Did my Andersen No-Sway WDH do this???
Or did the trailer service center? I'm not sure, what caused it, but after hooking up last night I noticed chunks of aluminum on the ground under my setup. I had just got my trailer back from serv...
Forum Discussion
I read all the posts and looked at the pictures repeatedly and I have to disagree with the engineers on this. I think this was definitely caused by the forklift at the dealer for multiple reasons.
The scuff marks on the plate might explain the weld separating, but they don't explain how the aluminum got lifted torn and folded like it is. That lifting and tearing is from something besides a flat plate rubbing on the bottom of the frame.
If you look at the two pictures you can see where the forklift rammed into the tip of the tongue at least 4 different times as they were picking up and moving the trailer. There are at least four horizontal marks that match across both sides of the tongue. These marks are either from the flat Anderson plate or a forklift tip. They cannot be from the plate as the tow ball will not physically allow the plate to be that high on the tongue so that leaves the forklift.
My guess is that on one of the moves the lot guy was overconfident and under experienced. He came in a bit off center and started the forks going up at the same time as the ball was near where it should go. His intent was a smooth in and up motion and he misjudged or was using a different forklift and jammed the fork tip into the aluminum tongue while the forks were rising. The end result was he took the frame end that was poorly welded or already separated from the plate rubbing, and ripped it up and back.
If you look at the first picture you can see the rectangular mark where the fork tip was buried in the fold of the crease as it went up.
OP, if you truly want the truth the only way to find out is to take the trailer back and have them put the forklift tip up under the tongue. I think at that time it will be obvious if the forklift is at fault.
I would probably be more curious though if this tear has compromised the strength of the tongue. My guess is that it does not and the end cap is really cosmetic. But I don't really know metallurgy to answer the question.
The scuff marks on the plate might explain the weld separating, but they don't explain how the aluminum got lifted torn and folded like it is. That lifting and tearing is from something besides a flat plate rubbing on the bottom of the frame.
If you look at the two pictures you can see where the forklift rammed into the tip of the tongue at least 4 different times as they were picking up and moving the trailer. There are at least four horizontal marks that match across both sides of the tongue. These marks are either from the flat Anderson plate or a forklift tip. They cannot be from the plate as the tow ball will not physically allow the plate to be that high on the tongue so that leaves the forklift.
My guess is that on one of the moves the lot guy was overconfident and under experienced. He came in a bit off center and started the forks going up at the same time as the ball was near where it should go. His intent was a smooth in and up motion and he misjudged or was using a different forklift and jammed the fork tip into the aluminum tongue while the forks were rising. The end result was he took the frame end that was poorly welded or already separated from the plate rubbing, and ripped it up and back.
If you look at the first picture you can see the rectangular mark where the fork tip was buried in the fold of the crease as it went up.
OP, if you truly want the truth the only way to find out is to take the trailer back and have them put the forklift tip up under the tongue. I think at that time it will be obvious if the forklift is at fault.
I would probably be more curious though if this tear has compromised the strength of the tongue. My guess is that it does not and the end cap is really cosmetic. But I don't really know metallurgy to answer the question.
