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RamTX's avatar
RamTX
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014

Hickory Springs RV Folding Step Failure

I just wanted to make everyone aware that we had a metal fatigue failure on the Hickory Springs folding step on our 08 Jayco 5er Superlite trailer. One corner of the steps began to sag; condition slowly worsened over a couple of years until it got to the point of being a hazard when descending the steps. I finally closely examined the steps and found this problem. Metal frame had broken at the weld point resulting in the weight of the steps on one side to be mostly supported by the rivet holding the top step as well as the other steps attached to it. As the top rivet started to deform due to the added load on the rivet, the steps sagged further causing the problem. To the best of my knowledge the steps never hit anything.


  • RamTX's avatar
    RamTX
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2014
    Rob_Fla wrote:
    Our Jayco Pinnacle had almost exactly the same failure, got the step re-welded and replaced the broken rivet with a Grade 8 bolt.


    Glad you were able to repair yours. If I had not let the problem go before additional damage was done to other parts of the steps folding mechanism, I think that mine could have been repaired also.
  • brmike's avatar
    brmike
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2014
    i noticed the same problem at the same weld on my 2012 kz stone ridge 38fl. I will be removing the steps and getting the weld repaired this week. apparently there is a continuing quality issue with this weld.
  • Rob_Fla's avatar
    Rob_Fla
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2014
    Our Jayco Pinnacle had almost exactly the same failure, got the step re-welded and replaced the broken rivet with a Grade 8 bolt.

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