loose King Pin mounting

[thook]

I noticed that my bed rail clearance is less than it was before we started home from Arizona. I'm suspicious that the king pin has come loose from where it mounts to the frame. I am still hooked up and will be able to tell more when I can try moving the king pin. Has anyone had a similar problem?

[dieselguy]

Boy Howdy, if you have a spacing between bed rail and fiver that shrunk enought to notice just by looking, I'd say you have something major going on. I wouldn't travel farther till you know what's going on. Even with just loose mounting bolts, I doubt if it would sag enough to notice.

[1retired06]

My buddy had a similar problem: broken weld caused frame separation at the front cap. It also caused interior wall separation at the bedroom closet. Hopefully not the case with you, but something easy to fix, if in fact you have a problem

[jlb27537]

Tom, My guess would be the welds that hold the pin box bracket to the frame have failed or are failing.

My experience is a weld fails which allows the bracket to move and it will eventually cause the metal to fail. I would suggest you get the front overhang material around the pin box removed so you can see framing up there.

You might take some measurements hooked up. Remain hooked up and raise front with front jacks and see what moves or changes.

Jim

[twindman]

This is the infamous 'frame flex' issue. Many threads about that a few years ago. I, myself, experienced it also. Just like others described - front closet paneling bows out and eventually cracks/breaks. Finally I got inside and had the wife either (forget which) raise it off the truck or the ground. I could seen the bow in the panel and a good bit of movement.
Had my local dealer (good service) remove the front cap, weld up everything, add in angle braces (forget what they are called). $1800 But I had used it for 7 years and around 70 or 80,000 miles on the trailer. So if you prorate it, that isn't that bad, I figured.
Good luck.

[DQDick]

I was told by a factory tech to look at the seams around the lower part of the front cap. If that seam moves when hooked up, it's frame flex for sure.

[Rondo]

Definitely sounds to me like it is Frame Flex. Check the seams like DQDick stated and if there is movement there, I'd be having a dealer somewhere along the way check it for sure. It can be repaired but they do have to take the front cap off to do it! Keep us informed on what you find out!

[capn chris]

Been there. Done that, w/our 2005 2955RL. Clearance of the rig to the truck way less. Check the king pin-frame welds w/a flashlight, or get to a dealer ASAP. Our main box beam across the front, to which the king pin mount was welded, sheard inside the cap. Entire mounting frame had to be cut out and rebuilt/welded by a Lippert tech. Don't push your luck. Get help now, as others have said. Front cap off will reveal the real situation. Good luck.