VanLeigh RV (VanLeigh) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Vanleigh Beacon recreational vehicles. Interference from the rear ladder can prevent the rear egress window from fully opening.
Body, doors & structure
Vanleigh Beacon Body problems by year
7 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Vanleigh Beacon's body, doors & structure. Doors, hoods and latches, frame rust, sunroofs, leaks, trim and structural failures.
Body complaints by model year
Body recalls
Latest Beacon body complaints
The frame of my 2021 Vanleigh Beacon 39FFB fifth wheel trailer has experienced a catastrophic structural failure in the primary load-bearing area near the king pin. The frame has fractured on both sides between the king pin structure and upper deck riser in a non-welded section of the frame. This failure has allowed the king pin to displace upward more than 2 inches into the front structure of the RV. Additional structural damage includes: -Shearing of a structural fastener/bolt -Visible separation and movement...
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of frame members under hitch load -Bent and misaligned I-beam near the suspension/equalizer area The failure directly affects the towing connection and structural integrity of the vehicle and creates a serious roadway safety hazard, including potential towing instability or possible hitch/detachment risk. The RV has not been involved in an accident and has not been knowingly overloaded. The failure appears related to a structural/load path defect involving the frame design, material integrity, and/or structural fatigue in a critical towing area. The unit is currently unsafe to tow. Manufacturers involved: -Vanleigh RV -Lippert Components Photos and supporting documentation are available showing frame fracture, structural displacement, sheared fasteners, and frame movement under load. The RV is currently located at The Resort At Canopy Oaks, [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This is my second report with two different incidents of failure. These failures are connected to the Lippert frame of my fifth wheel trailer. While, traveling in Indiana near Gary, Indiana my leafspring on the rear axle on the driver side gave away, causing the trailer to veer hard to the left. Fortunately, there was no one to my left and I was able to regain control and get to the shoulder. After inspecting, I determined that the pin holding the leaf springs together sheared off after going over a bridge...
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expansion joint. The second issue I discovered this spring is that I have two significant cracks in the upper deck frame, causing extreme frame flax. Lippert is refusing to cover the fix under the warranty. Lippert has been very difficult to deal with during this process and I have been forced to use a third-party to fix their poor welds. I have pictures if need be. There are many other frame issues that other people are dealing with. All have the Lippert frames! Someone will be severely injured or killed if Lippert is not held accountable by the federal government.
There are several issues with my Vanleigh RV that I believe warrant investigation and recall. The main structural element I believe common with all my problems is the under-designed frame in its entirety. I have had to have the rear portion of my frame strengthened by the frame manufacturer (Lippert) due to it going out of camber. This has caused numerous slide operation problems as well as continual floor damage inside the RV. There is also too much flex in the front portion of the frame causing continuous body...
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damage. I applied the Vanleigh recommended fix of inserting wood slats into the aluminum channels on each side of the front end but things have gotten worse. The newly recommended fix is to remove the outer surfaces of the front of the RV and weld additional support into the aluminum frame structure. I believe these aluminum welds have broken due to the previously recommend Vanleigh fix with the wood slats. The slats stiffened the bottom aluminum but now pushed the movement further up the structure thus breaking the aluminum welds of the RV sides around the king pin section.
This is a 2021 Vanleigh/Tiffin Beacon 41FLB 5th wheel. Upper deck frame welds broken causing wall structure frame to break and front slide outs to come loose. Unit was still within 3 year frame and structural warranty, but Vanleigh refused warranty. $16,000 repair...but if not repaired, the frame and 5th wheel plate could have separated and caused a serious accident. This is a serious problem and Vanleigh Tiffin should pay for warranty repair.
My Vanliegh Beacon 39GBB Fram broke near the 5th wheel hitch causing large body undulations while towing. The frame cracked along a longitudinal beam along to forward section connecting the main body and the over the bed area. This caused major fiberglass damage and an unsafe situation where only one side of the frame was still connected to the 5th wheel hitch. I witnessed the Lippert frame manufacturer's rep review the damage and he engineered a "fix" to be done at the Vanliegh repair facility in Tischamingo,...
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MS in 2021. The next road trip, the frame broke again and I was told I was out of warranty. My $140,000 5th wheel is not road worthy and the manufacturer will not stand behind the product.
The front frame of the RV has failed, welds are cracked. The unit can be inspected. The frame welds hold the walls on to the RV. The frame is the major structural component that could lead to wall collapse. Symptoms of the cracks are evident only when towing, meaning failure on the highway. Problem has been confirmed by and independent repair facility. Manufacturer is aware, but has not inspected. They don't want to inspect because this is an industry wide problem. Frame failure becomes evident when hitching up and towing the RV. Side wall flexing will occur along the front overhang, fiberglass will crack, seals around front slides will pop open.
I purchased this vehicle new July 14, 2022. On its first trip, I noticed a gap starting on the side panels near the overhang of the 5th wheel. I reported this to the dealer and they determined that there was excessive flame flex. The vehicle had to be taken back to the manufacturer to be repaired. I'm still having issues with frame flex. This 5th wheel weighs 18,500 pounds and the fact that there is broken components to the frame put all of us at risk of great bodily harm or death. This is an issue in the RV 5th wheel industry that needs to be addressed immediately.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data