Tire clearance on 2027 with 14" tires - Page 2

trailbiker · 06-06-2012, 05:51 PM

I spoke with the folks at MCD RV (my "local" TM dealer) and they told me that there was not much clearance between the tire and the wheel well on the earlier 2006 models. The said although the clearance was within the spec which Dexter provided they switched to a different style axle sometime in 2006. This has already been pointed by Bill on this forum.

The folks at MCD said as the suspension ages, it sags a little so in some cases the tires my rub on the wheel wells causing some damage to the wheel wells.
They suggested I have a lift kit installed and I plan to have them do just that.
In spite of my reluctance to change my TM. I guess this is another reason to install the lift kit. Many people (much more experienced than I) have gone this route. The question is now once again is which tires to buy!

Dave99gst · 06-07-2012, 05:28 AM

Im going to be getting a lift kit and installing it.. I went with new 14's with 6ply tires.

I figure with how close mine is.. even with a lift kit its still too close to allow me the use of 15's

06-07-2012, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailbiker

...
The folks at MCD said as the suspension ages, it sags a little so in some cases the tires my rub on the wheel wells causing some damage to the wheel wells.
...

Hmmmm ... Dexter's Torflex axles just use "rubber cords" to support a steel torsion bar. I wonder how long these cords are expected to last? 10-20 years?

**Frenchy** · 06-07-2012, 06:29 AM

I wonder if someone jacked up the TM using the axle thus destroying the rubber cords.

**Bill** · 06-07-2012, 08:55 AM

Frenchy -

You beat me to it. That was my surmise as well. Putting a jack under the axle is all too easy to do, and all too common if the owner isn't prepared to insist on doing it right - and then watching the jack jockey. Kinda hard to blame the factory for that.

Bill

Dave99gst · 06-07-2012, 10:20 AM

Any idea as to How do we check for these cords and verify there condition ?

**Bill** · 06-07-2012, 10:58 AM

For a question like this, the best answer is probably to call Dexter Axle, ask for an Applications Engineer, and put the question directly to him/her. You'll probably talk to Christine, who has been quite willing to help, and reasonably knowledgeable, whenever I have called.

By the way, have you owned your TM long enough to know if this is a new development? In other words, was there more clearance at some time in the past?

Let us know what you learn.

Bill

trailbiker · 06-07-2012, 11:20 AM

Just curious, is there anybody else out there with a 2720 made prior to the axle change made in 2006 who happen to notice how much tire clearance they had prior to installing a lift kit?

Steppy · 06-07-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailbiker

Just curious, is there anybody else out there with a 2720 made prior to the axle change made in 2006 who happen to notice how much tire clearance they had prior to installing a lift kit?

I've got a 2004 2720SL which had its original 14" Marathons when I bought it a year ago last Dec. The tires were dry rotted and needed replacing. I found this great owners' forum and read about the 14" blowing out and how folks were installing lift kits and putting on higher rated 15" wheels & tires. I did precisely that. After pulling the original tires, I observed that the wheel wells had been worn through from the tires rubbing on them, even though there was an inch clearance which indicated the tires were bottoming out during transit. There was about an inch clearance between the tires and wheel wells then.

I replaced both wheel wells and installed the lift kit & 15" Maxxis. I now have 2 1/4" clearance above both tires and wheel wells. There is no indication that the tires have rubbed the top of the wheel wells at all. I took a 1900 mile round trip to New Hampshire and back last July and hit some pretty rough spots in construction zones but the trailer handled them well with the clearance it now has.

**ShrimpBurrito** · 06-07-2012, 04:41 PM

In the first post of this thread:

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=6078

...you will find pictures of my 14" wheels on my 2720SL before I installed the lift kit. I've also since upgraded to 15" wheels.

It looks like my wheel well is a difference design, however. My limiting factor was the frame member on the rear side of the wheel.

Dave