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4kidsgonewild	OpenRoad News	Lead	[-]
Posts: 77 (08/02/09 10:22:43) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Hi Everone, This is Jim Skiles,I wanted to make everyone aware of what I have been getting alot of in the field and in the shop.When I went up to do repairs at the OpenRoad rally I started noticing there are some serious frame issues going on.I have been finding broken welds in the upper decks under the goose necks,cracks in the lower left corner of the bed slides,and broken headers.If you see the start of a crack under the bed slide this means you have a broken weld from either hitting a pot hole or just being on a really rough road.If you do "please get it either to me or to another OpenRoad repair shop ASAP".Your Insurance covers these repairs under comprehensive most of the time as long as you can pretty much identify when it happened.I have one in the shop now and 4 more coming in over the next month.What I'm seeing when I drop the wrap under the goose neck is broken welds next to the pin boxes.The reason I'm concerened about this is when the weld breaks to far the pin box will break loose and that is when the pin box will go up into the cap or closet as you were reading about a year or so ago.So please just take a minute and go out and see if you see any little cracks in the bottom corner of your bedroom slides.It happens more on the units that don't have a stress relief or the front end hasn't had gussets welded in for reinforcement. Thank You Jim Skiles team61@verizon.net ( 574 202-5461)
OTTER1958		#1	[-]
Posts: 1 (08/02/09 17:57:12) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	hI Jim i own a 2004 316rls was wondering if these where problems also dont see any cracks in fiberglass by bed slides is there any other concerns with this model also would you have any manuals for this model thank you for help Brian from Wisconsin
ratracer327	broken welds	#2	[-]
Posts: 61 (08/03/09 04:32:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Jim, Last year, after corresponding with a Canadian couple who had their pin box break away and be driven up through the floor of the closet, just as you just stated in your post, I had my dealer check my trailer. He and I both have a racing background and are familiar with the affects of metal fatigue. I also contacted Lippert, questioning if they were aware of any problems with the frames. It was their response that prompted having my trailer inspected by my dealer. Lippert suggested I have my pin box inspected because they were aware of problems with the 2003 - 2005 frames having welds crack. It was their estimation the failures were caused by the welds being done "too HOT". IMHO, that is code for poorly done welds and shoddy workmanship! Lippert is very aware they have a series of frames out on the road, not only under Open Road trailers, but other brands they supply, with serious isues. They were supposed to pay for the inspection of my trailer, which fortunately appears to be OK at present. However, my dealer did not call them and I just paid his bill, which was fair for the time he used. I will be giving him a copy of your post. During the inspection, I made a mental note of the minimal amount of gussets used by Lippert, and the minimal thickness of the metal that was there. I can certainly see where a welder with not much experience could burn through the metal very easily, using a production line wire gun. I would be interested in hearing more about your repairs for this issue. You mentioned looking for cracks under the bedroom slide. Is this in the side wall material, or in the metal supports visible in the basement storage area? Ratracer327 Bill
4kidsgonewild	Open Road News	#3	[-]
Posts: 78 (08/04/09 03:19:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Brian, The year and model of your unit falls into the problem area.But if you don't have any cracks in the lower left bed slide corner as of yet you should be OK.The best thing you can do is keep an eye on it and at the least have myself or another reputable shop drop your front wrap and just give it a serious inspection.If everything looks good it only cost you the inspection price and the labor of dropping the front wrap,it's worth the peace of mind and the safety of your family.If there are enough owners interested in it I will set up a bay in the shop just to do frame inspections,this will lower the amount of time it takes to do an inspection thus costing less.As for certain problems with a 316 model.They are no different then the rest,if you keep them seal up and have a PM done once a year you should be fine.To answer your question about a manual just for a 316 it would be no the manuals cover all the units. Thank You Jim Skiles Integrity RV Repair
ratracer327	to Jim and Brian	#4	[-]
Posts: 62 (08/04/09 11:21:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	What Jim indicated about having the front wrap dropped and the frame inspected, whatever he charges it is worth every penny of the cost. It cost far less to repair a minimal problem, or to find no problem, than it is to go down the road and have a serious pin box failure. I am so glad I had my dealer, Skyline RV, in Darien Center, NY, check mine last year. It may have cost me a $100., but to know that there were no cracks starting goes a long way in lowering anxiety. Considering the horrible shape of the roads around our area, I wish I could design inspection doors, over the suspect areas, which would make monthly inspections very simple. Jim, if you read this, it might be something for your shop to consider as an accessory part! Thanks again for passing the information on to us. Bill, Ratracer327
