It is just the outer layer of the panelling that is splitting. And I believe that it is stress myself. That is what it looks like. When material is bent, the outside of the radius is stretched and the inside compressed.
When I was younger, I designed stamping dies and had to take the stretching/compression into account to get the desired radii and material thickness and length and width calculations.
It is not near any piece of structure, about a foot in from the sides. No water got into the trailer, I make sure the caulking is good. There was one place at the back of the trailer that was iffy this year, but even last year, I had put extra around every caulked seam on the roof for insurance purposes and doing it again this year.
It is splitting outwards. An impact strike would not go in a perfectly horizontal split about an inch long.
We are having the dealership check and see if that is covered under the wall/structural warranty.
I know I can put some sealant in there, but that won't stop it. Eventually it would split all the way across, from one side to the other. If I have to, I will glue a 1/16" thick piece of fiberglass all the way across and over the curve, so it doesn't look like a POS and reinforces the area.
Once the trailer is totally out of Crossroads warranty, I am going to put an aerodynamic nose cone on the front. While most of the front has a curve to it, there is a flat space on the front that sets up significant wind drag. Even a small rounded nose cone to let the air flow will make it pull easier and get us better MPG's when the trailer is attached to the truck.
I smiled and nodded, but I did not throw the BS flag when he said that.
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psssttt drcook = David R, not Dr. but thanks for the compliment. Most folks just call me Dave.
2004.5 Chevy Duramax crew cab 4x4
2010 Crossroads Cruiser 30QBX
1991 K2500 4x4 being restored
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