To help prove that the frame is the issue with the slide, I lifted the back left of the frame rail 3” and the slide opening now comes back to being parallel with the slide.
This square head is adjusted to the current condition. See the gold siding area as a line of reference to the square head (the black thing). This is the current out of parallel condition.
Now raise the frame 3” at the rear
And here is the top of the camper and the slide.
Roof line straight again - front to back
From from the back looking forward
Camper frame now straight across the bend area
The rear bottom slide flange area. Slide wall to camper flange: 2 3/4"
The rear top slide flange area. Slide wall to camper flange: 2 7/8" Only an 1/8” difference now.
So this shows the problem.
This problem may be hard to believe, but sometime late 2009 to mid-2010 the main frame rail was compromised with the lower flange starting to buckle and deflect behind the rear spring hanger. That was the beginning. Very subtle, but it started. Then over time, the bend and buckle slowly kept increasing from normal towing and frame flex. We call this “ratcheting” in the engineering world speak, sort of like bending a paperclip back and forth until it breaks. The trip mid 2010 across NYS on I-88 heading west to Cowanesque lake south of Corning NY I feel was the event that started this.
The slide side of this floor plan is heavier than the door side. This is a rear living floor plan. See here
The camper when fully loaded with fresh water and WD is engaged has these weights. The camper is loaded close to capacity but not over.
• 1,600# tongue weight
• 4,340# front axle (the weight distribution hitch force lands mainly on the front axle and the fresh tank is over the front axle)
• 4,040# rear axle
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9,980# GVW. My GVWR is 10,000# So I'm at the limit when I haul my 42 gallons of fresh water and we do often.
The frame rails are 10” x 9lb per foot thin I beam style or known as an MH beam. (Manufactured Housing)
The frame steel aligns with ASTM A529-50 High Strength Low Carbon Steel and responds in a bending test to be that steel.
Thanks
John
