Winterizing surprise.

[German Shepherd Guy]

Cold weather is finally making its way into the southern Rockies this coming week-end so time to winterize. When surprise! Crawled under to drain the water lines and what do I find but a spring shackle torn loose from the frame. Yes it had been welded onto the frame with three spot welds. So last trip out it must have torn loose. Thankful that I didn't drop an axle or worse yet put so much tension on the remaining two shackles on that side to tear them loose. So have to have the welder drive out with his truck to re-weld it on. I think I will cut some plates to weld on the sides to re-enforce the shackles all around. Unbelievable to me that 1) the frame is as thin walled as it is 2) that the shackle was spot welded on, and 3) that seeing how poorly welded it is that it lasted as long as it did.
Jeeze, it is always something. Thought about trading in this trailer, as it is really bigger than what we now need, but heck I know all the things wrong with this one and have repaired most of them myself so am a bit shy on starting over with a new project. The welder will be out in the next week or so to look at it. The propane line runs right next to it which may prove problematic. Will let you all know. When i bought it I wondered about the strength of those springs but didn't consider the shackles.

[NH_Bulldog]

I have had a couple legs break loose on my Passport mid-trip and fortunately was able to get someone out to the campground both times to weld them up. In my case, the Passport had a wide-stance dual axle, so there was a lot of lateral stress. Both failures were on the rear outer leg of the hanger, on opposite sides, a year apart. I was going to add the MorRyde X-factor crossmember braces but at the time, my wife said to let the next owner worry about it so I never did it. There is an advisory bulletin out there that details how to add a piece of angle steel between the legs of the hangers to give it more strength, and I was happy to see that my Cougar came from the factory with the beefier hangers and angle steel already welded in place. I still can't help but check them during every trip for failures and will probably always do it now, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[workinonit]

I guess I need to get proactive on that and get under there and see what mine look like. Those welds look really bad. I will likely go ahead and add some wire to mine while I'm under there.

[dutchmensport]

While you have the welder there, are you going to have him reinforce the other side too? Might as well, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

[German Shepherd Guy]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

While you have the welder there, are you going to have him reinforce the other side too? Might as well, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

My thoughts too. I am cutting some plates to weld alongside. If that one shackle was just spot welded there is no reason to think that all the other shackles are not welded the same way.

[TXiceman]

Lippert builds junk frames. Keep a close eye on the spring schakle attachment points. Better yet, be pro active and get them reinforced and properly welded.

Ken

[jaredjohn4]

After a few years the shackles on my keystone cougar 326RBS split open on the bottom side. I saw it when I was getting ready for a big trip. I logged onto eTrailer and bought the upgraded shackles and wet bolts kit. They are almost twice as thick and look great. It might have let the suspension go while on the road if I hadn't been down there looking at the tires and springs before the trip.

[TXiceman]

Before our new trailer hit the road, I upgraded the shakles and wet bolts, CRE3000 MORryde equalizer and the X- braces.

Ken

[German Shepherd Guy]

I live so rural that the welder still has not made it out here. What with winter coming it might not be till spring I can get this fixed. I love living in sparsely populated part of the country but there are down sides.