2004 DUTCHMEN TRAILER Tires Problems

TIRE FAILURE ON 2004 DUTCHMEN CLASSIC 29 FT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER PURCHASED NEW IN FEB 2005. FIRST FAILURE MAY 25,2007 SECOND FAILURE SEPT 15,2007 WITH RESULTS OF DAMAGE TO SKIRT OVER TIRES. CALLED YOUNGBLOODS RV CENTER IN PADUCAH, KY WHERE WE BOUGHT THE 5TH WHEEL AND THEY SAID TO CALL DUTCHMEN, THE MANUFACTURER. DUTCHMEN SAID TO CALL CARLISLE TIRES AND RIMS. THE TIRE SIZE IS ST 225 75R 15 RADIAL TRAIL. CARLISLE SAID TWO YEARS WARRANTY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES HAD 1100 MILES ON THEM . WE FEEL THE TIRES ARE SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND TWO BLOW OUTS OUT OF THREE OUTINGS IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH. AND NO ONE SEEM TO CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE OR DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEY MORE OR LESS SAID YOUR PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING HOME TOWING A 2004 FOUR WINDS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER ON I-95 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ,CARLISLE RADIAL TRAIL, ST225/75R15, BLEW OUT ON TREAD AREA. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON TRAILER, CARLISLE TIRES HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BLOWING OUT, AND I THOUGHT POSSIBLY THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ,BUT I COULD NOT LOCATE ONE ON THE WEB. LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON TIRES. BLOW OUT/ MESSED UP SKIRTING ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. *AK

ON AUG 19, 2003 HAD TO REPLACE TIRE ABD BRAKE ON ALKO AXLE. OCT 15, 2003 REPLACE TWO TIRES AND BRAKES MUCH DAMAGE TO TRAILER THAT WINTER ALKO PAID TO HAVE IN ALIGNED 1 1/4 OUT OF LINE BUT DID NOT REPLACE AXLE! 2005 AUGUST BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN AND NOW NEEDED A COMPLETE $500 BRAKE REPLACEMENT OF ALL SHOES WITH AROUND 12,000 ON TRAILER. DUTCHMEN SAID NEVER HAD THIS FIND OF PROBLEM! *TR

