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04-26-2017, 07:54 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Broken A frame at front of trailer
I recently purchased a 2015 M 185RB Salem and the previous owner had overloaded by approximately 200lbs (he said his weight was 4012lbs FR says max wet load is 3810 and wouldn't cover any warranty) on his first trip to Quartside, Arizona. This resulted in a bent axle and ruined tires . He then had the axle replaced with a 7k axle and 8k springs and 15" tires. The axle is flipped so the trailer is off the ground quite a bit hitch height is approximately 26" when trailer is level.
Last night when inspecting the hitch "A" frame I noticed it moves up and down at the lightweight c channel and a couple of broken welds in other words it's about to fail disastrously. I'm going to weld in some crossmembers and tie it all back together but has anyone else seen this?
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04-26-2017, 08:33 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Middle GA
Posts: 1,289
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Wow! Sorry to hear about your trailer. My bet is he overloaded the trailer much more than 202 pounds. The other possibility is he took the trailer off-roading and traveled fairly fast. That may put enough excess stress on the trailer, to cause that kind of damage at 200 pounds overweight. It also would explain the axle and tire mods.
Adding cross members and rewelding the entire tongue sounds prudent. Be sure the tech triangulates the tongue position, to ensure it is centered and level. If not, you'll have other problems towing it. You may want to get under the trailer and look over the entire frame. Look for broken welds, bent cross beams, etc. You can then get those rewelded, while they do the tongue.
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Ben and Doreen
Home Away From Home - 2017 PT Crusader 315RST
TV - 2016 Ram 3500 Laramie 4X4 6.7 Cummins Diesel
Never Enough Time Camping!!
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04-26-2017, 08:47 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Yes they did say that they took it across the desert, I'm thinking about tying it back a little bit further on the frame also with extra crossmembers
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04-26-2017, 09:08 AM
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#4
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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He didn't do you any favors by putting a 7k axle with 8k springs. That is too heavy and there probably isn't enough weight in the trailer to let the suspension do it's job. This will result in a hard bouncy ride and will probably shake everything loose and put more strain on the framework. Allowing the suspension to move freely takes the jolt out of rough roads. If they were looking for more travel and a higher stance, he should have installed higher arched springs and maybe a 4500lb axle.
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2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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04-26-2017, 09:15 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Good point, all adding up to more A frame flex and weld stress on an already poor design at front frame
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04-26-2017, 09:22 AM
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#6
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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The frame themselves are not true I beams, but a welded up version. Lighter weight, but not nearly as strong. Without the suspension travel absorbing the shock of rough roads, I wouldn't be surprised if the frame would end up being bent in the future. It has happened before.
__________________
2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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04-26-2017, 09:39 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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What I didn't like, was the way they tied the A frame to the "I" beam they had a .120 wall formed c channel that they cut out notches for the a frame to slide through and only welded the sides creating a hinge that ultimately would fail. Add an overloaded trip on rough terrain and viola. I worked for Country Coach for 20+ years so I understand that mentality. I'll fix it and over build it, but thats what I do. ....I like the lighter axle and arched springs idea
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04-26-2017, 09:52 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 74
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I have a 2018 2715vs with a tongue weight of 1010 lbs. I asked the factory why the increase of tongue weight from a 2017 (870 lbs). They said they had reports of tongue flexing so they went from 6" I-beam to a 8" I-beam tongue.
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04-26-2017, 11:20 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Mines flexing at the formed c channel that ties the I beam to the a frame
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04-26-2017, 12:12 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Janesville, WI
Posts: 12
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I would take it to a frame shop and have them do the work. If your welds fail and it causes an accident you may have big liability issues.
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04-26-2017, 12:48 PM
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#11
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Recently new!
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Arizona, in The Land of Scorch!
Posts: 1,206
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Mod
Keep the axle, get lighter weight springs. No need to add more expense than you need to. Consider a spring setup that gives you the travel you need, then consider adding shocks.
The beefier or lighter weight axle will make no difference in the ride of the trailer. Tire pressures and spring rates will make the biggest difference.
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1987 Starcraft Nova tent trailer, purch. '87, sold 8.14
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04-26-2017, 12:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 672
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Running WD hitch bars that are overrated for the trailer weight is very hard on the A frame.
Over loading the trailer and running heavier WD bars to compensate is not good.
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04-26-2017, 02:01 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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I was certified for the welding I'm about to do during my 20+ years at Country Coach, I'm not too worried about that....I've done a fair bit of welding
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04-26-2017, 03:01 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie1138
Keep the axle, get lighter weight springs. No need to add more expense than you need to. Consider a spring setup that gives you the travel you need, then consider adding shocks.
The beefier or lighter weight axle will make no difference in the ride of the trailer. Tire pressures and spring rates will make the biggest difference.
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That's exactly what I was thinking and I may replace the 15" rims with 14" I think 4500 lb springs should do it
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04-26-2017, 03:02 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jomamma
That's exactly what I was thinking and I may replace the 15" rims with 14" I think 4500 lb springs should do it
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I'm not going to load it like the previous owners did.
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04-26-2017, 03:04 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MtBiker
Running WD hitch bars that are overrated for the trailer weight is very hard on the A frame.
Over loading the trailer and running heavier WD bars to compensate is not good.
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Good info, thanks I have lots of RV repair and assembly experience, not a lot of towing. ...[emoji2]
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