Lippert frames
Been towing for 30 years, but never heard of a Lippert frame. Seems like most of the comments are negative. So, what is a Lippert frame?
Forum Discussion
JBarca wrote:
I cannot find these thin H shapes "yet" in any hand book, but they do make them for the Manufactured Housing market. They call them MH beams or thin I beam. Here is one mill that makes them. So far that is the only mill I can find them on the web that does. I'm sure there are more, just I have not found them.
http://www.swvainc.com/housing.html
You will notice they offer a 10 x 8#/ft and a 10 x 9#/ft which I have and it has an area moment of inertia of 35.5 in.^4th.
Thanks for posting that link. Interestingly I think we have done some business with those guys in the past on something. I don't remember all of that stuff but my estimator will. I doubt you'll find any info on those MH beams in any bible, either printed or the net version. To me those are custom pieces. Maybe not so if you're a manufactured housing builder, but the website also seems to indicate they'll run those to order. I've got a fab guy I use for small stuff who used to be one of "the guys" at American Bridge. If it was made in the last 100 years and has published info he'll have it, or know where to get it lol. That's if he has not keeled over lately as he's about 85 but still going at it...I think.
On a side note reading through the company history, those WV guys may have been the inventors of the micro mini mill. Back in the day there were many here around Pittsburgh, not so much now days.
In the last few years I can not bring myself to believe Lippert would still be using those. I can see 03 or even 2010, but with what they have acquired and have become in the in the last 10 years since they bought up everyone and everybody, who was into frames....almost,...I'm skeptical. I know they did a major outlay a few years ago for continuous welding equipment, read that in a trade pub.
It's neither here nor there, but I once had a long conversation with a broker over drinks about what Lipperts buyers look for when they go out shopping materials.....I won't go deeply into it, but will just say they apparently go looking for what others are not looking for, if you get my drift.
