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Old 02-03-2022, 01:05 PM   #1
LRQV
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Cracks on the frame

Hello, this is my first time on the forum. Here is the situation, I am the happy owner of a "Premier 2017 19FBPR" I noticed the appearance of cracks on the base of my trailer. These cracks are not only on the surface, they cross the beam and are found in the same place on both sides of the trailer and rust is embedded in it. Are there any of you who have had this same problem? and how did you solve it?
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Old 02-03-2022, 01:08 PM   #2
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I’d take it to a trailer or frame repair shop and have it looked at. They would be able to weld something to strengthen it

If that’s where the front angled hitch welds to the main rv frame then it looks like it got stressed from trailer sway ..but that’s just a guess

Nice looking rig though
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Old 02-03-2022, 01:25 PM   #3
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You might describe where on the trailer's frame these cracks are located. I think the savvy folks on this forum could give you best guesses on how to repair those cracks. Looks like a fairly simple fix where welder could brace over where the cracks happened. If we knew the location on the frame, there are those, as I said, who might be able to guess how it happened as well. Do you routinely pull that trailer over rough roads? Looks like you might be in Canada?
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Old 02-03-2022, 01:29 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
You might describe where on the trailer's frame these cracks are located. I think the savvy folks on this forum could give you best guesses on how to repair those cracks. Looks like a fairly simple fix where welder could brace over where the cracks happened. If we knew the location on the frame, there are those, as I said, who might be able to guess how it happened as well. Do you routinely pull that trailer over rough roads? Looks like you might be in Canada?
Looking again George ( just a guess) I see coroplast…maybe it the rear of the frame and that’s the bumper on the right…maybe an overloaded bumper flexing and cracked

Don’t know why I don’t just wait for the location but I’m bored I guess
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Old 02-03-2022, 01:51 PM   #5
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They are located right in the center, right next to the central support of the suspension around the huck fasteners.
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Old 02-03-2022, 02:06 PM   #6
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Please post a picture taken further away of the crack location so we can get a better idea of what may be happening.
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Old 02-03-2022, 02:25 PM   #7
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New pictures tomorrow
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Old 02-03-2022, 02:53 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
You might describe where on the trailer's frame these cracks are located. I think the savvy folks on this forum could give you best guesses on how to repair those cracks. Looks like a fairly simple fix where welder could brace over where the cracks happened. If we knew the location on the frame, there are those, as I said, who might be able to guess how it happened as well. Do you routinely pull that trailer over rough roads? Looks like you might be in Canada?
We do have paved roads just like the rest of the continent. Just in case you were avoiding a trip up here because you thought our roads were made of ??? that would crack a trailer frame.
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Old 02-07-2022, 01:10 PM   #9
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Old 02-07-2022, 02:20 PM   #10
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I’d take a look see at this….

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/201...1V486-1111.pdf
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Old 02-07-2022, 02:32 PM   #11
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Thank you ChuckS
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Old 02-07-2022, 04:06 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by ChuckS View Post
That's good information for a Lippert "welded frame", and the inclusion of stiffner bars to prevent the spring hangers from bending/twisting is a "factory solution" and very similar to installing Morryde X-Factor Crossmembers.

But, I believe the OP's Premier was built on a NORCO Huck Frame, not a welded frame. https://balrvproducts.com/products/o...me/index.shtml Repairs may be similar, but I'd recommend making sure BAL is contacted before welding on a "NORCO frame"....

The cracks in the OP's frame "appear to me" to be radiating from a faulty/loose/improperly installed Huck fastener... There may be some "engineering assistance" available and if he starts welding on the frame, he may void any help BAL has available....
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Old 02-08-2022, 02:31 PM   #13
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Are there any of you who have had this same problem? and how did you solve it?
My trailer also has the BAL Norco frame and my frame has also developed cracks in similar spots. My analysis is that the cracks in my frame are due to the fact that the frame crossmembers do not extend down to the bottom of the frame. So sideways pressure on the bottom of the frame from the spring hangers cause the bottom of the frame to flex side to side and cause stress cracks where the huck bolts are firmly attached to the crossmembers. On my trailer there is a 2 inch square tube welded to the bottom of the frame to which the spring hangers are welded to. This give about a 4 inch lever to flex the frame.

I elected to repair the frame myself. I decided that I would not weld the cracks. Instead I fabricated some mend plates that would bolt over the damaged area on the outside of the frame. Because there is a crossmember on the inside of the frame I used angle iron as backers to the mend plate. But this alone would not eliminate the side to side force exerted on the bottom of the frame.
So I also added a total of 3 2 inch square tube crossmembers to reduce the flex of the frame bottom. My own version of Morryde X-Factor Crossmembers.

I drove across the country and back with my repair and the cracks have not worsened.

I believe if the cracks are welded and nothing is done to address the cause of them they will just reoccur, probably right at the edge of the weld.
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Old 02-10-2022, 08:46 AM   #14
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A good frame shop or certified welder (AWS) could stop-drill the cracks and weld a “fishplate” at the affected area.
But, the reason for the cracking should be explored as the fishplate could cause other areas to relieve stress and crack.
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Old 02-11-2022, 02:38 PM   #15
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Just a note. Probably not the reason for your cracks, but I have a friend who has one of these small trailers, and also uses a Equalizer hitch. Even though the Equalizer hitch says to disconnect when going off-road, my friend did not. With the large dips and ups and downs of a dirt road it flexed his trailer so much it broke in half where the A-frame front was welded to the frame. Did lots of damage. Yours looks more like structural flaws, but something to keep in mind.
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Old 02-11-2022, 02:45 PM   #16
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I believe if the cracks are welded and nothing is done to address the cause of them they will just reoccur, probably right at the edge of the weld.

Great point, welding does strange things to metals, heat affected zone is usually where we see trouble.
My neighbors father-in-law had a few cross memebers crack on his motor home. the dealer just re-welded over them.. will they come back, hard to say.
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Old 02-11-2022, 02:54 PM   #17
LRQV
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Thank you all for your comments and solutions. It's really appreciated
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Old 02-11-2022, 03:36 PM   #18
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Just a note. Probably not the reason for your cracks, but I have a friend who has one of these small trailers, and also uses a Equalizer hitch. Even though the Equalizer hitch says to disconnect when going off-road, my friend did not. With the large dips and ups and downs of a dirt road it flexed his trailer so much it broke in half where the A-frame front was welded to the frame. Did lots of damage. Yours looks more like structural flaws, but something to keep in mind.

Everyone needs to know and understand that "off roading" negates many of the accepted practices used for normal RV travel. As your friend found, trying to travel on rough "off" roads with a wdh connected can cause severe issues.
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