Sidewall crack study-what’s your setup?

[WayneTaylor]

We are running the moride pin box.

Have aprox 15K miles on the unit.

[WayneTaylor]

Update, setup a date with Jayco to take unit in for repair on May 13, 2019. should get unit back May 31, 2019.

[Dskyward]

Update- Jayco Service has accepted our request for a second fix on Sept 9, 2019. Almost 5/8” here.
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We had the first repair done June 2016. Great job, but lasted 16 months. We were about 600 lbs overweight when it appeared. We’ve since removed 911 lbs into storage.

Recap- First crack was ugly and kept growing over 10 months till fixed.

[DIRTFT]

I'm looking at the cracks coming from corners of the slide mechanisms... it occurs to me that the cutout for the slide gear may be a square cut versus being a radius cut? Sharp corners are prone to tearing much more easily when stressed. Is it that simple?

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by DIRTFT

I'm looking at the cracks coming from corners of the slide mechanisms... it occurs to me that the cutout for the slide gear may be a square cut versus being a radius cut? Sharp corners are prone to tearing much more easily when stressed. Is it that simple?

That makes a lot of sense! A radius cut would definitely be stronger. But then maybe Jayco doesn't know what a radius cut is.

[Dskyward]

Very good analysis on that idea. Logic would be that should add strength, but how much more? 1.5, 2x? I guess it depends on the size of radius. Short search didn’t find any tests done on this very subject. My first crack appeared from the very corner, and diagonally down....however, my second crack came sharper angle down off the bottom horizontal edge. So with the corner trim pcs in place, we can’t see the exact origin before the visible crack appears.

[bdreinv]

Sounds like a Jayco design problem!Knock on wood no cracks Eagle 321RSTS 2015!Is Jayco fixing those on there dime, what is there fix?

[Dskyward]

Jayco is fixing sidewalk cracks on their dime, providing the cracks have started inside the 2 yr time frame. Even though our rig is past the 2 year warranty as of the second crack re-appearance, they are fixing ours again on their dime this Sept as goodwill.

Not sure how they will repair it this time around like they did the first time(lots of frame reinforcing), or a nice clean alternative repair that’s been done as in this:

[WayneTaylor]

Any radius would improve the strength in that corner, but the larger the better. There seems to be a lot of stress in that area.

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

Update- Jayco Service has accepted our request for a second fix on Sept 9, 2019. Almost 5/8” here.
Attachment 47412.
We had the first repair done June 2016. Great job, but lasted 16 months. We were about 600 lbs overweight when it appeared. We’ve since removed 911 lbs into storage.

Recap- First crack was ugly and kept growing over 10 months till fixed.
Attachment 47413

Wonder if that only happens to the gelcote trailers? I have not heard from too many with Aluminum sided trailers?

[Dskyward]

Good question, but I’d believe it does happen to aluminum too, as a guy on the road ho saw my first crack told me it happens in many aircraft and they just drill small holes at the end to stop it from spreading. Again, creating a radius by using a small drill bit. I’m just not up to doing that at any rate.

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

Good question, but I’d believe it does happen to aluminum too, as a guy on the road ho saw my first crack told me it happens in many aircraft and they just drill small holes at the end to stop it from spreading. Again, creating a radius by using a small drill bit. I’m just not up to doing that at any rate.

Being a Commercial Pilot, I have seen it happen on plastic wing tip covers on the wing tips. Yes, we do use a very small drill and drill a hole right at the end of the crack and it does stop the spreading most of the time. If it's on the airframe itself, it will ground the airplane.

As for the RV, if an owner did drill a small hole to stop the crack, would the dealer, RV manufacturer still cover it under warranty?

[WayneTaylor]

When I notified Jayco of the crack in our sidewall, I asked for permission to stop drill a small hole at the end of the crack. When they responded there was no mention of this so I dropped the subject. They are probably concerned that people will do more damage than just letting it proceed.

[prm99v6]

Originally Posted by RAurand

Being a Commercial Pilot, I have seen it happen on plastic wing tip covers on the wing tips. Yes, we do use a very small drill and drill a hole right at the end of the crack and it does stop the spreading most of the time. If it's on the airframe itself, it will ground the airplane.

As for the RV, if an owner did drill a small hole to stop the crack, would the dealer, RV manufacturer still cover it under warranty?

I asked Jacyo if I could do this and was told yes.

[Dskyward]

Originally Posted by prm99v6

I asked Jacyo if I could do this and was told yes.

Is your 377 in line for repair too?

[wags999]

Not as much of an issue with metal side walls, as the way it is fastened allows some movement. The filon siding is adhered with an adhesive which does not allow movement. Yes any corners should have a radius, but even a nick in the edge of the cut portion will allow stress cracking. Having toured several of Jayco's factories I was not impressed with the quality of the glue joint from the filon to the metal studs. It was at best perhaps 50% coverage.

[prm99v6]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

Is your 377 in line for repair too?

Yes. Was origninally scheduled for August but they reached out and wanted to get it in earlier. It's going to them at the end of April.

[Dskyward]

Originally Posted by prm99v6

Yes. Was origninally scheduled for August but they reached out and wanted to get it in earlier. It's going to them at the end of April.

That’s great! Be sure to post before and after pics here. We all want to see!

[rkelly]

Just got back from a 1800 mile trip and now I'm a member of the stress crack club. My set up is in my signature and my hitch is the Reese elite on the Ford puck set up

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by rkelly

Just got back from a 1800 mile trip and now I'm a member of the stress crack club. My set up is in my signature and my hitch is the Reese elite on the Ford puck set up

Are you using airbags?