Question about frame flex

[Big-B]

Greetings fellow campers,

I noticed on our trip from Michigan to the Southwest that we are having an issue with the trim showing movement under the bedroom slide on our 3055 Bighorn fifth wheel. The only thing that I can figure is that maybe a weld let loose on the frame. Door side still looks good but there is about a 1/2 inch gap on the bedroom slide side when it is hooked up to the truck. Once it is unhooked it goes back to almost the same position as it was judging by looking at the caulk line.

If I can remember how to post pictures I will post them. I'd appreciate any input on this as I don't want to see it become more serious than it is. We are in New Mexico now and have a good repair shop close by.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[wdk450]

Read the "Similar Threads" at the bottom of the page.

 

[mlpeloquin]

There are fasteners (self driling/tapping) screws that hold the two frames together. The heads have broken off. In bad cases, the frame welds have failed. I had the fastener heads pop off. If you take the weight off the front and the gap goes away, it maybe just the fasteners. I had heaver gauge fasteners installed and doubled up. Get it fixed ASAP because the stress on the remaining fasteners will only make it worse. Once fixed, I have not had any more problems, but I added airlift to the truck and a TrailAir FlexAir king pin. Much smoother ride in my truck and the fifth wheel.

 

[lynndiwagoner]

Where are these fasteners? Thanks.

 

[Big-B]

Read the "Similar Threads" at the bottom of the page.

I'm not seeing any similar threads at the bottom of the page.

 

[Big-B]

There are fasteners (self driling/tapping) screws that hold the two frames together. The heads have broken off. In bad cases, the frame welds have failed. I had the fastener heads pop off. If you take the weight off the front and the gap goes away, it maybe just the fasteners. I had heaver gauge fasteners installed and doubled up. Get it fixed ASAP because the stress on the remaining fasteners will only make it worse. Once fixed, I have not had any more problems, but I added airlift to the truck and a TrailAir FlexAir king pin. Much smoother ride in my truck and the fifth wheel.

Thanks for that information Marc. Did Lippert or Heartland give you any help with paying for the repairs? It doesn't seem like a problem that should be happening. Did you by chance get any pictures?

 

[cookie]

I suggest that you call Heartland Customer Service and explain your situation and ask if they can offer any help. Of course, have your VIN handy.
If you crawl into the front compartment and look at the side framing up under the bedroom you may be able to see some broken welds. Or not.
It is all welded.
I would not hesitate to tow it back to MI.

Heartland Customer Service.
574-262-8030

Peace
Dave

 

[Big-B]

I suggest that you call Heartland Customer Service and explain your situation and ask if they can offer any help. Of course, have your VIN handy.
If you crawl into the front compartment and look at the side framing up under the bedroom you may be able to see some broken welds. Or not.
It is all welded.
I would not hesitate to tow it back to MI.

Heartland Customer Service.
574-262-8030

Peace
Dave

Thanks Dave. I'll give them a call tomorrow and report back as to what they have to say.

 

[mlpeloquin]

Thanks for that information Marc. Did Lippert or Heartland give you any help with paying for the repairs? It doesn't seem like a problem that should be happening. Did you by chance get any pictures?

My fifth wheel was a few months past the warranty. Afer the frames were expose, pictures were sent to Heartland and then to Lippert. Lippert stated that the frames were not damaged. That was true. I decided to get it repaired not waiting for Heartland. Heartland came back a week later and chipped in almost $500.00 in good faith. I was happy. The repair was just under or over $1000.00 as I remember.

The fasteners are located under the front skin. You have to remove the side trim on both sides and the front storage door and frame. This exposes the fasteners in question. As I remember, all the fasteners heads were broken off from the bottom with the exception of the last one on the top side.

 

[aatauses]

We experienced this issue a few years back on a 2010 Bighorn. We called HL and were advised to get it fixed as it could only get worse with time. We did find some broken welds that had to be rewelded.
al

 

[wdk450]

I'm not seeing any similar threads at the bottom of the page.

Here is what I just copied from by scrolling to the bottom of this thread page:

Similar Threads

• Frame Flex Again
  
  By Dave49 in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 20Last Post: 07-15-2018, 06:23 AM
  ​
• Possible Frame Flex ??
  
  By Tundra2084 in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 15Last Post: 11-13-2015, 11:05 AM
  ​
• Possible Frame Flex
  
  By dix36 in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 12Last Post: 11-22-2014, 12:24 PM
  ​
• Possible Frame Flex
  
  By dix36 in forum Bighorn - General Discussions
  
  
  Replies: 0Last Post: 07-15-2014, 06:29 PM
  ​
• Flex in the Frame by Pin Box
  
  By MJordan in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 12Last Post: 10-31-2012, 11:45 AM
  ​

• 
  ​

 

[Big-B]

Thanks Bill. I just learned something. I was looking at the bottom of the page with all the threads on it. Now I'll take a look at the similar threads.

