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I happen to have a 2021 F350 with the 5th Wheel/Gooseneck prep option. Upon reading this, I went outside to look at my left brackets, and while I didn't see any cracks, what I did see was disconcerting. Both brackets show witness marks from up-and-down movement. Three of the four bracket-to-frame bolts have scratched the finish from the bracket during travel.
On the left side, there are no cracks:
However there seems to have been significant movement of the bracket behind the forward bolt:
Less so on the rear bolt:
On the right side, there are no cracks:
However there are marks from movement behind the forward bolt:
I happen to have a 2021 F350 with the 5th Wheel/Gooseneck prep option. Upon reading this, I went outside to look at my left brackets, and while I didn't see any cracks, what I did see was disconcerting. Both brackets show witness marks from up-and-down movement. Three of the four bracket-to-frame bolts have scratched the finish from the bracket during travel.
...
However there seems to have been significant movement of the bracket behind the forward bolt:
...
However there are marks from movement behind the forward bolt:
Great inspection, observations and images.
It may be the movement indicated around the bolts is normal when the fasteners are tightened to specification. The holes must be large enough to permit assembly w/ expected production tolerances. There is lots of clamping force between the plates but only clamped sliding friction force to limit movement within the bolt holes.
Assuming the dealership service department tightens those fasteners (hopefully to the specifications), then a light dusting of paint will permit future observations of additional movement versus that already observed / documented.
Another reason to buy the B&W underbed system, and retrofit the plug in the box.
Do you really think it is impossible for an installer to not mess up a B&W? Make sure the shock notch is there so you can replace your shocks in the future.
those pictures of the evidence of movement around the bolts brings up a few questions
are the bolts torqued to spec? what was the weight of trailer and hitch pin weight?
and thinking of my fifth wheel days, maybe the bed/hitch and frame are moving out of sync slightly when dynamic forces are applied to frame through the hitch and its attachments and this is causing one to give slightly to ease forces? maybe
fifth wheel hitches move around , all the points of contact have tolerances to allow install and removal and some give. be real curious if bolts are tight and hitch plates are aligned to reduce one point of contact from carry more load that others.
items moving within bolt tolerances is ok, the bolts have some degree of clamping force but i believe the factory bolt pass throughs on the frame factory holes and support tubes are for load carrying vice clamping action to achieve correct weight transfer. but slamming or popping around is not / that is what causes cracks and failures.
thanks for the pictures
I didn't realize the affected date range prior to posting my initial reply and photos. My truck is roughly a month old, so it's not within the range of affected trucks.
Originally Posted by robert sloane
those pictures of the evidence of movement around the bolts brings up a few questions
are the bolts torqued to spec? what was the weight of trailer and hitch pin weight?
I don't know the bolt's torque spec. I also don't know if it's a single-use fastener.
The truck has never towed anything from the gooseneck/fifth-wheel receiver. It has conventionally-towed an unladen 1,800-pound boat trailer 15 miles to the marina, pulled a boat 300' out of the water to swap a propeller, put the boat back into the water, and towed the empty trailer back home. That is the extent of its towing life the month I've had it.
Do you really think it is impossible for an installer to not mess up a B&W? Make sure the shock notch is there so you can replace your shocks in the future.
Is it impossible? No. Is it a better system? I'd argue yes, night and day. There is also a lot of real-world evidence that the B&W system doesn't move around, either.
Having used both systems, I'd prefer the B&W system anyway. It is easier to use overall.
I happen to have a 2021 F350 with the 5th Wheel/Gooseneck prep option. Upon reading this, I went outside to look at my left brackets, and while I didn't see any cracks, what I did see was disconcerting. Both brackets show witness marks from up-and-down movement. Three of the four bracket-to-frame bolts have scratched the finish from the bracket during travel. I'm curious to see if I get a letter.
Great pictures Smindustries, thanks for sharing. I'm not affected by this so I don't have a dog in the fight, but I do have 46 years of experience with machinery so I thought I'd chime in with an opinion for those who may be worried. First of all, I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that the two bolts holding that "L" shaped bracket in place are supporting any pin weight. I believe the "H" frame that you get with the fifth wheel prep package has to rest on the truck frame, and the truck frame supports the pin load. If I'm correct, those two bolts are there on the "L" bracket to prevent the "H" frame from sliding front to back, but I doubt they are the only things doing that. There's probably also keeper blocks welded in place, or some other type of mechanical lug to prevent front to back motion. If not, shame on Ford. The "chatter" marks you see on your frame paint under the "L" bracket are likely caused by the assembly finding its "home" under load. I'd sure as heck get the factory torque spec for those bolts though, and make sure they're tight. I'd also try to wiggle my head up in there or snap some pictures to see if there are any other keepers besides those bolts.
After reading the recall notice, it looks like the Bowling Green stamping plant that makes those "L" brackets found a defect in some of the ones they were making, caused by the manufacturing process. It looks like a simple part that starts out as a flat plate, gets holes punched or drilled into it, and gets bent 90 degrees into an "L" shape with a press brake. No mention of defective steel, just a defective process that might cause the bracket to crack under load. I'm going way on a limb here, but I'd guess some of the brackets might crack at the bend because they weren't bent far enough or too far. I suspect if a bracket cracks on one side of the "H" frame, additional load goes onto the other side, which it wasn't designed for. If both sides fail, you've got a loose connection to your RV. My experience tells me that crack failures from forming don't happen rapidly, they happen over time from "flexing" under a heavy load. I'd be looking at the bend in that bracket for any tell-tale signs of flexing and/or cracking.
Gary E mentioned that he thought that "L" bracket was welded in place and I think he might be correct if your fifth wheel prep package came from the factory that way. Ford also sells the kit as an aftermarket add-on, and I suspect that one gets bolted on. Wording in the recall notice supports that, to my eyes. Maybe Smindustries can clarify if his prep package came from the factory or was installed later.
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