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04-04-2014, 06:26 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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2013 3170DS Bigfoot jacks and a bent frame
Looking to find out if there are any other Sunseeker owners with a problem similar to ours. Our new rig has the factory installed Bigfoot system and has encountered a failure of the frame, rearmost factory cross member, and bent jack brackets. We've only had the coach out on a half dozen camp outs, and on the last trip we came back to camp and found her sagging badly in the left rear. To our amazement it appears there has been a catastrophic mechanical failure. There has been no contact on the jacks with road hazards, and all our campsites have been fairly level. It's been over at the local FR dealer for a week now, waiting for warranty authorization. The first thing the service adviser said is that it should have had a crossmember/brace between the two rear jacks. Sure enough, other 3170's on the lot have them, but ours does not. I'm sure the dealer will step up and repair this issue, but what worries us is the bent left frame rail. This thing has 3,000 miles on it and frame damage is usually a giant deal breaker when it comes to safety, not to mention resale value. The factory Ford cross member has buckled, indicating the distance between the frame rails has gotten shorter, however our dealer is VERY hesitant to admit that the frame is indeed bent. They seem to hope that when the replacement cross member and new jack and bracket are installed everything will be magically happy again. The adviser told me that it will need to do to the Ford dealer (1/2 mile away) for the frame/cross member install, as the member is riveted to the frame and will need to be installed the same way, however, FR has only authorized the removal and inspection of the jack so far. Is this in any chance a reason to demand the rig being replaced???? Seems to me that someone biffed installing the brace and this rig needs to be made as good as new. Should I be getting anyone else involved yet? Perhaps a 3rd party to inspect the frame? Any thoughts or input on our situation? I hate that this has to be my first post, since so far we've love our coach. Thanks!!!
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 06:42 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 499
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I'm not an expert by any means, but having had an accident years ago in a pickup. I had similar damage at end of frame. It was fixed and had truck for another 10 years without problem. It's not your fault. A good shop should have no problem fixing it and adding whatever is missing. It sounds like you're in good hands.
1999 Silverado with tow package
2006 Roo 23B hybrid
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2006 Roo 23B hybrid
2006 Ford F150 4.6L
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04-04-2014, 07:00 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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Very true Rrick, but in that case it's quite easy to remove the bed of a pickup to jig a frame. What worries me is fixing it without, or maybe worse with, removing the body. I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for their call next week.
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 07:13 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 499
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I wish you luck with your repairs. What other options do you have but to let them attempt repair?
1999 Silverado with tow package
2006 Roo 23B hybrid
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2006 Roo 23B hybrid
2006 Ford F150 4.6L
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04-04-2014, 07:39 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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No other options that's for sure!
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 08:02 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Looks like it "landed hard" somewhere, maybe a curb, because steel doesn't fail like that without an extreme overload. Ford shop is most likely a frame alignment shop for damage repairs. You should be good to go.
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04-04-2014, 08:11 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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No hard landings at all. No dragging and no curbs. It was fine when we got to camp and leveled, and "settled" as the day went on. It seems like there is a lot of leverage involved since the jack cylinder is offset a good 6+ inches on the frame causing a twist movement. There is nothing to resist this twist aside from the factory cross member, which isn't designed for this type of load, it's not a straight member and buckled at the offsets. The fresh water tank is directly above this jack as well, and it's the heaviest Sunseeker out there. That missing brace should have helped in my opinion.
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 08:17 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Understood, noted road clearance is very small, the jack load should be mostly compression not rotational, just strange eh?
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04-04-2014, 08:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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I will be looking at mine in the morning. Wow.
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2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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04-04-2014, 08:36 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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Here is a pic of another Sunseeker that has the brace. Despite it being small, I would imagine that a tube can hold quite a linear load. 
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 08:41 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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Are you guys talking about the large frame member or the small 1/2" tubing connecting the jack cylinders together?
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2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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04-04-2014, 08:42 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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As a side note, from day one I noticed that both rear jacks sit at a slight inward angle. I can see that the brackets welded to the frame are cut with a slight angle. Here's a pic of the right rear. You can see just a slight angle, and nothing is bent. It's more apparent with the jack down. 
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 08:43 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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The large frame member that is part of the Ford chassis is bent, and it's missing the small 1/2" tube between the jacks that other units all seem to have.
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 08:44 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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Mine does not have the cross tubing connection the jack cylinders together. This looks like a retro.
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2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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04-04-2014, 08:49 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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Vince, with the offset of the jack cylinder center line and the center line of the frame, caused by the bracket on the jack, and the bracket on the frame, without something to keep the jacks spread apart, it seems like a rotation is bound to happen. I hope I'm explaining that right. It makes sense in my head at least.
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 08:53 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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I understand the concept but without another support knee at the end, any significant side load, it would just collapse both jacks. IMHO.
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2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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04-04-2014, 08:56 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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Mr Clemans, will you please chime in. Do I need to get my 2014, just out of WARRENTY, repaired before a collapse?
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2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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04-04-2014, 08:59 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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Maybe that's why they have a slight inward angle to begin with. So they are compressing each other in and not able to go out?
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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04-04-2014, 09:01 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MKrase
Maybe that's why they have a slight inward angle to begin with. So they are compressing each other in and not able to go out?
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Is this your unit? Did this unit come from factory with the small tubing?
__________________
2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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04-04-2014, 09:01 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
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Garrette, see if yours have a slight inward pitch to them
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2013 Sunseeker 3170DS
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