Cracking RV body

[markw]

Mine cracked last year on a 45. It was fixed without the H piece and with a painted to match piece of aluminum glued over it. I have no idea what was done underneath. I expected the crack to reappear but hasn't so far.

Mark

[Radio_Flyer]

Originally Posted by Beechguyjim

I put the piece of t rail in and sealed it it's never moved after that

Beechguyjim, did you dremel or cut from the slide crease to the trim or just where it cracked? Mine is cracked just below the slide crease and down about 5-6 inches. Trying to figure out if I need to cut from the crease down to the trim or just what is already cracked. Thanks.

[NW Snowbirds]

Originally Posted by piper guy

Buddy ~ that (washer/dryer) doesn't matter at all. The lower left corner of the opening for the bedroom slide is a stress point. It's not a question of if, but when, the crack will start. More it's pulled, more likely the crack will happen. It's not structural, is the same as getting a gel coat crack in a boat. Not a big deal and is relatively easy to fix.

Originally Posted by Beechguyjim

I put the piece of t rail in and sealed it it's never moved after that

Where did you get the t rail? Mine is starting to crack beneath the bedroom slide also.

[Beechguyjim]

I'll try to remember to take a picture of it and post it it was an easy fix

[TravelFit]

On my 40KB, the side wall on the driver's side, front edge cracked.
I took the coach to LCI. The problem was excessive frame deflection in the fifth wheel overhang of the coach. You can use a Dremel tool to extend the crack to the edge, paint and install new trim. The problem is not fixed. There is still excessive flexing of the fifth wheel frame members. To check it out, set the pin on heavy supports. Lift the jacks to put full weight on the pin. LCI has a pin scale. Measure the ground to pin height. Raise the jacks to remove pin weigh. Measure again. If the deflection is more than an 1/8", you need reinforcement. Redwood service gets LCI service to get up in the frame and reinforce the frame members.
Without this, there will be a constant excessive movement that can rupture frame members and cause body disfiguration in the future.

[atom ant]

They actually did that for you TravelFit? Sounds like the old Keystone frame flex days.

[Shane Wood]

Maybe that is why the KB was discontinued. to heavy a body for the frame

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by atom ant

They actually did that for you TravelFit? Sounds like the old Keystone frame flex days.

mmmmmm...tell me again why the 5 year frame warranty was eliminated

[TravelFit]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

mmmmmm...tell me again why the 5 year frame warranty was eliminated

Yes they did under Waranty.

I purchased the Redwood 40KB to be the high end, full time, I love to travel Coach advertised by Redwood. Unfortunately, I purchased while the words were on the page, yet the transition to reality was still in progress.

Redwood came through and fulfilled their commitment. They exceeded expectations in various areas. The Coach was there for 3 months. Was it easy to get the work done? Absolutely not.

I chose to take the Coach to the factory Service Centers (LCI and Redwood). I did not want to trust "factory authorized service centers" for foundation modifications. As it turned out, LCI and Redwood were very familiar with the dysfunctions and effectively resolved the issues.

A $100,000+ retail cost coach should exceed all expectations.
Redwood needs to get in high gear and stay there. They seem to be trying.

[Radio_Flyer]

Shane not just the KB, mine is an RL and there are many other models with same issue. The Montana was famous for it. If the frame is flexing that much, not sure what the fix is for rigs having this problem. Dave you hit the nail on the head.

[TravelFit]

Originally Posted by atom ant

They actually did that for you TravelFit? Sounds like the old Keystone frame flex days.

Yes they did under Waranty.

I purchased the Redwood 40KB to be the high end, full time, I love to travel Coach advertised by Redwood. Unfortunately, I purchased while the words were on the page, yet the transition to reality was still in progress.

Redwood came through and fulfilled their commitment. They exceeded expectations in various areas. The Coach was there for 3 months. Was it easy to get the work done? Absolutely not.

