ReferDog wrote:
Amen. You have accurately describe the RV industry. Lippert is huge supplier of junk for the RV industry, who under most instances will not warranty or listen to any complaint.
Them's pretty strong words, but I totally agree. :)
I have experience the same on a axel issue although, not under warranty wouldn't listen to my experience. $1000 to get frame rail repaired that cracked.
They now have become so large that they don't have to much, even Northwoods ( Artic Fox). buys there stuff.
Northwood actually builds there own frame in-house and they get it off-road certified (to what specs. I don't know). The frame is used on Nash, Outdoors RV and Arctic Fox. Very nice looking frames. I think Jayco may have switched over to the BAL/Norco Ultraframe which has no welding on it. Also a very nice looking frame. Have seen it on 2 of their models now. Lance also uses the BAL frame. If we ever get another TT, it would have to be a non-Lippert frame one.
Sadly, Lippert owns the vast majority of the RV frame industry (95% or more??) and now owns Dexter
AND Alko. BTW, it's easy to spot a BAL frame in a CG or at an RV show as they have the coupler mounted to the underside of the A-frame.
When it comes to frames, suspensions and tires, that's a public safety issue and something I think should have regulatory standards. It would be nice to see a frame with a sticker on that states the max. GVWR for it and maybe o/a length. Axles have ratings and lots of detail specs available, but I'm not sure if they're built to an industry standard of any kind?
