Sidewall crack study-what’s your setup?

[450]

Originally Posted by PlayersZ28

I expect any manufacturer of anything uses statistics to determine what level of quality to put into a product vs the warranty claims. Jayco only needs to get past two years without someone noticing there is a crack. We bought ours used so there was no warranty at all even though it was only a year old. I know of Montana's that have the same crack with a bed slide on the ODS. Ours had a small crack when I first noticed it, it grew 200% this past winter with the condition of I70 in CO.

Wonder what the responce would be and if they would charge for the extra support if you requested it when ordering your 5th wheel or if you requested to have the bracing performed before taking ownership off of a dealer inventory ?

[PlayersZ28]

Originally Posted by 450

Wonder what the responce would be and if they would charge for the extra support if you requested it when ordering your 5th wheel or if you requested to have the bracing performed before taking ownership off of a dealer inventory ?

To provide that as an option would be admitting to a product deficiency in trailers that didn't get the extra bracing

[bill3kirk]

Our trailer was picked up today for the Jayco factory. The original crack was repaired in October (we dropped it off and picked it up). It re-cracked within 400 miles of the return trip from Middlebury. Hopefully the second repair will be it.

[bill3kirk]

New engineering done for supports. I'm hopeful this fixes the issue with the crack. Jayco is putting it back together this week. Done in the paint shop. Should have it back by the end of the month.

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by Joan617

I have since spoken with the Service Manager at Vogt RV in Ft. Worth and was quite impressed. They have performed many crack repairs and have not had any returns due to failures. We had a good and frank talk about how they achieved such a record and I was satisfied with the answer. I am leaning towards having them do this repair as opposed to Jayco.



They could take us as soon as December but due to our traveling style we will not be there until the end of May, and that is traveling direct across I-20 with no additional miles on the crack. That will also give me more time to continue my due diligence on the facility. They plan on about 8-9 days on the repair but I will likely add some other work.


Biggest challenge so far will be finding housing for us with 4 dogs and 4 cats.

Angus, since you have a slide within a slide, which slide did the crack appear?

[prm99v6]

Originally Posted by 450

Wonder what the responce would be and if they would charge for the extra support if you requested it when ordering your 5th wheel or if you requested to have the bracing performed before taking ownership off of a dealer inventory ?

I requested either a thicker gauge wire for the solar prep or additional wires run while they were running the wiring from the roof. They would not accommodate and said they couldn't do anything outside of their plans. Same for the sheet metal that was removed on the early 2019s. Mine wasn't even built yet and they couldn't add it back on because "it wasn't back on the official 2019 plans yet" even though it was on the 16, 17, and 18 plans. they shipped me the metal to put on after instead.

[Dskyward]

Originally Posted by bill3kirk

New engineering done for supports. I'm hopeful this fixes the issue with the crack. Jayco is putting it back together this week. Done in the paint shop. Should have it back by the end of the month.

Please let us know how it looks and what you find when you get it back. Obviously, the transport distance is quite longer back to FL, so keeping fingers cross for you that this time is a winner for life.

[MadJoker TX]

My crack has started to form again after 12 months. This time it started at the area my crack had spread to. Jayco said they have changed the repair process since mine was done last as they had issues and they are going to pick mine up again and repair it. Also going to request a new furnace while it is there as March 2020 will make 3 years owning my 377 and the furnace has not worked since I owned it after numerous repair attempts.

[bill3kirk]

They applied a different repair to mine compared to even the one I had in October of this year so I'm hopeful they got it right this time.

I had furnace problems too till I replaced the sail switch and put a new board in. Now works w/out issue.

Hope they get yours resolved for good this time.

[Jeffur]

That’s a nasty crack. I can’t understand why Jayco ( or the repair facility) did not make the cut for an expansion joint ( which is typically seen of every other RV manufactures product with front slides). It does not matter how robust the frame is built up in this area - the physics dictate that this area will “flex”.

