Fifth Wheel frame flex

[DJalbertacanada]

Hi Guys,

First post so be gentle

Just back from our maiden voyage with our new Chaparral 29BHS. Really love the unit. When we pulled into the campsite we noticed that the driver side bedside wardrobe skin had popped off. Originally I though no big deal just a few brad nails and I can fix it but.... When we lifted the jacks and put the weight back on to the hitch the bulge re-appeared. Seems the weight of the camper on the hitch is flexing the frame.

I mounted my gopro to the passenger side window and went on down the road, it was really crazy to see how much flex there was just driving on a freeway, I can only imagine how bad it would be on a country road.

I have an appointment with the dealer but am curious to know how much flex you guys have experienced with your 5th wheels.

Working on getting the video edited so I can upload.

[DJalbertacanada]

Struggling to get this video to upload

[donanddona]

This is not normal. It looks like a weld is bad. I would be looking heavily at your king post and weld areas. There has been past post that show this. I'll look too..

[donanddona]

Some areas you may look at;


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...me-9307-4.html


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ded-42944.html

[DJalbertacanada]

Here is the vid uploaded to youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAng...ature=youtu.be

[scootingranny]

Very good way to document the issue. Hope you can get it fixed...newbie here so I have no suggestions or theories. Will be interesting to find out

[OldCoot]

I really don't think it's frame flex. I think the panel was cut too large and just swelled from moisture/humidity. I think you would see more evidence of frame flex if the cabinet joints to the ceiling or floor were separated. JMO.

[B and B]

Telling sign would be the grope looking at the outside including the pin box. Then we could see frame flex between the pin and the frame.

[Oaklevel]

Your video looks like most trailers do as they travel down the road...

Good Luck !!!

[DJalbertacanada]

I measure the pinbox 1/2" upward pinbox movement when lowering onto hitch.


Old Coot the cabinet skin returns to normal when trailer is supported by the landing gear

[DJalbertacanada]

I agree B&B I will video on our trip to the Dealer.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by DJalbertacanada

...Old Coot the cabinet skin returns to normal when trailer is supported by the landing gear

Could still be what I said. Any movement could cause it. If you pull the trim on any cabinet you will see most are a very loose fit.

[lckeehne]

I have a crack in fiber glass exterior it runs from the corner of the slide out in bedroom towards the front. Right now it is 5.25" long.
I think it is from the flexing of the nose of fifth wheel.

[DJalbertacanada]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Could still be what I said. Any movement could cause it. If you pull the trim on any cabinet you will see most are a very loose fit.

I will check this out, I have to admit I thought that the tolerance may have been too tight to begin with but after seeing the panel return to normal as the landing gear takes the weight off of the hitch it makes me very suspicious.

No doubt if I trimmed the cabinet piece down it would not flex but I still feel that the bowing of the cabinet side is due to flexing of the front frame. Hard ot see in the poor quality vid I uploaded but the small passenger night side table also moves independent of the side wall. Something is causing the floor to flex upward.

[DJalbertacanada]

Originally Posted by lckeehne

I have a crack in fiber glass exterior it runs from the corner of the slide out in bedroom towards the front. Right now it is 5.25" long.
I think it is from the flexing of the nose of fifth wheel.

What make/model/year is your rig?

Does the crack expand as you put weight on the pinbox (retract the landing gear?)

Can you video inside the bedroom as you travel?

[VinceU]

Problem is your rig is suspect, warranty or not it needs to be inspected by someone who is aware of the possible failure. Not all structure failures follow the same rules. Inspection will conclude if the flexing is acceptable or a failure has started. Your call of course.

[RubberNail]

If your pinbox has moved upward at the pin, then you may have a bad weld(s) at the pin beam. Found this on my 2008 Montana 2955 in the middle of the Yukon on return from Alaska. Added pictures to show how bad it can be. Keystone folks did NOTHING for me!! Fortunately limped in to Whitehorse with 1" clearance between truck bed and 5th wheel. Spent a week and about $5k in whitehorse replacing beams and having front cap rebuilt.

[18CrewDually]

You need to pull down the fascia around the pinbox and fully inspect the frame cross members. The metal is too thin of a wall thickness and ends up shearing. It happen to my Wildcat and many other fivers. I was lucky to make it home and ended up repairing it myself because Lippert kept making excuses and was NO help. They acted like it was normal for an over the road coach to do that. Here's mine.
Best of luck.

[DJalbertacanada]

I got a response from Forest river this AM, the Service spokesman has stated that some movement is normal, I then sent him a link to the video, I am interested to see what he says.


Thanks everyone for pics etc.


I am wondering Rubbernail and Crewdually if you saw any signs (hindsight being 20/20) of excessive movement in the front of your coach prior to this failure.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by DJalbertacanada

I got a response from Forest river this AM, the Service spokesman has stated that some movement is normal, I then sent him a link to the video, I am interested to see what he says.


Thanks everyone for pics etc.


I am wondering Rubbernail and Crewdually if you saw any signs (hindsight being 20/20) of excessive movement in the front of your coach prior to this failure.

I started noticing it a year in advance. The fiberglass front would bow out a little. Then it started shearing screws that hold up the fascia. Finally it got to a point where I could see the coach flex closer to the truck's bed rails on every bump while traveling.
I sent them a video and everything. The final immature email I received from a different LCI representative blamed me, saying I added the hitch on the back and that caused the front frame to crack. The hitch was from the factory and even had their sticker on it. They totally jerked me around for weeks until I finally bought 16 feet of 6x2x.25" tubing and repaired it myself. Personally I believe it came out better than what they would ever build anyways. I also added an air hitch.
Looking back I should of called my insurance company and put in a claim. It's about a $5,000 job but I did it myself for a few hundred or so even with the shiny diamond plate.