Retired Chief Bob		#5	[-]
Posts: 131 (08/05/09 19:02:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Jim, You looked at my pin box when you were in Baytown earlier this year working on my slide. We didn't pull the skin but you said I had the gussets on my 2004 357 so I should be OK. Has you opinion changes so that I need to have the skin pulled? I guarantee you that if I have it pulled I will have everything re-gusseted and re-welded while it is open. Everyone else that has a full inspection ought to do the same thing! Why not avoid any hint of a future problem while it's so easy to prevent? 2007 GMC SLT, C3500, DRW, D/A, CC, Doran TPMS 2004 Open Road 357; Disc Brake Retrofit; Dual AC; LED Stop/Tail Retrofit, See Level Tank Monitor
4kidsgonewild	Bob's Question	#6	[-]
Posts: 79 (08/07/09 22:41:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Bob, This is Jim, Your unit has gussets but after everything I'm seeing I would recommend anyone with an 03 to 07 have the wrap dropped and inspected.There are gussets but not enough and there also needs to be about 6 more pieces of tube stock welded in.It's bad enough that we are going to offer every Open Road customer a special price just so they will come in and get them checked,but I would say if you have a 03 to 07 and you can get it to us or somebody that really knows these units I would spend the money and have everything retro fit or beefed up as we refer to it.I just want to let everyone know this is not just a Pilgrim issue there are about ten to twenty different brands that are having the same trouble.The only problem with taking them to just any old weld shop is they don't know the exact stress points that the tube stock has to be put and how to get to them,because you have to tear out the wall under the goose neck around the compartment door,disconnect all the wiring, landing gear,the under wrap,and most importantly if they make one small mistake around all the wiring that comes through your goose neck then there going to be trouble shooting electrical problems.We just done one today and it came out better then expected.The secret is knowing the proper placement and knowing how to measure how much flex you have, and in what areas the flex is coming from other wise you will put even more stress on your pin box welds.If there is anyone that wants them checked out or done please contact me,we will be happy to help you folks.If there are enough customers that want it done I will work up a very reasonable price.To answer your question Bob you do have gussets but I would recommend a retro reinforcement to everyone that has not had it done,because the end result could be tragic if they snap as some of them have.Well got to go for now I have to finish the body work in the morning where the wall was cracked on the one we just done.This is how I knew the welds broke when I saw it at the OpenRoad rally.If anyone needs to schedule please call me or e-mail me team61@verizon.net or call me at ( 574) 202-5461. Thank You Jim Skiles Integrity RV Repair
Erik	New to site-rain leak	#7	[-]
Posts: 1 (08/30/09 06:22:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Jim Where are you located? Do you have a list of authorized repair shops for Open Road? We are in Austin, Texas. We noticed a wet carpet in front of the sink cabinet as mentioned in previous emails. We have a 2007 RLS 3S-5.
driller2948	New to site	#8	[-]
Posts: 2 (12/10/09 16:56:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Jim I have a 2004 Pilgrim fifth wheel model 276 BH-5. One side slide should I be conserned about the welds?
ratracer327	welds	#9	[-]
Posts: 74 (12/11/09 20:33:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	driller, The quick answer is yes! It seems the welds, or metal, are failing more on the heavier units, but the design of the frames is pretty universal to the make. If you are near Jim, or if you can arrange to have him check your unit while he is on the road, I would recommend it. Ratracer327
4kidsgonewild	Eric and Driller	#10	[-]
Posts: 83 (12/15/09 17:34:29) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi , This is Jim.If you have any questions please feel free to call me.As of wright know I have a unit in the shop but after this one I will probably make at least one more road trip this winter,I have a customer out in Kansas that would like me to come out and address a caulk issue for him.So we will make this trip a long one and hit the mid-west then down to Texas and then over to Alabama and Florida.So anyone wanting anything at all done this winter on the road may want to call us and schedule before Christmas so we don't miss anyone.It seems as though every time we get back from a trip some where we get a call from a customer that they just missed us,So please if anyone out there wants us to do a Pin box inspection,reseal (strip and re-caulk) or any other kind of repairs please let us know now.Because this will probably be our last one for the winter. Thank You As Always Merry Christmas And God Bless Everyone This Holiday Season Jim
Nolefan	Come visit me	#11	[-]
Posts: 7 (12/16/09 11:01:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Jim: If you could plan to come through Tallahassee on this trip, I'd appreciate it. I'll try to round up some other customers in the meantime. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and your family, Ken Wilson 850-508-3507

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