Mileage: 900

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR TIRE BLOWOUTS ON MY 2004 5TH WHEEL RV. THE FIRST TIRE THAT BLEW I JUST TOOK IT AS POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARD. THIS YEAR ENROUTE TO NEW YORK ON VACATION, I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE RV. I REPLACED IT WITH A SPARE. ON THE WAY BACK HOME I HAD ONE REAR TIRE ON DRIVER SIDE OF RV BLOW OUT AND THE OTHER REAR TIRE ON PASSENGER SIDE LOSE ALL THE TREAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TIRE. I STARTED CHECKING INTO THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND TWO PROBLEMS. I HAVE AL KO AXLES, WHICH I FOUND ARE A POSSIBLE DEFECT. I CONTACTED AL KO REF. THE PROBLEM AND THEY SENT TWO NEW AXLES, BUT WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM THEY STATED THEY HAD NO RECALL AS THEY COULD NOT SAY IF THE AXLES WERE A PROBLEM OR IF THERE WERE SOME OTHER PROBLEM. THE TRAILER REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE AXLES TAKEN OFF WERE FLAT, COMPARED TO THE NEW AXLES THAT HAVE A SLIGHT BOW TO THEM. I UNDERSTAND HAVING THE BOW IS THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE. THE OTHER PROBLEM WHICH I FIND OCCURR QUITE FREQUENTLY IS CARLISLE TIRES BLOWING OUT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR CARLISLE TIRES BLOWING OUT. THEY EACH HAD PROPER AIR IN THEM 80 PSI, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER WAS UNDER THE WEIGHT. THE TIRES WERE SENT BACK TO CARLISLE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. I DID FINALLY GET THEM TO SEND ME A CHECK FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES, BUT AGAIN NO REPAIR OF THE DAMAGES. DUTCHMAN COMPLETELY HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 AEROLITE CUB 236 TRAVEL TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY DUTCHMEN. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING ON THE INSIDE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED MANY OTHERS (VARIOUS BRANDS OF MFG'S.) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AXLES : AL-KO KOBER CORP. 21611 PROTECTA DR. P.O. BOX 1367 (46515) ELKHART, IN 46516 (574) 294-6651 IS AWARE OF A MANUFACTURING WELDING DEFECT IN THE YEARS OF 2003-2004 ON THEIR RUBBER TORSION AXLES. MANY HAVE STATED AL-KO HAS REPLACED THEIR AXLES DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THE DUTCHMEN WARRANTY IS UP ON THE TRAVEL TRAILER BUT AL-KO HAS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THEIR AXLES. I CONTACTED AL-KO AND THEY SENT ME 2 REPLACEMENT AXLES UNDER WARRANTY. I AM TO REPLACE THE AXLES AND TIRES AT MY EXPENSE. AL-KO MIGHT HONOR TIRE AND LABOR REIMBURSEMENT IF I SHIP THE OLD AXLES AND TIRES BACK TO AL-KO AT MY EXPENSE FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE CASE WHETHER I DO THE WORK OR I HAVE A DEALER PERFORM THE WORK. THE AL-KO PACKING SLIP THAT CAME WITH THE TWO AXLES STATES THIS IS A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT AND TO BILL THE AXLES TO AERO COACH IN INDIANA. I HAVE CONTACTED DUTCHMEN MFG. AND THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF SUCH A THING AS THEM BEING BILLED FOR A WARRANTY ITEM. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ON THEIR END. IN THE MEAN TIME THERE ARE MANY TRAILERS OUT THERE BLOWING TIRES DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE AXLES. WHEN I ASKED WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL I GOT NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN "WHERE DO YOU WANT THE AXLES SHIPPED TO?" I HAVE TWO NEW AXLES AND 5 WORN TIRES THAT I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM RATHER IT IS THE AXLE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE IS NO LISTING FOR AL-KO KOBER SO I HAD TO FILE THIS UNDER DUTCHMEN. *JB

I OWN A 2004 DUTCHMAN 5TH WHEEL RV. THE TIRES ON IT ARE CARLISLE BRAND. SINCE ITS PURCHASE 2 YEARS AGO, I HAVE HAD 2 BLOWOUTS AND CARLISLE/DUTCHMAN REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND SPARE SAYING TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS PLEASED AND WENT ON. MY TRAILER IS LARGE, ALMOST 11000 LBS DRY. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT STRANGE TO HAVE D LOAD RANGE TIRES SINCE MY DODGE DIESEL HAS E LOAD RANGE TIRES. ON JUNE 15TH 2006 I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN A TIRE BLEW A LARGE HOLE IN IT. I DROPPED THE SPARE AND MOUNTED IT. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED THE SPARE CARLISLE HAD GIVEN ME WAS AN E RATED TIRE. I NOTICED IT DID NOT SAG UNDER LOAD SAME AS OTHER 3 TIRES. WHEN I GOT HOME, I BOUGHT A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. I WAS TOLD THAT SIZE TIRE WAS STANDARD IN 10 PLY E RATED. ON MY TRAILER, THERE IS A STAMPED PLATE WITH TIRE SPECS THAT SHOW 235/85R16 (E) AT 80 LBS PRESSURE. I CONTACTED MY RV DEALER, HE SAID IT SEEMED STRANGE THAT IT WOULD HAVE D RATED THAT ONLY INFLATE TO 65 LBS. HE CONTACTED MANUFACTURE WHO CONTACTED CARLISLE TIRES. CARLISLE SAYS THEY WERE OUT OF E RATED TIRES AT THAT TIME SO THEY BUILT A D RATED TIRE THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS MORE WEIGHT THAN AN E RATED AND THE TIRES ARE SUITED FOR MY RIG. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE MY TIRES ARE COMING APART AGAIN THOUGH I MAY BE PARANOID AT THIS POINT. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WEARING EVEN. I JUST REPLACED MY TRUCK TIRES AFTER 65000 MILES BECAUSE I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY TIRES. I THINK CARLISLE IS MISREPRESENTING THESE TIRES AND THAT THEY COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THEY ARE HOLDING UP A 11000 LB. VEHICLE. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE USING THE TRAVEL TRAILER, ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, TWO OTHER TIRES BLEW OUT. THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY CARLISLE TIRE AND RUBBER CO, LT RADIAL. THE SERIAL NUMBERS WERE B36CDB80895, B36AAN0360, AND B36CDB0870. *AK (12/05/05) *SC

