A rise in RV frame flex is plaguing the camping community. Owners are finding significant problems, especially among certain brands.
But what causes these issues, and how can you fix them?
Today, we’re going over RV frame damage to help you ensure you’re safe on the road.
Let’s hit it!
RVers Face Unprecedented Damage Due to Frame Flex
YouTubers Tom and Cheri from EnjoyTheJourney.Life recently posted a video detailing their experience with frame flex in their Columbus RV.
When the dealership attempted to relocate the rig for routine maintenance, they noticed tons of movement where the coupler met the body. The dealer immediately told them not to take the RV on the road until they could address the problem.
Fortunately, Columbus and Lippert, the frame manufacturer, collaborated to solve the issue. Representatives showed up within a week and got to work. After popping off the front cap to expose the supports, they found some minor buckling as well as a cracked wall strap.
The Lippert expert assured Tom that once the service center got their hands on the RV, it’d be better than when it was fresh off the lot. While he didn’t explicitly state that it was a manufacturing error, it certainly sounded like one.
But for other RVers, this situation isn’t so easily resolved.
What is RV Frame Flex?
All structures, whether you’re talking about a skyscraper or a travel trailer, allow for some amount of movement in the design. If that feature didn’t exist, campers would sustain tremendous damage from the slightest bump in the road.
RV frames are made of many different materials. Steel, aluminum, and wood are common choices. They all allow for certain degrees of flexibility and have unique limits to what they can withstand.
However, too much leeway is highly problematic.
If you hook up your camper and see more than one-half to one inch of motion where the body and coupler come together, it’s cause for concern. It’s a sign that you could be heading toward disaster.
Excessive movement can lead to bending, cracking, or total failure under the right conditions. You can probably imagine how detrimental this can be, even deadly. After all, the frame is the foundation of your home away from home, so you can’t ignore any structural integrity issues.
Not all RVs are susceptible to this phenomenon. Towables like toy haulers, travel trailers, and fifth-wheels are the ones you need to keep an eye on.
Tom says Lippert frames are the main culprits in the rise of complaints. Although they’re not in every big-name camper, they’re in a ton of units currently on the road. In particular, it seems Grand Design owners have been hit hard by this headache.
Frames aren’t the only common issues: Popular YouTuber Calls Out Thor to Fix Their “Crap RV”.
What Causes This Phenomenon?
Any time your RV is in motion, there’s pressure on the hitch pin. Frames naturally flex every time you start, stop, or hit rocky terrain. But when it’s more than an inch, or it stays bent when you come to a stop, you might be in a pickle.
Excess weight in the front of your rig can accentuate these issues. If your RV’s washer and dryer are over the hitch, frame damage might be more likely. It’s important to note that exceeding your camper’s weight limit, no matter how you distribute it, can worsen the problem.
Another contributing factor is how the RV has been treated over time. Hauling it across rough terrain and poorly maintained roads can exacerbate frame flex, as can any extraneous wear and tear.
However, the bottom line is that this problem starts during the design process. The engineers who created your rig should’ve planned for bumps in the road. And, of course, manufacturing defects do happen.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell what caused RV frame damage after the fact.
Did you know? Aluminum Frame Trailers Are Superior to Wooden Frames
How To Tell If Your RV Has Frame Damage
For better or worse, there are several ways to determine if your rig is suffering from this dreaded ailment.
In general, an RV experiencing frame flex will start showing symptoms toward the front end. Unless you obsessively inspect your unit regularly, the first sign might be slide malfunctions. Slides might be noisy or stop working correctly. You may also notice screws loosening around the anterior portion.
Additionally, seals and pinch molding can begin to fail or separate from the body. If you peek underneath, you might notice even more screws coming loose.
And, of course, if the problem has already progressed, you’ll see excessive movement when you hook up the hitch pin to the tow vehicle. Again, more than one inch should set off alarm bells in your head.
Here’s your friendly reminder to inspect your rig regularly. After all, the sooner you catch it, the easier and cheaper it’ll be to fix.
How to Repair RV Frame Damage
With the help of Lippert technicians and Columbus RV, Tom and Cheri found a relatively quick fix to their problem.
The techs welded the frame back together as a temporary solution, allowing the owners to continue on their journey until they could return it to the plant.
Once they made it to the manufacturer, the real work began. They started by using a tractor to simulate the forces experienced while riding down the road. This showed them how the entire RV body responded to the movement. Then, they upgraded the pin box to a sturdier model.
These YouTubers were lucky. However, in severe instances, you might find that metal has become deformed or welds are beginning to fail. When this happens, you face a more monumental challenge.
Whether or not it’s worth fixing is up to you and your insurance company.
Your warranty might cover the costs if you’re the RV’s original owner. But unfortunately, these benefits typically don’t extend to second or third owners. Either way, expect a bit of back and forth with the manufacturer.
Prevent big problems by performing regular maintenance and checks: Your Guide To RV Repair – The Complete Fix It Yourself Handbook.
Regular Inspections Can Prevent Trouble Down the Road
All RV frames exhibit some amount of flex, but a little bit goes a long way. The next time you hook up your travel trailer, keep an eye on the pin box. Or, better yet, use a measuring tape to see just how much movement happens when weight is applied to the coupler. You might be surprised to see more give than you expected.
Of course, this is all the more reason to inspect your camper regularly!
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