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Just thought I would share my little project I have been working on for a couple weeks. On the way home from a 900 mile trip the frame started collapsing on my Keystone Zeppelin 2. Insurance ended up totaling it because they couldn't figure out what to do with the frame. I bought it back for $500 and built a much stronger frame with the intention of adding a platform to the back for my razor. Much like a Idaho tote except I will be using a 59 f1 front steering axle for the second trailer/platform.
I do a lot of farm implement/equipment fabrication and what I can see of your work looks excellent. You're certainly not going to have any more frame stability issues with that! I can't believe what Keystone put under that trailer and called a "frame". Most likely it was built by Lippert Components, the company that is singlehandedly killing the RV industry in a America.
Unfortunately it is not an ultralight anymore . With my calculations the new frame added about 800 pounds and is over kill if I was just building a camper. This thing is 30 foot long and I am adding a 10' trailer or whatever you want to call it to the back and I was afraid of it bouncing up-and-down and twisting the new frame. I'm a certified welder and have been fabricating for 25 years . It turned out really good this frame is offset to the driver-side 1 1/4" the original frame was as well I asumed it was because of the slide out so I just did the same thing . Why is the only thing I changed was the angle of the tongue and added 11" on the back.this is kinda what I am building next. I had it way before I started and I need to finish up the tell lights and get my weight distribution hitch back on and then I will get it rewieghed.
After some research this frame was built by one company install under a total of 13 different campers ranging from 25 feet to 35 feet with multiple people with frame failures. There was a lawsuit filed the company came back with adding a crossmember To keep it from collapsing but no recalls were sent out. Moral of the story is if it says ultralight check the frame they had to save wieght somewhere .
How much was the material for the new frame and how much time do you think you have in it? Seems like you'll come out alright in this deal given insurance covered it.
The steel was almost $1,000 before its over with a few updates and tires and a generator I will have about $2,000 in it. I also plan to paint it thinking black but haven't 100% decided. Looking to do something like this.
11-07-2016, 09:06 AM
Camper frame swap/toy hauler project
