NHTSA Complaint #11468735 — 2017 JAYCO FIFTH WHEEL PINNACLE

Jayco 5th wheel trailers Lippert (LCI Industries) RV Frames have a significant engineering flaw resulting in excessive flex in the front section incorporating the hitch/pinbox, which results in cracked frames, stress cracking in sidewalls and seam separation at joints causing further damage from water intrusion. It is also noted in their own report, that the bolts supporting the fiberglass sidewalls are not large enough to support those sidewalls. This flex and frame cracking cause potential safety hazards due to decreased structural integrity of the frame and structure, leading to a potential hazard on the highway. This has been an issue on 5th wheel trailers for some 20 years, as evidenced by NHTSA ID Number 10208077, in which Manufacturer communication Number 22-043 was released. This notice releases repair instructions on how to remedy the problem on all trailers manufactured before 2021. This notice applies to Jayco Trailers but is common to all Lippert 5th wheel frames across various manufacturers. If you report the stress crack in sidewall before the end of warranty, Jayco pays to have the unit returned to the factory to have major repairs accomplished and pay to return the unit to the customer. If you are out of warranty, as is my case when I reported it, by 1 yr 5 months, they refuse responsibility for any design flaws, and you are responsible for the enormous cost of the repair. I have the well-known stress crack in the sidewall, which continues to grow, exterior, as well as interior trim that will not stay in place after traveling which require constant resealing to prevent water intrusion, floor-to-frame bolts that pull through the frame and protrude through linoleum, front cap fiberglass spider webbing (repaired once under warranty, but has returned), and plastic edging on roof to protect EPDM material wrap to sidewall is pulling the staples from the underlayment as the structure flexes, which will eventually will lead to a compromised roof system