poor frame design on travel trailer

Ralph Cramden wrote:


You have a 2004 shown in your sig, and Palomino is no longer associated with Sabre as Forest River broke them apart awhile ago. I am fairly sure a Palomino Sabre 30BHDS would of been a 2010/2011 or earlier?

I can see rolled shapes being used back then, but not today. I've never heard them called manufactured housing beams, we call them MWB's. (machine welded beam).

No different than every structural member in a pre-engineered metal buildings used as warehouses and manufacturing facilities.

Anyhow not an issue as just because a beam is rolled does not necessarily equate to it being stronger than a machine welded and fabricated beam. The details are in the engineering and the actual assembly, which is where Lippert drops the ball.

Hi Ralph,

My 2004 Sunline was built in Nov 2003. (Sunline went out in late 2006) Sunline subcontracted to Lippert in the Denver PA plant for my frame which was not far from the Sunline factory. I don't know which plant built Huntindog's frame, just we hooked up and exchanged notes when I had a main frame rail bend stemmed from a brutal pothole concrete interstate road.

For the MH beams or thin I beams, see there. Steel of West Virginia This mill shows the 10" x 9#/foot version I have which has an area moment of inertia of 35.5 in.^4th.

Huntingdog's frame is closer to a 10" x 13.2#/foot with an area moment of inertia of 50.6 in.^4th. His vintage is stronger and the one he ended up with was a good one. I wish mine was that heavy.

Welded I shape beams, I have not seen them (yet anyway), I will take your word for them as I can see them being made that way. I have seen the laser welded angle shapes so I would not doubt they can do the I shape. And yes, done right they are comparable to rolled beams in some applications. I will look closer at the RV lot next time I go that has a large qty of FR branded campers. I was more looking quick to stay away from an 8" frame and axles not rated for the full GVWR. Did not look right up close at the flange radius or lack thereof. Will do next time.

Thanks

John