Another item to check

[halfwright]

I noticed the screw holes holding the cap to the rest of the trailer were wallowing out. So, I took off the fiberglass in back of the pin box and found several cracks. I can't blame Lippert because I have been over some rough roads in the past 7 years. I can fault Montana because most of the screws that were supposed to hold the fiber glass in place did not hit the 1X1 board at all. We will get it fixed and continue out life style.

[beeje]

I got news for you, IMHO that damage has nothing to do with screws. I believe you have some major frame damage (frame flex ) from the looks of it. Broken steel/welds in that area are not good. Most likely the front cap will have to come off and the frame reinforced with extra steel gussets/welds etc.

[mlh]

I agree with beeje. You have a problem a serious problem. We all go over some bumps but we don’t all have that problem. I’ve been over bumps that rang my bell on the ceiling of my truck but it didn’t tear the frame up like I’m seeing here.
Lynwood

[rohrmann]

We not only had cracks in the frame where the pin box is mounted, but no where near as bad as that, but also had a major frame component break. It took a mobile RV repair guy who is also a welder, almost 6 hours in a park about 1 1/2 years ago to make repairs. So far, it's holding great. Once any excess flexing is seen, either around the pin box or elsewhere, repairs should be done before more damage is done to the rest of the trailer.

The first photo is in front of the street side propane tank, repairs completed, and the second photo is the repair guy welding up cracks in the frame where the pin box attaches.

[DQDick]

Actually it looks like Keystone's bad screw job did you a favor. It wouldn't have been long before you had a really serious problem.

[Dam Worker]

When you see failure like that it looks like you either went through some hellish roads or maybe Lippert under designed the structure. Not just welds were you could blame poor craftsmanship but even the gusset was broke. Unfortunately just a bit bigger gussets and or welds could possibly stop issues like these. I work with lots of engineers and I sometimes make something a bit more solid that it was and then let them engineer it to see if it will hold up to the stress that it is exposed to. When the manufacture saves a few pennies it does not always help the consumers.

Thomas Marty

[mtlakejim]

This thread is sorta trending towards what I like to call "oilfield heavy duty". Kinda like I have been talking about getting more truck than you might need to meet minimum towing capacity. Having a trailer frame that is built to hold up to more than just minimum standards is a good idea. Unfortunately we don't have control over how the frames are built, we just have to deal with the aftermath.......At least we have control over how heavy a truck we buy (and that's how the fight started LOL).


Seriously, I can weld and first time I meet one of you in person at a rally, I would really like for you to point out these weak areas in the frame. I will keep a close watch on them and add extra bracing if needed....

[DQDick]

Can you tell us what year and model you have? I'm interested if this is a newer rig with the "stronger" frame.

[richfaa]

We agree with all the others you have a major problem.

[halfwright]

DQDick,

It is a 2007 342PHT.

To all of you who told me I have a major problem, thank you. I had thought the pin box breaking off would only be a minor inconvenience. What could possibly go wrong??
I mean, going down the road at 60 MPH, hitting a bump and the pin box breaks off. That is what break away brakes are for.

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by halfwright

DQDick,

It is a 2007 342PHT.

To all of you who told me I have a major problem, thank you. I had thought the pin box breaking off would only be a minor inconvenience. What could possibly go wrong??
I mean, going down the road at 60 MPH, hitting a bump and the pin box breaks off. That is what break away brakes are for.

I mean WJW

[rohrmann]

Originally Posted by halfwright

DQDick,

It is a 2007 342PHT.

To all of you who told me I have a major problem, thank you. I had thought the pin box breaking off would only be a minor inconvenience. What could possibly go wrong??
I mean, going down the road at 60 MPH, hitting a bump and the pin box breaks off. That is what break away brakes are for.

The only problem with that is, when the pin box separates from the trailer, the breakaway switch goes with it, and there is nothing to activate the brakes. These switches are a normal open switch when the pin is in place and only close the contacts when the pin is pulled, completing the circuit.

[prndl]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

We not only had cracks in the frame where the pin box is mounted, but no where near as bad as that, but also had a major frame component break. It took a mobile RV repair guy who is also a welder, almost 6 hours in a park about 1 1/2 years ago to make repairs. So far, it's holding great. Once any excess flexing is seen, either around the pin box or elsewhere, repairs should be done before more damage is done to the rest of the trailer.

The first photo is in front of the street side propane tank, repairs completed, and the second photo is the repair guy welding up cracks in the frame where the pin box attaches.

These pictures were not on your old 2955RL were they?
BTW what year was your 255?

[beeje]

The frames of ALL trailers have to flex to a certain degree (of they would just snap ). Have you ever followed a car carrier down the road ?. Those trailers are over the place. I see quite a bit of this flex in my 2011 3455sa. I have the large level mounted to the pin box and can see this flex while driving down the road because that level gives me a line of sight compared to the front cap of the trailer (if all that makes any sense).

So the bottom line is we all need to keep an eye on the frames of our RV,s and take notice of any major changes that were not there before. Certainly hauling them on rough unpaved roads (which I do often) is not good, but with the right equipment and some common sense, there should no issues.

If there are major issues with the frame in the front of your fifth wheel, you should be able to see the pin box being pushed up into the trailer. Just pay special attention to the pin box when hitching and in hitching.

[Texan]

I have the trailer saver airbag hitch on my truck. My airbags cushion the pin box .I'm going to check my pinbox today just to be sure everything looks good as the airbags are limited to what they can do.

[dfb]

Inferior Chinese steel.