On May 16, 5:23*pm, Steve Koerner wrote:
It looks like YO and I were both commenting at the same time to the
effect that it is more likely a tension failure. *However I don't
agree that the gas spring force has much to do with it. *The gas
spring force is small compared to the strength of two 5/16 cap
screws. *I suspect it has more to do with the inertia of the lid in
longitude with some combination of vibration and road bumping creating
the load. *Heaven knows my trailer has seen some bumpy roads.

GW

Examination of the failed bolt should tell you whether it was tensile
with necking or shear with a fairly clean break.
But, main concern I would have is having a failure while rolling down
the road and doesnt sound like something one could fix by themselves
even with a spare bolt on hand. Maybe the solution is to pre-
emptively replace these bolts anyways at say 10 years?