Stress Crack in the fiberglass near bedroom slide

wersqu · 01-13-2019, 07:48 PM

We have a 2018 36KTPS Pinnacle and have been traveling since January 1st, 2019. Today we noticed a stress crack just in front of the bedroom slide. Has anyone experienced this issue and how big of a fix is it?

Fr8Train · 01-13-2019, 07:53 PM

Welcome to the club. It's a common enough problem. Been an issue for years. Contact your dealer and/or Jayco

Lowmiler · 01-13-2019, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wersqu

We have a 2018 36KTPS Pinnacle and have been traveling since January 1st, 2019. Today we noticed a stress crack just in front of the bedroom slide. Has anyone experienced this issue and how big of a fix is it?

As stated, a very common issue on many Jayco and other manufacturer brands.

Some people send their unit back to the Jayco factory, by way of their dealer, fo the fix. It is quite involved, and may recurr.

May I ask what pin box you have been using?

robkelly · 01-14-2019, 04:56 AM

Welcome to the club. We're currently working with a collision center and Jayco to get our crack fixed.

Unfortunately the cracking is pretty common, but that said, it doesn't affect everybody.

Lowmiler - we have the MORryde pin box. Hitch is a B&W Companion.

Fr8Train · 01-14-2019, 05:45 AM

Anyone have air bags on their tow vehicle?

SmokinJoe747 · 01-14-2019, 06:37 AM

Best thing is to contact your dealer. I sent pictures to my dealer, they were up front and said they do not have the facilities to do such a repair. They contacted Jayco Service for me and set up a return to the factory.
Our appointment in Indiana is May 15-30, 2019. We have to have it to the dealer by May 1st and Jayco will transport it to and from the factory.

wersqu · 01-14-2019, 09:21 AM

We use the B&W companion with the MORride

Magnolia Tom · 01-14-2019, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr8Train

Anyone have air bags on their tow vehicle?

I do and I still got the crack.
I now have a trailer saver hitch which has airbags in it so I hopefully won’t have any problem with the crack coming back

Fr8Train · 01-14-2019, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

I do and I still got the crack.
I now have a trailer saver hitch which has airbags in it so I hopefully won’t have any problem with the crack coming back

In a different post asking about this, their may be a correlation between the two. Or. The airbags are causing the cracks

Magnolia Tom · 01-14-2019, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr8Train

In a different post asking about this, their may be a correlation between the two. Or. The airbags are causing the cracks

Not everyone with the crack has airbags on their truck. Trust me, I’ve tried to figure out some type of causal connection and there just doesn’t seem to be one. Does not matter what brand truck, what type of hitch, airbags or not, year of trailer, etc.

Luck of the draw I’m afraid

Brewhedd · 01-16-2019, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Not everyone with the crack has airbags on their truck. Trust me, I’ve tried to figure out some type of causal connection and there just doesn’t seem to be one. Does not matter what brand truck, what type of hitch, airbags or not, year of trailer, etc.

Luck of the draw I’m afraid

Doesn't Jayco know what causes the cracks? It probably doesn't take much movement for that area, which is a weak point, to crack. If a design fix is cost prohibitive why don't they put a joint there? Haven't other manufacturers done this? I don't get it.

Really beside the point but it's common sense that any owner "improvements" that cause a "stiffer" ride or limit movement are going to affect frame flex.

Magnolia Tom · 01-16-2019, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewhedd

Doesn't Jayco know what causes the cracks? It probably doesn't take much movement for that area, which is a weak point, to crack. If a design fix is cost prohibitive why don't they put a joint there? Haven't other manufacturers done this? I don't get it.

Really beside the point but it's common sense that any owner "improvements" that cause a "stiffer" ride or limit movement are going to affect frame flex.

Jayco has long touted their frames as being superior and not needing the expansion joint like every other manufacturer. Again, not everyone gets the crack.

As for any improvements, I’m not sure any upgrade tires, shocks, or equalizers would effect the front cap area in such a way that would cause the crack. If it would, Jayco wouldn’t put them on in the higher priced units.

I am starting to wonder if those of us with cracks also had issues with the landing gear or ground control 3.0. I did.

Grumpy · 01-16-2019, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

I am starting to wonder if those of us with cracks also had issues with the landing gear or ground control 3.0. I did.

Had the cracks on our 2015 38FLSA. No landing gear issues, no air bags and didn't get the G14 tires until it went to the factory for the repair. Dealer (owner) said they as well as others told JAYCO to pre cut and add trim piece, as do other brands, and marketing just wouldn't agree.

And that makes zero sense since Lippert makes most frames.

T-Roy · 01-16-2019, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Jayco has long touted their frames as being superior and not needing the expansion joint like every other manufacturer. Again, not everyone gets the crack.

As for any improvements, I’m not sure any upgrade tires, shocks, or equalizers would effect the front cap area in such a way that would cause the crack. If it would, Jayco wouldn’t put them on in the higher priced units.

I am starting to wonder if those of us with cracks also had issues with the landing gear or ground control 3.0. I did.

Hey Magnolia Tom, I see you have a Trailer Saver Hitch. I was just curious if you had that particular hitch when you developed the crack?

brettt · 01-16-2019, 11:28 AM

No cracks in either of my last two fivers,had air bags on my dully since 2006.Its a design problem with that Jayco model.

Magnolia Tom · 01-16-2019, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Roy

Hey Magnolia Tom, I see you have a Trailer Saver Hitch. I was just curious if you had that particular hitch when you developed the crack?

No. I was using a Curt Q25 at the time it cracked. I’ve only had the Trailer Saver for a few months now

Kahoneys · 01-16-2019, 02:39 PM

1st 2 pics are my crack (don't worry it is the crack on our 377 and not really mine)

and the 3rd pic is what our local dealer did to remedy the crack, and Jayco told them to do it this way. We were 1 year out of warranty and they didn't even question it they just said we will cover it. They KNOW that it is very common on their units!

MadJoker TX · 01-17-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr8Train

Anyone have air bags on their tow vehicle?

Yes airlift 5000 bags.

Cannon · 01-17-2019, 05:31 PM

Airlift 5000 at 40psi

G-Ray · 09-20-2019, 01:08 PM

Our Jayco 38FLWS has been in the shop since mid July getting cracks just like these fixed. There was a Jayco rep there when I dropped it off and mine was the second one of the week. I was told that there is no bracing between the front of the slide and the front cap, so there is a week spot susceptible to cracking. The shop and Jayco had some disagreement about how many hours the repairs would take. It is now September and the parts are arriving for the work to begin. Hoping to get it home before I need to winterize it.

And FWIW F-350 SRW with air bags usually around 50 PSI. I personally don't think the bags contributed to the cracking. If anything, the lack of bags would have made them worse because the rear suspension would have been bottoming out on large bumps/bridge transitions. Considering putting shocks on the trailer suspension. Hopefully that will help.

You may also like: