I just noticed the same exact problem with my ’05 619. I peeled away the road armor, bent the stand back in place, and re-welded it just for safety in getting back home yesterday.

I think the road armor starts to crack after the welds start to break and then water gets in and rusts out the welds/cracks. In other words, I think the welds crack and then it rusts out, not the other way around. The uprights and base plate don’t rust because they look to be painted with normal paint prior to being welded. Then the whole thing is covered with road armor.

I was really surprised at how these support uprights were welded. There was just one bead down the outside of each and they stopped about an 1/8″ from the ends. The ends are going to see the highest stress and stopping short like that seems like it is going to concentrate that stress even more. Add that to the fact they only welded on one side of each upright and you are asking for trouble on a weldment that sees that much of a load.

Oh well, I guess I will order a replacement and hope it holds up better.