I have been looking at small TT's with one slide and was wondering what would be the difference in the chassis(frame) construction of the various models. I was not able to see much info on the frame construction, I beam vs box vs c section or the thickness of the steel. I see axle ratings of 3500 lbs or 4000 lbs each on some. I am assuming if the axle rating is 3500 lbs each that as long as GVWR of the trailer is less than 7000 lbs fully loaded every thing should be good. So my question, is the chassis construction pretty much the same or are some more robust than others? The ones that I saw that looked good from just the web sites were the ORV Creekside 18RBS 23 ft with 78 gals of FW. Coachmen Apex Nano 208BHS 25 ft 50 gals of FW. Coachmen 192 RBS 22ft 49 gals of FW. Hemisphere HyperLyte 23RB 26 ft 52 gals of FW. I never go to FHU CG's so FW is important to me.

The ORV will have the strongest frame. Doesn't mean the others are not going to last a long time. It mainly depends on the type of usage. Remember if you have a 7000 GVW and two 3500# axles, you need to subtract the tongue weight form the TT's loaded weight. If your 7000 GVW TT weighs 6800 lbs all loaded for camping and has an 800lb tongue weight, then you only have 6000 lbs on the axles.

All of the Forest River products you list will be on an LCI frame. Manufactured I beam and stamped or bar type cross members, with all welding done by a pre school class in Elkhart IN. That's an exaggeration but not far from the truth. Those LCI frames are like shooting C raps, you may win, you may lose, you may break even.

X2. The ORV-Northwood chassis will be far more robust. It's why I bought mine. Large heavy-gauge I-beam, cambered chassis with reinforcing at suspension points. The other trailer I was considering was a Cougar (Keystone RV), but it's chassis was basically sheet-metal, and much smaller with lighter axles.If you stay on highways, the lighter frames are fine. If you venture off-highway much, they aren't. Both of my prior TTs had frame failures (sagging frame on the Jayco, broken welds on the A-frame on my Weekend Warrior) so chassis design was was high on my requirements list.

When I was trailer shopping, I noticed that shorter trailers usually ended up with relatively stronger frames. That cheap I beam works fine for 20 or 25 feet, but gets weaker the longer you go.

TurnThePage wrote:When I was trailer shopping, I noticed that shorter trailers usually ended up with relatively stronger frames. That cheap I beam works fine for 20 or 25 feet, but gets weaker the longer you go. I thought this may be the case. If they use the same cross section and same thickness it should be stronger. Is there anyway of finding this info out? Bert mentioned LCI, who else makes these frames? who makes the frames for the ORV trailers?

Chassis strength of 20 -26 ft trailers with one slide

carringb
Explorer
Sep 27, 2019
X2. The ORV-Northwood chassis will be far more robust. It's why I bought mine. Large heavy-gauge I-beam, cambered chassis with reinforcing at suspension points. The other trailer I was considering was a Cougar (Keystone RV), but it's chassis was basically sheet-metal, and much smaller with lighter axles.

If you stay on highways, the lighter frames are fine. If you venture off-highway much, they aren't. Both of my prior TTs had frame failures (sagging frame on the Jayco, broken welds on the A-frame on my Weekend Warrior) so chassis design was was high on my requirements list.
Bert_Ackerman
Explorer
Sep 27, 2019
All of the Forest River products you list will be on an LCI frame. Manufactured I beam and stamped or bar type cross members, with all welding done by a pre school class in Elkhart IN. That's an exaggeration but not far from the truth. Those LCI frames are like shooting C raps, you may win, you may lose, you may break even.
goducks10
Explorer
Sep 27, 2019
The ORV will have the strongest frame. Doesn't mean the others are not going to last a long time. It mainly depends on the type of usage.
Remember if you have a 7000 GVW and two 3500# axles, you need to subtract the tongue weight form the TT's loaded weight.

If your 7000 GVW TT weighs 6800 lbs all loaded for camping and has an 800lb tongue weight, then you only have 6000 lbs on the axles.

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Chassis strength of 20 -26 ft trailers with one slide

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