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Monday, April 15, 2013

Yuma, Arizona to Laughlin, Nevada

On Monday morning we were up bright and early to pack up and head off to the alignment shop in Yuma.  When we arrived the owner (Joe Haines of Chassis Dynamics) backed the rig over the pit and got underneath to have a look.  A minute or so later he called Eric down into the pit to have a look as well. 

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Turns out that the passenger side of the rig where the tires are wearing the worst has a problem with the Dexter Easy Flex rubber equalizers that Eric added on to improve the shock absorption.  The rubber blocks have collapsed and changed the angle of the axle on that side in relation to the driver’s side.  Joe said he has replaced numerous sets of these Dexter Easy Flex equalizers and also MorRyde rubber suspension parts.  He suggested going back to steel equalizers with bronze bushings instead of rubber.  Joe said they are constantly failing and the rubber is just no good.  Swell!  He said he could align the axles but we would be back in no time saying that the alignment was no good and that the tires were wearing funny.  Eric thanked him for his honesty and when he asked what the charge was Joe said “No charge because I didn’t do anything!”  How nice is that.  Too bad that the James Sterling Truck Shop in Kelowna didn’t tell us all of this when they aligned the axles for $400.00 when we were heading south in November.  Joe said the infrastructure has to be right before you do an alignment.  Eric will change the equalizers when we get home and we’ll return to Chassis Dynamics next fall for an alignment.  Unfortunately the tires will wear out and have to be replaced again.  An expensive problem. 

We were out of the shop and on the road by 9:00 am so it was off to Laughlin, Nevada.  We knew there was a wind warning for Laughlin and all the way up to Las Vegas that was going to worsen late in the afternoon so we didn’t stop for lunch along the way.  Luckily it was a south wind and it blew us all the way to Laughlin!  We were in the park by 1:00 pm and the wind was no issue.  Blow, blow, blow, who cares, we’re parked now!

We like it here in Laughlin because the park is cheap ($100.00 a week) and it has this nice little outlet mall that I like to shop at!

2 comments:

  1. ..and now tire problems in common. Happy shopping.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so glad to see you updating your blog. Even if it is with problems... how is the weather in Laughlin? Joy

    ReplyDelete