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07-20-2016, 11:54 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redlands
Posts: 460
M.O.C. #9135
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Frame Flex
I just had ours in at a local RV maintenance facility for having the bearings repacked and brakes adjustment. When I picked it up, the owner expressed a concern regarding our unit having too much frame flex. He stated that they noticed it when the picked it up to move it around with their forklift.
I've read the posts regarding frame flex on the forum and have checked all for most of the symptoms and have found none. No gaps on the seals around the cap or problems in the closet area (at least when on the legs). My next step is to take hitch measurements and re measure when it's on the truck and also look in the closet to see if there is any indications when resting on the truck.
The question I have is regarding how much flex is normal when loading it on the truck. Ours has always seemed to flex a little and we can hear the siding pop quite a bit as the weight is put on the truck. We were wondering if any of you hear noise also when you load yours on the truck?
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2011 3150RL
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07-20-2016, 01:14 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Have not experienced the noise you describe
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Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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07-20-2016, 02:20 PM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 180
M.O.C. #11886
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2006 3400rl
The only noise we hear is the truck settling on the springs as it takes the trailer weight.
Maybe a little noise from the Trailersaver hitch head springs.
-Steve
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07-20-2016, 03:37 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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Measured from the top of the pin box underneath the front cap to the molding around the front cap I get about 1/4" difference from hooked to my truck compared to sitting on the landing gear. I have the same unit as you. It does move a bit more when hitting a real rough bump in the road. No noise when hitching up or unhitching other than perhaps my truck springs moaning a bit. Look at the trim piece running along the fifth wheel wall portion a few inches below your bedroom slide ... if the sealer has pulled loose in that area, you may have an issue. Look close at the staples in your front closet for ones that have pulled clear thru.
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07-20-2016, 04:03 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Eureka Springs
Posts: 432
M.O.C. #17829
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If not to inconvenient, you might consider taking it back and having the facility owner show you exactly what it is that concerns him; then, get a second opinion from another reputable service center.
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07-20-2016, 05:32 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,700
M.O.C. #12947
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On our rig, a couple of months ago, I had noticed some movement between the upper edge of the trim molding and the caulking on the side wall, when we were hooked up on the truck. We moved about 80 miles on the way to Lake Siskiyou, and when we arrived, I'm setting up and hearing very loud popping and noticed there was a gap of about 1/2 inch between the edge of that same molding and the edge of the fiberglass side wall, which I had never seen before. I looked inside the propane compartment and found a broken chunk of weld that had broken off. I then saw severe breaks in the steel frame, and decided that we weren't moving until it was repaired. I managed to find a mobile RV repair guy, who was also a certified welder, who showed up the next day. After almost 6 hours of work, with me helping, he welded up and reinforced the frame in the front of the propane compartment, and he also decided to inspect the frame above the pin box, where he discovered numerous cracks, which he also welded. The photos show the trim, in the curved area where the most movement had occurred, and the inside of the propane compartment, looking forward, where he did all the welding and reinforcement. The horizontal tube that runs all the way across the rig was broken clear through in the upper right corner of the photo, and the plate below the tube had one small weld, and he welded that fully, and then added the triangle shaped gussets. We did have to drop the Filon panel from the pin box back to below where it curves, so he could access the front of that steel tube, and had to cut out a small area of the plywood of the rear of the front wall of the front compartment, so he could weld the front of the tube and the front of the plate below the tube. The frame is now solid. Hope this helps, and remember, not everyone will have issues in exactly the same spots, this is just where ours happened.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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07-20-2016, 07:12 PM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 180
M.O.C. #11886
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2006 3400rl
The only noise we hear is the truck settling on the springs as it takes the trailer weight.
Maybe a little noise from the Trailersaver hitch head springs.
-Steve
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07-21-2016, 04:35 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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Inside bedroom closet on our unit, we have a huge crack in the wall about 2-3 inches above the closet floor. Crack is open about 1/2" and runs full depth of that wall, which is the left wall for the shelves that run to curbside wall in our layout. That is only indication of flex at some point. Have been meaning to bridge the crack with something to see if I am still flexing, but haven't done it yet. No noise when loading or unloading to/from truck except truck springs. John
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2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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07-21-2016, 05:39 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redlands
Posts: 460
M.O.C. #9135
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Thanks for all the good info. I'm going to take some measurements and then load it on my truck this weekend to see how much difference there is. I'm also going to recheck the walls in the closet. I don't have any apparent separation in any of the caulked seams yet that I can see. If I don't see anything, I'll probably make an appointment with the dealer to check it out also. It figures that my extended warranty just expired this year too.
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2011 3150RL
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07-21-2016, 08:40 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Stafford Springs
Posts: 524
M.O.C. #17256
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there is a lip sheet that shows how to measure. you can find it on lippert's website and also in the my lci app. 1/4 to 1/2 in is normal.
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Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
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07-21-2016, 11:54 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redlands
Posts: 460
M.O.C. #9135
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Thanks Jason! It some searching, but I found the instructions. It's called "Upper Deck Flex Measurement".
https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...sheet/0236.pdf
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2011 3150RL
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07-22-2016, 02:51 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Fortunately we have not experienced any frame movement or noises.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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07-23-2016, 08:19 AM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redlands
Posts: 460
M.O.C. #9135
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Ok, I think things are looking ok. I used the instructions "Upper Deck Flex Measurement" that Jason suggested. I couldn't measure all the way down to the bottom where the legs are due to the bed of the truck, but I was able to measure from about six inches in from each corner down to about a foot up from the bottom and the measurements did not change with weigh on the truck. I do see about 3/8" movement from the top of the hitch to the bottom of the nose (there is only about an inch gap there with no weight on it). So I'm thinking I'm ok.
What do you guys think?
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2011 3150RL
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07-25-2016, 09:23 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Stafford Springs
Posts: 524
M.O.C. #17256
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I would say 3/8 is within spec. But you can call Lippert for a second opinion. They are very friendly. They showed me the sheet and how to measure at the last fall rally.
__________________
Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
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