weld broken on the slide - common??
We seem to have a broken weld on our slide. This is a 2005 Host Rainier 9.5 I want to know how common it is for a weld in the slide to break from "normal wear and tear". We found a crack coming f...
Forum Discussion
I have a 2006 Yellowstone double slide. It is obviously longer and heavier than yours, but in my case the answer is yes. I have had a crack similar to yours for some time. We also had the rear corner weld where the generator is located to break, but this was likely caused from something else and was fixed years ago.
Recently, last October after returning from a long trip from which my slide room bound up badly, we disassembled the lower side wall areas under both sides of the camper. What I found was very surprising regarding the design and construction of the frame systems of this camper ( I do not know if yours is similar or if you would have similar problems with it being a 9.5'). When we took off the 3/8" wood " I- beam " spans located on the lower sidewalls under the two slide rooms, I discovered what I found to be very inadequate design of the lower structure. (NOTE: The structure above this was perfect!) In fact, what was seen,can be generally thought of as an 11' rectangular 1" box aluminum frame, on each side, without any vertical struts along the span. The 3/8" plywood "structure" was screwed into this frame which caused more stress points and facilitated cracking/breaking (all unseen) from flexing . The lowest span nearest the truck bed was cracked or fully broken in multiple pieces and fell out when we removed the plywood overlay. The aluminum cross spans under the camper to the other side were also broken. If we had not had the camper on a table, the entire floor would have fallen out. My conclusion was that the plywood side pieces were all that was holding it together. I am amazed I made it as long as I did on my last long trip (7300 miles)
An effective repair, I think, was made. I have had no further issues since, but I have not taken another month long road trip either. FYI. the repair involved building a lower welded steel frame box along these side lower base areas and spanning across, with angle, the front portion of the camper and flat steel strapping welded along the bottom. This process kept everything in compression and attempted to tie the bottom broken aluminum welded spans to the flat cross members. We also welded a steel frame side box overlay of the 11' aluminum framed box described above. With steel rather than aluminum, we then welded new vertical struts on these side frames to stiffen it up from flexing over the long 11' section and then replaced the 3/8" plywood "I- beam" approach with 3/4" plywood and tied it all into the steel frame to further stiffen it.
After all of this the slide has been smooth and not been a problem. It is my feeling, without a great deal to back it up, that the Yellowstone model because of this original design was problematic. I knew something was wrong when I took my long trip last year, and felt it had to do with the length of this particular camper, which is why, when I toured Host's facility and talked to Randall I expressed interest in a "shorter" floorplan camper.
FWIW Conclusion/Opinion :Not sure if this helps you, but I assume the design strategy of the Rainier is similar to the Yellowstone at this time. I know Host has significantly improved their designs, after talking to Randall and I am considering getting another, so I am not bashing them just telling you what we saw. Your unit has smaller slides and might not experience the same flexing loads as ours. However, the corner side crack in the slide room might be the indication of the beginning of a similar issue.
Recently, last October after returning from a long trip from which my slide room bound up badly, we disassembled the lower side wall areas under both sides of the camper. What I found was very surprising regarding the design and construction of the frame systems of this camper ( I do not know if yours is similar or if you would have similar problems with it being a 9.5'). When we took off the 3/8" wood " I- beam " spans located on the lower sidewalls under the two slide rooms, I discovered what I found to be very inadequate design of the lower structure. (NOTE: The structure above this was perfect!) In fact, what was seen,can be generally thought of as an 11' rectangular 1" box aluminum frame, on each side, without any vertical struts along the span. The 3/8" plywood "structure" was screwed into this frame which caused more stress points and facilitated cracking/breaking (all unseen) from flexing . The lowest span nearest the truck bed was cracked or fully broken in multiple pieces and fell out when we removed the plywood overlay. The aluminum cross spans under the camper to the other side were also broken. If we had not had the camper on a table, the entire floor would have fallen out. My conclusion was that the plywood side pieces were all that was holding it together. I am amazed I made it as long as I did on my last long trip (7300 miles)
An effective repair, I think, was made. I have had no further issues since, but I have not taken another month long road trip either. FYI. the repair involved building a lower welded steel frame box along these side lower base areas and spanning across, with angle, the front portion of the camper and flat steel strapping welded along the bottom. This process kept everything in compression and attempted to tie the bottom broken aluminum welded spans to the flat cross members. We also welded a steel frame side box overlay of the 11' aluminum framed box described above. With steel rather than aluminum, we then welded new vertical struts on these side frames to stiffen it up from flexing over the long 11' section and then replaced the 3/8" plywood "I- beam" approach with 3/4" plywood and tied it all into the steel frame to further stiffen it.
After all of this the slide has been smooth and not been a problem. It is my feeling, without a great deal to back it up, that the Yellowstone model because of this original design was problematic. I knew something was wrong when I took my long trip last year, and felt it had to do with the length of this particular camper, which is why, when I toured Host's facility and talked to Randall I expressed interest in a "shorter" floorplan camper.
FWIW Conclusion/Opinion :Not sure if this helps you, but I assume the design strategy of the Rainier is similar to the Yellowstone at this time. I know Host has significantly improved their designs, after talking to Randall and I am considering getting another, so I am not bashing them just telling you what we saw. Your unit has smaller slides and might not experience the same flexing loads as ours. However, the corner side crack in the slide room might be the indication of the beginning of a similar issue.
