Suspension bracket, broke

[RFM-KEY]

Oh boy! Yesterday I realized that a support suspension bracket ripped off the travel trailer frame!

Has anyone had this happen? Its a 2014 Bullet Premier, never had a accident


Dropbox

 

[Rhagfo]

Looks like a bad case of road salt corrosion and maybe a poorly placed pothole!

 

[RFM-KEY]

I thought it was stronger then that, can we change for better brackets?

In 2014 I even paid for antirust proof under bely oil

 

[chuckster57]

I'm surprised you haven't had an accident, unless it just happened the last time you parked it. I agree that it looks like a lot of corrosion rather than a broken weld.

 

[RFM-KEY]

But 4 years can be that bad for corrosion?

I see travel trailers that are from the 1990 and on the road in Quebec like me.
Did they change the brackets 8 times?

Is it like tires that you change every 5 years?

 

[chuckster57]

No, the brackets are not a "maintenance" item you replace, but looking at the picture makes we wonder how much road salt it was exposed to and the possibility of a weak weld that gave up. I don't know how much traveling you do in the winter time or the other trailers so it's probably not a fair comparison.

Exposure to corrosive environments can surely show up in many ways, this being one of them.

 

[RFM-KEY]

I see, we do use the travel trailer in winter to go south to florida for a month. We do travel in salt road winter conditions.

I guess TT are not made as robust as trucks, because after 4 years of salt road the suspension of the truck do not ripe off.

 

[RFM-KEY]

I will try to ask Keystone for report on this issue, if faulty weld was implicated

The welder that repaired, told me that it also looked like a week welding. May be Keystone can pay back me portion of the repaires?

 

[chuckster57]

It's not that trailers aren't built "as robust" as trucks, but they are subjected to different torsional forces.

After 3 years, I wouldn't count on Keystone for any payment. Your frame is most likely made by Lippert and if so, your questions/requests for reimbursement should probably be directed at them.

 

[RFM-KEY]

I see Chuckster that you have experience in RV tech,

What would you suggest to me for the future? Should I change all the brackets for a better robust material that do not rust?

 

[chuckster57]

Any metal will rust/corrode in the right conditions. I would do regular checks for any signs of corrosion and keep a good coat of quality paint in the parts.

 

[Desert185]

I would pressure wash the underside of the trailer whenever it is exposed to road salt and then occasionally apply a rust convertor, as required.

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&k...191426:kwd-33588540367&ref=pd_sl_7hnflmfqjt_b

 

[chuckster57]

That's some good paint!! I've used it a few times.

 

[captcolour-5TH]

I use the POR15 for parts like that. Really works well to prevent/slow down future corrosion.

 

[RFM-KEY]

Great idea, i will do that, thanks for all the advice