CATEGORY: FRAME & SUSPENSION COMPONENTS & TIRES
TOPIC: BOLTS BREAKING
Posted: 4-3-18
Posted By: DandK-Travelers
See Forum Post HERE
After reading a couple of threads here about the bolts under the front by the hitch, that secures the steel frame to the aluminum side wall, I found the two front bolts on each side broken. All others were fine. I purchase the new bolts from Fastenal. I purchased 3/8” x 4 1/2” grade 5 full thread round head shaker screen bolt. I wanted to buy partial thread but couldn’t find them. Hopefully, the grade 5 bolts won’t break. No broken welds either.
I had heard some creeping/cracking +when I loaded and unloaded the 5th wheel. I removed all the sheet metal, I’ll send a picture later this morning. I’d say it took about 1 hour to remove the sheet metal for access. You do have to remove all 3 pieces to gain access. I’ll just fill the hole with white caulk. The molding will cover most of it.
Guess you can’t see the 4th hole. It’s on the right. Once you remove the sheet metal, try and tighten the bolts and you’ll find out if any are broken.
Mine did have fiberglass insulation. I removed it and installed the bubble insulation. I installed two layers making it R12 and no uninsulated areas.
“Alloy reply”: You are better off stuffing the cavities with fiberglass or Roxul insulation.
Foil-faced bubble wrap is only R1 when use to reduce convection.
Foil-faced bubble wrap can be more than R1 when it is used in a roof or South facing the wall to reflect the IR (infrared) rays from the sun. A metal roof will do the same.
You can see in the picture 3 nuts and a 4th hole on the right. I removed this bolt and am waiting for delivery today the new bolts.
The XPS insulation under the front bunk area of our Cameo.
The steel tube (four -2″ x 4″) on each side of the pin box is not original.
The red wire will carry a 100amps from the truck to the trailer batteries.