2012 Attitude 27CBG - frame cracking

From my experience with flanged beams this is the most stupid way to install a gusset I've ever seen. The center of the web of a flanged beam has the least stress on it vertically and this will do nothing to stiffen it, just transfer the twist to the weakest portion of the beam, really stupid. To do it right would be to "box" the area at the hanger, tough to do with the trailer sitting on the top flange of the beam, next best is to brace between spring hangers like a lot have done.

jam5158 wrote:
I have 2013 Eclipse Attitude 23FB. While on a cross country trip I smelled rubber burning and when I checked I saw the trailer tires were rubbing the wheel well of the trailer. After some investigation I found several cracks in the I-beam frame where they had welded support plates parallel to the beam above the springs. The trailer body had started swaying because of the cracks that were all the way through the beam so that the wheel well was rubbing the tires. Unfortunately I am 2300 miles from home in Tennessee. I stopped at a camping world and they would not touch it. Currently I have several calls into local truck trailer repair shops in the area but because it is a 3 day weekend I am stuck till someone calls me back. From reading this forum it is obvious that the construction welding done by Eclipse is sub-standard because things like frame failure should not happen on a 3 year old trailer. {snip} I was looking into a new trailer but with this kind of damage I will get next to nothing on a trade in.



Mod Edit, as per the forum rules, "Posts are not allowed in which a local, state, or federal consumer action board and/or legal counsel is/have been involved. This includes posts related to future, ongoing or past lawsuits."

The scary part of that pic is, that is the way lippert braces all its spring perches on all their toy hauler frames! I had asked one manufacturer I was talking to if I purchased one of their haulers would they have lippert use a vertical gusset stitched in between the flanges top to bottom on the inside and outside of the frame rails like a structural brace is suppose to be installed when something is welded to the flange of an I-beam. They said they could request that.

I have 2013 Eclipse Attitude 23FB. While on a cross country trip I smelled rubber burning and when I checked I saw the trailer tires were rubbing the wheel well of the trailer. After some investigation I found several cracks in the I-beam frame where they had welded support plates parallel to the beam above the springs. The trailer body had started swaying because of the cracks that were all the way through the beam so that the wheel well was rubbing the tires. Unfortunately I am 2300 miles from home in Tennessee. I stopped at a camping world and they would not touch it. Currently I have several calls into local truck trailer repair shops in the area but because it is a 3 day weekend I am stuck till someone calls me back. From reading this forum it is obvious that the construction welding done by Eclipse is sub-standard because things like frame failure should not happen on a 3 year old trailer. {snip} I was looking into a new trailer but with this kind of damage I will get next to nothing on a trade in.



Mod Edit, as per the forum rules, "Posts are not allowed in which a local, state, or federal consumer action board and/or legal counsel is/have been involved. This includes posts related to future, ongoing or past lawsuits."

to the moderator this guys know frames.give them a call or pass the info.socalrvdoctor.yes they fixed mine and i can post some pics of the work done if u allow it

Any pictures of the repairs? Mine got dropped off at the shop this morning.

My repair was done last week. My welder has worked on other rigs that had frame cracks, torn off hangers, bent frames, etc., so he was not new to this work. It all went well except the center hanger brace would not fit due to clearance of the forward fresh water tank. So my welder did some other bracing for those hangers. I'll post photos later when I have time. Only time will tell if this works. I can see how it will help with flex for sure.

Lippert was very professional to deal with - they shipped all materials for the repair to my welder at no cost to me, and will cut me a check for the labor costs (since i paid my guy directly). Dan Collins there was easy to work with and very responsive.

Mike

Just found similar cracks on our 2005 Attitude, its going to the welder next week to look into a fix. Hoping it can get fixed vs being totaled out......

Looks like typical damage caused by lateral loading of the ibeams. If the cross member welds don't break first, the beams crack.

I keep telling you guys EVERY trailer needs these tubes added to the hangers right off the dealer lot, or this is what happens if you actually tow you rig.

My first weekend after taking delivery was spent installing Correct Tracks, surfacing drums, packing bearings, balancing tires, and adding tubes.

hope they take care of with a repair that lasts.

Thanks for sharing and posting the pictures. I have a 2014 eclipse and will be making sure i get under her and keep an eye on the frame.

nayther wrote:
My Rage'n was doing something similar (Lipert frame also) but slightly different. At each spring hanger there is a vertical angle welded flat to the web of the I beam, you can see it in the first photo. All of them were cracked where they attached to the lower frame flange. First we drilled a hole at the end of the crack to prevent further spreading, then laid a bead over the old weld for more penetration, then made triangular gussets to go from top of gusset to bottom flange and puddle welded at the gusset and stitch along the bottom flange. Next is to install 2" square tubing between the spring hangers to box up the assembly.

That is very similar to the repair procedure sent over by Lippert for my frame.

Mike