Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

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Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

August 20, 2018, 05:54:53 pm

I admit it. I am not a mechanic. I crawled under our rig today with the thought of tightening up the frame bolts after reading a number of threads on the topic. Well... there are a LOT of bolts under there.

Does anyone have a picture of what I'm looking for?

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #1 – August 20, 2018, 06:17:32 pm

Floorplan and year, Ford or Chevy?

Steve

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #2 – August 20, 2018, 06:26:35 pm

2014 TK, Ford.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #3 – August 20, 2018, 07:45:11 pm

Ah - you need to edit your signature...

Steve

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #4 – August 20, 2018, 08:24:56 pm

I don't recall the exact configuration of the "channeled" steel brackets that my TK has, but when you crawl under the rig, look for series of brackets about 8" wide X 5' long mounted on the chassis frame rails; each model has a different number of brackets and frame bolts - anywhere from 2 to 4 frame bolts, depending on the model and configuration; longer models have more - and configurations vary. If I remember right, I think that my TK has 6 brackets total.

The following is a paraphrase of the "frame bolt tightening" primer that Larry gave me a long time ago!

The nuts for the 3/8" carriage bolts are 9/16"; you'll need a 9/16" deep socket with extensions to reach many of the nuts; all of the frame bolts are not accessible, so just tighten the ones that are reachable. (The carriage bolts go through the top of the plywood floor; they loosen as the plywood compresses.) Don't overtighten, or the bolt heads can break loose and spin, so don't torque the things to the max. Just snug them up to about 15-20 ft. pounds, and do this every 20-30k miles - more often if you drive rough roads - after the initial "snugging" at about 10-15k miles.

Lazy Daze does not include this maintenance item in the manual; I have no idea why not, because it's a very important service point. Not only does it get the owner under the rig to tighten the bolts, but it offers the chance to check everything else out while one is under there (scrutinize the condition of the inside dual, too), including tightening the bolts on the step and the holding tanks! I suggest taking all the tools needed in a box or tool bag, including a flashlight, shop towels, sockets, extensions, the driver, a 9/16" open end wrench, and vise grips, on the initial crawl-under; it is a real tiring PITA to have to
wiggle, scoot, and squirm and get up and down and back and forth under the rig.

As ever, YMMV!

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #5 – August 20, 2018, 11:36:16 pm

Quote from: Steve - August 20, 2018, 07:45:11 pm

Ah - you need to edit your signature...

Steve

Corrected. Mea culpa. I'm usually the one who adds the year and model. I'm on a mission to have them listed for every owner. It makes discussion so much easier, especially when someone needs help.

Chris

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #6 – August 21, 2018, 09:19:43 am

I beleive this is the parts you are requesting.

I have a 2014 Twin King.

Update edit --- this is NOT the right bolts. see update below.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #7 – August 21, 2018, 10:55:00 am

Thank you! That picture is exactly what I needed. When I crawled under there I was completely overwhelmed. Now I have a clue about what I'm looking for.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #8 – August 21, 2018, 03:46:48 pm

Tried to tighten mine and the carriage bolt end just spun in the floor plywood where I have interior bumps I was trying to suck down

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #9 – August 21, 2018, 04:37:07 pm

Sawyer,

If I understand you correctly, as you turned the nut the bolt turned with the nut. I’ve not made this adjustment but I wonder if you could add two nuts to the lower end of the carriage bolt and tighten the two nuts together.

If this can be achieved, then perhaps you could put a wrench on the two nut setup to hold the carriage bolt in place as you attempt to turn the upper/original nut to tighten the carriage bolt.

Does this make sense? It seems that it should work.

Just a thought. 🧐

Kent

Edit: You May need a ratcheting wrench to turn the upper nut since a deep socket will no longer be possible.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #10 – August 21, 2018, 04:46:25 pm

Seems to me if the bolt is just spinning on the nut, it's likely the nut is frozen to the bolt and unlikely to loosen any further on it's own.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #11 – August 21, 2018, 04:53:23 pm

"I wonder if you could add two nuts to the lower end of the carriage bolt and tighten the two nuts together."
---
The bolt probably spins because it was overtightened at one time, and the plywood has compressed, possible even pulling the bolt head into the plywood. It may help to double nut the bolt, but the bolt itself has to be held in place to keep it from spinning when the nut(s) are tightened; this is the purpose of the vise grips (mentioned in my post above. The 9/16" open end wrench may be necessary (probably will) to tighten the nut(s). According to the information that Larry provided to me, Nylock nuts shouldn't be used because "Nylock nuts can require too much torque and can cause the carriage bolt head to strip and spin."