[Dskyward]

Originally Posted by MadJoker TX

My crack has started to form again after 12 months. This time it started at the area my crack had spread to. Jayco said they have changed the repair process since mine was done last as they had issues and they are going to pick mine up again and repair it. Also going to request a new furnace while it is there as March 2020 will make 3 years owning my 377 and the furnace has not worked since I owned it after numerous repair attempts. Attachment 55356Attachment 55357

Wow, Mark, I’ve not ever seen that happen before! That is crazy how it re-appeared there. Amazing how far yours stretched until 1st repair. My first crack didn’t stretch near that far, even after waiting 10 months and 9,363 miles til first repair attempt. I’m with Jeffur, I’m not gonna trust any more stiffening attempts, to frame or sidewall, as metals do fatigue over time, especially with this kinda weight involved at a known flex area, covered by fiberglass. Just like I experienced 11,810 miles crack free til it cracked again...and within 680 miles!

See below pic at the master washer closet corner. Anyone experienced this? This corner trim keeps coming loose during travel. I’ve tried using corrugated paneling nails, 1, then 2, then screwing it with two 3/4” cabinet hinge screws, which seemed to hold it in place the longest, and in the end, the moulding keeps popping out still. Notice the gap now and abrasion on the header trim. Isn’t this evidence of how much stress is happening up front on the road?


Even the opposite side has now started to come loose, and used two more screws. It too, has dug into the header trim. Have yet to move it again in May when we leave Llano again to see how it holds up.

[bill3kirk]

I'll let you know when mine comes back. I've got a Hensley BD3 now but have not gone anywhere yet with the NP

[bill3kirk]

So far I've not experienced that in the bedroom with mine. I've only got about 10k on mine.

[Jeffur]

I’ve got the Hensley BD3 as well - but there is still stress crack going on.

[bill3kirk]

That's too bad to hear. I was hoping the air hitch would make a difference.

[Magnolia Tom]

I too have the BD3, and shocks, but my trailer hasn’t cracked again. It’s been over a year since we got it back from Indiana

[Jeffur]

The air ride hitch does help but it cannot stop the flexing that is inherent with the fifth wheel hitch designed L shaped RV frame. The ride on the truck and the RV is beyond comparison to those without the set-up. Try it, it will make a believer out of you, but it cannot replace the law of physics happening with RV fifth wheel frame type assembly.

[bill3kirk]

Update from Jayco. Hoping this is the last of this, although I do have my doubts based on all the treads in this subject...

Bill, first of all I want to thank you for your patience concerning the repairs that we have done on your unit, this time we have gone farther on the repair than we have on any other repair like this by adding brackets on the inside and outside of the wall. The unit is complete and we will be inspecting and cleaning it this morning

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by bill3kirk

Update from Jayco. Hoping this is the last of this, although I do have my doubts based on all the treads in this subject...

Bill, first of all I want to thank you for your patience concerning the repairs that we have done on your unit, this time we have gone farther on the repair than we have on any other repair like this by adding brackets on the inside and outside of the wall. The unit is complete and we will be inspecting and cleaning it this morning

Wow, hope they left some space for you in the bedroom.

Fingers crossed they nailed it for you this time, interested in photos when it returns to you.

[Schooner]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

See below pic at the master washer closet corner. Anyone experienced this? This corner trim keeps coming loose during travel. I’ve tried using corrugated paneling nails, 1, then 2, then screwing it with two 3/4” cabinet hinge screws, which seemed to hold it in place the longest, and in the end, the moulding keeps popping out still. Notice the gap now and abrasion on the header trim. Isn’t this evidence of how much stress is happening up front on the road?
Attachment 55360

Even the opposite side has now started to come loose, and used two more screws. It too, has dug into the header trim. Have yet to move it again in May when we leave Llano again to see how it holds up.
Attachment 55361

Dskyward - we have the exact same issue of the trim coming loose during travel on our 2017 Pinnacle 36 KPTS. Only on the door side of the bedroom though. We had the sidewall crack repaired in August this year.