I chose to take the Coach to the factory Service Centers (LCI and Redwood). I did not want to trust "factory authorized service centers" for foundation modifications. As it turned out, LCI and Redwood were very familiar with the dysfunctions and effectively resolved the issues.

A $100,000+ retail cost coach should exceed all expectations.
Redwood needs to get in high gear and stay there. They seem to be trying.

[johnboytoo]

You are late to the party
The 38gk we had experienced a long time ago and we were very part time travelers....

Until the crack appeared I always thought it was the neat air bagged hitch floating up and down

[Ford truck guy]

On my 08 KZ , I had exactly the same crack as above... took it to the factory and their fix was cutting the sidewall , and placing a piece of molding in that area.. all the years after , I never had another issue..
below is my 16... the fix on my 08 looked almost exactly as the picture..

[RomanyLife]

Well, unless I am mistaken, (and we have that strip too on our 2015 RL) that fixes the SYMPTOM of the flexing, but does not fix the cause. Have they fixed the cause? Because constant flexing on over-burdened steel frame members will absolutely result in a failure eventually. Thoughts?

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by RomanyLife

Well, unless I am mistaken, (and we have that strip too on our 2015 RL) that fixes the SYMPTOM of the flexing, but does not fix the cause. Have they fixed the cause? Because constant flexing on over-burdened steel frame members will absolutely result in a failure eventually. Thoughts?

Not necessarily. Bridges flex as well as commercial buildings all the time and that's how they keep from breaking. It could be that this is harmless flexing however in the past, RV manufactures have had frame failures due to flexing. So it's anybody's guess.

It was because of past frame failures in other brands of RVs is why the 5 year frame warranty was so appealing to many people. It show confidence from those manufacturing these units. Now that 5 year warranty is gone. This could be read a couple of different ways.

[NW Snowbirds]

Originally Posted by TravelFit

On my 40KB, the side wall on the driver's side, front edge cracked.
I took the coach to LCI. The problem was excessive frame deflection in the fifth wheel overhang of the coach. You can use a Dremel tool to extend the crack to the edge, paint and install new trim. The problem is not fixed. There is still excessive flexing of the fifth wheel frame members. To check it out, set the pin on heavy supports. Lift the jacks to put full weight on the pin. LCI has a pin scale. Measure the ground to pin height. Raise the jacks to remove pin weigh. Measure again. If the deflection is more than an 1/8", you need reinforcement. Redwood service gets LCI service to get up in the frame and reinforce the frame members.
Without this, there will be a constant excessive movement that can rupture frame members and cause body disfiguration in the future.

This sure sounds like it qualifies under the 5 year structural warranty.

[lwg]

Originally Posted by NW Snowbirds

This sure sounds like it qualifies under the 5 year structural warranty.

Mine just got approved to be fixed by Redwood under the 5 year structural warranty.


Sent from my Toaster

[Piper Guy's Gal]

Originally Posted by lwg

Mine just got approved to be fixed by Redwood under the 5 year structural warranty.


Sent from my Toaster

Hopefully, Redwood is beefing up the frame support on new models in lieu of providing the additional 5 year warranty. To tell us that foregoing the additional five year warranty is a good thing, as was clearly stated at the rally, makes no sense to me, especially when we keep hearing of current owners having to get necessary work done under this warranty extension.

If someone could please explain to me the logic behind this, I would be very grateful.

[RomanyLife]

Originally Posted by Piper Guy's Gal

Hopefully, Redwood is beefing up the frame support on new models in lieu of providing the additional 5 year warranty. To tell us that foregoing the additional five year warranty is a good thing, as was clearly stated at the rally, makes no sense to me, especially when we keep hearing of current owners having to get necessary work done under this warranty extension.

If someone could please explain to me the logic behind this, I would be very grateful.

I'm with Tracy, I missed the reason it is "good news".

[Dave&Ginny]

Maybe at the 2016 rally they'll say the suspension isn't covered anymore since they never have problems with it.