Chieftain 31 driver's side front wheel removal?

Groove · July 02, 2014, 07:40 AM

Greetings!

This is my first post here and I'm sure there will be many more. I can't get my front wheel out of the wheel well, it hangs up and gets caught between the studs and the (welded to the chassis) driver's step. Is there a trick to this? I'm no newbie when it comes to mechanics, but this wheel is making me feel stupid.

Thanks for any help.

Eric

Mr. T · July 02, 2014, 09:11 AM

Maybe turn your wheel hard left. See if that will give you clearance. If need be, maybe let the air out of the tire.

Don T.

Groove · July 02, 2014, 09:41 AM

I can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

Rickf1985 · July 02, 2014, 09:49 AM

I pull the bottom of the tire out a bit, drop it off the studs and angle it forward and then it will squeeze by the step.

DonD · July 02, 2014, 10:00 AM

On my SW I have to jack the frame up a bit.

ClydesdaleKevin · July 02, 2014, 06:10 PM

We have an even worse step, rides lower, on our 89 Holiday Rambler. The secret is to jack it higher than normal, then rock the bottom of the tire out, and guide it out past the steps. It will come out, just not as easy as the passenger side.

Kev

Stripe · July 03, 2014, 03:21 AM

Have a look at this thread, Scroll down and you can see what Kevin is talking about. Our steps are a bit obnoxious.

http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php/topic,7759.0.html

When I did the drivers side I turned the wheel to the left and that made a BIG difference..

Groove · July 03, 2014, 07:14 AM

Thanks for the help everyone, I'm away from the RV until Monday so I'll have to wait to try again.

FastGlassman69 · February 05, 2015, 11:38 PM

Quote from: Groove on July 03, 2014, 07:14 AM
Thanks for the help everyone, I'm away from the RV until Monday so I'll have to wait to try again.

I have been working on the front end of my Chieftain 22 all week and decided to reinvent the step as it is a big PITA to work on anything on the left side. I cut it off and am making connectors out of solid square barstock, so I can slide it on and lock it in with some bolts or pins. It is much too hard to do anything on that side of the motorhome even with the wheel off having that stupid step on there.
To me that is just an emergency exit as I prefer going thru the side door! Just my thoughts as I don't like getting hurt squeezing in just to check the damn brake fluid! Bobby