Frame Problem ?

[arkhillbilly]

I have a pre owned 2012 Jayco Eagle super lite model 298 rls. Have posted a couple of threads concerning loose lag bolts after each trip and bottom board pulling loose from front frame, even after going to a larger screw and installing a 2 inch flat washer under each screw. I travel paved roads, never go over 60 mph, always level unit, just two old folks, so we travel lite, never travel with anything in gray or black tanks, but did add a spare tire to back bumper. Does Jayco have a frame flexing problem in these super lite models?

[Rustic Eagle]

I haven't heard of any common 2012 super lite frame issues, here or on any other RV forums that I visit.

Bob

[arkhillbilly]

Tks Bob. Where robber roof meets front cap, the rubber is now wrinkled, much like it had loosened, and the rear 4 foot seam, just even with end of slide, has pushed up to be noticed, and even with that seam, the side gutter has split, about half way down, from top to bottom. Have a 20 year history in mfg housing industry, and have shipped a few hundred units up to 14 to 70 feet, into 7 western states and Alaska. It would seem the frame is flexing past normal. Would welding stiffners to side of frame help?

[arkhillbilly]

Went over this pm and did a little more checking. Looking down the frame, beams on both sides from front down to near the rear looks straight, and then the tail droops. This shows up when you place a level on the beam bottom flange at rear of frame. In my previous job, we would call that lost camber or not enough camber burnt into frame. Anyone know how these frames are cambered?

[jal0710]

You might want to talk to Jayco customer service. They may ask you to take some pictures. This could be a problem that they would pay attention to, even if out of warranty. Don't know that for sure, just a guess.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by arkhillbilly

snip..... It would seem the frame is flexing past normal. Would welding stiffners to side of frame help?

Being a 2012 model, I would take it to your RV dealership for a warranty service claim before considering any work.

Bob

[arkhillbilly]

Unit was first sold Nov 2012, but I am the second owner, bought in July 2013. I understand Jaycos 2 year warranty doesn't apply when unit is resold. For some reason, it seems the product goes bad when resold.

[eldermike]

I would look for evidence of over use of stabilizer jacks by the original owner. These jacks can also do damage when being heaved up by frozen ground. Storage damage like this is common and a good dealer might find the actual issue just based on seeing it before. I suggest you take it to a dealer and let them look.

[arkhillbilly]

Update on my frame problem. Tony, at Jayco service said they have about a 3 percent frame failure problem, suggested that I see a dealer, then emailed my problem to the frame supplier. His info to them said I had a 5er, so one wonders how much time was given to my problem. Frame people want pics of loose bolts, go figure that one out. Going out this week in the tt . Have put lock tite blue on a couple of lags, so we shall see. I'am starting to get the thought that the bolts are in fact pulling thru the floor material.

[mcfarmall]

Chemical threadlockers won't work on sheet metal or wood screws (basically a lag bolt is a wood screw on steroids). Also threadlockers won't work in wood. From your posts I conclude that you have lag screws going through a metal trailer frame member and then into the wood subfloor deck of the trailer. Loctite only works on machine threads and cures in the junction between the screw and the base metal in the absence of oxygen.

Hope the frame manufacturer can help!!

[arkhillbilly]

Actually, they are carriage bolts with a head resting on top of floor, going down thru floor, and a hole in end of each outrigger, down the length of both frame beams. They are tightened with a lock washer and nut. Looks like a steel 9/16 threaded bolt. Seem small for such a important role.

[mcfarmall]

Originally Posted by arkhillbilly

snip... concerning loose lag bolts after each trip and bottom board pulling loose from front frame, even after going to a larger screw and installing a 2 inch flat washer under each screw...snip

I'm sorry, I was referring to the statement in your original post the mentioned lag bolts and based my reply on that information. As you stated later, the fasteners are in fact carriage bolts which have 60 degree Unified screw threads and hex nuts. Chemical threadlockers (Loctite) will work at the interface region between the threads of the bolt and nut.

[Cheddy]

I have noticed my same bolts are loose or really loose on my 2014 19rd. May have been loose from the factory, tightened them tonight and will see how the hold up. Gonna try the loctite if they loosen back up.