Frabill Ambush Thermal Problem

[loadmaster]

Bought new one month ago. Assembled per instructions. Used two times. On the second trip, fishing partner told me I better tighten the bolt on the center u-frame. Got the house up and fished. House folded up ok. The next day set up house and when I went to extend the center u-frame poles I noticed that the other end was lose. Upon further looking I noticed that both attaching bolts had sheared at the head allowing the bolt to pull thru. Called Frabill and they are sending a new set of bolts. Showed the bolts to s local machine shop and they said the heads were to thin and made out of cast. Anybody else having this problem? Frabill had me take a few pics of the bolts and send them a copy.>>>later the load

[PurpleFloyd]

Bought new one month ago. Assembled per instructions. Used two times. On the second trip, fishing partner told me I better tighten the bolt on the center u-frame. Got the house up and fished. House folded up ok. The next day set up house and when I went to extend the center u-frame poles I noticed that the other end was lose. Upon further looking I noticed that both attaching bolts had sheared at the head allowing the bolt to pull thru. Called Frabill and they are sending a new set of bolts. Showed the bolts to s local machine shop and they said the heads were to thin and made out of cast. Anybody else having this problem? Frabill had me take a few pics of the bolts and send them a copy.>>>later the load

A friend bought the same shelter and had the same thing happen the first time out on the lake. Other than that I am impressed with the thermal fabric and how warm it is and the side door design is a really nice improvement.

[loadmaster]

Did your friend call Frabill?/ Hope so, rep told me he had not heard of any problems like this happening I would have your friend call frabill Maybe some type of fix they can up with. Sure there more of this happening. Ya I really like the house. The only draw back is that it cannot be turned into a wind break>>>>later the load

[aczr2k]

Nothing more than just cheap china bolts. Pretty much the normal these days. I'd go to the hardware store and replace all of them.

[Lusid]

I would 2nd the comment to go to the hardware store and buy some higher class bolts. I think tempered versions are stronger.

Goodluck!

[PurpleFloyd]

Did your friend call Frabill?/ Hope so, rep told me he had not heard of any problems like this happening I would have your friend call frabill Maybe some type of fix they can up with. Sure there more of this happening. Ya I really like the house. The only draw back is that it cannot be turned into a wind break>>>>later the load

They had extra bolts in the package from what I think he said to fix it right away but yeah, probably better to get good bolts right out of the gate from the HDWE store.

One thing to keep in mind- The first time out with it he was fishing outside and I was sitting inside fishing when the wind came up and shifted the house because it wasn't tied down. The wind lifted up one corner of the house and I heard a PLOOP. looked around and the house had flexed in the wind and popped one of the roof poles off, it turned 90 degrees and dropped straight through one of the holes like a greg louganis dive straight to the bottom of the lake. I suspect that is from having 2 poles in the front section and only one in the back section over the sled which allows it to flex. After having that happen I would suggest getting a second pole for the second section to add more rigidity and eliminate that flex point. Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't but it sucks to have a pole on the bottom of the lake.