Before hooking up your travel trailer or fifth wheel for a long road trip, inspect the area under your RV.
Also check for signs of wear and ensure RV Suspension components are secure.
Your suspension carries thousands of pounds over highways, potholes, bridge transitions, campground roads, and uneven surfaces.
Every mile creates movement and wear in components such as the leaf springs, shackles, bushings, equalizers, U-bolts, and spring hangers.
At California RV Specialists in Lodi, CA, suspension inspections are an important part of preventative maintenance for towable RVs.
This focus helps owners keep their trailers safe and reliable on the road.
A suspension problem caught at the shop is much easier to deal with.
It is harder to fix when it is discovered hundreds of miles from home.
Start with Your RV Leaf Springs
Leaf springs carry the weight of your trailer and experience constant movement while traveling.
Look closely for:
- Broken or cracked spring leaves
- Flattened or unusually shaped springs
- Signs of shifting
- Uneven ride height
- Damaged spring eyes
- Rust or deterioration that deserves further inspection
- Contact or clearance concerns
- Differences from one side of the RV to the other
A damaged or severely worn spring shouldn’t be ignored.
Inspect the Shackles
Shackle links are relatively small components with a very important job.
As the suspension moves, the shackles pivot and allow the spring and equalizer system to articulate.
Over time, shackle holes can wear and elongate. Hardware can loosen, and thin factory shackles can develop significant wear.
Look for excessive movement, elongated holes, damaged hardware, unusual angles, or components that simply don’t look right.
Don’t Forget the Bushings
Bushings are installed at pivot points within many RV suspension systems.
Some factory suspension systems use plastic or nylon-style bushings that can wear over time. As bushings deteriorate, additional movement can develop between suspension components and mounting hardware.
Depending on the suspension, upgrades may include bronze bushings, wet bolts, and heavy-duty shackles.
These components still require inspection and maintenance—they shouldn’t be considered maintenance-free.
Inspect Your Equalizers
On tandem-axle trailers, the equalizer helps transfer movement between the axles as the suspension travels over uneven surfaces.
Inspect the equalizer and mounting points for wear, damaged bushings, loose hardware, excessive movement, or other visible concerns.
For owners interested in upgrading their factory suspension, systems such as Dexter E-Z Flex may be an option for qualifying RVs.
Look Closely at the Spring Hangers
Your leaf springs and equalizers ultimately attach to hangers connected to the RV frame.
Don’t overlook them.
Inspect around the hangers and attachment areas for:
- Cracks
- Distortion
- Bent components
- Damaged welds
- Unusual movement
- Signs of contact or impact
- Changes since your previous inspection
If you see a crack around a hanger or frame attachment point, have it professionally evaluated before continuing to tow.
Check Your U-Bolts & Axle Attachment
U-bolts help secure the axle to the suspension.
Loose, damaged, shifted, or improperly installed components can create serious problems.
This area should be inspected along with the spring plates, axle position, and surrounding hardware.
Follow the axle and suspension manufacturer’s requirements for inspection and fastener maintenance.
Your Tires Can Tell You Something
When inspecting the suspension, look at your tires too.
Unusual tire wear can sometimes be a clue that something else needs attention.
If one tire is wearing differently from the others, don’t automatically assume the tire itself is the problem.
Suspension wear, axle conditions, loading, alignment, tire pressure, wheel concerns, and other factors can contribute to unusual wear patterns.
Finding the cause is more important than simply replacing the worn tire.
Consider a Suspension Upgrade
If you’re already replacing worn suspension components, it may be a good time to discuss available upgrades.
California RV Specialists installs and services several RV suspension options, including:
- Roadmaster Comfort Ride
- Dexter E-Z Flex
- Heavy-duty shackles
- Wet bolts
- Bronze bushings
- Replacement leaf springs
- Suspension reinforcement components when appropriate
The right upgrade depends on your RV’s weight, axle configuration, existing suspension, and how you use the trailer.
Don’t Wait for Something to Break
Suspension components often provide warning signs before a major failure.
Wear, movement, unusual tire patterns, noises, leaning, damaged hardware, or visible cracks deserve attention.
Make it a habit to look underneath your RV periodically and especially before a major trip.
If you’re not comfortable inspecting the suspension yourself, let an experienced RV technician do it for you.
Schedule an RV Suspension Inspection Before Your Next Trip
California RV Specialists provides RV suspension inspections, repairs, maintenance, parts, and upgrades for travel trailers and fifth wheels.
We can inspect your leaf springs, shackles, bushings, equalizers, hangers, axles, tires, wheel bearings, and brakes to help identify concerns before you put more miles on your RV.
Your suspension works every mile you travel.
Give it some attention before your next adventure.
California RV Specialists
200 S. Cherokee Lane
Lodi, California
Monday–Friday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Serving RV owners since 2003
Serving RV owners from Lodi, Stockton, Galt, Elk Grove, Sacramento, Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, Modesto, Jackson, Ione, Valley Springs, and surrounding Northern California communities.
Can’t Bring Your RV to the Shop?
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Visit our Amazon Store for everything you’ll need, including basic parts, accessories, and tools to help you maintain your RV.
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