I've noticed a squeaking noise sometimes when I'm camping and the trailer rocks a little. After sitting for a couple of months since the last outing, I could hear a squeaking noise in my car as I drove off. It was so loud I stopped to make sure something hadn't come undone. After driving a bit, the squeak subsided in intensity though I could still hear it clearly if I rocked the trailer from the hitch point when I got gas.
I can't imagine what this could be other than the torsion axle, perhaps at the end points where it rotates. I've not heard of any lubrication or maintenance for that.
Anyone else experienced this?
Thanks
Tom
Hey Tom,
End of life on axle is normally determined by wheel well clearance. Do you have the older style welded on axle or newer bolt on. If bolt on the I'd inspect the bolt attachments for loose or broken attachments. If welded inspect the weld joints. Service wheel bearings recently? If not, I'd do that next and inspect all the wheel parts. If someone can rock it and create the noise while ur looking, maybe you can trace it to something else. Keep us posted.
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Here's an update. By the time I arrived at the campground after a five hour drive, the squeak was gone. When I reattached to come home five days later, there was no squeak. I might have heard a faint squeak when moving about in the trailer but nothing very loud.
I did a full repack of the bearings in the spring. The bearings themselves looked like new. It's a 2021, so a bolt on. I'll check the tightness of those bolts. Good idea.
I did do a similar trip shortly after the hearing repack and had no squeak. Hubs are cool when I check along the way.
It acts like something gets a little dry and then fixes itself after a period of driving. Can a grease seal get a little dry sitting for a while? Seems a bit far fetched since it had done a 500+ mile trip earlier in the summer.
I'll check this more thoroughly this week now that I'm back.
Edit: As I've thought about this, the only thing that makes sense to me is the point where the arm of the torsion axle rotates on the axle housing. If it was a little dry after sitting a while, it might squeak a lot until it moves back and forth a bit and loosens up. There could be a little residual rubbing that I hear sometimes when I'm parked. I always put a slight amount of tension on the rear stabilizers when parked which takes a little weight off those arms. Anyway, I'm going to check with Scamp and perhaps Dexter. I'm guessing that joint is metal and a little oil might help. I want to make sure, though, that there isn't rubber right there that could be damaged by oil. I'll post an update if / when I learn more.
I was able to replicate the squeak by rocking the trailer where it's parked at my house. I spoke with Scamp and they suggested applying some penetrating oil to that joint between the axle arm and the axle housing. I sprayed some WD-40 into it. Squeak is gone.
FYI, Michelle at Scamp noted that the axle itself has an 11 year manufacturer warranty for the original owner.