Frame Flex?

[bwney]

This can't be good.



It looks like the front may be flexing to cause this gap in the trim.

I've read many Lippert Pinbox flex problems, but it is the pinbox "bouncing". Has that repaired 3 years ago. I looked at what I can see in front storage area, nothing obvious on either side.

Any suggestions? I'm way out of warranty.

[HamRad]

Bwney,
That's the way mine looked when the braces broke. They took off the covers and re-welded all the broken welds and installed additional bracing. Had no problems after they were fixed. Good luck. Dennis

[DQDick]

X2. At the Rally I had the Keystone tech show me exactly what to look for if I was having weld problems and that picture is exactly what he told me to look for. Even though it's out of warranty it still wouldn't hurt to call Keystone Customer Service and see what they say.

[HamRad]

Bwney,
My rig was a few years out of warranty when Keystone fixed it. No charge to me. Just the worry and inconvenience! Which was more than enough! Good luck. HamRad

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

X2. At the Rally I had the Keystone tech show me exactly what to look for if I was having weld problems and that picture is exactly what he told me to look for. Even though it's out of warranty it still wouldn't hurt to call Keystone Customer Service and see what they say.

X2 what Dick said. If you live close enough to Keystone, or can plan a trip trip there, call them and schedule an appointment.

[1retired06]

definitely looks like flex to me as well

[MIMF]

Brant, I am betting that when this picture was taken, the unit was hooked up to the truck and weight off the landing gear. Right? And, when you unhook and set the unit on the landing gear legs, that gap disappears. If this is what happens, you may want to consider calling Keystone Customer Service.

[bwney]

Yes, I was hooked to the truck. You can see my bumper in the lower left. Unhooked now, and the trim piece is very close to normal.

We are in West Texas now. San Angelo. I'll call Keystone tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the tips, guys. We have family here, so it's a good place to have this issue. Our res in the RGV is 1/1.

[Montana3800RE]

Welcome to the world of Frame Flex, ours is in for repairs for the same issue. When you have the edge of the siding exposed, now you have the potential of delamination starting if water gets in that area and is soaked up by the plywood.........Ron

[maximo]

The trim on the front of my 3580 Big Sky 2011 has a 1/2" round soft plastic strip slid in the trim and both ends of the trim have a smsll cup that screws on the trim to hold the plastic insert. About 6 months and several trips I noticed the plastic in the trim was hanging out just like the picture of your trim. The trim it self had not moved and after the dealer looked at it they installed a longer piece of plastic in the trim and all is well. No frame flex. It did have me thinking for a while.

Frank

[Drifty1]

That looks like my rig! I will look forward to hearing what Keystone has to say. I have noticed this problem the last couple of times I was hooked up but only on the passenger side.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by bwney

This can't be good.



It looks like the front may be flexing to cause this gap in the trim.

I've read many Lippert Pinbox flex problems, but it is the pinbox "bouncing". Has that repaired 3 years ago. I looked at what I can see in front storage area, nothing obvious on either side.

Any suggestions? I'm way out of warranty.

That's the way ours looked also. However, we had the additional problem of cracks at each corner of the bedroom slide. You have to remember that every 5th wheel chassis tends to be weakest at this point and it needs to be beefed up. Ours was out of warranty when Keystone took a stab at fixing it but it didn't get fixed. I had to take it to a company that builds trucks to have them beef it up. Mine was probably one of the first ones that Keystone tried to repair since it is a 2000. But it's solid now.

Orv

[chieflawdawg]

Frank, I had the same issue and my dealer was able to reattach the channel with some longer screws and put it back in place. It held for a 500 mile trip and is still holding. Hoping that is all that it was. Mine looked identical to that picture on and off of the truck.

[jimmy2]

well my old girl had some frame flex and after taking the under skin off this is what it looked like
http://s1061.photobucket.com/albums/.../frame%20felx/

[HamRad]

Jimmy2,
Looks like a lot of rust in the steel and rot in the wood. Of course that would indicate water intrusion. So you may have more than just a frame flex issue. Make sure that gets traced and fixed also. Good luck. Dennis

[bwney]

Sorry to be MIA all week. There has been way too much drama, most of it not RV-related.

Called Keystone last Monday, they told me to take the RV, get it weighed, and take it to the local Keystone Dealer.

I stopped by that dealer, they don't have a welder and farm out that type of work. 3 years ago, I had the same problem fixed by a Keystone Dealer with Montana instructions and parts. Took 6 weeks, Montana supplied parts and paid 1/2 labor. Cost us $400. I wasn't sure if the was the route to take again.

Next stop was the local fab shop/welders. Bring it in Friday, they could fix it. They stated they did work for all the local RV dealers, and often get pinbox issues.

Dropped it off at 10a, had it back by 4p. I had dropped the front skin myself on Thursday, so I put that back together today. They cut and ground out all of the previous repair, and replaced it with much thicker metal. They weren't impressed with the quality or thickness of the metal used in the previous repair. One piece was cracked nearly end to end right in the 90 degree bend. The front crossbars that hold the pinbox to the frame had nearly punched through the pieces of reinforcement on both sides. I have pictures of before the fix.

Cost was $642. I have a Lippert-framed big, heavy RV, and a 2005 Ford 6.0 diesel. I am not that enthusiastic right now, although it appears fixed. The pinbox is sitting higher now, and no bending.

[jimmy2]

this sound just like the road i when down just few month back and thank god i had USSA they paid for the hole thing