Warranty work
Several months ago I posted a thread on the White Hawk wide stance axle. We called our dealer with a concern about slight bowing to the axles on our TT. Made a 2 hr. trip and left it to be checked out...
Forum Discussion
I recall looking at Whitehawks at the last RV show here. IIRC, some have a Lippert frame that is made from 3 pieces of sheet steel welded together to *look* like an I-beam. These frames have extreme flex in them. I have seen them on 5 or 6 different makes and models of ultra-lites now including ours.
Do not waste your time with the dealer or with Lippert. Take it to a certified frame shop and get a comprehensive inspection done. Won't cost much. Find a frame shop that is not gong to hold back and isn't afraid to document exactly what they find. Then take the report along with photos to the dealer and demand something serious be done with it. If nothing is done, your frame and suspension will fail, and it won't be "maybe", it will be a case of "when". There's little that can be done to fix up these frames and any amount of remedial work will never make it like it should be in the first place. If you don't give them a report from a certified frame shop, you will be stuck between Lippert and the dealer. After you have a report, also try and find someone with clout at the factory and send them a copy of the report too.
On our frame, the 6" tall spring hangers are out of vertical by up to 5/8". When the TT sits on the ground, the spring hangers flex to the side in one direction and when it's on a hoist, they flex in the opposite direction. Unbelieveable! If you have this frame, look at where the spring hangers are welded to the bottom of the I-beam. If you see distortion in the bottom flange, it's because the spring hangers are continually flexing from side to side. Our frame flexes so much, all of the plastic bushings in the springs were totally shot from the day we took possession of it. Just the distance of the delivery from plant to dealer wore them out.
These "flexible" frames are lacking gussets and re-enforcement seen in many other frames. This frame will eventually develop cracks in it in the area of the wheels where the I-beams get the most stress.
The axles are made from very thin tubing. They are built with a camber in them and when the weight of the trailer is one them, they are supposed to straighten out. If you have the above type of frame, the movement of the spring hangers is going to allow the axles to bend all the time. The tires will move from positive to negative camber and in some heavy side loading, will be way out of camber. Bad for frame and suspension and bad for the tires.
Because there is excessive vertical movement in the frame, it's not good for the superstructure sitting on top of it. You could end up with failed welds in the aluminum framing and with problems like not being able to close doors and windows properly.
If you do have the "flexible" frame, the best solution would be to get your money back and find another TT with a better frame or swap to another model in their lineup. One good thing in your favor is the 2 year Jayco warranty if they try and drag this out.
Bama, if you want any more info. on this type of frame, send me a PM. If you don't have this frame, just ignore what I said..... You might want to think about going to a frame shop regardless as I wouldn't trust either the dealer or Lippert to fix things correctly.
In any event, it's unforgiveable that they are taking so long to do something. Imagine if this was in the middle of the camping season? What is the alignment kit?
Do not waste your time with the dealer or with Lippert. Take it to a certified frame shop and get a comprehensive inspection done. Won't cost much. Find a frame shop that is not gong to hold back and isn't afraid to document exactly what they find. Then take the report along with photos to the dealer and demand something serious be done with it. If nothing is done, your frame and suspension will fail, and it won't be "maybe", it will be a case of "when". There's little that can be done to fix up these frames and any amount of remedial work will never make it like it should be in the first place. If you don't give them a report from a certified frame shop, you will be stuck between Lippert and the dealer. After you have a report, also try and find someone with clout at the factory and send them a copy of the report too.
On our frame, the 6" tall spring hangers are out of vertical by up to 5/8". When the TT sits on the ground, the spring hangers flex to the side in one direction and when it's on a hoist, they flex in the opposite direction. Unbelieveable! If you have this frame, look at where the spring hangers are welded to the bottom of the I-beam. If you see distortion in the bottom flange, it's because the spring hangers are continually flexing from side to side. Our frame flexes so much, all of the plastic bushings in the springs were totally shot from the day we took possession of it. Just the distance of the delivery from plant to dealer wore them out.
These "flexible" frames are lacking gussets and re-enforcement seen in many other frames. This frame will eventually develop cracks in it in the area of the wheels where the I-beams get the most stress.
The axles are made from very thin tubing. They are built with a camber in them and when the weight of the trailer is one them, they are supposed to straighten out. If you have the above type of frame, the movement of the spring hangers is going to allow the axles to bend all the time. The tires will move from positive to negative camber and in some heavy side loading, will be way out of camber. Bad for frame and suspension and bad for the tires.
Because there is excessive vertical movement in the frame, it's not good for the superstructure sitting on top of it. You could end up with failed welds in the aluminum framing and with problems like not being able to close doors and windows properly.
If you do have the "flexible" frame, the best solution would be to get your money back and find another TT with a better frame or swap to another model in their lineup. One good thing in your favor is the 2 year Jayco warranty if they try and drag this out.
Bama, if you want any more info. on this type of frame, send me a PM. If you don't have this frame, just ignore what I said..... You might want to think about going to a frame shop regardless as I wouldn't trust either the dealer or Lippert to fix things correctly.
In any event, it's unforgiveable that they are taking so long to do something. Imagine if this was in the middle of the camping season? What is the alignment kit?
