boocoodinkydow
dothan, al & wears valley, tn
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Joined: 08/15/2008
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still contemplating the use of an adapter vs b&w companion. shopping a doubletree dealer last week & the question came up. after personal assurances that the adapters were acceptable with doubletree, he got a drv rep on the speakerphone & we had a lengthy & enlightening conversation. the rep says there is no additional forces brought to bare on the actual trailer frame. the force is actually exerted in the pin box. the use of an adapter will not void the warranty on the drv products to include the standard pin box but would have to check with the manufacturers of any of the aftermarket units. the dealer then called airyde(?) who said an adapter wasn't compatible with the way his pin box worked & would negate it's shock absorbing action. he then called a moryde(?) dealer & received his blessings. even gave us a local contact where a colibert had been attached to a moryde pin box. the owner was very satisfied with the setup & said he had logged several thousand miles. the drv dealer had also recently installed an adapter on a 41' toyhauler (forgot the brand) with a gvwr of 18000lb & had ok'd installation with manufacturer. he tried to contact the owner but was unable to do so.
i know this subject is sometimes a lightning rod but just thought i'd run it up the pole for those interested.
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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The frame would be made by Lippert and Lippert has a poor history.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy
easyrider/reese airhitch
trailair center point suspension
JT Strong Arm Stabilizers
KSH 55 inbed fuel tank
Garmin 2720
scanguage II
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boocoodinkydow
dothan, al & wears valley, tn
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when i was sitting there listening to the drv rep sing the accolades of how sturdy his frame was, i kept thinking about that recent thread about lippert.
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22geno
Noble Ok
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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If it is a lippert frame they will void your warranty on any mod's you do to there frame. I installed there Trail Air system (Owned by Lippert) on my open road and when the frame broke out they would not stand behind it.
geno
Gene"n"Betty 2003 G.M.C. 3500 S.L.T.ext cab dually duramax/allison
2009 33ft Crossroads Seville 3 slides. Just the Wife, me and Dusty a loud mouth Parrot.
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fpresto
Maryland
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Joined: 08/01/2007
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So the "rep" says there is no additional force on the frame it is on the pin box. Just where does the "rep" think the pin box attaches if not to the frame? I think I would ask for it in writing.
USN Retired
2007 Cedar Creek 30 RLSTS
2008 F350, DRW, V-10, B&W hitch,
Pressure Pro, JT Strongarms
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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If he believes it will work, tell him you want a letter from the factory, on factory letterhead that the use of a GN adapter will not negate the warranty on either the trailer or the frame and that Doubletree will fully guarantee the frame with the use of the GN adapter. I bet you will get some crawfishing once they have to put it in writting. Better yet, tell him you want the approval letter written and stamped by a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in their employee.
Any first year mechanical engineering student can see how additional stress (not forces...two different subjects) will result on the pin box attachment area with the use of the GN adapter.
The force is the same with or without the GN adapter. The problem is the added lever arm through which the force is applied creates a higher stress on the pin box area due to in increased torque from the moment arm.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
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TXiceman wrote:Any first year mechanical engineering student can see how additional stress (not forces...two different subjects) will result on the pin box attachment area with the use of the GN adapter.
The force is the same with or without the GN adapter. The problem is the added lever arm through which the force is applied creates a higher stress on the pin box area due to in increased torque from the moment arm.
Ken
This is the key, that everyone fails to understand. A GN adaptor only changes the lever/stress on the pin box, not the frame. As it only ataches to the pin, and does not change the force or load on the pin to frame bolts one iota.
I have researched this a bit and finally contacted Dutchmen to see if it was possible on my rig. Here is what they wrote back.
"We cannot suggest or supply information on using adaptors. The adaptors put extra stress on the pin box. This can void the warranty if an issue regarding the use of the adaptor is proven a factor.
Thank you for contacting Dutchmen Manufacturing."
Quite basic.  I would have no problem putting one on my trailer if the pin box was rated higher. Say 18-20K vs. 16K on a 15500 GVWR trailer.
So it's a no go for me.
Mav
Maverick
'08 Dodge 3500 SLT Mega Cab Dually, 6.7l/6 speed. Oh yeah!
'08 Winners Circle 36SRV-H5
1 wife, 2 kids, 3 dogs, 1 cat
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