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Old 07-20-2016, 11:54 AM   #1
drknapp
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Frame Flex

I just had ours in at a local RV maintenance facility for having the bearings repacked and brakes adjustment. When I picked it up, the owner expressed a concern regarding our unit having too much frame flex. He stated that they noticed it when the picked it up to move it around with their forklift.

I've read the posts regarding frame flex on the forum and have checked all for most of the symptoms and have found none. No gaps on the seals around the cap or problems in the closet area (at least when on the legs). My next step is to take hitch measurements and re measure when it's on the truck and also look in the closet to see if there is any indications when resting on the truck.

The question I have is regarding how much flex is normal when loading it on the truck. Ours has always seemed to flex a little and we can hear the siding pop quite a bit as the weight is put on the truck. We were wondering if any of you hear noise also when you load yours on the truck?
 
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Old 07-20-2016, 01:14 PM   #2
1retired06
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Have not experienced the noise you describe
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Old 07-20-2016, 02:20 PM   #3
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The only noise we hear is the truck settling on the springs as it takes the trailer weight.
Maybe a little noise from the Trailersaver hitch head springs.

-Steve
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Old 07-20-2016, 03:37 PM   #4
dieselguy
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Measured from the top of the pin box underneath the front cap to the molding around the front cap I get about 1/4" difference from hooked to my truck compared to sitting on the landing gear. I have the same unit as you. It does move a bit more when hitting a real rough bump in the road. No noise when hitching up or unhitching other than perhaps my truck springs moaning a bit. Look at the trim piece running along the fifth wheel wall portion a few inches below your bedroom slide ... if the sealer has pulled loose in that area, you may have an issue. Look close at the staples in your front closet for ones that have pulled clear thru.
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Old 07-20-2016, 04:03 PM   #5
Razrbk
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If not to inconvenient, you might consider taking it back and having the facility owner show you exactly what it is that concerns him; then, get a second opinion from another reputable service center.
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Old 07-20-2016, 05:32 PM   #6
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On our rig, a couple of months ago, I had noticed some movement between the upper edge of the trim molding and the caulking on the side wall, when we were hooked up on the truck. We moved about 80 miles on the way to Lake Siskiyou, and when we arrived, I'm setting up and hearing very loud popping and noticed there was a gap of about 1/2 inch between the edge of that same molding and the edge of the fiberglass side wall, which I had never seen before. I looked inside the propane compartment and found a broken chunk of weld that had broken off. I then saw severe breaks in the steel frame, and decided that we weren't moving until it was repaired. I managed to find a mobile RV repair guy, who was also a certified welder, who showed up the next day. After almost 6 hours of work, with me helping, he welded up and reinforced the frame in the front of the propane compartment, and he also decided to inspect the frame above the pin box, where he discovered numerous cracks, which he also welded. The photos show the trim, in the curved area where the most movement had occurred, and the inside of the propane compartment, looking forward, where he did all the welding and reinforcement. The horizontal tube that runs all the way across the rig was broken clear through in the upper right corner of the photo, and the plate below the tube had one small weld, and he welded that fully, and then added the triangle shaped gussets. We did have to drop the Filon panel from the pin box back to below where it curves, so he could access the front of that steel tube, and had to cut out a small area of the plywood of the rear of the front wall of the front compartment, so he could weld the front of the tube and the front of the plate below the tube. The frame is now solid. Hope this helps, and remember, not everyone will have issues in exactly the same spots, this is just where ours happened.



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Old 07-20-2016, 07:12 PM   #7
sapest
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The only noise we hear is the truck settling on the springs as it takes the trailer weight.
Maybe a little noise from the Trailersaver hitch head springs.

-Steve
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Old 07-20-2016, 08:18 PM   #8
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I think that Lippert has weak frames a lot of Montana's have had pin box problems in that area, I did and, along with my sister with her Larado I wont trouble you with pictures its not my post or topic.
I don't know if Lippert is using true I beams now on the newer models, or the one they manufacture with flat Iron made into channel then welded back to back to create an I beam, less weight that way. keep an eye on that part of your RV and inside the closet in the bedroom near the top of the ceiling and wall along with the dresser drawers out of alignment.

ON Edit I decided to show you what to watch for up front these are what I saw and had to get fixed out of warrantee.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...eperation2.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...eperation1.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...uspention3.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...5/IMG_3138.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...5/IMG_3139.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...5/IMG_3140.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...5/IMG_3141.jpg

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Old 07-21-2016, 04:35 AM   #9
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Inside bedroom closet on our unit, we have a huge crack in the wall about 2-3 inches above the closet floor. Crack is open about 1/2" and runs full depth of that wall, which is the left wall for the shelves that run to curbside wall in our layout. That is only indication of flex at some point. Have been meaning to bridge the crack with something to see if I am still flexing, but haven't done it yet. No noise when loading or unloading to/from truck except truck springs. John
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Old 07-21-2016, 05:39 AM   #10
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Thanks for all the good info. I'm going to take some measurements and then load it on my truck this weekend to see how much difference there is. I'm also going to recheck the walls in the closet. I don't have any apparent separation in any of the caulked seams yet that I can see. If I don't see anything, I'll probably make an appointment with the dealer to check it out also. It figures that my extended warranty just expired this year too.
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Old 07-21-2016, 08:40 AM   #11
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there is a lip sheet that shows how to measure. you can find it on lippert's website and also in the my lci app. 1/4 to 1/2 in is normal.
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Old 07-21-2016, 11:54 AM   #12
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Thanks Jason! It some searching, but I found the instructions. It's called "Upper Deck Flex Measurement".

https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...sheet/0236.pdf
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Old 07-22-2016, 02:51 AM   #13
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Fortunately we have not experienced any frame movement or noises.
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Old 07-23-2016, 08:19 AM   #14
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Ok, I think things are looking ok. I used the instructions "Upper Deck Flex Measurement" that Jason suggested. I couldn't measure all the way down to the bottom where the legs are due to the bed of the truck, but I was able to measure from about six inches in from each corner down to about a foot up from the bottom and the measurements did not change with weigh on the truck. I do see about 3/8" movement from the top of the hitch to the bottom of the nose (there is only about an inch gap there with no weight on it). So I'm thinking I'm ok.

What do you guys think?
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Old 07-25-2016, 09:23 AM   #15
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I would say 3/8 is within spec. But you can call Lippert for a second opinion. They are very friendly. They showed me the sheet and how to measure at the last fall rally.
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