Frame Flex or Something Else

[mjammersc]

When we were putting our 5ver back in storage, we noticed a gap on the side trim where it curves from vertical to horizontal under the nose (see pict below) and you could tell the sealant on most the side had separated. When we disconnected and put onto the level-up, the gap disappeared. In the separation, you could actually see an air gap between the sidewall and the front panel. It only did this on the door side, the other side looks fine.

So, is this the start of a frame flex issue or some other issue?

I am going to head up today to look inside to see if there are any cracks and maybe reconnect it to take some before and after measurements per the Lippert Frame Flex sheet (as best as I can at least).

[mfreitas]

I would say yes this is frame flex. Got ours fixed last year. You see a difference along the trim line there when the weight is on the hitch to when the weight is on the jacks.

[mfreitas]

Look inside the closet at the shelf and in the front storage compartment. There is a flat bar about 4” across along the very bottom front edge of the conpartment. Ours twisted a little and the shelf and paneling tore loose.

[mjammersc]

Thanks Mike - we will take a look in those areas

[BuilderBob]

Make sure you look up around the pin box and in the front storage at all the welds! you may need to hook up your TV to see any separation in the welds. Hope you get it figured out.

Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW CC LB 4x4

Happy Trails

[The Bone]

I had a problem with mine and had to take it to a repair shop and have it welded. Cost a cool $1,000 to get it fixed. Poor construction from factory. Not enough welds on such a important piece. They had to weld both sides.

[mjammersc]

I inspected all the welds and metal areas I could see and nothing obvious on hitch or on jacks. I did the measurements per Lipperts frame flex sheet best I could (truck tailgate interfered some when hitched) and best guess is ~1/4-3/8" difference - not sure what to expect but this didn't seem like much. I did look in the closet area and the walls were all in tact but the shelving and trim had some issues. The biggest is in the DS "trap door" storage area at the bottom of the closet (ODS also had similar issue but not as pronounced). The shelf brace had a substantial split that got larger on hitch and the screws. Attached is a pict.

I called Keystone Customer Service and they have opened a case on it. They had me send in the picts I have and I am awaiting a call back.

[scottz]

Where did you find the "Lippert frame flex sheet"?

[mjammersc]

Originally Posted by scottz

Where did you find the "Lippert frame flex sheet"?

Here is a link to it. It tells what to measure but not what is an acceptable difference

https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...sheet/0236.pdf

[greische]

I just went through this with the trailer i just traded (it was an SOB). Measuring from the pin box to the frame rail near the landing gear, Lippert classes allowable flex to be up to 1/8 inch. Mine was 3/16. He told me it was not a big concern. He told me towing was not an issue. I still did not feel comfortable towing it so that is why it is gone. He was a frame guy from Lippert. He said it would be no big deal to stiffen it up but I did not have the time available to stay in Indiana to have it done.

[mjammersc]

Originally Posted by greische

I just went through this with the trailer i just traded (it was an SOB). Measuring from the pin box to the frame rail near the landing gear, Lippert classes allowable flex to be up to 1/8 inch. Mine was 3/16. He told me it was not a big concern. He told me towing was not an issue. I still did not feel comfortable towing it so that is why it is gone. He was a frame guy from Lippert. He said it would be no big deal to stiffen it up but I did not have the time available to stay in Indiana to have it done.

Good to know the "spec" numbers and also that it is still towable. Luckily I am just over an hour away from Lippert and Keystones service centers so it is just to get them to acknowledge an issue and agree to fix it

[twindman]

I had definite frame flex on my old Monty. It went bad in Washington. Washington local dealer service said they never heard of frame flex. So I limped home to Arizona with fingers crossed. Local dealer pulled off front cap and welded to the tune of $1700.

[rohrmann]

We had a frame break on the driver's side a couple years ago, and had larger gap than what is shown in that photo. On our frame, there is a heavy rectangular tube that goes across the rig which connects the frame from the pin box down to the vertical frame which ties into the main frame of the rig. This tube broke completely in two along with a weld failure at a gusset, which I guess they put in there to keep that tube from bending, but there was only one weld attaching it to that tube. In the photo, the circle shows where the frame broke, and the arrow is where the only weld was to the gusset. The repair was to weld the broken tube, weld the gusset to the tube, and then he added those two additional gussets between the large gusset and the tube. If the movement has only just started, something is coming apart and the frame should be looked at to find what it is.

[mfreitas]

Reading this thread it appears we all talking about 2 different problems calling it the same name. Our issue was the aluminum framework Montana puts on top of Lipperts steel frame. Our aluminum box twisted but we didn’t have any broken welds. There is about a 4” by 3/16” crosspiece at the bottom of front cargo bin with a small bow in it. Our repairs were in the sidewall stiffening the 3 square tubes running through the vacuum bonded sidewall

[mjammersc]

Just an update on my issue. have a case opened with Keystone though they eventually responded that they could not make a determination of an issue from the pictures of any defect. I was taking my unit to Lippert to get a hydraulic leak checked, which ended up being a ram replacement, and had them do official measurements. The side with the gap in the sidewall measured 5/16" and the other side measured 1/4" change from on jack to on hitch and 1/4" is the max. The service writer also looked over the issues and found a spot on the ODS I missed where small shift is occurring that usually lines up with where the wall frames attach to the chassis. From what he saw, there is definitely abnormal wall movement and should be looked into. From the frame flex measurement being at the spec limit vs the visible signs and areas of shift, it may be more of what Mike described within the aluminum frame to chassis mounting. We also noticed the bed rollers are digging into the carpet more which may also be indicative of the wall framing shifting. Hopefully I can convince Keystone to look at it now - we will see.

[Golfmedik]

Similar problem, but on the other side.
http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=69100

[4blys]

Originally Posted by mjammersc

I inspected all the welds and metal areas I could see and nothing obvious on hitch or on jacks. I did the measurements per Lipperts frame flex sheet best I could (truck tailgate interfered some when hitched) and best guess is ~1/4-3/8" difference - not sure what to expect but this didn't seem like much. I did look in the closet area and the walls were all in tact but the shelving and trim had some issues. The biggest is in the DS "trap door" storage area at the bottom of the closet (ODS also had similar issue but not as pronounced). The shelf brace had a substantial split that got larger on hitch and the screws. Attached is a pict.

I called Keystone Customer Service and they have opened a case on it. They had me send in the picts I have and I am awaiting a call back.

Attachment 1519

What was the outcome of your issue? Did Keystone cover it? We are just starting this process and opened a claim with Keystone. We sent pics and now they are wanting us to take it to a dealer for assessment.

[Mikendebbie]

Another mickey mouse exaggerated sketch below...
I was trying to figure out where the pics of the broken frame associated with frame flex were taken.
Does this sketch illustrate where the break occurs that causes frame flex?