Forum Discussion

Bearcattravelle's avatar
Aug 06, 2013

Bighorn 5th wheel frame problems

We have had problems with the Bighorn from the first week we bought it in 2008. We have had problems getting Heartland to work with us to make repairs. Our most recent misadventure involved what looks like a bent or broken frame with which the trailer is towed. It is currently in a shop in Portland, Oregon, 1000 miles from our home in California. We were told not to drive it any longer until it was repaired. We have had some of the problems others have had with the Bighorn, including cracks in the bedroom slide, un-level flooring in the bedroom, improper ducting of the HVAC unit, the bottom rung of the ladder breaking off, the microwave oven slipping out of its position, poor fill whole for water that will not allow enough air to keep it from backing up, etc. We have traveled a great deal in our unit. Has anyone else experienced these difficulties with a Bighorn and did Heartland make good on their product?
  • CYNCWBY wrote:
    All of these mentioned problems, specially the cracked frames due to chit welding and too thin gauge material is the reason I got asked to not post on the Heartland forum. Member after member came on complaing of the same problems, cracked frames at the king pin, water leaks and almost everyone had bad front jacks.

    I came back a couple of years later and .... same old problems so I asked WHY hadn't Heartland and Lippert got thier act together and fix the damn problems. Got a rather curt message from the mod. telling me that you can't post like that........oh well, you couldn't give me a Heartland product. Hopefully some folks are happy with thiers......Dave
    I have a Heartland product. I don't have any cracked frame issues, no leaks, no bad front jacks...I'm not everyone but I'm part of everyone. I'm wondering who the "everyone" is that you talked to? I'm very active on the Heartland forum and I see very few posts regarding these issues. I also camp with lots of Heartland owners at several of their rallies...almost "everyone" hasn't been there either...Are you sure you know this for a fact??

    B.O.
  • All of these mentioned problems, specially the cracked frames due to chit welding and too thin gauge material is the reason I got asked to not post on the Heartland forum. Member after member came on complaing of the same problems, cracked frames at the king pin, water leaks and almost everyone had bad front jacks.

    I came back a couple of years later and .... same old problems so I asked WHY hadn't Heartland and Lippert got thier act together and fix the damn problems. Got a rather curt message from the mod. telling me that you can't post like that........oh well, you couldn't give me a Heartland product. Hopefully some folks are happy with thiers......Dave
  • I had a 2007 Heartland Sundance that I bought used in 2010.

    Had the same issue with the water fill. Kitchen dinette slide floor came detached from the walls. Uneven floor in the living room. Delamination at the right rear. Frame cracks aroung the pin box structure.

    Unfortunately it was out of warranty. Heartland is off my list of manufacturers whom I will purchase a product from.
  • Well, your rig has a Lippert made frame, you will find similar issues posted in every forum (this one, the dedicated Bighorn forum, etc) where owners of said frames come to commiserate about their frame issues.

    Lippert recently made a big deal about how all the welders in one of their divisions where all -now- certified (which means they weren't before, but where still making frames)