Here is what I just copied from by scrolling to the bottom of this thread page:

Similar Threads

• Frame Flex Again
  
  By Dave49 in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 20Last Post: 07-15-2018, 06:23 AM
  ​
• Possible Frame Flex ??
  
  By Tundra2084 in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 15Last Post: 11-13-2015, 11:05 AM
  ​
• Possible Frame Flex
  
  By dix36 in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 12Last Post: 11-22-2014, 12:24 PM
  ​
• Possible Frame Flex
  
  By dix36 in forum Bighorn - General Discussions
  
  
  Replies: 0Last Post: 07-15-2014, 06:29 PM
  ​
• Flex in the Frame by Pin Box
  
  By MJordan in forum Frame / Landing, Leveling & Stabilizing Gear
  
  
  Replies: 12Last Post: 10-31-2012, 11:45 AM
  ​

• 
  ​

 

[Big-B]

I called Heartland today and spoke with a repair technician. He asked me to send him pictures of the area in question as well as pictures of the pin box, the back of the unit and the springs on both sides, which I did. Now it's wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks everyone for your advice in this matter.

Brian

 

[danemayer]

I called Heartland today and spoke with a repair technician. He asked me to send him pictures of the area in question as well as pictures of the pin box, the back of the unit and the springs on both sides, which I did. Now it's wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks everyone for your advice in this matter.

Brian

Hi Brian,

If you are the original purchaser of your 2011 unit, and you have Frame Flex, there's pretty good odds that Heartland will help you. If you're not the original owner, there's still a chance they will help, but it's iffier.

 

[Big-B]

Hi Brian,

If you are the original purchaser of your 2011 unit, and you have Frame Flex, there's pretty good odds that Heartland will help you. If you're not the original owner, there's still a chance they will help, but it's iffier.

I had a conversation with a rep from Heartland on Thursday. There was a problem with my pics getting to him. First try I was trying to send 10 pics at a time and my mail server wouldn't send a file that large so I resized them. It showed as sent but they didn't get them. I tried it again and did it in two batches of five pics each. That worked. Come to find out Heartland has a 10 megabyte limit on incoming files. Hopefully I will hear back on Monday.

 

[wdk450]

I had a conversation with a rep from Heartland on Thursday. There was a problem with my pics getting to him. First try I was trying to send 10 pics at a time and my mail server wouldn't send a file that large so I resized them. It showed as sent but they didn't get them. I tried it again and did it in two batches of five pics each. That worked. Come to find out Heartland has a 10 megabyte limit on incoming files. Hopefully I will hear back on Monday.

I set up photo folders on the free Google (cloud) Drive, then sent them the link to the folders.

Like this: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bw3atuhfb0GMNlNrR3ZhM2I4dG8

 

[Big-B]

I'm going to try to post some pictures of the frame issues thanks to Bill Knight.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MUuXHU-SEADw_vkySR8-HL2H1EmHzmNN/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xbF7GOdEAAK9e5R4yXYgH7gTtYsU26mj/view?usp=sharing

- - - Updated - - -

I think I'm getting close to being able to share pictures. I used the share button in google drive and copy and pasted the link here. It shows up as a link, not a picture. Is there any way to get it to display the picture instead of just a link?

 

[wdk450]

I'm going to try to post some pictures of the frame issues thanks to Bill Knight.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MUuXHU-SEADw_vkySR8-HL2H1EmHzmNN/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xbF7GOdEAAK9e5R4yXYgH7gTtYsU26mj/view?usp=sharing

- - - Updated - - -

I think I'm getting close to being able to share pictures. I used the share button in google drive and copy and pasted the link here. It shows up as a link, not a picture. Is there any way to get it to display the picture instead of just a link?

I clicked on the link you posted and got a .jpg file (a picture). I use the Google drive to link to files (albums) of multiple pictures. Try clicking the link I listed to see how that works.

 

[Big-B]

I clicked on the link you posted and got a .jpg file (a picture). I use the Google drive to link to files (albums) of multiple pictures. Try clicking the link I listed to see how that works.

I saw your album there but needed to click on it to make it show pictures. I take it there is no way to post pics without having to click the links? I used to use photobucket and the pics would show up without having to click on anything.

 

[wdk450]

I think that this forum will only let you post 1 picture at a time. I have seen as many as 5 pictures uploaded within a single posting.

My way is just a lot easier when you have a bunch of pictures, or maybe would like to share those many pictures with others not on the forum. For example Heartland Service, insurance adjusters, and others.