Lippert 5th wheel frames

by Ramblin Man on 8/14/2009, 2:48 pm

First topic message reminder :

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?

by retired2 on 12/7/2010, 9:58 am

[quote]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!!!!!!

After looking at your picture, I have had the same problem. Lost the original screws after about 3000 miles. We replace them with longer, tempered screws and they too broke and/or worked there way out. Have replace screws several times and still haven't determined the root of the problem. There does not seem to be any problem with the frame (or we haven't found it). It appears to be more of a flex problem in the body. At this time we have no other information. I will be contacting Forest River to see if they have any suggestions.

by jacandjan on 12/7/2010, 4:47 pm

We had this problem while still under warranty and we would also have the screws on the underside of the over hang break too. After the 3rd trip in to have them replaced Forest River had the front cap removed and the frame bracing beefed up to stop the excessive flexing. We have not had any problems since.

by Sean on 12/7/2010, 7:20 pm

jacandjan wrote:We had this problem while still under warranty and we would also have the screws on the underside of the over hang break too. After the 3rd trip in to have them replaced Forest River had the front cap removed and the frame bracing beefed up to stop the excessive flexing. We have not had any problems since.

Any chance of pictures of the frame after it was beefed up. Because if I ever need to do a repair I will have to D I Y it.
Sean

by Wight on 12/8/2010, 4:54 am

Do you have to remove the skirting on the underside to see where these welds are cracking at? I too have a couple of screws broke off like GustheUsher's rig.

by Sean on 12/8/2010, 7:32 am

Wight wrote:Do you have to remove the skirting on the underside to see where these welds are cracking at? I too have a couple of screws broke off like GustheUsher's rig.

Your Cat must still be under warranty so I would get the dealer to check. I know that this could be a bind, but why get your hands dirty. Also this way the dealer could contact forest river and lippert if there is a problem.
Sean

by jamesb on 12/8/2010, 11:00 am

As far as the picture showing the screws broke off up under the front cap, mine looks identical to the pictures. It's been like that for over a year now. I keep putting it off to get checked. I wish I knew if it was a serious problem. Anyone had theirs checked under the nose cap?

by jetskier on 12/9/2010, 6:13 am

What if the frame is flexing and the stiff plastic can't move the same amount of movement. Obviously if the welds are cracked and steel is separating, there is a problem. If it is simply screws, it may just be the fact that the materials can't take the same deflection.

For the record, Lippert owns Zieman who makes the frames for the west coast models.

by GustheUsher on 12/10/2010, 2:10 am

I will be getting a aftermarket pin box, that was on my list of things to do but it didn't happen last summer. I was tired of the chucking and bouncing which was most likly the cause, we sure hit some monster holes. Does anyone else who has an aftermarket pin box have this issue? What type has anyone had great success with?

by bsmall2800 on 12/10/2010, 3:24 pm

The pin box I have on my trailer is a Trail Air Roto Flex Pin Box. Seems to work very well in my opinion with no bouncing or chucking, and was not a lot of money. Some of the pin box's can get very expensive.

by GustheUsher on 12/10/2010, 4:54 pm

Does that one have the shock and airbag? Does it also have a dampening rubber to stop the chucking forward and backward?

by Mopar_Earl on 12/10/2010, 5:15 pm

bsmall2800 wrote:The pin box I have on my trailer is a Trail Air Roto Flex Pin Box. Seems to work very well in my opinion with no bouncing or chucking, and was not a lot of money. Some of the pin box's can get very expensive.

I have this pin box as well. Mine came standard from the factory so I can't say if it's better than a standard pin box or not. I haven't have any issues with it.

Earl

by jacandjan on 12/10/2010, 5:17 pm

The dealer sent pic's to Beverly Scott at Forest River but by the time I asked for copies she said they had been deleted after they confirmed the work had been done. I really wish I had them for my own records too.

by Mopar_Earl on 12/10/2010, 5:17 pm

GustheUsher wrote:Does that one have the shock and airbag? Does it also have a dampening rubber to stop the chucking forward and backward?

The pin boxes that bsmall2800 and I have are the rubber type.

Earl

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Lippert 5th wheel frames

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