breeze 32BR
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07-30-2015, 10:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Canon City
Posts: 860
Colorado
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Kept it greased and the air pressure correct?
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08-04-2015, 08:11 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Tucson
Posts: 872
Arizona
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I kept all 9 fittings greased. It was fine at first, real smooth operation, but then the chucking would begin and gain in intensity. It got to where I was greasing the hitch every day that we were on the road; couldn't keep grease in it once the welds failed. No issues with the air bag, that part of the hitch works great. I think that the Tri-Glide can't take the strain of that heavy trailer banging back and forth.
__________________
2014 Voltage 3600
2013 Chevy 3500 CC DRW
2019 RZR 1000XP Trails and Rocks Edition
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08-05-2015, 02:21 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Canon City
Posts: 860
Colorado
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Hmmm....
I have a Tri-Glide and a 2014 Voltage Epic 3800.
I installed a gauge at the Schrader valve for pressurizing the air bag. As someone posted that led me to install the gauge. They commented they start at 100psi when they leave home. I did that...back in May. It has lost a bit of air through 5 weeks of travel thus far and is down to 75 psi. The arrow on the Tri-Glide dampener show I'm just about at the right pressure.
But I don't have any "chucking" as we go down the road.
Can't tell you why.
I inspect the welds on mine each time I grease it and prepare to hook up.
I do have a 30K Reese hitch.
Suppose any of these make any difference?
Pirate
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08-05-2015, 02:49 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirate
Hmmm....
I have a Tri-Glide and a 2014 Voltage Epic 3800.
I installed a gauge at the Schrader valve for pressurizing the air bag. As someone posted that led me to install the gauge. They commented they start at 100psi when they leave home. I did that...back in May. It has lost a bit of air through 5 weeks of travel thus far and is down to 75 psi. The arrow on the Tri-Glide dampener show I'm just about at the right pressure.
But I don't have any "chucking" as we go down the road.
Can't tell you why.
I inspect the welds on mine each time I grease it and prepare to hook up.
I do have a 30K Reese hitch.
Suppose any of these make any difference?
Pirate
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I have the Tri-Glide also with a 26 K Reese Elite on my 3950. I am towing with a 2013 F350 DRW LB 4x4.
I don't have the gauge on mine. I usually start at about 100 psi and air down to 75 or 80.
I tripled up my shocks and was going to brag that I never have any chucking. I was south of Las Vegas on 515 heading to 95. Nasty section of road. I had chucking for the first time. So I'm glad I did not claim I never had chucking.
Rig tows nice. It's just (and I say it again) to darn big.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3905
2013 F350 4x4 DRW
2013 RZR XP 900
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08-05-2015, 03:01 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Canon City
Posts: 860
Colorado
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To each his own Arlan. We like the big ol' 3800 for the layout inside. Pulls very well with the 2011 Silverado crew cab, DRW, and Highway Products bed.
We have learned to ask a lot of questions when making reservations in RV parks, and before boon docking, unload the RZR and go look at possible sites...then move the truck and trailer there. Learned that the hard way with our first toyhauler, a bumper pull.
Heading to San Diego on the 13th. Doesn't look like there is a route that doesn't go through the hot country...so it goes!!!
Pirate
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08-05-2015, 03:04 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azdryheat
I think that the Tri-Glide can't take the strain of that heavy trailer banging back and forth.
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That banging back and forth was something I noticed as soon as I left the dealer.
Funny thing though. After a couple hundred mile of learning how to drive it I seldom feel it change positions on the sliding aspect of the hitch. Just doesn't happen unless I am forced to brake hard.
I keep my brake controller set on Max (10).
Got to think about greasing it again. I haven't greased it 4000 miles.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3905
2013 F350 4x4 DRW
2013 RZR XP 900
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08-05-2015, 03:37 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houma
Posts: 244
Louisiana
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arlan in arizona
<snip> It's just (and I say it again) to darn big.
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I second that!!! And mine is only a 3600.
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2013 Voltage 3600 (sold)
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08-06-2015, 08:06 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Tucson
Posts: 872
Arizona
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***UPDATE*** Got a new hitch installed. Spoke with the tech that was doing the install and he said there was only one roller with good welds, the other two rollers totally failed. He said I was lucky to even get it into the shop. The new hitch is the Trailair minus the Tri-glide, I'm good with that. The tow home was outstanding. Happy camper.
__________________
2014 Voltage 3600
2013 Chevy 3500 CC DRW
2019 RZR 1000XP Trails and Rocks Edition
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08-06-2015, 08:26 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azdryheat
***UPDATE*** The new hitch is the Trailair minus the Tri-glide
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So the Tri-Glide is the sliding part of the hitch? I never have understood what the purpose of that is.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3905
2013 F350 4x4 DRW
2013 RZR XP 900
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08-06-2015, 10:00 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houma
Posts: 244
Louisiana
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Just curious, have you spoken to Lippert about this failure? Was the replacement covered under warranty? There could be more units that are just waiting to fail like yours. Imagine if the trailer had come unhitched while you were travelling, someone could have been hurt or worse. You may want to report this to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.gov.
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2013 Voltage 3600 (sold)
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08-06-2015, 10:02 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,616
Michigan
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My father-in-law's that failed the same way was the non-triglide model. Same issue at welds but his lasted about 10 years. He replaced it with a tri-glide lower jaw.
__________________
2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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08-07-2015, 05:56 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Tucson
Posts: 872
Arizona
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This is the Trailaire Tri-Glide. The lower section is the Tri-Glide and is supposed to dampen the back-and-forth jerking (chucking) motion with greased rollers (behind the 3 zerks). 2 of my 3 rollers failed. One more failure and my trailer would have departed the truck. I haven't seen a Voltage that didn't have this hitch.
Here is my new hitch minus the Tri-Glide, which is no longer in production.
__________________
2014 Voltage 3600
2013 Chevy 3500 CC DRW
2019 RZR 1000XP Trails and Rocks Edition
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08-07-2015, 08:19 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,616
Michigan
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Interesting. Just visited their site and sure enough, the tri-glide is no longer there. I wonder if LCI will do any replacements ahead of pending failures?
__________________
2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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08-07-2015, 03:27 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
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azdryheat "I haven't seen a Voltage that didn't have this hitch."
As I bought a "cheap" Voltage mine only has a stock 5th wheel pin.
So now you have seen one, well at least a picture of one.
__________________
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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08-07-2015, 03:32 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
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There are also 3 more zerk fittings in side of the hitch.
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2017 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW
2014 Voltage 3200
2005 FLHTCI
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