Keeping the frame from rusting

[Coopers_dad]

I'm more than a bit OCD when it comes to my toys and wondered if anyone else has had their frame protected against rock chips etc. I have a friend who does rhino bed liners and I'm considering having him spray the frame to keep it protected. I had him do my last car trailer and its taken a beating for nearly 6 years and doesn't have a bit or rust on it.

Crazy.... yeah I know my wife tells me all the time .

[cw3jason]

I guess I am the same way, I have been under the trailer twice last year wire brushing and painting rust spots, especially the gas line.

[Ramn4ver]

I've used Por15 on other rv's I've owned.

https://www.por15.com/mobile/home.asp?

[Coopers_dad]

Well, I had a chat with my friend and he will do the front of the trailer for $500 plus labor. He is also going to get a price for me to extend the diamond plate down to the section below where it's installed from the factory.

Now all I need is for it to be April and I can pickup my trailer.

[mark5w]

Would the rhino bed liner prevent you from seeing any cracks or weld failures??
Just asking.

[Coopers_dad]

Yes it would. I never considered that I would have to deal with that. I'm never had a trailer crack a weld even when I've been irresponsible with my load weight.

Are cracked frames an issue with crossroad products? I didn't turn up anything like that during my research.

[mark5w]

Heard of some 5th wheel frame issues but not on TT. Has any other forum members have any input on cracked frames or welds???? If so, please post.

[Dayle1]

The issue we had with units in '04-'05 was problems with the outriggers rather than the frame itself. But that still becomes an inspection problem. Some outriggers were breaking welds at the I-beam. Others were developing a crease and fracture at a 45 degree angle at the top of the outrigger. The fractures were more difficult to see, all dirt had to be washed off the outrigger and a strong light used to see the issue in the shiny paint. This would be impossible to see with any type of undercoating.

The outriggers are what really holds the trailer body to the frame and they actually sit about 1/4 inch higher than the top of the I-beams. So, the trailer floor joists really don't contact the I-beams normally. On fivers, the floor joist run parallel with the I-beams and a total failure of the outriggers would allow the body to drop the full height of the floor joist until the plywood decking was sitting on the I-beam. There are two types of outriggers, the ones under the slide outs are smaller and thicker and not suspect. The thin gauge main outriggers were the problem ones. Lippert fix was to weld 1/4 inch plate steel to them to keep them from flexing and to enable better welds. CR and Lippert have not changed the metal gauge for the outriggers since this issue, but may be using better strength steel.

[Flyone]

you may want to consult with the factory to see if it would affect your warranty. One can never be to careful about that kind of stuff.

Flyone

[LeBo]

I gave up on the warranty when they the dealer tried fix my fiver three times and finely went to independent RV repair service company. It was wash with all that fuel and aggravation we had. Self insured is better then dealing with these @#$%$#@@.

[dminer04]

Rino liner would add a lot more weight. They make a spray paint called DIP you can youtube it. They make a clear coat and that is your best bet.

[mark5w]

Where's the old lead based primer when you need it.