Lippert 5th wheel frames

I'm waiting for my 32QBBS to come in and found this article on another forum. Have any Wildcat owners had problems with the Lippert frames?

Yes a couple of the members have had problems with the Lippert frames. Look around on the form and you should fine one that is talking about all the welding and the cost of the repairs. Really make me think do I need to take the cover off and look at the pin box area that people have had problems.

Take a look at this onehttp://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/maintenance-repairs-trouble-shooting-service-warranty-f12/structural-problems-t1841.htm

So, do I need to eat the cost and cancel my order? Or just make sure I don't use a gooseneck adapter?

I would not use a gooseneck adapter and go with the 5th wheel hitch. So far of towing around 10K miles no problem. I am very happy with my Wildcat and the only ones seems to be with the gooseneck adapter. I have a trailair hitch that has air bags on it and found it used is why I purchase it. Lots of happy people with the model you have and I tried to talk DW into that unit at first and now I think she wish she would have listen to me. She like to take sewing machines and computer sewing machine on the road and I could have put a desk up front for her machines.

RamblinMan,

As you can see by my signature we have a 2006 29RLBS. It has a little over 25K miles on it. I've been underneath the rig from stem to stern and find that the running gear and frame are holding up remarkably well. We'll add another 8K this fall as we head west from NC to UT and back east to NH and home. Gotta have the brakes checked and replace the 4 tires, but that's normal maintenance.

Like Rhino, I would not use a gooseneck adapter. I do not believe that the frame and hitch welds on our hitches are stessed for the kind of torque and stress that the gooseneck puts on them. Take a look at the welding and framing on a horse trailer some time and you'll se what I mean.

Luck to ya'

Thank you both for your thoughts. I'm looking forward to getting the 32Q, was not sure when I read that first article if I was making a mistake getting something with a lippert frame. Not sure I understand why Wildcats are still built on this frame with the track record it has...

As you can see from the signature file below I have a 28RK. We've
put about 35,000 miles on it and other than broken shackles and two
largish bolts up in the bedroom, sidewalk side, that kept loosening up
no problems with the frame. I took the bolts out and applied a
liberal dollop of JB Weld, figuring that I'd never have a reason to
take them out.

I'd be willing to bet that 80%, or more, 5th wheels have a Lippert
frame. I talked to a guy two years ago with a medium size Class
A, he was from Alaska and we were both headed home, and he explained
that his Montana had essentially broken in half where the steps went up
into the bedroom. Large cracks on the outside/inside walls were
his first clue that something was amiss.
It was still under warranty and he got reimbursed for the purchase
price. He said he wished he had gotten another 5th wheel because
his old one actually had more usable interior space compared to his
motorhome.

And yeah...replace the pinbox, unless factory does it for you, with something.

I have a 2007 Forest River Wildcat model 28RKBS 5th wheel trailer and I have had problems with the Lippert frame pin box. The latest problem is cracks in the 5th wheel hitch pin box where it attaches to the frame of the trailer. The crack is bad enough that there is about .5 inches seperation between the bottom of the pin box and the frame. The front of the 5th wheel settled about 4 or 5 inches where the underside of the 5th wheel was almost touching the bed rails on my truck. I was lucky that I noticed the problem before the hitch broke away from the trailer. That could have been a huge problem for me or someone driving behind me if the 5th wheel trailer had broken away fow the tow vehicle. The frame was made by Lippert Components.

Welcome to the forum tinyphil,

There was someone else who had that problem on here, but I think the dealer and lippert made the repair for them.

Have you had yours repaired yet ?

No, I have not had mine repaired yet. It is in the repair shop at this time. I called Forest River and they said that it was the responsibility of the frame manufacture Lippert Components. I then called Lippert Components and they said the trailer was over two years and was therefore out of warranty and would not be covered. Its pretty bad when a design problem with a trailer is not covered by the trailer manufacture or the frame company. The cost of repairs on my trailer is going to be over $5000. This is the last Forest River Product that I will ever buy.

Our 2007 24RL wildcat was a West coast model and it did not have a lippert frame.

I have an after market warranty on the trailer with Xtraride Extended warranty program. I submitted a claim with them and it was denied because they said the failure of the 5th wheel pin box was caused by a manufactures defect. They are willing to cover the small problems you have, but deny the large claims. The warranty policy states that chasis and frame components are covered, but they still denied coverage. I have also contacted my insurance company to see if they will cover the cost of repairs.

tinyphil and Ramblin Man welcome to the forum, tinyphil sorry to hear your having problems, if you do a search regarding lippert frame problems, there are a large amount of problems but they are not limited to just Forest River products. Open Road, Keystone, and CrossRoad are just a few. Here a link from 2009 asking the same thing http://www.crossroadsrv.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=810

I think I will add this to my preventative maintenance check, problem is I keep adding and keep finding things to fix. As a famous fellow camper once said (at least I think he was famous) "Its never ending"

Well doesn't this suck!?!?!? I just checked the bottom cap seam on my cat, and with only less than 1000 miles on her, ALL the screws are busted off on the seam except for one on each end. I hope for it being a 2011 there will be NO issues getting whatever is wrong under it fixed FREE!!!!!!

to the forum tinyphil, sorry to hear of your problems, and we all hope that they will be resolved to your satisfaction.

GustheUsher wrote:Well doesn't this suck!?!?!? I just checked the bottom cap seam on my cat, and with only less than 1000 miles on her, ALL the screws are busted off on the seam except for one on each end. I hope for it being a 2011 there will be NO issues getting whatever is wrong under it fixed FREE!!!!!!

Gushtheusher can you post a picture so that we can all check.
Sean

Yes I will get some pics and try to figure out how to post them.

Hi All, I have some pics of my warranty issue and don't know how to show you all.

The only way to post this picture of the damage was under the "Gallery Section" then "Users Personal Albums" on the left at the bottom then look for my - Gusthesuher picture. If anyone can tell me how to post this pic under this topic let me know OR it might be easier to do it yourself if you can rather than explain it to me.

GustheUshers rig in need of repair.

I have checked my Cat and all seems to be OK, but will keep an eye on things.
Sean

When we got our 31TS last year. the dealer said FR would not warranty the frame if it had a gooseneck on it. So far every thing look OK. I when to the B&W companion 5th .

I don't use a gooseneck.

GustheUsher wrote:I don't use a gooseneck.

Sorry it wasn't meaning imply you use a gooseneck , but more as a general statement as to what I was told by the dealer. I was going to go with a gooseneck then the warranty was a problem. So I change to the B&W flip ball & the Companion 5th wheel. Should have quoted the above postings

By the sounds of it, from what I have been told by dealers in this area, I get it fixed, pay the bill then probably have to fight to get some cash back????

Hope it all work out. Sound like it's been a real pain. How has that Husky tailgate held up, think about getting one too.

Quality piece of equipment, it has a locking handle on it, but if y someone really wants to take it they could stick your finger in the side and pull on the locking wire which unlocks the lock. Good looking and strong tailgate, no problem standing on it when it's folded down.

Thanks just wanted to know before I lay out the cash.