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05-03-2020, 04:25 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Walford
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #22383
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Cracks in front cap
I was waxing the camper today and noticed some cracks in the fiberglass front cap. This is a 2018 3721RL. Is this something normal? I will try to attach some pictures.
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05-03-2020, 04:37 PM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Round Rock
Posts: 475
M.O.C. #17905
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I'm not a pro but I'd say this is not normal. I recall don't recall another post here concerning cracks in the cap. Someone will be along shortly more knowledgeable and can give you better advice.
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Pete & Joan & "Honey" fur-baby.
2015 Montana 3611RL 2012 F350 6.7 DRW Lariat
Disc Brakes & Sailun 14 ply S637
6-pt Hydraulic leveling
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05-03-2020, 05:22 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
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Did it ever connect with the tow vehicle in a sharp turn?
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2016 3160, Legacy, Sailuns, Splendide 2100 xc vented, 1 1/2" axle lift blocks, disk brakes. 2014 Ram 3500 SRW SWB 4X4 6.7 Aisin Mega Cab, EBC slotted disks and brakes, Titan fuel tank.
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05-03-2020, 05:31 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Walford
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #22383
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No, I bought it new from Camping World.
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05-05-2020, 04:04 PM
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#5
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 68
M.O.C. #23643
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What kind of speeds you running?
Any signs of the cap being loose or flexible to you pushing on it?
Just went out and looked at mine, same model.
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2017 Montana 3721, 2013 Ram 3500 DRW
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05-05-2020, 04:29 PM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Walford
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #22383
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We normally run around 65 mph. I have push around the cracks, everything feels solid and looks straight. Do you think this could be frame flex that I read about?
Taking it to Camping World tomorrow.
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05-05-2020, 04:37 PM
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#7
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 68
M.O.C. #23643
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IDK about frame flex. I’m just wondering if when towing it, you were running into a good headwind. Could have possibly happened passing by a tractor trailer heading the opposite direction going down a road. Somehow there was a lot of stress put on it or it was poorly made but I don’t think that is the case.
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2017 Montana 3721, 2013 Ram 3500 DRW
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05-05-2020, 06:36 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,543
M.O.C. #22835
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The actual fiberglass on those front caps is really very thin. The slightest bump could have caused it to happen. Your trailer could have made contact with the truck bed rails and you never even knew it.
My trailer made contact with the bed rails of the truck and put a somewhat large crack on the bottom of the front cap. I repaired it myself by using a Bondo Fiberglass Repair kit (about $20 from any automotive store).
I wasn't sure how deep the crack actually ran, but when I started sanding to prepare for the Bondo, I found the crack was not very deep. It was just surface, as thin as the fiberglass was anyway, it was still solid. So my repair was simply sanding out the apparent crack till it was smooth again, then filling the low spot void with the Bondo. Sanding again, filling again, sanding again util the low spot was now built back up to the original thickness of the fiberglass. That Fiberglass Bondo stuff is pretty good stuff.
The hardest part of the whole process was finding a paint that would match. I never did, so had to do some creative painting with another color. I then used spray gel coat and got it matching the shine on the rest of the trailer.
I've not had any new cracks form anywhere since.
So chances are, I'd sooner believe you hit a bump and the trailer made contact with the bed rails of the truck, or somehow took a really hard headwind blast hit.
Frame failure? That a tough one to call.
Take the edge of a sheet of paper and try to slide it in the crack. See how deep the crack is. It's possible, it's just a surface crack.
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Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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05-06-2020, 04:31 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,113
M.O.C. #25165
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Are the cracks at the top of the cap or along the bottom? It looks like the top in the photos. Sun/UV damage seems extreme this soon. I cannot see anywhere where something may have struck the fiberglass hard enough to cause the cracks.
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Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
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05-06-2020, 07:58 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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It is not normal we had similar cracks although not as bad on our 06 3400 never any on our 13 3402. No use speculating as it could be any number of things. I would call keystone customer service and se what they have to offer.
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05-06-2020, 01:15 PM
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#11
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Knoxville
Posts: 51
M.O.C. #24025
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A bird hitting that cap at speed will do damage, but the bird usually disintegrates with not much of a tell tell sign it even happened.
__________________
Walt and Vicki Forester
2015 Ram 3500 Dually G56 ViAir/Hellwig Onboard Air/Springs BD 2Low Kit RDS 95 Gal Tank/Combo American Force 19.5 Falken Bi 850 225/70 19.5
2018 3730FL
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