CTS trailer problem

[Larry Hill]

Just for fun show those pictures to the local trades school instructor. His opinion will give you something to talk about if it leads a legal discussion.

[Ralph A Powell]

Had the same type problem on a Featherlite 15 years ago it cracked were the tounge was welded to main rails right along the weld the cracked across the floor trailer dam near cracked in half. I was at the IRL RACE in Phoenix. They had their service team there but didn’t have a big enough welder so they called one in and patched it up enough to get it back to their factory in Iowa were they completely rebuilt the front section. I had bought a new one and was setting at home in my shop. When I got home we jacked it up and it was welded the same way. Featherlite sent someone to get it took it back to factory in Iowa and completely redone the tounge to frame welding and reinforcement and returned it back to my shop. The problem was when they welded it the first time it caused a stress riser right along the frame were the weld was.

[Mike Pearson]

Not only a bad design also some really bad looking welds.

[Kenny Wigington]

Must be a lot of that going on. I saw an ATC (24ft ?) on I-85, just south of Charlotte, in the middle of the highway, missing the tongue. It was hanging off the back of a duality, on the shoulder 100 ft away, a few weeks ago.

[SSDiv6]

Not enough weld penetration and this type of joint needs to be reinforced.
Those welds may be good for a living room table, but not for a high load structural joint.

Find a certified welding inspector and pay them a few bucks for a letter. Then have a lawyer send them a letter and attach the report with a statement that you will be also filing a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the defective welds and request a recall.

I promise you they will either fix it properly or give you a new trailer. They would not like to have the NHTSA pay them a visit, shut them down and fine them.

[SSDiv6]

Also, if you can, find out what type of Aluminum alloy they are using in the construction of the trailer. 2024 and 7075 Aluminum should never be welded. The heat from the welding process will cause severe cracking.

[Terry Drinkwater]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Also, if you can, find out what type of Aluminum alloy they are using in the construction of the trailer. 2024 and 7075 Aluminum should never be welded. The heat from the welding process will cause severe cracking.

What type of aluminum would be acceptable for trailers that will be welded or modified?
Thanks,
Terry

[Willyracer]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Not enough weld penetration and this type of joint needs to be reinforced.
Those welds may be good for a living room table, but not for a high load structural joint.

Find a certified welding inspector and pay them a few bucks for a letter. Then have a lawyer send them a letter and attach the report with a statement that you will be also filing a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the defective welds and request a recall.

I promise you they will either fix it properly or give you a new trailer. They would not like to have the NHTSA pay them a visit, shut them down and fine them.

Thanks for the suggestion I didn't think about
getting someone like NHTSA involved

[Terry Drinkwater]

On my 2nd bumper pull camper and I've looked at lots of them. Haven't seen one yet with aluminum frame and some have fairly stout frames and tongues. (6-8 in rect. tubing) I would think most campers are lighter than your average loaded car hauler yet none are aluminum framed. Wondering about this.......

Terry