Curiosity or OCD lag bolts frame to wall question

tallen · 04-01-2024, 05:12 PM

So I have the 2022 Cougar 1/2 ton 24RDS fifth wheel and I couldn’t resist, so I went to pulling that crappy carpet and I am not sure if I should or shouldn’t be worried. You will see what I mean in photos attached. The wall looks a little far from the metal frame tubing and I can say there are not lag screws or bolts either. I have Philip head screws…. Some seem to not even be in all the way either, then there are these holes with something in them that I haven’t figured out yet. Will look more after this storm passes by tomorrow. What do you all think? Should I be contacting keystone about this?

Thanks everyone.

tallen · 04-02-2024, 04:20 AM

From what I can tell the wood is incasing the metal frame, but I would not have thought it would be so far from the walls.

NH_Bulldog · 04-02-2024, 04:53 AM

Can you post a wider view of where these pictures are actually located?

Keep in mind that typically the interior structures are installed before the exterior walls are put in place. If the interior wall, cabinet, etc. is not exactly where it should be, it will not be flush against the exterior wall when it is set in place. Just the opposite can happen if the interior is installed too close to the exterior making it impossible to correctly set and install the exterior wall. I would prefer a non-bearing interior cabinet be installed a little too far away from the wall as opposed to the other way around.

Carpet is a wonderful thing, it hides all these imperfections

skids · 04-02-2024, 05:23 AM

Maybe they drilled a hole, missed the stud, moved over and installed a screw that "hit the mark." It is easy to overtighten a screw and strip out the aluminum stud so maybe some gun-shy assembler left some screws sticking out a bit. I cant speak for that one that is showing many threads however.

tallen · 04-02-2024, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Can you post a wider view of where these pictures are actually located?

Keep in mind that typically the interior structures are installed before the exterior walls are put in place. If the interior wall, cabinet, etc. is not exactly where it should be, it will not be flush against the exterior wall when it is set in place. Just the opposite can happen if the interior is installed too close to the exterior making it impossible to correctly set and install the exterior wall. I would prefer a non-bearing interior cabinet be installed a little too far away from the wall as opposed to the other way around.

Carpet is a wonderful thing, it hides all these imperfections

Hey Rob, when I get back home today I will take more photos. that wood is against the passenger side wall at end of bed looking to nose cap of 5th wheel. The ply wood is covering the frame 2x6 steel frame piece (didn't have tape with me to check). Where the plywood gets the closest to the wall at the top of the one photo, that is right at the nightstand cabinets. What bugs me is, that gap form frame to wall, I think I will take out them screws and put me some wood to go in that gap and then put back lags and not Philips headed screws. Once I am all done with inspecting and fixing etc. I think I will put back all that "cover up" stuff as vinyl floor plank boards and not put that carpet back.

tallen · 04-02-2024, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skids

Maybe they drilled a hole, missed the stud, moved over and installed a screw that "hit the mark." It is easy to overtighten a screw and strip out the aluminum stud so maybe some gun-shy assembler left some screws sticking out a bit. I cant speak for that one that is showing many threads however.

Skids you could be right. I need to get down there and look with some better lights on.

CampNBrew2 · 04-02-2024, 06:02 AM

I was going guess those were T-nuts but they look like plastic. Was something screwed into them?

tallen · 04-02-2024, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CampNBrew2

I was going guess those were T-nuts but they look like plastic. Was something screwed into them?

Chris, I couldn't tell at the time, going to go back in there and do some more looking and take some more pics. I also though they were plastic too, and if you believe or not one of the big screws looked like they put a zip tie in the hole to take up slack.

CampNBrew2 · 04-02-2024, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tallen

they put a zip tie in the hole to take up slack.

Sadly, absolutely nothing surprises me anymore about the workmanship of our trailers.

tallen · 04-02-2024, 11:20 AM

Hey Rob, here are some more pictures. It was hard to get a wide shot, with there being not a lot of room, but I tried. Also I figure out what the plastic circles were. It is shot in hilti style nails, but the odd thing is no idea why they did that, since the under size screws would have held the wood in place. I did take a pic of the hollow 2x6 metal frame piece and I could see the screws go all the way into them, I wish they would have put some wood inside that tube.

I also confirmed that they put zip ties in the holes with the screws. Hard to see in pic but they are there.

tallen · 04-02-2024, 11:33 AM

I decided to email Keystone and see if they can tell me if this is ok or not.

NH_Bulldog · 04-02-2024, 11:56 AM

I don't see that as anything structural, just cosmetic. Based on the photos (thank you for the context BTW), it looks like they used a Hilti to shoot nails through the wood piece into the steel frame rail and when that didn't suck the wood up to the wall, they tried (and tried, and tried) to use screws to pull it in instead.

tallen · 04-04-2024, 04:35 AM

I got my email back from Keystone last night. Here is what they had to say when I ask if this was an issue or common.

"Good Morning Tim, Thank you for reaching out in regards to your 2022 Keystone Cougar. I have received your photos and had them reviewed by my product manager. He stated that a small gap sometimes up to ¼” is normal, he stated that you can add some screws then fill the gap with foam. I hope this information helps."

tallen · 04-04-2024, 04:52 AM

I personally think that there are missing lags, that the wood covered up the holes, so today I am going to remove the wood and see, and then also change out the Philips headed screws with lag screws and add a few more. I will have to be careful to make sure I get the right length lags so not to go completely throw the exterior wall.

They said a 1/4" gap was normal. I have a 3/4" gap on mine.

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