Gap in the 2nd deck moulding when hooked
I have an Keystone Avalanche 2011 , 38'for 4.5 years now. Like the unit very much. A problem developed over time, when I hook it the the pickup, the moulding running from the bottom of the second...
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As stated, there are plenty of cases of 5th wheel frame failures. Either broken welds or broken metal, especially the front cross members. Many of these are on older frames with fairly straight front caps and the front crossmember is straight. But units with notched front caps also have a notched front cross member. But more significant is the spacing between front and rear cross members that secure the pin box. On older frames the spacing is about 24 inches. On newer frames, with the notch, the front crossmember attaches to the side frame rails just a few inches ahead of the rear cross member.
While I don't have your brand or model, I measured flex about 3 X more than what is considered acceptable. My 2011 was less than 6 months old when Lippert agreed to fix the problem which involved removal of the front cap and dropping the chin plastic, followed by some additional bracing. Within a month of fixing my unit, Lippert changed the frame design on new units.
Since mine was fixed, I can't say for sure the likely point of failure. But besides the classic failure points around the pin box area, it is also possible that the main side rails below the bedroom walls are failing, anywhere from the pin box back to above the landing legs. This is especially likely given the moulding separation, since failures in the pin box area frequently show damage to the front cap and bedroom closet.
Cost can easily be $5000, it is dangerous and if not fixed now, repair costs will only go higher.
While I don't have your brand or model, I measured flex about 3 X more than what is considered acceptable. My 2011 was less than 6 months old when Lippert agreed to fix the problem which involved removal of the front cap and dropping the chin plastic, followed by some additional bracing. Within a month of fixing my unit, Lippert changed the frame design on new units.
Since mine was fixed, I can't say for sure the likely point of failure. But besides the classic failure points around the pin box area, it is also possible that the main side rails below the bedroom walls are failing, anywhere from the pin box back to above the landing legs. This is especially likely given the moulding separation, since failures in the pin box area frequently show damage to the front cap and bedroom closet.
Cost can easily be $5000, it is dangerous and if not fixed now, repair costs will only go higher.