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRAVEL TRAILER. WHILE USING THE TRAILER, A FAILURE ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OCCURRED. THE FRONT TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT, AND THE TREAD TO SEPARATE. HE REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE UNTIL HE COULD REACH A TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE OTHER TIRES WERE ABOUT TO DO THE SAME THING. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER,THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE TIRES AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE TRAILER IN WHICH WHILE REPLACING THE TIRES, HE FOUND A SOFT COPPER TUBING THAT HAD GONE THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. THIS TUBING CONNECTED THE GAS LINE TO THE WATER HEATER. THERE WAS NO SHIELD OR COVERING FOR THIS TUBING. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER TO INFORM THEM OF THIS CONCERN. *AK (11/29/05) THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT WHEN THE TRAILER WAS BEING TOWED, THE LP GAS HAD TURNED ON. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. *SC

FOR OUR FIRST LONG DISTANT TRIP FROM NC TO TX IN OUR 2004 VICTORY LANE DUTCHMEN 35SRV 5TH WHEEL CAMPER, WE CHECKED ALL TIRES (CARLISLE LT235 85R16) AND PRESSURE BEFORE LEAVING. THIS WAS ON 03/21/2005 WHEN THE FIRST BLOWOUT OCCURRED THAT ENDED UP CAUSING OVER $1800.00 IN DAMAGE AND WE HAD LESS THAN 500 MILES ON ALL THE TIRES. WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH ON I-40. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND BLEW APART. HAD TO PULL OVER 3 LANES ON I-40 TO THE SHOULDER AND CHANGE THE TIRE WHICH WAS CLOSE TO WINSTON-SALEM AT AN EXIT RAMP THAT HAD A BOTTLE NECK OF TRAFFIC AT RUSH HOUR. WE CHANGED THE TIRE AND HAD TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER SPARE TO BUY. ON THE WAY BACK FROM TX TO NC, WE HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT OF CARLISLE TIRE #2 ALMOST IN THE SAME LOCATION. WE STILL HAD UNDER 2000 MILES ON THE TIRES. HAD TO LOOK AND PAY FOR ANOTHER SPARE TIRE. ONLY MADE A COUPLE MORE LOCAL TRIPS AFTER THAT TO THE NEAREST CAMPGROUND UNTIL 10/14/2005. WE MADE A TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH ABOUT 155 MILES AWAY. WE HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 100 MILES GOING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN A BLOWOUT OF CARLISLE TIRE #3. CHANGED TIRE WITH SPARE AND WAS LOOKING TO BUY ANTHER SPARE WHEN ANOTHER BLOWOUT OF CARLISLE #4 HAPPENED ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER. NO SPARE THIS TIME. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND COULD NOT GET OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO MOVE TO. WE GOT LUCKY AND A MAN CAME BUY ON A TRACTOR AND HELPED US GET TO A PLACE TO GET A TIRE. THIS COST US MOST OF THAT VACATION DAY JUST CHANGING AND LOOKING FOR TIRES. AND WE STILL HAD UNDER 3000 MILES ON THE OLDEST TIRES THAT HAD A BLOWOUT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIRE PROBLEMS AND IT HAS CAUSED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO RAISE MY PREMIUMS AND CEDE MY POLICY TO THE NC INSURANCE FACILITY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON OTHER FORUMS, THESE TIRES ARE A VERY POOR QUALITY/DEFECTIVE AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS INJURY. *NM

