GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 920014
Product:

Axle Hangers and Main Rails

Flat Rate:

V-brace: 3.0 hrs

Flat Rate:

Date:
Angle: 0.5 hrs/ea.

07/16/2025
Flat Rate:

Tube: 1.5 hrs/side

Purpose
The first section of this document outlines the process of adding bracing material to spring axle hangers.
The second section covers repairing a crack in the main rails of the frame, identified through a visual
inspection.
NOTE: Images used in this document are for reference only when assembling, installing and/or operating
this product. Actual appearance of provided and/or purchased parts and assemblies may differ.
NOTE: Red lines with black borders indicate where welding is to occur.

Safety
The trailer MUST be supported per manufacturer's recommendations before working underneath.
Failure to do so may result in death, serious personal injury, severe product and/or property damage.
Always lift the trailer by its frame and never by its axle or suspension. Axle and suspension
components are not designed, or rated, for the dead weight, point-of-contact loads that the trailer's
frame is. Do not go under the trailer unless it is supported by appropriately rated jack stands.
Improperly supported trailers can collapse, causing possible serious personal injury or death.
Moving parts can pinch, cut or crush. Keep clear and use caution.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing service or maintenance
operations. Always wear eye protection when servicing trailer axles, brakes, hubs, springs and
wheels. Not using PPE may result in personal injury.

Welding generates excessive heat, hot sparks and blinding light. Use appropriate personal protective
equipment for welding.
Read and understand all instructions before installing or operating this product. Adhere to all safety labels.

Rev. 07.16.2025

Page 1

CCD-0009319

GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 920012
Product:

Axle Hangers and Main Rails

Flat Rate:

V-brace: 3.0 hrs

Flat Rate:

Date:
Angle: 0.5 hrs/ea.

07/16/2025
Flat Rate:

Tube: 1.5 hrs/side

Section One - Welding a Reinforcing Angle (Mandatory On All Units)
Resources Required
•
•
•
•
•

1 - 2 persons, depending on task
Floor jacks
Jack stands
Pneumatic or electric air or impact gun
Reinforcing Angle (V-Brace PN# 103727)

•
•
•
•

Assorted deep well sockets
Torque wrench (ft-lb)
Welder
Gloss black spray paint

Be sure to disconnect any and all power sources providing electricity to the trailer. A welding unit
can send a damaging charge along the frame to any power source grounded on the frame, including
house batteries, tow vehicle batteries, and solar charging panels. Failure to heed this warning
could result in death, permanent or partial damage to the power source(s) causing unit or property
damage, or personal injury.

Procedure
Preparation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Using floor jacks (Fig. 1A), lift the frame slightly and place properly-rated jack stands under the
frame (Fig. 1B).
Remove floor jacks (Fig. 1A). Trailer frame and axles will be supported by jack stands only.
Remove tires and wheels — curbside and roadside — from the axles.
Move and protect any attachments close to the spring hangers that may impede installation of the
V-braces.
Locate the front (Fig. 2A), center (Fig. 2B) and rear (Fig. 2C) axle hangers on the trailer frame rail.

NOTE: V-braces can be installed without the removal of the leaf springs and Road Armor equalizer.
Fig. 1

A

Rev. 07.16.2025

B

B

Page 2

A

CCD-0009319

GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 920012
Product:

Axle Hangers and Main Rails

Flat Rate:

V-brace: 3.0 hrs

Date:

Flat Rate:

Angle: 0.5 hrs/ea.

07/16/2025
Flat Rate:

Tube: 1.5 hrs/side

Fig. 2

B

A

C

Install V-Braces
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

Prep the weld surface area, making sure to remove all contaminants and debris prior to welding.
Insert the V-brace into the hanger (Figs. 3 and 4) so the V-brace spans the width of the hanger.
Four welds of approximately 1", shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are required to secure the V-brace to
the hanger. The side welds are diagonally opposite each other.
A. On the front side of the V-brace, weld the top and right sides (Weld #1 and Weld #2, Fig. 3).
B. On the back side of the V-brace, weld the left and bottom sides (Weld #3 and Weld #4, Fig. 4).
After all new weld locations have cooled, clean weld areas then cover with black gloss Rust-Oleum® or
similar paint product.
Continue to weld V-braces in place for the front, center and rear hangers.
Repeat procedure on the opposite side of the trailer frame.
Fig. 4

Fig. 3

Bottom View (Looking Up)
Weld #1
V-brace

Weld #1

Front
of Trailer

Weld #2

Weld #2

Weld #3

Hanger

Rev. 07.16.2025

Front
of Trailer

Weld #4

Page 3

CCD-0009319

GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 920012
Product:

Axle Hangers and Main Rails

Flat Rate:

V-brace: 3.0 hrs

Flat Rate:

Date:
Angle: 0.5 hrs/ea.

07/16/2025
Flat Rate:

Tube: 1.5 hrs/side

NOTE: Before this section is completed, be sure to inspect both the door side as well as the off-door side
main rails for cracks in the axle areas. If no cracks are found, please move forward to the "After
V-braces Installed" procedure. If a crack is found, move to "Section Two - Two Options For
Welding A Reinforcing Support."

After V-Braces Installed
1.
2.
3.
4.

