Hey T,
I'm git'n close to Slam'n a product here. Thats not my intent. IMO,This whole Flailex is, again, typical of just about everything we buy nowadayz. Quality and Pride in workmanship has slid some.
These 16 (8 each side) welds had little if any penitration, no definable direction. Looked like Swipe welds to me. The >welds< did'nt break.. they separated from the frame the were "Slobered" to. The 3/32nds, mild steel, had penitration but very little to the trailer frame. Lots of slag, globs and gaps. I took my grinder to them, slicked them off and removed the 3/32nds stuff.. replaced it with the 3/16ths (IPS) 3"X5' plate, continuois bead from front to rear and side to side. Real good/equal penatration and push puddle, 6drawn beads on each rosette, cleaned it all up with a wire wheel and painted the whole works with rust proofing paint. Made me GRIN when I got done. Wifey came out with a glass'o tea and said, you must be happy with it.. cuz yer GRIN'n.
I've done a little RV Repair & Maint "on the side" for the past 30 years for a local RV dealer. He calls me when he needs some extra help. Not an expert or a guru but One thing I've learned:
Once you get passed the out-side Grafics & Trim and the in-side Fluff & Fabrics.... They are ALL built useing the same construction methods. High or Low end in price. QC & QA are/is the KEY. You git what you pay for. Git smart and ask alot of technical questions. Take a flashlight, look in and under stuff, look for QA/QC.
I did... but still got into this Weld Flailex 5 years down the road.
I'm a "Happy Camper" now tho
