Chassis to Frame Gussets broken - 2000 Fleetwood Discovery 36

[samschudi]

I have two frame to Chassis gussets broken. Both are are directly above the rear wheel swing arm mounting area. The welds are solid, but there is only one 3/8" bolt from the bracket to the chassis. All others from front to rear on both sides look solid. Appears the one bolt sheared off some time ago, and the bracket gradually ratcheted itself over as shown.

I have since re-positioned the bracket back where it belongs and replaced the bolt.Next is to weld both brackets to strengthen the cracked areas. Brackets are only about 1/8" thick and small in general, which I thought was rather surprising.

Anyone else experience this on either a Freightliner Chassis and or the 2000 Fleetwood Discovery model? BTW, it drives and handles great.

Thanks for any comforting input.

[samschudi]

Wanted to attach a picture, but don't know how to assign a URL?

[samschudi]

Here is a picture of the frame brackets / gussets in question.

http://www.irv2.com/attachments/phot...6_06_52_58.jpg

[samschudi]

Am I the only person to have seen this type of frame failure, from any make or model? Just trying to figure out a possible root cause.

Thanks everyone!

[Tony Lee]

Probably nothing similar to your problem, but similar chassis and similar year

1997-2000 airstream cutterstructure:frame and members - Airstream Forums

[Jim2]

The Discovery Owners Association has a public forum on Yahoo Groups
< https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/...sociation/info > ,
as well as their own DOAI web site forum (this one requires membership)
< DOAI MAIN PAGE >

I recall this subject coming up there several years ago with older D units of the 1998 - 2000 vintage. it didn't apply to my 2005 D, so I don't remember the specifics; you'll have to search through the archive of posts



for example, here is one old post that came up in a search-
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/...messages/44414

Originally Posted by samschudi

Am I the only person to have seen this type of frame failure, from any make or model? Just trying to figure out a possible root cause.

Thanks everyone!