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Old 01-25-2020, 06:56 PM   #1
Hblick48
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Frame Flex - Frame Is Cracked

Noticed a crack on the filon at the lower front bedroom slide corner when we purchased unit 4 years ago. I drilled hole at the end and covered with silicone. Crack came back and got longer. Drilled another hole and covered with silicone. After this last trip, I noticed that the silicone had cracked open, further inspection required!

Today I ripped off the filon and laun and found a crack in the aluminum framing at the bottom corner of the slide opening.

I have found "Frame Flex" issues dating all the way back to 2002, when our rig was built. Seems like the Keystone fix was to install a piece of molding to allow the frame to flex without cracking the filon.

I have access to a tig welder. Would appreciate any input on how to structurally repair the crack and replace filon and laun. Really don't want to remove slide to do the repair.
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Old 01-25-2020, 07:04 PM   #2
Jeff n Susan
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Yikes!
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Old 01-26-2020, 07:43 AM   #3
richfaa
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The aluminum framing is not the RV frame. What you have allows the gel coat to flex but the RV frame is not broken. We had that on our 06 3400.
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Old 01-26-2020, 09:18 AM   #4
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Looks like your wall frame is broken to me as that tube should not be cracked like that, nor should the filion crack as it did unless the wall frame flexed as the steel gooseneck frame flexed. But the other side of the coin is that this is a 2002 unit and the value is about zero on the market. Personal value is another issue. I would just put the Luan back in place with 3M5200, install fillon and go on with life. If you had Cray vision, you might notice all kinds of things broke in the wall framing.
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Old 01-26-2020, 10:05 AM   #5
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Reference post 3.
Lynwood
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Old 01-26-2020, 03:53 PM   #6
Hblick48
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Additional info and questions from the thread starter:

I understand that this crack is in the aluminum frame that Keystone built onto the actual steel frame. As such, the trailer is still structurally sound.

The steel frame is designed to flex, which is a good thing. I'm thinking that beefing up the aluminum frame to "repair" the crack may cause it to crack elsewhere?

BTW: The crack completely disappears when the weight is transferred from the hitch to the landing gear.

The question is to try to repair the crack, leave it, or try to engineer a way for it to flex without cracking? Perhaps Keystone's fix allowing the filon to flex by installing a piece of trim is the solution (just ignore the structural issue)? I have a problem with just covering it up.
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Old 01-27-2020, 01:50 PM   #7
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There are some pics on the net and on here of how the repairs for this are done. You might want to study several of those and then devise a plan. I know i have several on another forum that should be able to be pulled up in a Google search.
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Old 01-28-2020, 07:35 AM   #8
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I’d review this TSB from a keystone on crack repair procedures
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Old 01-28-2020, 08:58 AM   #9
Hblick48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckS View Post
I’d review this TSB from a keystone on crack repair procedures
Thank you for this TSB. But wait....there's more!

Yesterday I took the rig to my welder's shop. He inspected the pin box area and found at least 2 cracked welds where the pin box is mounted to the frame. Have to wait until there's room to pull the Montana into his shop so we can tear into it.

Pretty sure that the cracked pin box welds caused the flex that cracked the aluminum frame.

Wonder if there is a TSB for fixing the pin box mount?
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Old 01-28-2020, 09:43 AM   #10
ChuckS
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Take a look at this file
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File Type: pdf Repair procedure for gooseneck frame flex.pdf (430.0 KB, 162 views)
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Old 01-28-2020, 10:09 AM   #11
Hblick48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckS View Post
Take a look at this file
Thanks for the additional info.

I assume that the second repair (without adding wood blocking) would be the one to follow?
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