AAAARRRGHHHH WHAT HAVE I DONE!! Don’t be me!

HoBo

Good evening from Nowhere, NM! I am stranded and awaiting a flatbed in the morning. I am heading home to Asheville, NC after an amazing four week cross country adventure. I have travelled 4700 miles thus far.....until today. Something locked up the brakes. All seemed okay until I heard a grinding and shredding. I have limped to an exit and unfortunately being 100 miles from Albuquerque must get towed there. I called Santa Fe RV, a nucamp dealer, advising I wished to use their services and they turned me down advising ‘we are too busy to do emergent repairs’. So, I will be going to an auto repair/tire shop on AAA RV Plus list of shops in ABQ. Wish me luck. I see new axles, bearing, pads.....what else can I expect?

Homebodyatheart

Ouch! No, but you’ve got a place to sleep with your Tab. Sorry, that’s all I’ve got. Maybe there’s some Tabbers in the area who can brighten tomorrow for you? Good luck!

4ncar

Handbrake on you TV? Should hopefully only be pads & rotor/drums for the rear brakes only. We’re you dragging trailer brakes too? Even if, no axel replacement...pads & drums, might as well get bearings too if you haven’t had them done.

Dalehelman

We talking tow vehicle or trailer. If it’s the trailer it must be a Dutchman. 

pthomas745

Remember that the trailer system (axle, brakes, etc)  can probably be dealt with by a company that repairs utility trailers.  You don't have to only deal with RV shops.

The good news is the balloon fiesta is on this week in ABQ,  so try to find a spot to watch and contemplate balloons as they drift by.

mreric

how is the hand brake on the TV  connected to the T@b?

ChanW

As @Dalehelman said, must be a Dutchman.

Any good mechanic can replace brakes drums and bearings.

The complication might be that they're European in the Dutchman. Not sure, but Elsie might be able to advise you on replacement parts.

Also, the Yahoo group has many more Dutchman folks that might be able to advise... I'm pretty sure I read of a common US-available bearing replacement on that group's forum.

Sounds like a great trip! Of course you'll have a hiccup or two. It's part of the story you'll be telling your grandkids.

Enjoy the balloons!

Mouseketab

I would have the service place you go to contact Elsie at nuCamp, she can hook you up with all the parts. Unfortunately, won't be cheap. You are looking at an axle, brakes, and bearings. and no you are not the first one to kill an axle on a Dutchmen. I fortunately, have avoided that.

ScottG

For those that can't see it on your device, the OP's signature line indicates a 2005 T@B--indeed a Dutchman with a lever-operated hand brake.

rfuss928

Been there, done that..........  I had to do a repair in a campground a few years back.

The sealed bearing assemblies and brake parts kits were available from NuCamp in the past.

If not, the bearing and brake parts are for an ALKO 1637 axle.

Gennerally, one side will be much worse than the other.  I was able to replace one bearing, remove internal brake parts and disconnect the brake cable (no trailer brakes) as a quick field repair.  When home, I replaced the other bearing and shoes, springs, adjusters, etc. on both sides.

Bearings - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sealed-Bearing-Kit-Dac3060w-Al-ko-1637-Alko-Mp1871b/401510288799?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Brakes - https://www.amazon.com/LAS-10700-Bremsbackensätze-ALKO-Type/dp/B00IMP248Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=alko+1637&qid=1570632597&sr=8-1

Drums and axle are probably OK

Repair, maintenance and adjustment PDFs are in the Manuals category.

Good luck!

HoBo

Thank you everyone! AAA RV Plus failed me miserably. Twenty hours later I’m finally at the repair shop in Albuquerque.  Next stop a brewery and researching the Balloonfest! 

Cbusguy

@HoBo please fill us in regarding your AAA issues.

HoBo

Ref AAA...My initial call was around 4pm Tuesday. 4:23 I received text that a tech being dispatched to assist. Ten phone calls and twenty hours later the tow truck arrived (today, Wednesday around noon) So frustrating.

N7SHG_Ham

@HoBo that is bad! I have heard more than one horror story about roadside services, honestly I think a person is better off in just calling a local tow company and paying the bill, I think the reimbursement to the tow company must be small compared to market value?

jgram2

I think response time varies a lot on your location. Having said that, USAA has us pay and submit the bill. They reimburse quickly.

HoBo

So after assessing all the damage everything between the rims is shot. :( They actually said I was lucky it didn’t catch on fire it got so hot 😳 They have to order all the parts. I’m actually going to fly home, deal with medical issue then fly back when repairs completed. The repair shop has been amazing but my bank account is crying. $1200 total parts, shipping and labor. Thanks for all your input. It was helpful to them. I love this forum! ❤️

Mouseketab

So sorry to hear it's a total failure, but actually that is less than I thought it might be. I had heard $2K in the past for an axle replace.