Quote:
Originally Posted by lindacolleen47
I will take every opportunity to make sure that anyone that asks my opinion hears my story.  |
Sorry about your bad experience. Sometimes we forget that these campers are designed to their max GVWR and at that weight they are rated only for "normal" operation.
Additions to the "as delivered" camper can cause a situation well beyond those the designers planned for in order to keep weight down and remain competitive for your dollars.
For example, adding a generator rack or bike rack can add length to the frame moment arm resulting in excessive flexing of the frame in the area where your failure occurred.
Frame failures can also result from either one or two serious overload condition(s), or many "slightly" overloaded conditions.
Like bending a paperclip, frame flex will accumulate over time until failure. Like a paperclip, a large angle bend repeated will fail sooner than a lot of small angle bends repeated; but the end result is still the same. It will break.
Without more data on your specific usage, it is impossible to determine what set of circumstances lead to your failure. Even if you did everything right, a situation like that which occurred to me would still be "my fault". I hit a rail crossing that was hidden as I came over a rise "at speed". The truck handled it just fine, but my trailer's rear torsion axle exceeded its instantaneous maximum load rating and failed in compression. I changed both axles (for safety) and had the frame inspected (which thankfully survived without damage).
Unless your frame failed at a Lippert created weld, I doubt any frame manufacturer would take responsibility for your unfortunate circumstance.
This is an old thread, and you are welcome to revive it to relate your story. In keeping with our site rules, however, please do not "take every opportunity" to tell it again, as you said. Attempting to litigating disputes or harping on a beef in the forum would be a posting violation.
Herk
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