Pin box frame failure.

[dkreno]

Yesterday I discovered a failure of our frame at the pin box on our Wildcat 261RGX , 2014 with 21,000 total miles on it. The frame just under the nose has broken from the bouncing that has occurred from our 9 month travel around the US. I’ve read a lot on this subject and seems that this is a fairly common issue on Lipoert built frames. One of the ways to help prevent this is to upgrade the pin box to an air ride unit. Does anybody else have experience with this issue? I saw a similar failure a few years ago on a friends Arctic Fox. Talking to folks at the RV park we’re staying at today, none of them had any clue about this type of failure. I’m amazed based on what I have read about the subject. Comments?

[18CrewDually]

My 2007 Wildcat sheared the 2 x 6 box tubing frame like it was paper. It happened on the rough Interstate in SC. Lippert said over 2 years old you're beat. Forest River blamed Lippert. Lippert kept me on the hook for weeks acting like they were going to help. Then they asked for MORE pictures. The next email was them accusing me of welding an 1.25" hitch reciever on the BACK of the 5er! The hitch had a Lippert sticker on it but they didn't believe me and said maybe Forest River added it. They just were making excuses. This happened in the dead of winter in NJ. I ended up realigning the break and welding it up. Then I fully reboxed the pinbox area with quality steel tubing 3/16" thick 2 x 6. I replaced the under lament with a sheet of 5x8 aluminum tread plate using 5/16 bolts, not screws. I also replaced the pinbox with the Airborne Airride.
Might be tough to see but that vertical crack is clear through both sides of that header.
The next two pics to show the flex loaded and unloaded. It moved alot! So much that the bike rack reciever was hitting the front cap on bumps.
I welded inside and out plus added gussets.
All new trim was sourced from a supplier in Indiana. The front end is proper now.
Topped it off with the airride.

Some people had better luck. It seems if you're out on the road they seem to work with you more from the stories I've read back when I was in your shoes. For me since I made it home they dropped me like a hot potato. Best of luck to you.

[dkreno]

Thanks for that info. I do find it interesting that there appears to be quite a few of thee failures that result in the same thing. Nothing out of the trailer builder and less out of Lippert. And a good preventative measure seems to be an air ride hitch, which the dealers don’t even suggest. It’s like they know there is an issue but avoid talking about it to sell trailers. I’m going to start disassembling and see what needs to be done.