Reinstall any previously-removed or relocated items that were moved to permit the installation.
Reinstall wheels according to the OEM specifications.
Using floor jacks, support the frame while removing all jack stands.
Lower the trailer to the ground and torque all wheel lug nuts to the manufacturer's specification.

Section Two - Two Procedures For Welding A Reinforcing Support (If Needed)
If cracks are found in the axle area of the frames main rails, apply one (1) of the procedures below:
1. Procedure A: This is the preferred method and is used for a crack(s) extending more than 2 inches
above the bottom flange of the main rail. Please contact Lippert for PN - 106124.
2. Procedure B: This alternative procedure can be performed if the crack(s) are within 2 inches of the
bottom flange of the frame rail and there are no obstructions such as outriggers or support angles
above the spring hangers. Parts can be sourced locally as well as contacting Lippert. The tube
dimensions and the Lippert part number are found in the Resources Required section below.

Resources Required
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Floor jack
Jack stands
Personal protective equipment
Fire extinguisher
Welder
Grinder
Black spray paint
Tape measure

• Procedure A - *Crack reinforcement angle
1.5" x 4" x 12.25" 10 ga. (PN-106124)
• Procedure B - *Steel tube
1" x 2" x 94" 7 ga. (PN-2024114232 )
*Can be obtained locally

Section Two - Procedure A - Reinforcement Angle (Preferred)
NOTE: Use this procedure if cracks extend over 2 inches above the I-beam’s bottom flange and there are
obstructions along the flange.

Preparation
1.

The trailer should still be supported per the manufacturer's recommendations from the reinforcement
procedure, Section One.

NOTE: Remove underbelly fasteners along the repair area to inspect for any items inside of the underbelly
that may be touching the weld area and to prepare for safety monitoring during the welding
process. Insulate or shield any relocated underbelly features from excessive heat or sparks
generated during the welding operation.
Rev. 07.16.2025

Page 4

CCD-0009319

GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 920012
Product:

Axle Hangers and Main Rails

Flat Rate:

V-brace: 3.0 hrs

Date:

Flat Rate:

07/16/2025

Angle: 0.5 hrs/ea.

Flat Rate:

Tube: 1.5 hrs/side

Repairing the Crack
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Grind the crack out, small “V” groove on the exterior of the I-beam and clean the area for proper weld
penetration.
Fill in the crack by adding a weld on the exterior of the I-beam. Once cooled grind weld smooth.
Secure the reinforcement angle by completely welding the ends of the angle (Fig. 5A) and stitch weld
2” along the top and bottom edges of the angle (Fig. 5B). Plug weld slots (Fig. 5C).
After all new weld locations have cooled, clean weld areas then cover with black gloss Rust-Oleum® or
similar paint product.
Reinstall any previously-removed or relocated items that were moved to permit the installation.
Reinstall wheels according to the OEM specifications.
Using floor jacks, support the frame while removing all jack stands.
Lower the trailer to the ground and torque all wheel lug nuts to the manufacturer's specification.
Fig. 5

I-Beam
Web

I-Beam
Top Flange

B

A

B

I-Beam
Bottom
Flange

B
B

B

C

B

A
Reinforcement Angle

B
B

Rev. 07.16.2025

Page 5

CCD-0009319

GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 920012
Product:

Axle Hangers and Main Rails

Flat Rate:

V-brace: 3.0 hrs

Flat Rate:

Date:
Angle: 0.5 hrs/ea.

07/16/2025
Flat Rate:

Tube: 1.5 hrs/side

Step Two - Procedure B - Steel Tube (Alternative)
NOTE: This procedure is applicable if the cracks extend no more than two inches above the bottom flange
of the I-beam and there are no obstructions.

Preparation
1.

The trailer should still be supported per the manufacturer's recommendations from the reinforcement
procedure, Section One.

NOTE: Remove underbelly fasteners along the repair area to inspect for any items inside of the underbelly
that may be touching the weld area and to prepare for safety monitoring during the welding
process. Insulate or shield any relocated underbelly features from excessive heat or sparks
generated during the welding operation.

Repairing the Crack
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Grind the crack out, small “V” groove on the exterior of the I-beam and clean the area for proper weld
penetration.
Fill in the crack by adding a weld on the exterior of the I-beam. Once cooled grind the weld smooth.
Secure the reinforcement tube by completely welding around the ends of the tube and stitch weld 2”
every 12” along the top edge and bottom edge of the tube (Fig. 6).
After all new weld locations have cooled, clean weld areas then cover with black gloss Rust-Oleum® or
similar paint product.
Reinstall any previously-removed or relocated items that were moved to permit the installation.
Reinstall wheels according to the OEM specifications.
Using floor jacks, support the frame while removing all jack stands.
Lower the trailer to the ground and torque all wheel lug nuts to the manufacturer's specification.
Fig. 6
I-Beam Web

Bottom Flange
of I-Beam

Stitch Welds

Top Flange
of I-Beam

1" x 2" x 94"
Steel Tube

End Welds
As a supplier of a broad array of highly-engineered components in the recreation and transportation product markets, safety, education and customer satisfaction are
our primary concerns. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 432-LIPPERT (432-547-7378) or by email at [email protected].
Self-help tips, technical documents, product videos and a training class schedule are available at lippert.com or by downloading the LippertNOW app.
Rev. 07.16.2025

Page 6

CCD-0009319