Leaning RV

Grimmy3290 · 06-14-2021, 08:54 AM

I just bought a 2017 Vista XL 35B from an individual in Chicago. I flew up there and drove it home to Miami. When I got to the rest stop in Florida on the second day I noticed it was leaning to the right. When I parked it at storage I measured and it's leaning 3". Quite noticeable. Anyone here experience anything like that? The roads coming out of Chicago and through Indiana were horrible, lots of big pot holes. Damage to the suspension?

**Eagle5** · 06-14-2021, 09:24 AM

Hi Grimmy3290,
It sure sounds like a broken leaf spring to me. You will need to get under there and inspect everything. Another possibility is if lifting air bags have been installed, and they are individually controlled. If one side went flat, that also could cause it. Please let us know what you find, and welcome to the Forum.
Eagle5

Grimmy3290 · 06-14-2021, 09:34 AM

I lifted the tires off the ground with the hydraulics and went under and looked at both sides. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, both sides looked the same and I didn't see any cracks in the springs. I'm gonna take it to Ford and have them inspect it. Thanks! It's great to be part of the Winnie community!

Morich · 06-14-2021, 10:07 AM

Loading can be a factor at times, so a bit of thinking on which tanks are full, etc might tell you something??? Three inches seems quite a bit, though.

**creativepart** · 06-14-2021, 10:28 AM

Welcome!
Loading and tire pressures would be the first thing to check. The black and gray tanks are on the driver's side of the RV. And, a very low inside rear dually tire on the driver's side could also be an issue - and you may not even see it looking low.

About taking it to a Ford repair shop... just a heads up. This is far more difficult than you might expect. First, only Ford Commercial Truck dealers are equipped for this and the really sad thing is... most of them will turn away Class A RVs. In my experience I've never found one Ford dealer near me that would accept an RV for any kind of service.

What has worked for me is Commercial Truck Repair and Tire shops. The kind that service delivery trucks, dump trucks, buses, etc. In your area someone like:

Star Truck Service Inc
301 NW 171st St, Miami Gardens, FL 33169

I don't know specifically if they work on RVs, but it's the kind of shop I use here in San Antonio.

Mille71 · 06-24-2021, 03:29 PM

We have a 2016 Vista 35B and had the same problem..It was caused by the bracket missing on the rear sway bar. Dealer took it to a Ford truck shop and they replaced the bracket and put lock tite on all the bolts on both brackets. Went from 6 inch difference to a 1 1/2 inch difference which is within specs.

Sound crazy but that is what they found wrong with it.

Grimmy3290 · 06-24-2021, 05:59 PM

Thanks! Funny I grew up in Leon Valley San Antonio. Graduated from John Marshall

Grimmy3290 · 06-24-2021, 06:00 PM

Thanks, I'm gonna look four that!

puttin · 06-27-2021, 04:58 PM

A truck frame shop can take care of it. They put a shim on the driver's side of my 35-J and fixed it

Rick 99037 · 06-28-2021, 07:06 AM

Once you've confirmed all is well mechanically, find a way to weigh each dual to compare loads. If there is a significant difference you have no control over; Adding airbags that can be filled individually might be the answer. In years past, I've known of suspension shops that modified the springs on one side to make the rig level too.