Crack in Sidewall by Bedroom Slide

[Tumbleweed79]

We purchased a brand new 2014 Keystone Avalanche on June 2, 2014. By the 23 of June after having pulled it only twice I noticed a crack in the sidewall by the bedroom. It was small and while concerned I wasn't sure if it had been there when I bought it or not. We were parked for over a month and I decided to keep an eye on it and if it got ANY bigger I would make the call to Keystone. Well...it did. Below are the pictures.

I contacted Keystone, they told me to get it to a dealer. The dealer in Tulsa where we were was booked up until October so we ended up pulling it to Texas. After I dropped it off the service manager called me and told me that what he had thought was a simple "stress crack", after seeing it first hand was certain it was a cracked weld or broken frame.

After several days of waiting I got an email from the dealer stating that Keystone had "respectfully declined" assistance in our problem. They cited a Warranty Exclusion that "Damage or loss caused in whole or in part to a .... cargo platform" was not covered. At this time, it doesn't appear I have ANY warranty on this unit. Although Keystone won't answer that question.

The cargo platform in question was one that we had on our Keystone Bullet (with absolutely no problems) and carried our two kids bikes and a door mat. That's it NOTHING else.

Has anybody else had this type of crack on your unit?
Have you had any trouble with your manufacturer covering the repairs or "respectfully declining" to assist?

The unit was only 19-20 days from purchase and had this problem.

I have pictures to post, but am not understanding how to go about posting them. Please help with that.

Thanks!

[Mike_LeClair]

Here is a link to the RV.Net image pasting page. This should help you with posting images.
http://bit.ly/photo-upload

In order to halt your crack (on the rv) you can, carefully, drill a small hole at the beginning and end of the crack. Just deep enough to get past the skin without penetrating deeper than you have to into the sidewall under the skin. I used Sikaflex, further to my RV dealers input, to cover the crack and holes. Since this repair I have managed to drop the RV not once but twice. Once off of the landing feet blocks and once onto the truck bed rails. Regardless of other damages caused by my stupidity and misfortune the crack repair has shown no change or further damage vis a vis crack expansion or new cracks (yay). That is not to say, for the benefit of those of you who are about to jump on this one, that there is no additional damage to stuff under the skin.

Cheers!

Mike

[Tumbleweed79]

How do I post pictures?

[Weldon]

If you check with Lippert you may have some gain and nothing to lose. The Montana web site may give info you are not aware of.

[TXiceman]

Tumbleweed79 wrote:
It is used to carry around 40 lbs. (our two kids bikes). Once they saw the cargo platform that was all she wrote...I was immediately denied assistance.

I have tried in vain to get them to explain why, to answer whether or not they feel like it caused the crack, or whether I still have ANY warranty. NO ANSWER. They WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
.

Sounds like the standard reply meaning that we build a POS trailer and will find any excuse we can to deny warranty.

As noted they use a Lippert frame which is not know to build a quality product.

Honestly, adding 40 to 50# to the rear bumper will not have any effect on the problem you are having. The problem is a poorly built pin box and forward area on the trailer. The added weight on the back bumper could effect the bumper and its attachment points.

It can be repaired if the shop knows what they are doing and probably run about $3k to disassemble the left front corner, add bracing and reapply the skin.

Ken

[C-Bears]

Weldon wrote:
Go over to the Montana owners club web site. You will find many comments on cracked welds and frame problems. The frame is probably made by Lippert, maybe you need to contact them as well.

Since you state you have a 2014 Keystone Avalanche, going to the Montana Owners Forum probably won't do you much good. Just as someone else pointed out, the Keystone 5th wheels that do not come with rear hitches will have voided frame warranties if one is installed. There are tons of 5th wheel owners, including myself, that are not taking the chance with Keystone during warranty period. I may install a hitch someday but not while I have warranty left.

