A-Frame Damage
Hey Guys,
I spent most of yesterday cleaning the inside and outside of the trailer and getting it ready for our big annual family camping trip coming up next week when I came across this unfortunate surprise:
Basically there is a tear forming in the outer wall of the A-frame as it passes through the front crossmember. I crawled under the trailer and inspected the welds where the A-frame connects to the trailer frame I-beams and they look great. The left side of the A-frame is also still perfect with no perceptible damage. My only thought is the original weld on the right side of the A-frame as it passes through the crossmember was bad and compromised the outer wall for the tongue on that side.
I inspect the trailer regularly and when I washed it a few weeks ago there was no visible damage to the diamond plating. I have since taken it out twice and put on about 800 miles, which isn't much for as often as it goes out. What this tells me is that the tear is progressively getting worse and I'm at the point I don't think I can safely tow it until I get this fixed.
Any thoughts? My initial thought is the entire A-frame is going to have to be replaced, but I'm hoping I can at least get it temporarily patched up so I'm not tent camping it the last big trip of the summer. Of course I noticed this damage right as the dealer's service department closed yesterday, so I'm going to call them first thing Monday morning and hope they can squeeze me in to at least patch it up and make it roadworthy.
I don't even want to know what the final bill will be. It's kind of ironic my biggest worry has always been water intrusion, dry rot, and delamination, but instead the trailer frame decides to give up.
Thanks!
I spent most of yesterday cleaning the inside and outside of the trailer and getting it ready for our big annual family camping trip coming up next week when I came across this unfortunate surprise:
Basically there is a tear forming in the outer wall of the A-frame as it passes through the front crossmember. I crawled under the trailer and inspected the welds where the A-frame connects to the trailer frame I-beams and they look great. The left side of the A-frame is also still perfect with no perceptible damage. My only thought is the original weld on the right side of the A-frame as it passes through the crossmember was bad and compromised the outer wall for the tongue on that side.
I inspect the trailer regularly and when I washed it a few weeks ago there was no visible damage to the diamond plating. I have since taken it out twice and put on about 800 miles, which isn't much for as often as it goes out. What this tells me is that the tear is progressively getting worse and I'm at the point I don't think I can safely tow it until I get this fixed.
Any thoughts? My initial thought is the entire A-frame is going to have to be replaced, but I'm hoping I can at least get it temporarily patched up so I'm not tent camping it the last big trip of the summer. Of course I noticed this damage right as the dealer's service department closed yesterday, so I'm going to call them first thing Monday morning and hope they can squeeze me in to at least patch it up and make it roadworthy.
I don't even want to know what the final bill will be. It's kind of ironic my biggest worry has always been water intrusion, dry rot, and delamination, but instead the trailer frame decides to give up.
Thanks!
