Seismic Frame and Build Reliability

[The Village Idiot]

I am seeing more and more YouTube videos of people having some huge frame cracks in the front of their toy haulers. The Momentum seems to be the most common but in GD's defense, they have a ton of toy haulers out there with tens of thousands of miles on each one because so many people full-time with them.

For those with the Seismics, how happy have you been regarding their reliability? Not only frame cracks but everything else?

We all know campers will have their problems but it seems so much more common since Covid. My wife and I did the factory tour at Grand Design, Alliance, and Jayco about a month ago. I have to admit, the Jayco tour was the least impressive. They were making a few North Points and had just started some Seismics (not the Luxury Series). But the assembly line was a pig sty. Parts laying all over the place and scraps everywhere. Alliance wasn't bad and Grand Design was by far, the cleanest.

I want the Seismic 4113 to be the best there is. I love the look and aside from no dinette, it has virtually everything we want. But we all know how a problem plagued purchase can kill your joy rather quickly.

 

[Grumpy]

I am seeing more and more YouTube videos of people having some huge frame cracks in the front of their toy haulers. The Momentum seems to be the most common but in GD's defense, they have a ton of toy haulers out there with tens of thousands of miles on each one because so many people full-time with them.

They probably all get their frames from LIPPERT.

 

[Old and soft]

Who builds them to their customers specs.

 

[The Village Idiot]

Yes. Lippert builds their frames. But as Old and Soft said, it's to Jayco's specs. I think that's why the higher mileage frames are cracking on other manufacturers' units. Manufacturers are most likely going to go with the least amount possible to get by and after time, they start to fail under the stress.

I'd just like to know if anyone here has seen any issues that seem to come up more often than others. Frame failures are one of the biggest disasters you can have so that's going to be one of my largest concerns.

 

[Grumpy]

Who builds them to their customers specs.

Correct. He stated GD had the most problems and at the same time defended them.

 

[Learjet]

Right before I got my Fifth wheel, Jayco quietly changed the frame to the "Rhino Frame or Pinbox" The front is built differently including the pinbox size. Haven't heard of any failures yet.

See attached doc

 

[Learjet]

more info https://youtu.be/kaYgyM_gSJo?si=AyZjCn2FZuvnNM2T

 

[The Village Idiot]

Thanks Learjet. Good information. Now that they seem to be using the MORryde pin box, I wonder if anything has changed. At the least, I'd want the MORryde. But if I could get the Gen-Y without causing any warranty issues, I'd jump all over that. The more cushion, the better.

Grumpy. A couple of quick points.
1. I didn't think I was defending Grand Design. In our opinion right now, they are third on our list of what we'll probably get after the new year. They're not my favorite. I was just simply noting that it seems reasonable that the campers that most people seem to be full-timing in, that could see the most problems. My logic is the full-timers are putting the most miles on their units.
2. As for your first post, thanks but that wasn't even my question. Whether they all come from Lippert or whoever, I was just wondering if Jayco is having any frame issues. After seeing the three brands being built, I know Lippert builds them but they're not all built the same.

 

[Grumpy]

I was just simply noting that it seems reasonable that the campers that most people seem to be full-timing in, that could see the most problems.

That would apply across most brands and models since Lippert makes about 85% of all RV frames. There are a lot of full timers out there and that is normally not the case.

 

[JDsRVcrzy]

Were not too happy with the build quality and dealing with the stress crack now. Our Seismic has been sitting at the dealership in Prescott, AZ for re-roof, bad electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, slide out issues and now they advise that can't handle the stress crack. On hold with Jayco Customer service trying to find someone locally than can do the repair. If not, back to the factory it goes!

 

[The Village Idiot]

Were not too happy with the build quality and dealing with the stress crack now. Our Seismic has been sitting at the dealership in Prescott, AZ for re-roof, bad electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, slide out issues and now they advise that can't handle the stress crack. On hold with Jayco Customer service trying to find someone locally than can do the repair. If not, back to the factory it goes!

Just curious. What year model is your Seismic? How many miles would you guess you have put on it?

 

[bg5]

Following. The Seismic395 has been on our top toy hauler to buy for full-time use. We are also looking at the GD Momentum as of recent.

 

[Thrallster]

Unfortunately my 2023 Seismic 4113 has significant damage. What started out as a hairline crack at the corner of my master bedroom slide out has moved all the way to the side camera and the crack is about 1/8 wide exposing the material

Dealership has found the aluminum wall studs broken where they were connected to the frame. Have been advised not to use as the wall is “free floating”

Warranty claim has been initiated. 80-90 hours of repair.

 

[The Village Idiot]

This sucks bad. I hate it for you.

This is one of my biggest fears. I sincerely hope you get this repaired as quickly as possible and I also hope it's an isolated incident.

 

[Thrallster]

Thank you. I will keep y’all posted. So far everyone in the business I have spoken to including the competition is very surprised when I say that I have a Jayco.

 

[Learjet]

More of a wall frame issue than the frame underneath issue.

Seems to be common across many brands.

Good luck, that terrible.

 

[JDsRVcrzy]

Just curious. What year model is your Seismic? How many miles would you guess you have put on it?

2022 Jayco 359.. So, Jayco Customer Service has been awesome. My trailer's getting sent back to the factory in April for repairs.

 

[Thrallster]

It is a 4113. I would say about 4,000 miles. They are estimating.to have the trailer in Indiana for 2 months to repair.

 

[JDsRVcrzy]

Following. The Seismic395 has been on our top toy hauler to buy for full-time use. We are also looking at the GD Momentum as of recent.

My buddy has a GD Momentum and he's complained about build quality too..

 

[Thrallster]

I haven’t heard of many Jayco Siesmics having an issue in fact part of the delay on warranty was conversations with Lippert. However, the GD is another story.