I discussed need for replacing bumper in other threads...soooooo, the welder is here with the replacement, thicker bumper...and he measures to ensure it sticks out evenly from each frame rails....then a FLASH of recognition!!! The 'front to back' frame rails of the trailer (Jayco SLX 264BH) are not set evenly under the trailer...one of the rails is about 4 inches closer to the outside of the trailer than the other...put another way, the driver side rail is set about 8 inches from the outside edge of the trailer, while the passenger side frame rail is set about 12 inches from the outside edgethis is factory....nothing twisted or anythingAny ideas why it's designed that way?

Could the driver side of your trailer be "heavier" than the passenger side? Therefore the weight would be evenly distributed? Just an idea.//KMac

Call Jayco and get the scoop from them....they spec the frames

ctying in with KMAC's thought...that COULD be....the way its designed:front bed--dead in the middle--kitchen, with stove and fridge...driver side--full-size bunks...driver side--bathroom and dinette...passenger sidethis is a no-slide trailer, so THAT can't be the reason...unless maybe just maybe this design is also used on a trailer WITH a slide??? Just thinking out loudsure wish I had a firm grip on the answer of why the frame rails are offset from center

Outside of calling Jayco as already suggested, maybe try and find that model locally and measure it for reference. Stop by the Jayco dealer and ask, maybe take a few measurements on similar or other modelsOther than the center of gravity answer, I'm stumped too.

Jayco makes their own frames and talks about construction here on their blog. If you think about it, the tongue goes back and connects with the frame rails, so in order for the point of the triangle (coupler) to be in the center, the frame rails have to be equidistant from either side.I suspect that there is additional framing that you can't see under the coroplast bottom. Don't overthink it, just have the welder pout the bumper on.

why aren't the frame rails of TT set evenly from the sides?

trailernovice
Explorer
Dec 03, 2020
actually, re. the coupler...looked at that...at the very front of the trailer is a plate welded across the front of the frame rails...the rails themselves are not visible...the coupler is (as logic and physics dictate) mounted right in the middle, but it's mounting point is this plate in front of the frame rails...

no way to tell how the rails themselves are configured...they're blocked by the plate at the front and the plastic sheeting under the unit
BurbMan
Explorer II
Dec 03, 2020
Jayco makes their own frames and talks about construction here on their blog.

If you think about it, the tongue goes back and connects with the frame rails, so in order for the point of the triangle (coupler) to be in the center, the frame rails have to be equidistant from either side.

I suspect that there is additional framing that you can't see under the coroplast bottom. Don't overthink it, just have the welder pout the bumper on.
mleekamp
Explorer
Dec 03, 2020
Outside of calling Jayco as already suggested, maybe try and find that model locally and measure it for reference. Stop by the Jayco dealer and ask, maybe take a few measurements on similar or other models

Other than the center of gravity answer, I'm stumped too.
trailernovice
Explorer
Dec 03, 2020
ctying in with KMAC's thought...that COULD be....the way its designed:
front bed--dead in the middle
--kitchen, with stove and fridge...driver side
--full-size bunks...driver side
--bathroom and dinette...passenger side

this is a no-slide trailer, so THAT can't be the reason...unless maybe just maybe this design is also used on a trailer WITH a slide??? Just thinking out loud

sure wish I had a firm grip on the answer of why the frame rails are offset from center
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 03, 2020
Call Jayco and get the scoop from them....they spec the frames
kmac7800
Explorer
Dec 03, 2020
Could the driver side of your trailer be "heavier" than the passenger side? Therefore the weight would be evenly distributed? Just an idea.

//KMac

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why aren't the frame rails of TT set evenly from the sides?

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