Over cab bed area external crack, Should I be concerned?

[Blanco1]

I noticed this crack the other day wonder if it something to be concerned about?

I've been saying to myself that I should get those stabilizer that hold up the bed & now think it even more?

What do you guys think?

Its only on the drivers side.

& its a 1985 Lance.




I wonder if thats how it looks outside what might be going on inside?

[pjay9]

All the struts do is to dampen the camper fore aft rock that occurs as the bed of the truck is independant of the cab...it is debatable if it works all that well.

I drill the stop hole at the end and go in deep enuf to see if the wood is good, then seal it up if solid.

Have fun!

[c_traveler2]

My Lance has the same crack in the same area, this is due to flexing of the cab over and the thin siding. I just caulk it over after checking the the frame, which was in sound condition and still is.

[Reddog1]

I believe your understanding is correct. Not knowing what kind of tie downs you have, I would just snug all of them down, and when I hot the offroad I would loosen or remove the rears.

Wayne

[Blanco1]

Ok, so I'm thinking I'll loosen the rears, yet see no reason to keep them tighter for the HWY?

The camper should basically hold itself in place the hold downs keep it from sliding from what I understand?

[Reddog1]

Blanco1 wrote:
... I wonder if maybe I have the tie downs too tight or loose now?

& Yes from the start my plan was dirt roads in the desert & sand as in Pismo beach & glamis & why I got a 4x4 truck.

Many people are of the belief the tie downs must be tight enough to literally hold the TC to the truck. If that were true, they would not bolt the Class C to the frame, they would only use four tie downs. The tie downs are intended to prevent the movement of minute vibrations of the TC. It really does not take much to hold a 2 or 3 thousand pound TC in the bed of the truck. The tie downs can be tighter on the highway than on rough roads, especially the rear tie downs. When the TC hits a rut, the cab over typically whips due to the cantilever. With the rear tie down loose, even though it is slight, the rear of the TC will go up and cushion the whip of the cab over.

Years past, I used my TCs off road. I always completely loosened my back tie downs, as did all of my friends. We saw many damaged TCs with the rear TC tie down mounts ripped out, and quite a few with the type of damage you have. Never saw an issue with the front tie downs, which typically pulled the TC toward the cab.

Wayne

[chistoso]

My 1989 Lance has had these for years. I drilled a very small hole in the skin to stop the crack from spreading and caulked it. I've had no other issues. The best part having an old camper is I can go where ever I want and not worry about it.

[Jfet]

If you were really concerned and didn't mind looking a little bit redneck-there-I-fixed-it you could route two straps from the front of the overhang across the top of the overhang and down the roof to the back of the camper.

I probably should have done this when building our camper as I could have put the straps underneath the aluminum roof coil to hide them. I did put a GoPro under the cab to see if it was flexing or bouncing and saw no movement so perhaps am ok.

[shellbackcva59]

I'm not to sure about it being a normal stress crack for the age of the camper. Seeing how you have to patch the crack anyhow, I drill a couple small holes into the interior framing to see if the wood is solid. If it comes out punky, you have bigger problems.

[languiduck]

I'm no expert, but from a different point of view it seems like simply a 29 year old camper that has been flexing like it should for 29 years and finally caused metal fatigue in that spot. Ever take a thin piece of sheet metal and bend it back and forth? Eventually the metal fatigues in that spot and breaks.

[billtex]

Looks to me like a tensile failure...not compression. The skin is torn.
Not sure how this could happen? But is sure looks like tensile failure...

Has the camper ever been lifted other than jacks (Forklift/hoist)?

In any case, a little eternabond, check for moisture=camp!

B

[Blanco1]

Reddog1 wrote:

Blanco1 wrote:
... I figure for the more bumpy roads they must help?

Without a doubt. Loosen the rear tie downs when on the bumpy roads, it will take some of the stress off of the cab over.

Wayne

I wonder if maybe I have the tie downs too tight or loose now?

& Yes from the start my plan was dirt roads in the desert & sand as in Pismo beach & glamis & why I got a 4x4 truck.

Yet have not gone yet.
Getting closer as I can afford it.

Got the 4 foot trailer extension in now & got my trailer & now I need to get a WDS for the trailer & then I'll start heading out to play.

[dakonthemountai]

I've had 3 campers over the years that experienced this, including a small crack on my current one. I caulked them and never had another problem. ... and NO water intrusion into the cabover section, etc. I too took (take) my camper on rough dirt roads (not 4x4 roads though) and the first time I experienced a crack in the cabover like yours was just after the first year of a brand new 1996 camper. No, it's not desirable and is a bit of a worry but you will know, other than tearing the entire cabover apart, if there is a problem in the future soon enough. The only concern I would have at this point is that after all these years it just now is appearing. No way to really know what is going on "under the skin." Just keep an eye on it. Yes, the struts help with the porpoising, but they are not load bearing. They help with the bounce and stress a bit too. Seal it, watch it and go camping!!! Well, at least that's what I did all these years! 🙂

Dak

[okan-star]

Just like on all of us gravity takes its toll . Ive had campers that sagged like that in 3 years . look down the ribbed alum just above the cabover , from back to front , I bet the cabover has found a spot it likes down an inch or more and the alum siding wont go with it with out popping out or cracking . I doubt the cabover is loose , it just settled , you probably cant even notice is to bad from a profile , side view
If you really what to work at it you could pull the trim and the staples on the edges of the alum , reattach it in a more relaxed position and slid a small piece of alum behind the crack , with some caulking behind and pop rivet it together
A lot of newer campers and 5th wheels get stress cracks like that on the nose of the 5th overhang and around the corners of slideouts , and the fix is usually a small piece of flat white trim to cover it
But defiantly at least caulk it so you don't get a real big rot problem later

[Reddog1]

Blanco1 wrote:
... I figure for the more bumpy roads they must help?

Without a doubt. Loosen the rear tie downs when on the bumpy roads, it will take some of the stress off of the cab over.

Wayne