I think their position is you can tell them you only carried 40 pounds on that installed receiver, but for all they know you pulled a trailer with a 40,000 pound boat to Florida behind your trailer. I am not saying I agree with them but I think that is where they are coming from.

[spadoctor]

if you can not get satisfaction from keystone go higher directly to Thor

[FLY_4_FUN]

For sure I feel for you, but there are only a few rv's designed and shipped with bumper mount bike/cargo racks. The rest are clearly placarded against modifying in any way.

I doubt your cargo rack had anything to do with the crack, but now the dealer and manufacturer have every right to deny your claim as you voided the structural warranty.

I am truly sorry you are getting the run-around, but they play the game to win!

Daryll

[MARKW8]

Unfortunatly, welcome to the world of rv warrentys.

Mark

[Tumbleweed79]

Also, from what I understand, Lippert made the chassis frame, but Keystone makes the actual part that is possibly cracked. The wall stud or wall stud weld. The dealer told me that Lippert and Keystone spent several days going back and forth pointing fingers and then finally I was left in the lurch.

[Tumbleweed79]

Wow! Thank you everyone for your response!

Yes, the crack is as you have suspected. Just like the two pictures show. (How do I post pictures?)

I notified Keystone about it and they told me to take it to a certified dealer and have it assessed. I did. They had the dealer take measurements, weight, and pictures of our unit. That's when they saw the cargo platform on the REAR (clamped receiver - not welded). It is used to carry around 40 lbs. (our two kids bikes). Once they saw the cargo platform that was all she wrote...I was immediately denied assistance.

I have tried in vain to get them to explain why, to answer whether or not they feel like it caused the crack, or whether I still have ANY warranty. NO ANSWER. They WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

It is CRAZY!!

I already have an attorney and he is asking me if it is a common problem. I told him from what I heard it was, but that is why I posted here, to confirm that.

[Mike_LeClair]

Do you mean one like this?



Mike

[TXiceman]

We had a 2012 Cameo that did not c rack below the bedroom slide, but it dis open the caulking in the seam on the horizontal trim below the bedroom slide. I marked it while unhitched and then again while hitched. It was pulling the seam 1/8" a part vertically.

We had the unit repaired at Kansas RV Center in Chanute, KS. It is the old NuWa plant and they are well aware of the issues in the corner with the bedroom slide. They pulled the siding off in that corner, made a steel splicer plate and put it all together with a plywood backer piece to strengthen the corner of the slide, top and bottom.

It seemed to fix the problem, no more movement. The cost was a bit shy of $3k.

Since your trailer is new, tell the dealer to get the trailer to the factory and let them deal with it.

I am not sure it is all the manufacturers at fault here. The roads are getting to be really bad. We have gone with a Trailer Saver TS3 air ride hitch, Demco Glide pinbox and Mor/Ryde IS suspension for the trailer. The trailer dies ride smoother so hopefully we won't beat it to death so soon.

In the mean time write your state reps and demand that some money be spent on roads.

Ken

[Old-Biscuit]

Where do you have this 'cargo platform' installed?

On pin box or rear of 5vr on hitch?

On pin box.........you have a fight on your hands getting Keystone to except responsibility.
At rear on a hitch.........easier to show it didn't have an effect.

Wall studs just forward of bedroom slides breaking a weld at bottom support are common.

I would be making contact DIRECTLY with a Keystone Rep. vs second hand thru dealer. Keystone provides the warranty not dealership so deal with them directly.

[Mile_High]

Is it under the bedroom slide, extending down to the frame? IF so, that is a common problem. The flex in the frame is too much with the slide bouncing on top of the floor, and the rigid wall cracks at the weakest point. A few years ago, a saw cut and moulding was the factory answer to avoid the crack.

If that's not the area, then I'm not sure what you mean.

[Weldon]

Go over to the Montana owners club web site. You will find many comments on cracked welds and frame problems. The frame is probably made by Lippert, maybe you need to contact them as well.