Lippert Frame Failure

APFreak · 07-26-2011, 06:05 PM

Forest River and Lippert had nothing to say about this.
http://www.candidphotosonline.com/thisone/th.asp

yvesm · 07-26-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APFreak

Forest River and Lippert had nothing to say about this.
http://www.candidphotosonline.com/thisone/th.asp

What model and year?

APFreak · 07-26-2011, 06:37 PM

I bought it Brand New 3-30-07, not sure but I think the model year is 07
It is a Forest River Cherokee Wolfpack 295

Ovair · 07-26-2011, 06:43 PM

The link isn't working for me.

nailit · 07-26-2011, 07:29 PM

It's not working for me either. Interested in this because I have a WP 285 and reading other posts about the Lippert failures.

APFreak · 07-26-2011, 07:39 PM

APFreak Gallery - My Photo Gallery

Ovair · 07-27-2011, 07:20 AM

All I can say is wow! That does not inspire confidence at all! Holy moley!
You doing the repairs yourself? Looks like a home environment. Good luck, seriously!

LadyWindrider · 07-27-2011, 08:00 AM

Now not taking sides, but what do you want them to say? It is over 4 years old, they don't know how it has been loaded, or where it has been towed. What vehicle is pulling it, what kind of roads, etc. What do you want them to do, give you a new trailer?

I feel sorry for you, and it should not happen. I would hope the axles give way before the frame, does, at least they can be replaced fairly easily. As for the frame, I doubt Forrest River built it. As stated, it is Lippert, and maybe time to go after them a little more aggressively.

APFreak · 07-27-2011, 08:04 AM

All I wanted from Lippert was a recipe on how to fix it. What metal to put where and how thick.

I also wanted to know where else those frames failed so I could beef it up before it fails.

prof_fate · 07-27-2011, 08:39 AM

I'm not sure I'd want their advice on how to fix it - their engineering seems a tad weak, like their frame.
You're not likely to get an answer to your second question - it opens them up to lawsuits.

You might consider a call/letter to NHTSA - aren't they the ones that handle vehicle recalls?

I know when I had a frame failure on my ford minivan ford's response was 'really? Never heard of that happening' yet 14 months later there was a recall on the issue - ford cut me a check via the dealer for the $1100 repair when I presented them with the receipt and then they did the recall ( a reinforcement) on my van.

Jay Pat · 07-27-2011, 11:21 AM

I would think you would need several opinons of this. It is a frame problem that has turned into a rv problem.
The repair needs to bring everything back together, if that's possible. The frame access will probably be from the bottom only to close up the gap.
Please keep us up to date on repairs.
Pat

1WANDERER · 12-03-2011, 02:14 PM

Are there any 5th wh manufacturers that do not use the Lippert frame? I am looking at buying a new 5th wh and do not want the problems of a Lippert frame. Thank you.

1WANDERER · 12-03-2011, 02:17 PM

Are there any 5th wh manufacturers that do not use the Lippert Frame?

nailit · 12-03-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APFreak

All I wanted from Lippert was a recipe on how to fix it. What metal to put where and how thick.

I also wanted to know where else those frames failed so I could beef it up before it fails.

Do you get the frame fixed? If so, what was done.

APFreak · 12-03-2011, 02:56 PM

I took two opinions from a structural engineer and a guy who builds prototype cars.

I have had a MIG welder for 20 years so welding wasn’t a problem. I have had a plasma cutter for 2-3 years. I would say the plasma cutter paid for 1/3 of itself just in this project. It surgically cut out the bad metal.

The piece I cut out was about 1/8 thick. I think 11 ga. The piece I put back was 3/16, 7 ga. 1.5 times as thick. I also added some gussets. Where the side frames end at the front of the trailer I welded in a front piece, because they were not rectangular shaped any more.

The metal repair was fairly easy for me because I have done a fair amount of fabrication. The hardest part for me was getting the cabinets back in with out gaps.

I also added a pinbox that has some cushion between truck and trailer. Lippert makes a real nice one, but I couldn’t give them any more money so I bought a different one.

One thing I did learn. I found an old Frisbee in the cabinets when I gutted them. I thought what a great place to keep all the fasteners. There were a lot of fasteners. What I learned is you don’t want to let a retired Frisbee dog in, she had not seen a Frisbee in a log time. The result was all the fasteners went flying.

nailit · 12-03-2011, 03:09 PM

Job well done. I guess I have been lucky with our 285. We have had it in places where you wouldn't think you can get a 5er in at that size. I know now who I'll contact if I have the same issue.

cowpaddy · 12-04-2011, 09:29 PM

What was your first indication that there was an issue?

APFreak · 12-05-2011, 09:44 AM

One day I thought the front on the trailer was sitting lower in the truck bed. I thought there should have been more space between top fof the truck bed and the trailer. I wasn't sure and didn't do anything about it.

Before the trip that it became evident, I was making the bed and wondering why the front side cabinet was pulling away from the wall.

When I got to where I was going, but side cabinets were 3/4s of an inch inward. The Seem in the middle of the front paneling had separated too.

The bed was raised up in the middle of the mattress.

I put some more picutres at

http://www.candidphotosonline.com/th...electEvent.asp

click on the arrow down and choose 'RV Frame Repair'

cowpaddy · 12-05-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APFreak

One day I thought the front on the trailer was sitting lower in the truck bed. I thought there should have been more space between top fof the truck bed and the trailer. I wasn't sure and didn't do anything about it.

Before the trip that it became evident, I was making the bed and wondering why the front side cabinet was pulling away from the wall.

When I got to where I was going, but side cabinets were 3/4s of an inch inward. The Seem in the middle of the front paneling had separated too.

The bed was raised up in the middle of the mattress.

I put some more picutres at

http://www.candidphotosonline.com/th...electEvent.asp

click on the arrow down and choose 'RV Frame Repair'

Couldn't get the link to work.

APFreak · 12-05-2011, 02:48 PM

http://www.candidphotosonline.com/thisone

Click on the arrow down and select RV Frame Repair.

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