LEAVING FROM HOME ON JUNE 29, 2005 FOR CAMPING 4 HOURS AWAY. OUR DUTCHMEN 5TH WHEEL IS 2 YEARS OLD AND WE HAVE CAMPED IN IT AROUND OUR AREA 5 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. WE WERE TRAVLING DOWN I-40 WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, DIDN'T THINK IT WAS US SINCE OUR TIRES WERE NEW. I LOOKED IN THE SIDE MIRROR AND SAW INSULATION AND KNEW A TIRE HAD EXPLODED. WE PULLED OVER, MY HUSBAND PUT ON THE SPARE, GOT BACK ON THE ROAD. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER A SECOND TIRE EXPLODED. WE MADE IT TO AN EXIT AND A SUPER CENTER WAL-MART. THE OTHER TIRES AT THAT POINT HAD DEVELOPED AN ORANGE TINT TO THEM. AFTER THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THEM, WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO TRAVEL ANY FURTHER ON THE REMAINING TIRES. AT THAT POINT WE HAD 4 BRAND NEW TIRES PUT ON. THERE HAS BEEN DAMAGE DONE UNDERNEATH OUR CAMPER. OUR CAMPER DEALER HAS FAXED AN ESTIMATE OF DAMAGES TO CARLISLE TIRE & WHEEL. WE ALSO SAVED THE TIRES AND UPS PICKED THEM UP AND DELIVERED THEM BACK TO CARLISLE TIRE & WHEEL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE TIRE COMPANY AND SENT THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTATION. NOW I'M WAITING ON A RESPONSE AND WAS NOT GIVEN A TIME FRAME AS TO WHEN THAT WILL BE.

OF 5 (5) TIRES ON OUR TRAVEL TRAILER, FOUR OF THEM BLEW IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. TWO IN ONE WEEKEND.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT/REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DUNLOP, CARLI, 235/85R16. *AK

2 OF THE 4 TIRES ON OUR 2004 FOUR WINDS (DUTCHMEN) WINNERS CIRCLE 5TH WHEEL RV 35 FOOT UNIT. TIRES WERE MADE BY CARLISLE (RADIAL TRAIL 16" SERIES), AND AFTER RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THESE CERTAIN TIRES (OURS INCLUDED) HAD A HISTORY OF FAILURES. BOTH TIRES FAILED CAUSING BLOWOUTS, 1 TIRE WAS NEARLY DISENGRATED, THE OTHER HAD A SECTION 7X12" MISSING FROM IT. THE OTHER TWO HAD NOT BLOWN OUT, BUT AFTER THEY WERE INSPECTED BY A TIRE DEALER, IT WAS NOTED THEY WOULD HAVE FAILED SHORTLY WAS NOTED THEY FAILED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. CAUSED MASSIVE DAMAGE ($3-5K POSSIBLY MORE) DAMAGE TO TRAILER. DUE TO WEIGHT OF TRAILER (NOT OVERLOADED - WAS BEING HAULED NEARLY EMPTY), FRAME DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURED AS THERE ARE SIGNS OF THE FRAME HAVING TWISTED. FAILURES HAPPENS 315 MILES APARTS, AND THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THEM, ALL PRESSURES WERE NOTED AS GOOD AND IN OPERATING/LOAD RANGE. A 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH 4 LIKE TIRES FROM BF GOODRICH. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES OR DAMAGES TO OTHER CARS FROM DEBRIS OR PARTS FROM TRAILER YET. SPEED OF TRAVEL WAS AROUND 60-65 ON A FLAT LEVEL SURFACE. ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED, THE 2 THAT BLEW OUT WERE THE: FRONT RIGHT, AND REAR LEFT TIRES. *LA

Mileage: 1,750