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Showing results for tags 'stress'.
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I picked up my 2014 Silverado 1500 with the 11,200 lbs max tow package. I must say I am very impressed with the thoughtfulness of this new design. I bought this truck to pull my 10,000lbs 5th wheel. I use a PullRite Super Glide 16k removable bed hitch. It tows the rig beautifully! I put in a set of Timbrens on the rear bump stops because I was about an inch too low on the rears. Other than some up-bounce that I think is inherent in all 5th will set ups, all other aspects work great! So here is the mystery. Since delivery of my truck in May 2014, I have noticed an ever increasing amount of dents and crinkles in the upper part of the driver side outer bed fender an inch or so below the rail cap. First one showed up, then two and now I have 10 dents and crinkles almost in a straight line along the top of the fender from front to rear. I brought it to the dealer's auto body guy as well as my own. Both concur that these dents are not from an outside force such as being hit with a ball or Frisbee. It is certainly not a shopping cart (too high on the fender). I admit I am at or very close to the payload and tow limits of the truck, But I am in no way over them. The way the 5th wheel hitch is mounted completely on the frame has it not touching the bed at all. The dealer thinks the hitch is mounted wrong or some other owner misuse is the culprit. But that is just silly. I had the hitch professionally installed. Besides, an improperly installed 5th wheel hitch would cause many more noticeable and dangerous issues than crinkling on the fender. The bed has never even been touched by the 5th wheel over hang. So it is not that. Could it be from towing? I have only towed the unit twice so far. Next week I go on a 2,500 mile trip. I guess we will see if the trailer is causing stress on the fender panel. Anyway, has anyone else experienced this? The 2014 Silverado 1500 is on the new design. While the frame is still the 2007 generation, the body has been almost completely redesigned. Maybe the engineers missed a stress calculation? Or, is the metal so fragile that even if I lean on it to reach over the bed rail, it will dent? This issue is more readily and clearly seen by eye. It is difficult to capture in a picture because of the Granite Blue Metallic color and the clean shine I have on it. But believe me, when I look into my driver side mirror, I can see the dents and ripples all along the top of the fender like it was cellulite! Any help demystifying this would be greatly appreciated. Like most Americans that love their truck, I have taken impeccable mechanical and aesthetic care. Whatever this is, it is not coming from the usual causalities of dents and crinkles in body metal.
