Lippert frame issues

RedAce wrote:
While it may be true that some RV manufacturers "underspec" frames made by Lippert, its not likely that they specified shoddy workmanship and poor welds.

When you ask for light weight frame say on a 36-40' frame you get a lot of flex and the result is broken welds.

TxTiger wrote:
The biggest problem with Lippert frames is the manufacturer's specifications given to Lippert. Most frames are built by Lippert and built to manufacturer specifications. So if the manufacturers cheaps out on the specs then the frames are often too light for the various stress points. There have also been some complaints about poor workmanship such as sloppy welds. My unit has a Lippert frame and the welds and overall workmanship look great.

You are so right!

People bash Lippert, they really should be bashing their RV maker. They are the ones that spec "light and cheap".

The frame on our Mobile Suites is a Lippert, it looks great.

Just had my pin box replaced and some welding done on my 2002 Montana . Lippert would not help .

TxTiger wrote:
I just love Lippert frame threads. There are many and responses go from low info responses to really knowledgeable. Lots of good info from some posters.

With what looks like a recovery in RV sales, and therefore an increase in production, you would think a company could come along and compete in the frame building business. You would need to be robotic so you didn't have over 50 employees though.

It is surprising that there are not more frame builders . We did some robotic welding, not that big of deal , need a good programmer, and there are even lots of used robots out there. The two robots we had were used . If things are jigged up properly you can rock ,and roll with a robot. Having been in the steel fabrication business it's not that that difficult to jig up frames, and weld them. Frames are frames there is no mystery to them.

Well............................here's the thing..............................LIPPERT, Has Bought up almost all the competetors, componet groups........lippert, and its subsideries makes, lifters, doors, frames, windows, axle/spring systems, etc.........and the list keeps on growing..........................Kinda like Ma -Bell used to be .So, to get "Someone Else" to give them a "Run for their Money"...................Good Luck, since they OWN all the things.:E

I just love Lippert frame threads. There are many and responses go from low info responses to really knowledgeable. Lots of good info from some posters.

With what looks like a recovery in RV sales, and therefore an increase in production, you would think a company could come along and compete in the frame building business. You would need to be robotic so you didn't have over 50 employees though.

One thing you don't need to worry .Newmar build excellent trailer and they build theirs own frame in the house.

Me Again wrote:
When they put their name to the product they are admitting to quite a bit, and come under the watchful eye of the NHTSA. Chris

I would like to see that watchful eye, they need glasses, what welds have you been looking at.

bfast54 wrote:

richfaa wrote:

Mile High wrote:
Rich,
Do ask the question. I'm curious what Lippert says.

In the last few years it seams like the 12" Lippert I-beam Z-frame with 6-pt levelers has homogenized itself equally across the board. I crawled under Montana, Landmark, Sanibel, Redwood, and a few others and there isn't 10 cents worth of difference in the frames between brands.

With possible the exception of the DRV box frame, specs dictating one frame as superior over another out of Lipperts door is a myth.

I have that question in BIG letters and in the 5thh wheel. I tend to agree with you Brad although I am no expert. Another question..has anyone actually been to the Lippert plant and actually seen these "welders" welding on a frame. We have been there more than once and we saw a lot of automated weeding and cutting going on .We will go again as take another look. we have been to both Lippert and Mor Ryde and I get them mixed up as to what I saw where. We got a real good visual lecture on welding at Mor Ryde when we were having the Mor Ryde IS on the 06 3400.

YES.......................on Being there and seeing lippert weld frames...........................The Frame "Plant" in Goshen, is right behind my Terminal, and when we pick up rigs, they are out there Night, and day, welding new frames...........inside the building ...and OUTSIDE...in the dark welding. 2,3,4 A.M. .........................Makes no difference.






And, they have a fleet of Moble weld trucks, at the Goshen plant................10, or 12 of them.





Now, if there was not a problem, why do they send out these Welding trucks, all over the U.S.A., to FIX frames.......Hmmmmm??????





And YES, the engineering staff , at trailer factories do specify frames................Shoddy, welds, not enough braces..........DO Happen.................:E

Lippert has no excuse for poor weld quality .It takes no longer to put down a quality weld then a poor weld . Weld time is the same . I really have to question the ability of the supervision, and do they really know good from bad. You can hear a good weld being put down 50 feet away, I have a feeling the lippert plant sounds like a bunch of sputtering old cars.

Me Again wrote:
Lippert would not build a frame spec'd by a client that they feel would fail, as it has their name on it. When I had I-beam web cracks Cardinal referred me to Lippert for warranty and such. Cardinal did not "own" the frame, Lippert did. Lippert is not going to warranty a frame that is not to their specs.

Chris

The hell you say, they fail all the time in the welds ,that is on lippert, not on the client. They have put there name on more bad welds then can be counted. IMO, and being in the welding business for over 42 years I do know what I am talking about, there welds are shameful. Welds can look sloppy cosmetically ,and still have good penetration, but when there is excessive weld splatter, probably welding to cold ,with poor penetration, or bad undercut, that can break, joints that are not welded completely, and the weld is not finished at the ends, that is a lot of the typical welds that lippert puts out. I very much doubt one of there welders could pass our weld test. Over the 42 years I tested hundreds of guys, and I refer to the type of welders that lippert hires as squirt welders, all they did all day is put spot welds or short one inch welds on patio furniture. When they had to run a decent six bead they had no clue, thats lippert welders. Last 10-15 years that is about all we could get to do our welding, but then we had them take a couple welding classes, and we taught them in house. Now days not many want to weld, they want to work on computers.
I probably wouldn't last a week at lippert supervising the weld quality, I would have everyone fired.