Bent metal cross section

[diventure]

That was me - the part about backing and stresses.

So.... does your bent member sag? Or is it just bent?

I'm going to guess it is so light weight that the frame flexes when taking tight turns and then bends that piece of metal.

No it doesn't sag, it's just bent. And yes, it's a light weight piece of tin (for lack of a better explanation). Certainly not the thickness of the frame members.

 

[diventure]

I've provided an update today to my thread titled "Broken Welds and Cracked Frame." It will be of interest to anyone who has experienced similar damage to the cross-member referred to in this thread.

 

[Gogreenwave]

Hello, not sure if anybody is looking st this thread, but I have a 23 BHE and have the exact same issue. Has anyone had any luck contacting GD? I also have minimal weight in the pass through and did not back up, this happened between camp spots, it wasn't there in the morning and was there when I set up that evening.

-Matt
21 Imagine XLS 23BHE

 

[savage99ss]

Hope GD takes care of this. This should not be happening.

 

[Gogreenwave]

Here are some pictures. As you can see in my case the tongue also has a small bulge on each fork. I also noticed the chloroplast popped loose underneath as well. I plan on contacting GD although I don't know how much luck I will have. This is my 3rd camping season in the trailer.

 

[diventure]

Hello, not sure if anybody is looking st this thread, but I have a 23 BHE and have the exact same issue. Has anyone had any luck contacting GD? I also have minimal weight in the pass through and did not back up, this happened between camp spots, it wasn't there in the morning and was there when I set up that evening.

-Matt
21 Imagine XLS 23BHE

Your pictures look very similar to the problem I had. I provided a detailed explanation of my experience contacting both Lippert and GD. In a nutshell, they were very accommodating. It's posted under the thread titled "Broken Welds and Cracked Frame." Good luck.

edit by moderator to provide link divesture's other post and the solution.....
this is the link

 

[Gogreenwave]

Thanks! I was just looking at the other thread. The 3 year warranty is up in December so I will contact Lippert today. Really appreciate your posts, this forum is a lifesaver

 

[TerryD]

We took our Grand Design Imagine 2250RK from Texas to Florida in January. After arrival in Florida, I noticed that the stone guard was torn just above the A-frame of the hitch on both the road (driver) side and curb (passenger) side of the trailer. The road side was torn approximately ¼” and the curb side was torn approximately 1/8”. When I looked more closely, I saw that the bottom of the hitch pass-through crossmember beam appeared to be bent about ¾” towards the hitch (tow vehicle).

We are always careful when we tow the trailer. We typically drive no faster than 63 mph on interstate and state highways. There were some rough spots of road and bridge abutments but nothing that stood out as damaging on the trip.

Are others having this type of damage? Any ideas about what could have caused the stone guard to tear and cross beam to bend? I saw the comments on backing stress and weight distribution hitches.

Pictures attached of damage and towing setup. Thanks!

 

[diventure]

We took our Grand Design Imagine 2250RK from Texas to Florida in January. After arrival in Florida, I noticed that the stone guard was torn just above the A-frame of the hitch on both the road (driver) side and curb (passenger) side of the trailer. The road side was torn approximately ¼” and the curb side was torn approximately 1/8”. When I looked more closely, I saw that the bottom of the hitch pass-through crossmember beam appeared to be bent about ¾” towards the hitch (tow vehicle).

We are always careful when we tow the trailer. We typically drive no faster than 63 mph on interstate and state highways. There were some rough spots of road and bridge abutments but nothing that stood out as damaging on the trip.

Are others having this type of damage? Any ideas about what could have caused the stone guard to tear and cross beam to bend? I saw the comments on backing stress and weight distribution hitches.

Pictures attached of damage and towing setup. Thanks!

View attachment 51397
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View attachment 51399

I’m the OP on the thread Broken Welds and Cracked Frame. I’m pretty sure the cause of the bent cross member and torn lower cap (your stone guard) on my rig was due to three or four broken welds on the aluminum framework behind the cap. Although I didn’t do the repair myself, it appears removal of that front lower cap is a simple process and once off, it does expose your framework (at least on mine it did). I suspect you’ve got broken welds hiding behind yours as well, thereby causing the front framework to flex to the point it starts wearing on that flimsy front cap piece of material. Just my thoughts. Doug

 

[Gogreenwave]

What year is your trailer? I had very similar damage to my 2021 Imagine 23BHE and was able to have the damage covered by Lippert, the frame manufacturer. This is a huge problem in a ton of different RVs, a lot of class-action suits going on. It ended up being a $2500 repair that they reimbursed me for, after a few weeks of back-and-forth. Keep in mind that Grand Design just increased all frame warranty coverage to 5 years because of all the issues with Lippert. If you are in that 5 year window, I highly suggest pursuing warranty coverage. I had success contacting Lippert via email.

