Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > TRAVEL TRAILER, 5th WHEEL & TRUCK CAMPER FORUMS > 5th Wheel Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-17-2017, 09:33 AM   #1
Member
 
gnirwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Broken Welds

I am on a Face Book group dealing with a popular brand of fifth wheel, which for the point of discussion, will remain nameless. A person posted pictures of their 40' 2016 5th wheel that had cracked siding at the point of where the horizontal floor joists at the front bedroom area are welded to the vertical wall aft of the bedroom. They returned the camper, even after the warranty had run out, to the manufacturer and the manufacturer discovered the welds in this area were broken and made good with repairing the camper free of charge. The poster also made a comment that has me bewildered today. the comment was that this is the second fifth wheel that this has happened to them in the past few years. Both were fairly new campers that the poster admitted that they not only full time in but travel to areas without the best of roads during their travels. My thoughts are that 5th wheels, due to the size, weight and torque being put into the area of their cracked welds might not be the best choice for these types of excursions. I have visions of sharp turns backing into uneven terrain and bouncing over back roads. I own my first fifth wheel and I do plan some trips off the grid so to speak in a few years. Has anyone any comments on if they think what I stated above could be the cause of the damage and if so, what I need to know to keep my rig in 1 piece?
__________________
George & Deb
2015 Alpine 3010RE
2015 silverado HD
gnirwin is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-17-2017, 11:50 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 325
With out trying to simplify this too much or be insulting, many rv's will not stand up to the rigors of off road use! Without refabricating ( gusseting the frame,improving axle to frame components, ext.) there's not a lot you can do, as obviously you can't tear out walls and reconstruct the unit. You may have to go to a unit that is more conducive to off road usage. Articl Fox comes to mind. Good Luck! memtb
memtb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2017, 01:41 PM   #3
Member
 
gnirwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 84
I will definitely rethink where I will camp especially now..I want to dry camp at times but will stay close to the beaten paths for sure.
gnirwin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2017, 04:50 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
D Lindy's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,636
If you abuse anything beyond it's designed limits IT WILL BREAK.
__________________
2012 Journey 40U (Our Incredible Journey)
2008 Dodge Dakota(TOAD) 2005 Honda Shadow in TOAD
AF-1 braking system
D Lindy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2017, 08:08 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
consolenut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,345
They may have a midline 5th wheel and using and MDT to pull it. The rough suspension on a MDT is known to crack welds in the forward areas like you describe. Thus the OP may need a trailer saver air ride.
__________________
08 GMC C-4500 w/Custom bed. 8.1L
45ft 2007 Teton Reliance Experience XT-4
TSLB Trailer Saver w/ 3rd airbag
consolenut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2017, 10:17 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 93
The 5th wheel trailers can be very heavy. As the original poster says the trailer with the cracked welds was a 40' trailer. With a trailer that size, I would be afraid to take it off road period. In my experience, people drive to fast for road conditions. That 3500 lbs of tongue weight might turn into 20,000 lbs when hitting a cattle guard or pot hole. Almost all our camping is off road, so we wanted to stay under 30' We have one of the best off road outfits with a heavy duty frame, with a lot of clearance. It has shocks on all four wheels, and all the sewer pipes are high enough not to be torn off. If you do go on rough dirt roads like I do, take it easy and I don't think you will have any problems. Dave-R
__________________
2016 Arctic Fox 27-5L
2018 3500 Duramax SRW
Dave-R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2017, 10:47 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Bubba1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: D/FW Texas
Posts: 767
Another critical consideration is how heavily loaded is the front storage compartment? If it's over it's manufacturers weight limit that will quickly cause a problem. Especially with the lighter weight frames they're using in some of the newer coaches. I have been surprised at how many folks I have run into at campgrounds that don't have a clue to how much weight they're carrying in their coaches, both motorhomes and 5th wheels.


Mike H
__________________
Mike & Debbie
2003 36' Monaco Cayman
2007 Saturn Vue "pusher"
Bubba1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2017, 11:15 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Unplanned Tourist's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,321
That is one of the problems with trailers, you don't hear all the crashing and banging going on like in a MH. We have friends that pretty much destroyed a TT on 1 trip to the Yukon and back. Driving too fast on rough roads!
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
Unplanned Tourist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2017, 09:03 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 325
The quality build of the frame is the source of the failures. Think of the frame as the "cornerstone" of your rv. Just like with a home, you have to have a good foundation for a solid home. I honestly believe that even a 40 ft./20K lb. 5th wheel can be taken off road, and I have pictures to prove it. Obviously, "SLOW" would be highly recommended for the really rough stuff. While we do not do extensive offloading, several times yearly we do go on gravel roads and the occasional "two track". One in particular, was an approximate 6 to 10 or 12 % grade of very rough dirt/gravel.We were in 4 low the entire way, often down to second gear. We've done that pull twice, though I would' t recommend it! memtb
memtb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2017, 07:51 AM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
I live in the Yukon and travel the back roads to different lakes.I have a 30'
5er and I did have a problem with the front welds breaking.I had changed
my hitch from the standard in bed to a goose neck ,this could have had something to do with the break.Also the the original 5th wheel pin was 1/4''
plate and I removed it and replaced it with 3/8''plate ,This was done 3 yrs ago and have had no problems since.
Yukoner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2017, 06:46 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Worland, Wyoming
Posts: 15
My opinion is that many front frame failures are due to the use of extended pin boxes, even though I would like to have one. I tow with a short bed crew cab with a flat bed and my headache rack has damaged my front fiberglass cap more than once. An extended pin box would allow me to turn quite a bit sharper. The added leverage of an extended pin box can be more that the frame can handle though. Two years ago while coming home from an elk hunting trip that requires 40 miles each way of unimproved forest service dirt roads, sometimes covered in mud or snow and with the added stress of me towing a 14 foot stock trailer with two horses in it behind my 5er, had a bad reaction to me going over a cattle guard, ripping the lower flange off of the bottom of the frame where the rear spring hanger attached. Not good and a very slow ride 150 miles to home. I repaired the frame, but it still leaves me questioning the strength of most 5th wheel frames. I have seen some that I would be afraid to take around the block, super light frames. I like strong and over built is our friend.
__________________
2018 Grand Design Solitude 310GK
2017 Silverado 3500 Duramax L5P 445 HP 910 TQ
nuffsaid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2017, 07:21 PM   #12
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 325
nuffsaid, Howdy neighbor!
memtb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
bouncing dashboard-chasis dash mount welds breaking MoHoGuy Ford Motorhome Chassis Forum 10 05-15-2019 04:00 PM
Recall Notice: SAF Holland ADL Suspension Transverse Beam Welds Wayne M Freightliner Motorhome Chassis Forum 1 10-27-2008 05:26 PM
tears in the metal and welds breaking loose around the pinbox Hittintheroad 5th Wheel Discussion 24 06-11-2008 05:01 AM
broken rear welds shad123 Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 10 07-27-2006 06:59 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.