YMMV, as ever.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #12 – August 21, 2018, 08:06:33 pm

Quote from: colddog - August 21, 2018, 09:19:43 am

I beleive this is the parts you are requesting.

Nope, the frame bolts that need tightening are much smaller, with the nuts having 9/16" heads.
The bolts come through the floor, through the frame rails.
Many are hard to see and/or access .
A few are inaccessible, having thing installed over them.
Do not bear down on the nuts, snug them to about 15-20 foot pounds.
Over tightening them will cause them the carriage bolts to spin.
If you run into a spinner that is loose, grab onto the bolt with a pair of vise grips, to hold while tightening.

The big, rubber bushing's nuts are very tight, I have never found one loose.

Larry

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #13 – August 21, 2018, 08:18:10 pm

Quote from: Larry W - August 21, 2018, 08:06:33 pm

Nope, the frame bolts that need tightening are much smaller, with 3/8" heads.
The bolts come through the floor, through the frame rails.
Many are hard to see and/or access .
A few are inaccessible, having thing installed over them.
Do not bear down on the nuts, snug them to about 15-20 foot pounds.
Over tightening them will cause them the carriage bolts to spin.
If you run into a spinner that is loose, grab onto the bolt with a pair of vise grips, to hold while tightening.

The big, rubber bushing's nuts are very tight, I have never found one loose.

OK my bad ..... I go out an look again.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #14 – August 21, 2018, 08:28:54 pm

OK new update ....... seems I was in the right area just the wrong spot.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #15 – August 21, 2018, 10:06:17 pm

Thanks again.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #16 – August 22, 2018, 01:30:28 pm

I could SWEAR my 1989 manual notes this as a maintenance item.

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #17 – August 22, 2018, 02:15:27 pm

Quote from: Jeff Newman - August 22, 2018, 01:30:28 pm

I could SWEAR my 1989 manual notes this as a maintenance item.

Our 1983 LD Owner's manual did have tightening the frame bolts listed as a periodic maintenance item.
This recommendation disappeared before our 2003's LD manual was written.
None the less, it needs to be done at least once or twice in the first 30-40,000 miles. The carriage bolts pass through the wood floor, slowly compressing the wood. Eventually, the wood stops compressing and the bolts stay tight.
I still check the bolt's' tightness every couple of years.

Larry

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #18 – August 22, 2018, 03:54:57 pm

I somehow missed the photos of the bushings and the subsequent corrections to photos of the frame bolts; since I'm just about to crawl under to change the oil and filter, I was going to take the phone at the same time and "shoot" frame bolts. Glad I looked at the thread again; now I just have to do the oil and filer change! The less scooting around the rig that I have to do, the better!

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #19 – August 22, 2018, 03:57:31 pm

Quote from: JCT - August 22, 2018, 03:54:57 pm

I somehow missed the photos of the bushings and the subsequent corrections to photos of the frame bolts; since I'm just about to crawl under to change the oil and filter, I was going to take the phone at the same time and "shoot" frame bolts. Glad I looked at the thread again; now I just have to do the oil and filer change! The less scooting around the rig that I have to do, the better!

Your frame bolts are tightened just fine, now change the oil and get on the road to Ladeze!

Larry

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #20 – August 22, 2018, 04:08:21 pm

"Your frame bolts are tightened just fine, now change the oil and get on the road to Ladeze!"
----
On it, boss!

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #21 – August 22, 2018, 11:33:36 pm

For what it's worth...while underneath you may also want to check the generator enclosure mounting nuts (the ones that bolt the enclosure to the subfloor) they are 9/16" also. I found that 5 of them were loosened, so I snugged 'em up just like the others!

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #22 – August 23, 2018, 12:57:10 am

Also check the holding tank mounts and the folding step bolts. Steps bolts loosen quickly, they have a lot of stress on them.
Twin/King holding tanks often loosen, look at the entire mounts .

If you tow, check the bumper and hitch bolts regularly. If a heavy toad, consider upgrading the hardware, it can and has failed.

Larry

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #23 – August 23, 2018, 02:03:34 pm

Larry - does LD publish a tow limit for the factory hitch? I have seen a few pictures and it just does not look ideal for towing a vehicle. Then again I am not sure what thickness the bumper is that it is bolted to.

I am sure someone has upgraded to a full hitch assembly that bolts or is welded directly to the frame. Anyone have any pics or info?

Re: Frame bolts, does anyone have a picture of them?

Reply #24 – August 23, 2018, 02:22:25 pm

Others can give you more detail but it is rated for 4,000 pounds.

Jim

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