Good luck!

 

[TerryD]

What year is your trailer? I had very similar damage to my 2021 Imagine 23BHE and was able to have the damage covered by Lippert, the frame manufacturer. This is a huge problem in a ton of different RVs, a lot of class-action suits going on. It ended up being a $2500 repair that they reimbursed me for, after a few weeks of back-and-forth. Keep in mind that Grand Design just increased all frame warranty coverage to 5 years because of all the issues with Lippert. If you are in that 5 year window, I highly suggest pursuing warranty coverage. I had success contacting Lippert via email.

Good luck!

Thanks for the response. The trailer is a 2020 model. LCI frame tag has shipping date of 7/19/2019. Originally purchased on 9/07/2019. Purchased by me from original owner on 10/09/2020. I initially contacted Lippert but they declined to assist on repairs because I was the second owner. That was prior to the warranty extension and inclusion of subsequent owners by Grand Design. I will contact Lippert again. I have a case number with both Grand Design and Lippert.

 

[TerryD]

I’m the OP on the thread Broken Welds and Cracked Frame. I’m pretty sure the cause of the bent cross member and torn lower cap (your stone guard) on my rig was due to three or four broken welds on the aluminum framework behind the cap. Although I didn’t do the repair myself, it appears removal of that front lower cap is a simple process and once off, it does expose your framework (at least on mine it did). I suspect you’ve got broken welds hiding behind yours as well, thereby causing the front framework to flex to the point it starts wearing on that flimsy front cap piece of material. Just my thoughts. Doug

Thanks for the information. I will start looking for a RV repair shop to remove the front lower cap and examine the framework. I am not sure if this type of damage will be covered by the frame warranty from either Lippert or Grand Design. My main goal is to get it repaired and to understand what caused the damage so it doesn't happen again.

 

[Jacquesl]

Thanks for the information. I will start looking for a RV repair shop to remove the front lower cap and examine the framework. I am not sure if this type of damage will be covered by the frame warranty from either Lippert or Grand Design. My main goal is to get it repaired and to understand what caused the damage so it doesn't happen again.

Hello. I have exactly the sames issues with my 2021 23BHE. Have sent photos to my Grand Design dealer last week and waiting for an answer. I am very concerned by the fact that the repair should be made to make sure that this does not happen again. Just re-solding the welds would surely not address the roots of the problem. Weak parts should be reinforced...

Will make update later...

 

[Jacquesl]

UPDATE..
Grand Design dealer contacted, sent them tons of photos, but is not moving at all after 1 month ! Flushed him ! Lipperts 3 years warranty was over but Grand Design has extended this warranty to 5 years. Contacted Grand Design and case number was opened and I sent the required photos. Meanwhile, feeling that I would maybe have to pay the bill myself, I contacted RV dealers in my region to see if they could take a look and eventualy do the repair. None of them was interested because it was a frame problem. They suggest that I should contact some trailers shop. I went to the 3 ones that were suggested but...if they effectively work on frames, they dont work on a RV frame...too poorly built...

Finally found a RV shop that operates a body shop and repair the frames (at 90 minutes of my place). Went there and :
1. Diagnostic went from "jacknife" to, later, "big up and down" or the 2...
2.Contacted my insurance company (after viewing a video of a similar case on Youtube) and they did not say no...for the moment...
3. Grand Design denied any responsability, assuming that the damages were caused "by the use of a WDH", witch was sold and installed by my Grand Design dealer...Sent them my original bill as a proof and asked them to review their decision. They confirmed their initial decision.
4. My insurance company accepted the claim and the repair could go on..
5. On the same day, Grand Design wrote me that Lippert, as "good will gesture", would provide, at no charge, including delivery charges, a A-Frame and front crossmember (just parts, no labor). All I have to do is provide the shipping address of the RV shop.
6. Old A-Frame and front crossmember were removed and the bottom of the front cap was also removed, at my express request, to take a look and, as I suspected, there were broken welds in the structure...
7. New parts installed or fixed and painted. Front crossmember reinforced at the rear.
8. Final score : 1 month and a 5500 $ CA (30 hours of labor) bill.

Jacques

 

[goducks14]

GD needs to start building their own frames like Northwood and Outdoors Rv do. Almost zero issues with in house made frames.
I've also heard that RV manufactures price in warranty repairs for each RV so they're not losing money building with cheaper products and having to possibly repair later.