mr. ed wrote: My Hitchhiker has a Lippert frame and extended pin box with no additions between the pin box and frame to cushion the jolts. It's been towed around the country several times and so far all is OK, but I do make it a point to travel as lightly as possible, i.e. empty holding tanks (except a small amount in the fresh water tank). I'm hoping these preventive measures will help extend the life of the frame.
No more Youngs welding?????????? Didn't realize the HH II model frames were not made by Youngs Welding in Chanute.
Learned something new
The documents that came with my Hitchhiker indicate that the slides are Lippert. I would be thrilled to learn the frame isn't but I have to assume it's made by Lippert, too.
Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)
2007 Hitchhiker II LS Model 29.5 LKTG
2007 Dodge Ram 3500/6.7 CTD/QC/4X4/SB/SRW/6-speed man/Big Horn edition
SoCalDesertRider wrote: Richfaa, you're still ignoring the fact that, if 60% of the RV's are overloaded, the RV manufacturers are failing to properly design their RV's to suit how owners are actually using them. 60% of the market overloading their vehicles points to the vehicles being under-designed for their intended use. They need to build them stronger to better serve the majority of the market.
I just can't grab ahold of your logic.If you look at the RVSEF stats it makes no difference what the GVWR of the Rv is or what frame it has they are still running over weight 60 % of rv,s are running over weight no matter what..How can a manufacturere address that....
SoCalDesertRider wrote: Richfaa, you're still ignoring the fact that, if 60% of the RV's are overloaded, the RV manufacturers are failing to properly design their RV's to suit how owners are actually using them. 60% of the market overloading their vehicles points to the vehicles being under-designed for their intended use. They need to build them stronger to better serve the majority of the market.
I just can't grab ahold of your logic.If you look at the RVSEF stats it makes no difference what the GVWR of the Rv is or what frame it has they are still running over weight 60 % of rv,s are running over weight no matter what..How can a manufacturere address that....
Storage space versus payload capacity would be the relationship to look at for keeping trailers under weight.
If the trailer has, for example, 4000 lbs of payload capacity but only enough storage space to fit, for example, 2000 lbs of stuff, it would be very difficult to overload it. The trailer will also be adequately strong and overbuilt and less likely to have structural problems, if it is also built with good design and quality control.
Conversely, if the trailer has only 2000 lbs payload capacity but enough storage space to find room for 4000 lbs of stuff, it is likely to be overloaded. If it is also built with poor design, such that it can barely stay together at max rated weight, in addition to poor quality, such that it can fail at below max rated weight, a disaster waiting to happen has been created. You can see where that's going...
The numbers above are for purposes of example only.
richfaa wrote: It is stated on every Rv what the GVWR is. It is stated on every tire what the tire load rating is. You can read that when you purchase the RV. It is not the manufacturers responsibility to guess what you might load the RV with.It is your responsibility to stay within the manufacturers spec's although many of us do not think so. The majority of Rv's on the road are over the manufactures Weight spec,s and that a contributes to many problems..although many of us do not thing so. We place all blame on the manufacturer for all failures and fail to accept responsibility for non compliance with manufactures spec.s.
I don't know if that 60% number is realistic and anyone who exceeds those limits does so at their own risk, but if 60% of your customers are exceeding the design limits of your product, you need to rethink your design. Who are you building them for anyway?
Many states and some provinces allow double towing. Adding a couple of thousand pounds of boat on behind your 5er can add a lot of stress to the pin box and goose neck part of the frame without exceeding the GVWR of the trailer. How many manufacturers take this into account and publish limits for double towing?
the number is from a organization that weighs Rv's and list the results.How can it not be realiatic. It is amazing that folks place the blame on consumers overloading their Rv's on the manufacturer. I will bet every OTR driver would like that...
You can't blame the manufacturer if people overload their vehicles. You can blame manufacturers who build products that don't reflect their real world use by a majority of their customers.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC
clydengail wrote: My fiver has over 3000lb load capacity. What in the world are people carrying with them to overload?
My trailer carries over 200 gallons of water. That would be 1600+ pounds right there. But I don't think many haul too often with all the tanks full. I know I almost never do. But then fill the fridge, storage areas, Propane (80 pounds, 4 tanks weight, on mine), batteries, generators, clothes, washer and dryer, food, underbed storage, chairs, EZ ups, Char grills, extra propane tanks, bicycles, and some people can be up to 3000 pounds easily.
Then go carting it down the road, hopping/scrubbing curbs, backing to 90 degree turns (look at all the "do I need a slider hitch?" threads). Or "I dropped my trailer....BedSaver" threads.
Many say auto manufacturers don't have frame problems? Ask Toyota truck owners. Or google Toyota truck frame recalls. And remember, you don't see a lot of 13,000 pound pick up trucks. But there are a lot of 13,000 trailers out there. Oh...and yeah...their being carried by 4 wheels, that are center frame mounted, not mounted on the corners. And don't have a 10 foot overhang, either. RV frames undergo a lot worse stress than a pickup truck frame.
* This post was
edited 09/11/11 06:28pm by Vulcaneer *
'12 F350 SB, CC, SRW, 6.7 PSD, 3.55 RAR, 6 spd auto, Ultimate Lariat pkg
2011 Open Range 393RLS 14,250 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
Stronger frames, good idea, however those who have stronger frames like the Mobile Suites are at a weight that is at the upper limits of a 1 ton now. And just look at how many RVer's are now towing 5th wheels that are over the rating of the 3/4 ton trucks... There are those who are dragging Toy Haulers around with 3/4 tons now.. If you don't know the weight of your RV get it on the scales, and you will be surprised.
For the people who have had a Lippert frame failure. I'm not talking about you heard or had a friend or BIL. Did the frame rail break or was it the weld that broke? Was it a L or C channel frame?
I have a 03 Lippert frame under a FW Pride and the welds look good and I have had no issues at all so I am curious as to where they break.
Eddie
03 Fleetwood Pride, 36-5L
04 Ford F-250 Superduty
15K Pullrite Superglide
Old coach 04 Pace Arrow 37C with brakes sometimes.
Owner- The Toy Shop-
Auto Restoration and Customs-28years
We love 56 T-Birds
Delaine and Lindy wrote: Stronger frames, good idea, however those who have stronger frames like the Mobile Suites are at a weight that is at the upper limits of a 1 ton now. And just look at how many RVer's are now towing 5th wheels that are over the rating of the 3/4 ton trucks... There are those who are dragging Toy Haulers around with 3/4 tons now.. If you don't know the weight of your RV get it on the scales, and you will be surprised.
It boils down to if you wanna haul the really big ones, you gotta buy enough truck to do the job.
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