2019 North Point frame stiffner failure

[TnHiker]

My 2 cents worth! If you look at the welds in general on campers they are not very good. At one time in my life about 50 years ago I was a certified welder for plate, pipe, and gas line in all positions with all materials. I have contracted many welding projects in my career and I can truthfully say the trailer frame welding I see would not be accepted on the jobs I welded on or contracted. These frames are constructed of the lightest materials that will do the job and if you throw in sloppy welding you have the problems that we see on this forum. I do believe if the welds were class A welds we would see very few problems, there would be some because the material is just strong enough. These large heavy trailers really stress the materials and they flex a lot and if the welds are not class A you have failures.

[billcf7]

Most of the welds on these things are considered tacks in the real world or bubble gum

[InMyImage]

Lippert has agreed to pay for ours to be repaired but because both bars are completely missing and tore off chunks of the tubes connecting them to the frames my shop wants more info on how they were originally attached.

Can someone with intact tubes post a pic of them from the side and rear/front. Someone posted a pic earlier but theirs does have the stiffeners at all.

Thanks

[Bobkor]

I also am awaiting z check...

[Bobkor]

Look at post #12 in this string. This is what the frame shop I went to did...and they have done this on several rigs (not just Jayco) to stiffin the frame. They used 3/16 thick 2 inch angle iron welded to the frame and spring hanger straps. This is much stronger than the original design

[InMyImage]

Originally Posted by Bobkor

Look at post #12 in this string. This is what the frame shop I went to did...and they have done this on several rigs (not just Jayco) to stiffin the frame. They used 3/16 thick 2 inch angle iron welded to the frame and spring hanger straps. This is much stronger than the original design

Thanks but Lippert isn’t going to pay for that and I’m not sure how strengthening the hanger straps is an effective replacement for cross members directly connecting both sides od the frame together. ��*♂️

[bill3kirk]

These are from my 2018 NP. 1st time I inspected since a 2k trip. Cracked again!
So glad I'm having the MorRyde IS System put on in November.

[InMyImage]

So these havebeen repaired before? If so was anything done differently or do your pictures reflect how they were originally connected?

Thanks

[InMyImage]

Originally Posted by bill3kirk

These are from my 2018 NP. 1st time I inspected since a 2k trip. Cracked again!
So glad I'm having the MorRyde IS System put on in November.

So these have been repaired before? If so was anything done differently or do your pictures reflect how they were originally connected?

Thanks

[bill3kirk]

They were cleaned up and welded back in their original positions.
The welds held for less than a year and about 2,300 miles.

I plan to get them fixed enough to hold till November. Then good ridden to the old suspension.

[madmaxmutt]

This is definitely something everyone with an issue should be reporting to NHSTA as a complaint. Enough reported safety complaints is the only way to get a manufacturer to respond with a recall.

[madmaxmutt]

Report a Vehicle Safety Problem, Equipment Issue | NHTSA
https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#index

[InMyImage]

Originally Posted by bill3kirk

They were cleaned up and welded back in their original positions.
The welds held for less than a year and about 2,300 miles.

I plan to get them fixed enough to hold till November. Then good ridden to the old suspension.

Thanks, these should really help the shop.

[InMyImage]

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

This is definitely something everyone with an issue should be reporting to NHSTA as a complaint. Enough reported safety complaints is the only way to get a manufacturer to respond with a recall.

Probably why they are doing a “goodwill” repair even though we are the second owner. I’ll hold off until i’ve got a check in hand before filing anything myself though.

[Lake Huron]

Here's my 2017 Northpoint. Poor trailer has had the living crap pounded out of it going up and down I-69 here in Michigan.
Maybe they need to go back to this design.

[InMyImage]

Thanks, that design is different than the 2018 I have. I told the repair shop I’m using to also add in any reinforcements they feel will make it last longer.

[Lake Huron]

Right on! No such thing as too much overkill. Lol!

[InMyImage]

Unless it dramatically affects cargo carrying capacity