Quote:
Originally Posted by jkohler70
I attempted to use Safety Struts, but the tubes connecting the bumper to the frame proved too thin. The directions were to tighten the self-tapping bolts to 100 ft-lbs. There isn't enough steel. Once I got to 30 ft-lbs, the bolts just turned and the threads slipped.
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Your experience is typical of today's "boastful advertising" and failure of many users to read the small print. Safety Struts are designed to work on "substantial steel" bumper supports. They simply can't make a "silk purse from a sow's ear" when used on 16ga mild steel tubing that's commonly found on today's ultra-light and lite trailers. When the frame manufacturer cuts 30% of the weight out of the frame, that's 30% less steel for the self tapping screws to catch. Think of blowing your nose on a single ply of Scott's toilet paper vs blowing your nose on a 2-ply Scott paper towel. While they're both made of paper, they are substantially different and depending on intended use, are not interchangeable....
It's the same with rear bumpers on today's trailers. While Safety Struts work well on an "ADEQUATE" rear bumper, they can't make the "tin foil" tent strong enough to support the whole turkey.
ADDED: Keystone recently changed frame manufacturers on some of their "ultra-light" trailers. BAL is now manufacturing the frames (if I read the reports correctly). This is just my opinion, but in the past, Lippert has been a supplier of "mediocre" frames. They aren't "garbage" but they have some "elementary welds" and some pretty glaring quality control issues. They have gotten better in recent years, but the "Lippert reputation" for second class products still hangs on. Looking at the comparison of the Ultra light frames to the past models, I think this: If Keystone is wanting frames so light that Lippert won't even produce them, then, WOW, they must be some pretty "at the very edge" in terms of weight and strength. Trying to add extras to today's ultra-light trailers isn't the same as adding those same extras to yesterday's "heavy weight frames"..... Definitely something to "ponder" if you're wanting to hang a hundred pounds of bikes off a bumper that was designed to be strong enough to carry a 35 pound spare tire for 12 months. Remember, after the warranty ends, it's no longer Keystone, Lippert, BAL or the dealer's problem...
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