Under body frame bracing in garage area loose, missing? purpose?

[ValpoFz]

When winterizing the trailer in November, I noticed some loose and missing bolted on frame reinforcements/braces. Not sure what they do. Not sure what to do next but will be looking to solve this problem before next spring. Pictures in attached..

 

[Roller4tan]

They do seem to be bracing of some sort. The one with I guess a gas line attached has moved from the other side> I can't tell by the picture what the other end was attached to. If that is a gas line, it's been seriously compromised. Perhaps there is a tank on the other side of the coroplast that is falling out of its supports and those were added to help keep it from falling out. Further investigation is definitely required.

 

[rhodies1]

It does look like one was holding your propane line. The other could have been installed as a tank brace. Ask someone on the forum with same model number to send you some pics. ALSO from your pics... you have Trail King tires on your unit. They are China bomb garbage. You need your get these off your unit before travelling again... they will explode and do real damage to your unit. They are the sister tire to the famous TowMaster STX which were disastrous. Name change doesn't fix the garbage tire. Your call but definitely would be gone if it were my unit.

 

[ValpoFz]

Thanks for the replies! We already changed one of there’s out. Look at getting the others done in the spring. Is there a brand you would recommend?

 

[david-steph2018]

When winterizing the trailer in November, I noticed some loose and missing bolted on frame reinforcements/braces. Not sure what they do. Not sure what to do next but will be looking to solve this problem before next spring. Pictures in attached..

Is this on a new rig or on a used you purchased?

 

[cookie]

I'm kinda thinkin failed spare tire carrier or fresh water tank support.

Peace
Dave

 

[ValpoFz]

Is this on a new rig or on a used you purchased?

We thought new 2 years ago, warranty expired.

 

[Torque Man]

We have a Torque T295 toy hauler and those supports support the freshwater tank. 100 gal tank is a little over 800lbs of water. My supports are only held in place with self tapping screws, soon to be replaced with bolts and nuts.

 

[ValpoFz]

I was thinking the same thing, stainless steel or better grade 6 bolts. Not sure how to access through the plastic pan. Never worked on RV’s before

 

[Torque Man]

I figure on cutting a 3 sided square hole (4th side hinge) just big enough to get my hand thru, then tape back up with eternabond rv roof tape. Be careful, don't want to accidentally drill a hole in tank.

 

[ValpoFz]

When do you plan your n doing this? We are in the midst of winter so probably end of March. I was trying to find some pictures so I could see what I would be dealing with

 

[Torque Man]

We are in central Pa. 18 degrees, 6" of snow coming tonight. As soon as its warm enough to lay under the camper ????

 

[rhodies1]

Look At Goodyear Endurance. Made in the USA.
Allot of people like Saliuns or Cooper as well. Saliuns are China but have had a good reputation so far.

 

[ValpoFz]

We are in central Pa. 18 degrees, 6" of snow coming tonight. As soon as its warm enough to lay under the camper ????

We’re in NW Indiana so nothing is happening for awhile.

 

[ValpoFz]

Look At Goodyear Endurance. Made in the USA.
Allot of people like Saliuns or Cooper as well. Saliuns are China but have had a good reputation so far.

Thanks

 

[david-steph2018]

When do you plan your n doing this? We are in the midst of winter so probably end of March. I was trying to find some pictures so I could see what I would be dealing with

Get an inspection camera and look in above the bottom.
You could drop the bottom by cutting in front of these braces then take out the other screws or rivets on the rest of it.
To reinstall, place a wooden board across the frame, screw in place, replace the bottom, then tape together.
It seems with the position of these braces; they are installed to prevent the tank from falling on the axles. Not to prevent it from sagging or falling out of the frame supports. Because in this position, they are not near the tank.

Just wondering, was there ever a recall about the freshwater tank on your rig? I wonder if this was the solution.

 

[Hollandt]

When winterizing the trailer in November, I noticed some loose and missing bolted on frame reinforcements/braces. Not sure what they do. Not sure what to do next but will be looking to solve this problem before next spring. Pictures in attached..

I have a Fuel 305 that has similar braces holding the fresh water tank up in the chassis. It originally had sheet metal screws holding these. The screws were run into the very thin metal on cross members between the frame rails. They failed by pulling out due to the 800 plus pounds of water in the tank. I replaced the sheet metal screws (4 in each end) with 1/4-20 bolts after first installing rivet nuts in the cross members. The cross members are too thin to tap and inaccessible to put regular nuts on the top side. This has so far lasted several years since installing. Below is link to river nut kit on Amazon.

https://a.co/d/fzhjEhk

 

[Torque Man]

I never thought about rivnuts, that would be easier than trying to get nuts and bolts up in there. Thanks for the idea.