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Post by vagov on Feb 28, 2017 20:51:07 GMT -5
Due to unforseen circumstances, I find myself in need of height clearance on my escape 196s. I am thinking a axle flip my give me a few extra inches to raise my undercarriage, and plumbing, just wondering if anybody has flipped a escape before. And how much more clearance. Can be made
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Post by vagov on Mar 2, 2017 10:38:51 GMT -5
My main question for asking is too determine. Any height difference I can expect, a few inches I would guess, and how does it affect to ride, and /or stability of the camper in tow? I need to gain several inches to clear my driveway now. And wondering if this option is advisable
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Post by johnr on Mar 2, 2017 12:43:43 GMT -5
I'd suggest checking with your dealer vagov. It's been a long time since I've flipped the axle on an RV, and never on a TT, just a 5er when I got a truck that was much taller than what I had.
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Post by Chuck on Mar 2, 2017 13:00:37 GMT -5
vagov I do not have a trailer like yours, but I have read allot over on the Good Sam Reflector about people do such to different brands of trailers> You might want to talk to your selling dealer before doing such so you do not void your warranty .....  But If you do flip your axles I would say you may gain 6 to 8 inches depending on how thick your springs are and the saddles that hold them.... So to get a good idea measure of what the difference would be measure from the bottom of your axle to the bottom of the spring and that will give you a pretty good idea of the height once they are flipped ...... The other thing is that if you only need to clear the end of your driveway then put down a few 8 or 10ft 2x6's then once on the street put them back in your garage till you return home, cheap and easy, just a thought ......  |
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Post by lynnmor on Mar 2, 2017 13:45:19 GMT -5
Just keep in mind that you don't "flip" the axles, you move them straight down and weld spring mounts on top of the axle.
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Post by Chuck on Mar 2, 2017 21:01:57 GMT -5
Agreed, there is more to it than meets the eye, not an easy job and should be done by someone that knows what they are doing, not cheap  |
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Post by vagov on Mar 8, 2017 22:54:26 GMT -5
I did talk to my dealer, I asked them about a axle flip on a Dexter axle, looked at me somewhat dumbfounded, guess not that popular on a small 22 footer, but he did give me a number for a guy they recommended in harmony pa, called and he told me he does them all the time. From small tt to 5vers. Currently working on 3 now, he said he would raise camper. Weld new perches above axle. As the axle itself cannot simply be flipped, he has a way to make them perfectly straight, as this is important ,then re bolt everything back up, rough measurments, I should gain 5 inches. But it,s a little costly. As a good welder doesn't come cheap, quoted over phone roughly 700 bucks, but may be a little less once I bring trailer out for physical. Inspection. In hoping a single axle wouldn't be too much. He said roughly take him 3 days to complete. , seemed pretty long, for basically 20 dollars of new hardware. And weld work. Wife's a little concerned about the additional ride height, and the extra step height that it would create. Would have to remeasure and set WDH. And see how it rides both stock and lifted, as I picked up a new to me chevy avalanche as a tow vechile ,as a sold my old tv. Camper is in winter storage until 2nd week of April. Just weighing out the pros and cons before bringing it home
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Post by Chuck on Mar 9, 2017 1:30:15 GMT -5
Well all I can say vagov is that with everything the parts are cheap, it's the labor that kills you As well you have to remember he has to take the old stuff off, drop the springs to get the axle out, then measure twice weld once before putting the new stuff on, LOL ... If the 1st step is to high then buy one of those step metal stools, they are a little pricey but work great and are solid as a rock .... |
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Post by johnr on Mar 9, 2017 7:35:44 GMT -5
Yes, taking it apart and putting it back together is the rough part, and you have to have the right tools and knowledge. The welding will probably be the easy part for him.
I carry along a wooden box step for my camper. I can put it in front of the RV steps if it's a little too high for comfort. It's made out of treated lumber so I don't ever have to worry about that and a piece of outdoor carpet is nailed to the top to prevent slipping. You might want to make one for yourself.
