RV Engineering and Construction
I spent this afternoon repairing a canned-food storage drawer on our toy hauler. It was obviously loose and not sliding correctly. Yet again, I discovered the poor engineering and construction of RV...
Forum Discussion
I crawled under a bunch of TTs at a show once taking notes and pics. One salesman wondered what the h*ll I was doing like I was planting a bomb or looking for trade secrets.
One thing I found is that not all Lippert frames are alike, even if about the same length and GVWR rating. Some have additional re-enforcement at the spring hangers and most have none. Some of them have the 3-piece welded up I-beams for the same equivalent lengths and GVWRs that have one-piece I-beams - I would never buy a TT with one of these flexible frames again. The only way to find out what they have is too look at one in person as they don't tell you in brochures or online. A few TTs have the BAL frame - I'd want one of those next time or an in-house made one like Nash has. TT manufacturers don't seem to list BAL frames when they have them.
I looked at a TT on display at CW a few months ago (brand name withheld). I was really surprised to find that even after subtracting tongue weight, the tires were loaded up to near their LRC rating. Same with the axles. The frame was the flexible 3-piece welded up one. To make things even worse, it had spread axles. Definitely a TT I would never buy. Had lots of bling which is what most buyers focus on.
Regretfully, sometimes you have to have been through frame problems to understand what can go wrong. I can't believe that they can build frames and not have any industry standards (ANSI, ASME, SAE, etc.) to have to comply with, no gov't inspections and no weight or length limit ratings. Some frames are so weak the the aluminum superstructure framing can be damaged from the flexing.
As an engineer, I'm appalled at some of the poor engineering and workmanship I've encountered. 'Nuf said otherwise I could go on for pages...
One thing I found is that not all Lippert frames are alike, even if about the same length and GVWR rating. Some have additional re-enforcement at the spring hangers and most have none. Some of them have the 3-piece welded up I-beams for the same equivalent lengths and GVWRs that have one-piece I-beams - I would never buy a TT with one of these flexible frames again. The only way to find out what they have is too look at one in person as they don't tell you in brochures or online. A few TTs have the BAL frame - I'd want one of those next time or an in-house made one like Nash has. TT manufacturers don't seem to list BAL frames when they have them.
I looked at a TT on display at CW a few months ago (brand name withheld). I was really surprised to find that even after subtracting tongue weight, the tires were loaded up to near their LRC rating. Same with the axles. The frame was the flexible 3-piece welded up one. To make things even worse, it had spread axles. Definitely a TT I would never buy. Had lots of bling which is what most buyers focus on.
Regretfully, sometimes you have to have been through frame problems to understand what can go wrong. I can't believe that they can build frames and not have any industry standards (ANSI, ASME, SAE, etc.) to have to comply with, no gov't inspections and no weight or length limit ratings. Some frames are so weak the the aluminum superstructure framing can be damaged from the flexing.
As an engineer, I'm appalled at some of the poor engineering and workmanship I've encountered. 'Nuf said otherwise I could go on for pages...
