frame damage-responsiblity

Hi Hill_Country, Thank you, the video helps: I've had a look and hope I can make things clearer. It's not so much the hanger that needs reinforcement, as the rail. The rail has failed. The lower end of the spring hanger, is still bolted to the rear end of the leaf spring, but the top end is "floating" and remains welded to a piece of rail. The top end of the hanger, instead of sitting neatly up against the underside of the rail, has split off, taking with it a piece of the rail, leaving a ragged gap in the rail itself. I note in the video the thickness of the spring hanger and the rail are about the same. On my Shadow Cruiser, the hanger is almost twice as thick as the rail, which perhaps accounts for the result. In the video, I also note what seems to be a piece of reinforcement above the rail where the hanger sits below. Probably a good idea. The trailer is double axle, so only 7 more hangers to go Welder can't get here till next Monday (24th), then it's off for tires, brakes and whatever else is needed to make this thing safe and roadworthy. Happy Trails!.

Thank you everyone for the variety of contributions in reply to my original posting. I have read them all . and would like to bring you up-to-date: 1. I have have had a number of exchanges with a helpful gentlemen in Nampa Idaho (Heartland?); 2. Cruiser/Lippert seem to be standing by the 3-year structural warranty on the Shadow Cruiser and, subject to reservations, I shall be taking them up on their offer of a welder to fix things so that I can safely return to Canada asap. Further necessary work could wait till then. 3. New tires would also be needed before travelling any further. 4. The park was pretty adamant, and the tack weld was done on the QT. Interestingly, Cruiser/Lippert left it to me to get the trailer to a place where Lippert’s welder could work on it, which I have done. 5. A good look under the trailer in the bright light of day makes the source of the problem quite clear to me: the thickness of the spring hangers is just about double that of the frame rails to which they are attached : an “accident” waiting to happen. There are 8 hangers overall (4 on each side). Unless these are all modified, I shall spend my life waiting for the next shoe to drop. I wonder what the safety people might have to say on something like this – or my insurer. 6. Would something like this be considered a design error or a manufacturing oversight? 7. My reservations concern such things as the squaring of the whole, a door that closes properly, new tires all round, and a few smaller items. The 110V AC still needs to be sorted out. I shall perhaps need to live with the other 7 hangers. 8. I must have contacted every tow company and heavy hauler within 100 miles of French Camp. AAA’s services sent 2 unsuitable vehicles to the Park, before removing me from their list. Finally, I hit on Ramont’s Towing: a professional company, with top-of-the-line equipment (incl. the Lobed), whose people were not only on-the-ball, but treated this old lady as a serious client. Everyone was friendly but efficient: from Paul, who gave me clear info on their terms, to Chris, the cheerful backstop in the shop and Chad the awesome driver, they were a real pleasure to deal with. Paul’s estimate was also on the nose! If you’re ever in North California and need a tow of any kind, give Ramont’s a call – you won’t regret it. 9. My insurance broker and insurance company need to be on board with this procedure. 10. It looks as though I shall not need to call on SAL, who carry the extended warranty. 11. At the Escapade in Tucson, I had the truck and trailer weighed, and everything is within limits, so I’m not worried on that score. 12. I haven’t seen anything about type of use, provided it is personal. I think that covers most of your comments – once again, thank you and Happy Trails. Patricia

Am I right to be upset that a "shackle" ripped off the chassis of my not quite two year old trailer, leaving it seriously lop-sided and twisted? I'm looking for feedback....Have you had any similar experience? Is this a one-off or a sign of the times? I have a 26 foot bumper-pull travel trailer: Shadow Cruiser 225RBS, which I purchased new in 2021. It has done one return trip from Ottawa, Ontario Canada, spending the winter in Arizona. Last week, on its second return trip north, the trailer was so bad I had to stop my trip just south of Sacramento, Here I lie On March 28th I pulled into French Camp RV Resort, Manteca, CA. The next day, a local repairman came to look at it, subsequently made a tack weld and successfully rewired the 110V. The trailer is more level, but I'm advised it is not safe to tow. I'm not sure of the correct terminology, so please bear with me. By the back end of the leaf spring, there is a kind of box welded to the chassis; One side of this had separated from the frame, and the frame rails in that area look like flaky pastry - delaminated(?) The trailer is no longer square as the door no longer closes properly. I have filed a bit at the bottom, which helps, but the top of the door and the jamb will not meet. Just fyi, this trailer is my 24/7 home, and I believe Cruiser (Thor?) needs to take responsibility. This means they either make a professional repair or replace the unit. I was insulted this morning by a phone call from Lippert wanting to send a welder to "fix it" in the RV park. This is not acceptable on two counts: firstly, the park does not allow maintenance on-site, and secondly, to my mind, there's no way an adequate repair could be made anywhere other than in a properly equipped facility. Any thoughts? NB I understand Lippert builds the chassis for the Shadow Cruiser.