Author |
Share Topic Topic Search Topic Options
|
Olddawgsrule
Senior Member
Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
|
Topic: Floor failure!!! Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 6:02am |
I could believe my eyes when I saw this yesterday! I have always thought the slide tire fender was closer than the door side, but yesterday as I went out to re-grease the bearings, it was a lot closer..
Under I go. The frame does not extend to the outer wall and from the frame to the outer wall (just in the area of the axle) I have about 1 inch of sag (photo attached).
Wondering who else has had this and how it was remedied?
This is on a 2017.5 182G (picked up 4/2018)
I have a inspection setup to see if my extended warranty will cover this..
|
|
|
offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 6:58am |
Yikes!
Can you tell if the frame rail is bent upwards or the floor of the trailer has moved downwards? Have you hit any large pot holes on that side recently?
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
|
|
Olddawgsrule
Senior Member
Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 7:24am |
Originally posted by offgrid
Yikes!
Can you tell if the frame rail is bent upwards or the floor of the trailer has moved downwards? Have you hit any large pot holes on that side recently? |
Now that is a very good question! I'd hadn't thought of checking that! Duh...
Frame is what's bent! Wall has a minor bow downward, but frame has a much greater on upward!
As far as pot-holes, ya I've caught a few on the highways around the major cities in the USA. I tend to avoid these and use the by-ways, but at times you can't avoid.. You would think the tire would blow from that kind of stress before the frame would bend.. Weakest point.. or so you'd think!
|
|
|
offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 7:43am |
Is the frame bent up about where the back end of the axle attachment bracket is? That is a weak spot because when you hit a pothole the axle torsion rod rotates up until it can't go any further and then the bracket will try to bend the frame up at the back and down in the front.
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
|
|
Olddawgsrule
Senior Member
Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:06am |
Originally posted by offgrid
Is the frame bent up about where the back end of the axle attachment bracket is? That is a weak spot because when you hit a pothole the axle torsion rod rotates up until it can't go any further and then the bracket will try to bend the frame up at the back and down in the front. |
I'm going to string it and determine. The bend is definitely at the axle mount as my eye sees it. I see no deflection forward or aft of that area after a couple feet in the floor, telling me the bend is at the axle mount. I'll confirm later this morning.
|
|
|
Toyanvil
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Feb 2019
Location: Bakersfield
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 157
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:09am |
A good frame shop can fix that.
|
|
offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:14am |
The most common failure folks see from an axle overload (if that’s what this is) is a bent axle so you might want to check for that too. If you run a string line along the bottom of the axle tube it should show a slight crown in the center, like about 3/16 or 1/4 inch or so. If it’s not the the axle tube has probably been bent too. You can also look for the wheel on that side having negative camber (splayed out at the bottom).
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
|
|
Olddawgsrule
Senior Member
Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:14am |
Don't have to string.. Frame is buckled and cracked at the axle mount!
|
|
|
GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2628
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:19am |
Originally posted by Olddawgsrule
Don't have to string.. Frame is buckled and cracked at the axle mount! |
Ouch! Sounds like you may need to visit a frame shop!
|
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
|
|
offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
|
Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:20am |
Yeah you definitely need to get the frame straightened and reinforced. Easier than if the floor and wall was damaged, as Toyanvil says find a good frame shop.
Check out your axle too, usually it bends before the frame does. See my last post on that.
You might also get a weight on that axle and see how close you are to the 3500 lb max.
Good luck!
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
|
|