Am I looking for frame cracks?

[Tdbrn]

Hello, looking for opinions here, as I think I will need to be looking for some cracks.
Anyway, last year we had the MorRyde Independent Suspension installed on our 2017 29.5 BHDS. On our way home last spring, I noticed some 'sliding' of the seam on the deck on the bedroom/king pin wall. We believed, as it was minor, that possibly the whole body was readjusting to the new set-up.
Last September we went on another trip and while on that trip, and with the RV topped out gross at 10,000 pounds due to taking tools to our son's place and on that trip, we noticed the newly resealed trim sliding out again, and now about a half inch but from the curve forward and not all the way across the front as I've seen in YouTube videos about severe frame 'flex.' Anyone else experienced this with their Jayco HT models???
I did check all I could from the front compartment and found no cracks visible. When the weather gets better, I will be opening that all up to see if I can find any unseen cracks. Any experience or ideas from the group. Due to the age, 2017, even though we are the original owners, I highly doubt Jayco will be of any help. I hope to find the cracks and get it welded before any disaster occurs.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

I’m thinking you need to look harder for any cracks. Especially if there is visible difference between set up and ready to travel on the truck. Best wishes. Sometimes spraying water mist will show a crack better.

 

[Jeffur]

Frame flex does not mean frame failure or crack. There are measurements from lippert to confirm this. Any steel frame will flex when a load is applied.

 

[Radar57]

Is this the same as the lower deck ti sidewall separation that has been discussed on the forum in the past. See following link or search "separation" : https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f6/trim-pulls-away-while-hitched-88143.html

If it is the same the fix was longer screws. The link above and other links referenced should explain better than I can.

 

[ARoamer]

Can you post pics of the area?
Our Pinnacle went back to the dealer 3 times to resolve the trim sealant breaking.on both sides opposite the pinbox, the trim dropped about 1/4". First try they simply removed the screws and reinstalled them at an angle, no good. Second try, a bit longer screws and silicone on the seam, no good. 3rd try I contacted Jayco and had them tell the dealer how to fix before I dropped it off. Longer screws and it's holding after 1 year now.
Frames do flex. We had a older lightweight trail bay 5er that had bedside tables pull away from the front wall on both sides every time we unhitched, and once the tub drain pipe pulled apart in the basement. The front compartment allowed me to see most of the frame, I never found any cracks.

 

[jetlag]

Can you post pics of the area?
Our Pinnacle went back to the dealer 3 times to resolve the trim sealant breaking.on both sides opposite the pinbox, the trim dropped about 1/4". First try they simply removed the screws and reinstalled them at an angle, no good. Second try, a bit longer screws and silicone on the seam, no good. 3rd try I contacted Jayco and had them tell the dealer how to fix before I dropped it off. Longer screws and it's holding after 1 year now.
Frames do flex. We had a older lightweight trail bay 5er that had bedside tables pull away from the front wall on both sides every time we unhitched, and once the tub drain pipe pulled apart in the basement. The front compartment allowed me to see most of the frame, I never found any cracks.

Same for ours. Luckily our dealer was very proactive and they replaced the screws with longer ones. Its been about 16 months and so far so good

 

[Radar57]

About a year or two ago there were several posts on this very topic. Some had hand drawn diagrams ot the fix you are talking about. They were a pretty good visual representation of the cross-section of that area.

 

[piperinv]

We have a 2016 Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS and had the same issue. Installing longer screws fixed our issues. For my trailer, I had to go into the aluminum to get them to hold. Hope this helps.

 

[christopherb66]

Jayco does have a frame flex/failure issue

I have a Seismic 4112, 2016 model. Noticed a small hairline fracture by the front slide out right after the warranty expired.

I have posted some pictures. I have a video showing the flex is close to an inch. Too large to upload.

As you can see in the last picture, this is from a Lippert video on YouTube praising their frame strength.

Mine does not look like this at all. There are no solid pieces of metal tying the upper pin box frame to the lower I beam frame.

My guess is that a re-design was made for a reason. Not sure when…..

The flex caused all the seals to fail and water pretty must rotted out everything back to the garage doors.

Now what? Any suggestions?

Pictures included are stringers running side by side, Lacks any welds on the bottom of the king pin frame. If there were welds, it might have increased the tensile strength and possibly minimized excessive flexibility.

The Stringers running north/south to the kingpin are not even welded to the upper cross member which ties the upper and lower frame together.
Totally disgusted!!

This has probably slowly been happening the more I used the unit.

I had an engineer look at the frame and he said the frame was designed to fail especially when there is very little weight in the rear. (Toy hauler) The front was not designed to absorb all the stress. The teeter totter effect.

I admit most of our long trips more than 300 miles we only took our kayaks and not our golf cart. A tremendous difference in weight.

I looked through all the manuals and have not found any warnings!

Interestingly enough, I watched a video on how to avoid frame issues. Basically, advising owners to never drive through a construction zones, always drive on flat smooth surfaces, no driving on highways with freeze cracks, no tight turns and oh, use your unit only on occasion.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

No follow up from original post.

 

[Edutron]

We have one also about the same place. Its a surface crack (fiberglass) from flex and vibration. To stop, stop drill the end of crack with a very tiny drill (stop drilling). To repair, the crack must be sanded out, epoxy resin applied, re-sanded, then painted. Will have to go somewhere like Finish Master as example to get paint scanned for a quart. I have done nothing yet as the tiny crack is only four inches. When it grows more and not much more, then its repair time.