Spent the day rebuilding my Aluminess swing outs. They had worn pretty badly--in "only" 41k miles--and were loose. I installed steel bushings instead of the bare aluminum Aluminess used. The holes in the swing out mounting arms were all enlarged--especially the uppers. I also used some neat shoulder bolts to replace the upper arm bolts for more contact area against the bushings. The lowers were OK.



For the time being the swing outs are much better and should last a while. That said, the aluminum just isn't up to carrying a 100lb spare. Mine is bent:


For what these cost they sure don't last. They should have at least used bushings when new, but for $3000 they should have had spherical bearings or even roller bearings. Plus the tubes need to be either heavier or mounted with better support.

Gonna look into a new tire swing out that can handle the weight, but doubt I'll be willing to spend what they want for it. If all this had been steel, it would have cost 1/2-2/3 as much, and none of this would have happened.

Z

__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net

Right were yours is bent, I’ve seen one that cracked from the weld outward.

__________________
2003 Ford E-350SD 4x4
V10 / 4R100 / NV271
Front Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/King Pin/Open Knuckle/High Steer
Rear Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/Full Floating
Eaton E-Lockers Front And Rear/4:10 Gears
ARB Differential Covers - Nodular Iron With Dipstick And Drain Plug
Leaf Spring Suspension Front And Rear
46 Gal Transfer-Flow Fuel Tank
ExtremeAire Magnum Air Compressor
Reunel Rear Bumper
On And On ...

Well, what's the stated rated load capacity of the swingarm?


Herb

__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.

Don't know, don't care. Maybe Aluminess accidentally sent SMB-West their Mini model swing arms ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/wembley_1966/3833805408/ ) instead of the one for the 10,600 lb Ford E350 Superduty that had been converted to 4WD, is intended for off-road use and requires E Rated tires.

Z

__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net

So you could have potentially completely overloaded the swingarm and that would be their fault? I'm not saying you did, but people do need to understand the design limits before blaming the manufacturer. I'm not aware that others have had bent swingarms, so I'm inclined to believe it's an aberration or overloading.


Herb

__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.

I don't think the spare tire should overload the spare tire carrier. I don't think it should even be close.

BIGVAN posted above he's seen the carrier break. I know of two prominent list members who had extra arms added to their carriers--one has four instead of the normal two. Might help with the loosening issue, but not the bending.

I'll call Aluminess tomorrow to see what a stronger carrier will cost. I won't be able to add extra arms because I'd have to ship the entire bumper to them. I expect it to be over $500 though.

Z

__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net

I agree, this product is marketed to consumers as a 4x4 on/off road heavy duty bumper with a spare tire carrier. It is made for the size of the 4x4 spare, but not the weight?

__________________
2003 Ford E-350SD 4x4
V10 / 4R100 / NV271
Front Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/King Pin/Open Knuckle/High Steer
Rear Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/Full Floating
Eaton E-Lockers Front And Rear/4:10 Gears
ARB Differential Covers - Nodular Iron With Dipstick And Drain Plug
Leaf Spring Suspension Front And Rear
46 Gal Transfer-Flow Fuel Tank
ExtremeAire Magnum Air Compressor
Reunel Rear Bumper
On And On ...

Did the added weight of fuel and sand ladders cause it?

__________________
2006 E350 6.0PSD 5R110, SMB 4X4, RB-50, ARB lockers front/rear, Aluminess galore, AMP steps.
Callsign KK6GIY

Ima stay out this brouhaha except to say that I looked at A'ness as a possibility for my van. Fabdude "weighed-in" that he was against aluminum anything that takes the stresses and potential impacts of these big fat toys. So we pulled a bunch of junk out that more than compensates for the weight of steel.

My rear bumper is still a work-in-progress. I'm adding to it as designs gel. The tubing for mine is the same tubing that Nascar and NHRA requires for crash cages. I've forgotten the cool@ss name/number of the steel, but it is the toughest stuff that fabdude could access. The bumper part is made from 7" x 7" heavy wall box steel. Kinda like to back into an aluminum-bumpered Nissan just to feel the "crush"

__________________
'95 SMB E350 Quigley 7.3
https://www.taylorarts.com
... If you have to ask, you'll never understand...
"... torpedo'd, because we don't generally cotton to bullshit around here." -jage
"... do they ooch apart in the night?" -Dia

All that stuff is either plastic or aluminum and very light--25# or so--I was waiting until I rebuilt the swing outs before adding fuel and water. I guess they'll stay that way until I get something better.

Z


http://www.tomsinclair.net

__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net