What is this and why does it keep breaking

[rdcox]

I have a 2015 X23B. Under the rear bumper is a bracket (looks like a V), which appears only to be attached to the frame. Twice, once while moving and once while parked, the bolt on the bracket broke. I've replaced twice. It's parked right now and the bolt has broken again. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[suzieshome]

Did you bottom out? These are protection for the trailer so they hit the ground instead of the body of the trailer

 

[norty1]

Ever see all the V shaped gouges in a steep driveway, Thats that V. Beats ripping the rear bumper off.

 

[rdcox]

Honestly, I do not recall bottoming out, but it is certainly possible. I'll replace bolt and be very, very careful. Thanks so much.

 

[TWP723]

Ever see all the V shaped gouges in a steep driveway, Thats that V. Beats ripping the rear bumper off.

x2

My BIL's driveway has the oh so familiar V groove!

 

[clarche]

I had this problem with a travel trailer I used to own. I installed a couple casters to prevent that from happening.

http://www.rvpartscountry.com/Frame-Mount-Swivel-Skid-Wheels.html

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rabalin]

Stop putting grade 2 bolts on and you will stop breaking them. Go with grade 8 stainless steel

 

[Seann45]

Whenever possible go up (or down) a driveway at an angle. It may help

 

[Lolead]

Stop putting grade 2 bolts on and you will stop breaking them. Go with grade 8 stainless steel

Stainless grade 8 bolts may be hard to find and could be expensive,

 

[Danno-JAY]

Stop putting grade 2 bolts on and you will stop breaking them. Go with grade 8 stainless steel

There's grade 8 bolts, and there's stainless bolts. There's no grade 8 stainless bolts.

 

[Bassdogs]

As it has been said, these are skid plates that are in place to protect the rear trailer frame from damage. They take the hit so to speak when pulling out of a site or steep driveway and dragging the rear of the RV on the pavement. If you are breaking them off, you must be hitting them hard or frequently to cause them to fail over and over.

I broke one of them when maneuvering my TT out of a steep difficult site. The left skid plate snapped as it skidded forward and to the side as the TT came back onto the pavement. It was originally welded to the frame but my local welder bolted it back in place because of the gas line that was positioned along the frame member. It is normal to see some wear on the bottom of the skid plate.

 

[rabalin]

There are grade 8 stainless bolts because I have purchased them. Just have to find a source in your area.

 

[norty1]

Lowes and Tractor Supply carry them around here also most well stocked hardware stores.

 

[curver900]

you can put in grade 8 or some super hard bolt and they won't break, but they are grade 2 for a reason and that reason is so they don't pull the bumper off the RV.. or bend the living daylights out of the holes when you do hit something... they are softer than the metal they are holding together .. so they fail without damaging the integrity of the metal they are connected to..

Change the grade at your own and your TT risk...


reminds me of the guy who changed out his shear pin on his tractor because it kept breaking.. he fixed it alright... and then instead of replacing a $5 part he got to spend $800 for a new set of gears...

 

[rabalin]

Curver I agree with your thought, the grade 8 is just another option.

 

[Johnboy008]

Sacraficial bolt

Yes, bolt is meant to break to prevent more expensive damage. Sort of like the shear pin on a snowblower.

 

[mcfarmall]

Bolts that are made of 17-4 Stainless alloy can have strengths that slightly exceed grade 8 carbon steel equivalents.

Carbon Steel used in Grade 8 Fasteners:
91 ksi in single shear
130 ksi tensile yield
150 ksi tensile ultimate

17-4 Stainless Bar heat treated to H1025 (this would be the likely condition for a bolt)
95 ksi single shear
145 ksi tensile yield
155 ksi tensile ultimate