While driving down the road at highway speeds (65-68 M.P.H.) the "under belly" of the 2020 Cedar Creek 5th wheel trailer became dislodged and fell onto the freeway. Large sections of plastic (Estimating 36" X 48") as well as insulation was thrown onto the highway. After further inspection one could see the brackets holding the wooden cross member beams into place were only fastened with one sheet metal screw. The brackets were designed to have two sheet metal screws holding the bracket to the frame of the trailer. It was also noted wooden cross member beams were never fastened to the brackets. (There are no screw holes present indicating the beams were ever secured to the brackets.) The underbelly would have been secured to the cross member beams which may have been the cause of the failure resulting in the plastic and debris to be dislodged and falling onto the freeway.
- NHTSA ID
- 11504940
- Incident
- Jan 23, 2023