Hi all
I have a new (bought April this year) 2010 Outback Sydney 329fb 5'er. I have become obsessed with all the negative posts in the forums about Lippert frames, so I thought I would check my pinbox welds (the ones I can see anyway without removing the underside). Attached are photos from the underside rear welds on the pinbox, where they meet the front cross beam. It is hard to take pics of welds up close, they are a bit blurry. These welds are rusted and the weld beads is sloppy. I don't see any cracking or signs of stress but was wondering if I should be concerned. The side welds (cant see in the pics) look clean, shiny and neat weld beads. I do get quite a bit of creaking, and crackling sounds coming from inside the side walls near front slideout when lowering the pinbox onto the truck hitch. I dont think the pinbox is "stressing" though. I was told these sounds when lowering onto hitch may be normal (hence why they now use a exterior wall 5" expansion joint at the front lower corner of the front slide). It would be painful to make a service appointment to have this looked at if I am just over reacting. Also, I really don't trust any of the "techs" at my local CW where I bought it for accurate advice. Oh yeah, I also noticed when waxing my front cap the other day, a small (say 4") hairline and straight surface crack on the curbside corner, just below the upper marker light. It looks cosmetic more than anything. I would like some input from you with frame experience. Sometimes, reading the horror stories in these forums make me a nervous wreck