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PSA: Rivets went AWOL - Disaster avoided

Grumpy_G
Grumpy_G Member Posts: 704
in Trailer & Towing
The other day I was crawling around my trailer checking things over and found this : 



All four of the rivets connecting the tongue (right side of pic) to the main trailer frame went AWOL. I did check for cracks in the area when I got the trailer close to a year ago and they were definitely present. Somewhere along the last 2500-3000 miles I dragged it around they have failed. I did find all four inner pieces in the channel or the underbelly. 



It's an easy fix, drill the holes to 3/8 and use grade 8 hardware tightened to 5 ugga-dugga with a 3/8" impact gun. 



FWIW, this trailer is a 2015 and was owned by Dale before me. I know he put quite a few miles on it and it's anybody's guess why that happened. Just keep an eye on it .... 
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Comments

  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,655
    Yikes. That inspired me to run right out and check my own 2015. (All good!)
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • fstop32
    fstop32 Member Posts: 391
    Waiting for the thunderstorm to pass then I'll be running out to check my 2015...
    DaveR middleTN - 2015 320S  /  TV 2003 Tundra 4x4
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  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 704
    The engineer in me needed to know what type of rivets these are: https://www.hansonrivet.com/lockbolts/maxlok-lockbolts-and-collars/

    The collars are not broken off flush but 2-4 mm below the contact surface. Makes me wonder if the collar was not clamped on sufficiently. 

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  • GigHarborTom
    GigHarborTom Member Posts: 76
    Rivets, Holly C___. That is not quality construction a tall.
    Gig Harbor Tom
    2020 TAB 320 S Boondock Lite
    2019 Toyota 4 Runner
    Puget Sound Country
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  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 704
    I'm guessing the "maxlok" fasteners are faster and/or cheaper to install than regular grade 8 bolts. The tensile strength of a 1/4" lock bolt is 2600 lbs (according to the data in the link), the 3/8 grade 8 bolts I put in have 6900 lbs clamp load. 
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,725
    edited September 2022
    Grumpy_G said:
    The collars are not broken off flush but 2-4 mm below the contact surface. Makes me wonder if the collar was not clamped on sufficiently.


    Could breaking below the contact surface be caused by over torquing causing stress in the little 6mm bolt bolt?
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Dutch061
    Dutch061 Member Posts: 765
    I am sorry, but there is a big difference in "Tensile Strength" and "Clamp Load". While Tensile strength determines the fracture point of the fastener, it is "Proof Strength" that is used for torque specifications. "Clamp Load" is the desired end result of the fastener being tightened and has a list of variables that can affect it that is a long paragraph.

    Bottom line, you can have the "correct torque" but have an incorrect "clamp load". The clamp load can be too high or not high enough, either of which is not a good fastener installation. 

    It is very possible that the "tensile stiffness" of the "Huck Fasteners" is what the design engineer for the frame wanted to have some flexibility. Huck bolts are installed using a tool that stretches the bolt and crimps the "nut" at the same time to create the "clamp load". It is possible that there were tool issues or the person installing them was not properly trained, and they were "over stretched" which is likely why they failed.

    Granted, it is a problem since they failed, that point there is no dispute on.

    Brad
    2020 400 BDL aka "Boonie"
    2022 Black Series HQ19 aka "Cricket"
    2021 F-250 Tremor with PSD aka "Big Blue"
    Concord, NC 
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  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 704
    Dutch061 said:
    I am sorry, but there is a big difference in "Tensile Strength" and "Clamp Load". While Tensile strength determines the fracture point of the fastener, it is "Proof Strength" that is used for torque specifications. "Clamp Load" is the desired end result of the fastener being tightened and has a list of variables that can affect it that is a long paragraph.

    True, the maxlok site doesn't list clamp forces though and I merely wanted to highlight that 3/8 grade 8 bolts' normal operating forces are beyond the breaking limit of the maxlok. Tensile strength of the bolt is over 11000 lbs compared to 2600 lbs for the maxlok fastener. 

    Seeing that Huck markets how fast these can be installed I have a suspicion why lock bolts are used ....  ;)
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,725
    edited September 2022
    I'm not an engineer, but it looks like these bolts were only meant to sandwich the two frame components together. The dimples in the frame look like what would stop movement and prevent shearing of the bolts. I'm guessing that the bolts may have been over tightened causing "over stretched" bolts mentioned by @Dutch061.
    I put in a ticket with nuCamp. It will be interesting to hear if/what they say.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    Also, nüCamp does not make the frame, they buy the frames from a outside manufacturer, and get the frames already assembled.  
    Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • ChanW
    ChanW Member Posts: 3,165
    Hmmm. Thanks for the heads-up, Grumpy.

    Will be crawling under the Tab today!
    Chan  -  near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah! 

     A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
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  • Michigan_Mike
    Michigan_Mike Member Posts: 2,858
    There are a lot of dynamic forces that occur during road travel, flexing, twisting, bouncing, etc.  Would this be a result of the above and via loading on the tongue of the trailer with items like generators, gas cans, gear, etc.?  
    Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ
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  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420
    Same thing happened to my August 2015 build 320 about two years ago.  Took it to a trailer shop and they replaced the rivets with bolts.  
    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,725
    @Tabaz do you remember what size bolts they used? Also, did you contact nuCamp?
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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