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rider
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 9 
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Post by rider on Apr 6, 2017 10:32:35 GMT -5
vagov, I have a 2012 E19SB and did an "axle flip" on it three years ago and have been extremely happy with the results. Moving the axle from on top of the springs to under the springs raised my trailer 6". I had it done at a local RV dealer and the cost for parts and labor was around $185.00. Hitch height is now much better and aligns much better with my truck and the trailer tows like a dream. Plus I get the bonus of knowing I picked up extra inches of clearance. And I do now use an aluminum step platform (Amazon/Camco, $52.00)
**The $700.00 quote is ridiculous!** **Also, my "axle flip" took one day. Dropped it off in the morning, picked it up that afternoon.**
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Post by Chuck on Apr 6, 2017 21:45:37 GMT -5
rider I have to say it depends on were you are in the country, on the left coast things out here tend to be at times 20 percent higher than in the mid west ... As well one business will charge maybe 2 or 3 hours were another may charge 4 or 5 hours. Example, I went to a business to get rear airbags put on my F350 4x4 DW LB truck, one place stated that it would take 3 hours at $68.00 an hour, went down the street at a RV place not more than 5 miles away and they stated 3 to 5 hours at $125.00 an hour. What funny was the $68 place which is a well know tire chain out here in the left coast wanted more for the Airbags than the $125 an hour, they were $125 cheaper on their Airbags ... The other funny thing was, the $68 place which I ordered from called me after an hour and stated that they could not put on the airbags (well know airbag brand) because the 5th wheel hitch was in the way ... The $125 an hour RV business said no problem, when do you want to bring it in an have them installed ... So depending not only were you are in the county or even locally price changes lots, do I think $700 is high, maybe, but depending on the workmanship and the amount of work and the hourly rate it may be spot on ... Please believe me I'm not knocking the place you had your done, just stating that there may be variations to were, what an when safe travels Chuck |
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rider
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 9
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Post by rider on Apr 7, 2017 19:50:18 GMT -5
chuck,
Obviously from your response to my post, which was intended to provide comparative information for vagov, the service situation in your area is a wild west crap shoot. I am not certain just how things are done in your area, but where I live, although labor rates may vary from facility to facility, and even then in most cases it is not all that drastic a difference. Labor times for any given job may vary but are usually fairly consistent, some small differences but nothing like indicated in your post. Most all RV dealers and service facilities in my state, Michigan, have to stay competitive by providing quality products and services at fair and reasonable prices or they will not be in business for very long. And believe me, there are one heck of a lot of RV dealers and facilities in Michigan because there are one heck of a lot of RVs in Michigan.
A 196S, which is what vagov is referring to in his post that started this thread is a small single axle trailer not unlike my E19SB. Again, I will repeat, $700.00 for an axle "flip" on that trailer is a ridiculous quote. The only reason to even contemplate that figure in my opinion is the one doing the quoting has absolutely no idea of what they are doing. Actually the biggest obstacles, which is why I had mine done by a shop, that would keep most people with any mechanical experience from doing that job themselves in their own driveway is the problem of supporting the trailer off the ground on all four corners and welding the spring perches on to the top of the axle.
I could understand a high dollar quote if we were talking about a multi-axle setup with a complicated suspension system. That is not the case here. One axle with a simple leaf spring/shackle setup.
After reading your post and reading about the variations in labor rates and time factors I have to say I am very glad that I do not have to deal with such inconsistencies and unknowns as exist in area. Good luck in dealing with the gun slingers where you live.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 8, 2017 0:05:51 GMT -5
rider It's just not in my area, it's thru out many of the states out here, I'll go a little more, most rates out here in the RV shops range from $110 to $125 an hour minimum , the one Chain tire shops charge $68 an hour ... I have lived in Michigan and NW Ohio, prices there a far cheaper than out here by a long shot. In the Seattle an the surrounding Area's hamburger flippers earn a minimum wage of $15 a hour to start ... We do not have a state tax but a tax on everything from food to parking as well as hotels, car an truck tabs, tools, cars RV's an the goes up or down from county by county. if you have a slid in camper you have to have a RV tab for it as well as on the truck ... In one county it could be 8 percent, in the next county it could be 12 percent, but say if you buy a car or truck, you pay the tax rate from the county you buy in, not the tax rate from that county you live in for the car .... If vagov feels it's to much then he should go down the road to the next guy, I will always pay a little more for good equity work if I know it is. Again do I think it a bit high yes, but as other people have stated on this reflector there is more to it than meets the eye ... Could you have done it, reading your post more than likely, could I have done it, more than likely, you had people doing the work on your trailer you new would be responsible if something happened, and as well did good work, I also would do the same thing and have ... Is it worth every dime you paid if the axle came off the trailer an hit someone's car, yes, if you did it and that happened, you may be paying for the rest of your life. If they screw it up and something happens it's called insurance, they are responsible not you ... I just had airlift bags put on my F350 4x4 DW LB truck, I paid $875 to have them put on, not because I couldn't do it myself at 72 years old, but it was because if something happen do to a bad install I could fall back on that shop for installing them incorrectly. But I also new they would be put on correctly an not have to worry going down the road pulling 13k 5th wheel behind me ... Would I like to move back to NW Ohio were many of my family are, not sure if the DW would let me LOL, we do have allot of rain all winter, but the the lowest it ever got here was maybe 25 degrees for a few days, the rest of the time in the low and mid 40'es, NO SNOW except in the mountains were it's over 20ft deep at the ski area's at 7000ft So if you took affiance of my post or this one, it wasn't or isn't intended, I just look at what is paid for at my end of the country ... BTW You think we are bad, look at California, they are all moving up here and surround states because the cost of living is so high...They have driven the housing market thought the roof, average, they say, again average price of a homein King county (Seattle) is now $750.000, our on son and his girl friend rent a one bedroom apartment for $1800 a month ... |
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Post by vagov on Apr 9, 2017 10:20:43 GMT -5
Thanks guys, I also think the price is a little high, it is a local weld shop that the rv dealer. I bought from recommended. Both the dealer and shop itself said that they them all the time, sounded like he was spot on when he was talking about it to me over the phone. I called them back questioning the price, he told me to bring the camper in, and he will take a physical look at it and try giving me a better quote. Taking the camper out in 2 weeks for a break the cabin fever weekend, and then to the weld shop at the end of the month for a better look. Will report back
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