Help! Metal sheered off our hitch/pin box? (pic included!)

[zactayaus]

Ok, the campground we are staying at has a full service RV repair shop. I just spoke with them and they came to my site to inspect what needs to be done. They said they'd do it. However they charge $75 an hour. He wasn't sure exactly how long it would take to disassemble and re-assemble but said we were probably looking at at total of maybe 8 hours. Does that sound about right? We'll be here when they are doing it so I'll be watching the clock for sure. Then I'll be sending Lippert the bill. This is just crazy!

[TeresaInCAL]

Seriously, you guys will need to go live somewhere else while all of this repair is going on. Is there any rental cabins, or other rental places nearby you guys could go for a few days? Lippert needs to pay for it too. I usually try to work with people with as much respect as possible, but this is extreme, and if you need to pitch a fit then do it.

[zactayaus]

Living some where else is not an option. We can't afford to pay to stay some where while this is being done. We are already paying for the site to stay here. If we go home then we won't be here to supervise. We just figured the upstairs/bunk area will be off limits to the kids while it's being fixed and everyone will sleep in the livingroom and master bedroom. My husband did say he could set up a tent if need be and we'd just have to rough it the old fashioned way.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by zactayaus

Ok, the campground we are staying at has a full service RV repair shop. I just spoke with them and they came to my site to inspect what needs to be done. They said they'd do it. However they charge $75 an hour. He wasn't sure exactly how long it would take to disassemble and re-assemble but said we were probably looking at at total of maybe 8 hours. Does that sound about right? We'll be here when they are doing it so I'll be watching the clock for sure. Then I'll be sending Lippert the bill. This is just crazy!

I would think that would be pretty close guess being they do not know what they will run into. It not going to be easy. After all the work taking it apart they have to re install and seal everything again. Are they going to do in the shop or at the site? Might be a little faster at the shop but not by that much. I know it's hard right now to see anything positive, but trust me you are lucky you are where you are. When they take that cap off be there with your camera so you can document everything. I mean from the time they start and you can see the damage to the repair work when finished and the re install. Good luck to you and your family. You have made it this far already so just a little longer and your nightmare will be over.......

[zactayaus]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

I would think that would be pretty close guess being they do not know what they will run into. It not going to be easy. After all the work taking it apart they have to re install and seal everything again. Are they going to do in the shop or at the site? Might be a little faster at the shop but not by that much. I know it's hard right now to see anything positive, but trust me you are lucky you are where you are. When they take that cap off be there with your camera so you can document everything. I mean from the time they start and you can see the damage to the repair work when finished and the re install. Good luck to you and your family. You have made it this far already so just a little longer and your nightmare will be over.......

They have to repair it on site. As of right now the camper can not be moved. And like I said we are basically living in it for the summer so putting it in the shop wouldn't be an option even if it could be moved.

[zactayaus]

Let the fun begin! They are half way done removing everything from the front of the camper. I've been taking pics and will try and post them later today or tonight when I'm on my computer. Front beam is severely bowed and of course more torn metal. We are all just in complete shock (yes even the guys doing the work for us) in how thin the metal is on the beam. We are talking like 1/8 inch thick. Seriously not too much thicker then a few pieces of paper. Unbelievable.

[zactayaus]

As promised here are the pics:

Water damage we were completely unaware of:


Torn metal on main beam inside shot:


How thin the metal of the beam is:


Torn metal on front of main beam outside shot:


Other side of inside of main beam:


Severe bowing of that main beam (that's supposed to be a straight line parallel to the ground) :


And my poor camper sitting all naked (they'll be taking down that front wall on Monday and it's currently all covered in rubber and sealed shut incase it rains before then):

[Yowman]

That is VERY scary! I have owned a fifth wheel for about ten years, now, and have never given it a second thought as to look for a bad weld on the pin box! You can bet I will be checking mine periodically, now. I'm glad you and your family are OK. Thanks so much for sharing with every body.

[Dodge Guy]

Take pics! that is a terrible product! Forest River should be hanging there heads looking at this on the internet! that is just so blatently unsafe and cheap it`s scarry! shame on Forest River on this one. they should know what materials and how the welding is done on a frame that is going to pull there name around on!

[Lynkage]

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

Take pics! that is a terrible product! Forest River should be hanging there heads looking at this on the internet! that is just so blatently unsafe and cheap it`s scarry! shame on Forest River on this one. they should know what materials and how the welding is done on a frame that is going to pull there name around on!

X2

[Kaboom]

The sad part is Lippert makes the frames that most of our RVs are built on and the materials used just look to lite. Just glad no one was hurt, ( this time).

[zactayaus]

Well Lippert is here! They've already taken out the old beam and have set the new beam in place. Not much longer and we'll be back in business! I'll be posting more pics later today. I only hope the pics I've taken can do justice to how messed up eveything was once the main beam was removed and you could see the damage it had caused underneath our bunk house. We may have to have the platform the bottom bunk/jacknife sofa sits on replaced. The guy from Lippert that is doing the repairs said "it looks like we'll be eating this one". You better believe it!

[jeeplj8]

is the replacement material the same as the failed material?

[zactayaus]

Originally Posted by jeeplj8

is the replacement material the same as the failed material?

No, it's at least 3 times thicker. I have pics I'll post later.

[wneise]

Originally Posted by zactayaus

No, it's at least 3 times thicker. I have pics I'll post later.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by zactayaus

No, it's at least 3 times thicker. I have pics I'll post later.

I would be greatly surprised if the original were 1/8" web that the new one iss 3/8" web, but could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

[aiscpl6]

Is there any method to check for excessive movement that might indicate a problem without removing the panel?

[zactayaus]

It's finished! And boy is our frame beefed up now! Not only did we get a super chunky main beam, we got crazy thick supports and double gussets!

Here are some pics from today:

Sparks were flying!



Damage to the floor under the bunk house:



New beam waiting to be installed:


Supports:









Gussets:





Nice straight new beam:

[garbonz]

Wow. At least it is fixed although I wonder about all the unfixed ones out there.


Kinda scary

[wneise]

With water still getting up there I would consider getting that part of the frame Rhino-lined before the bottom cover goes up.