This Problem Across All Years
SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A 2005 WILDCAT 28RK FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. IN JULY, 2006, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES OF SERVICE, I NOTICED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I CALLED THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, AL-KO KOBER, STATED THAT I HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND THEY WERE VERY RESPONSIVE, TO MY SURPRISE, AND IMMEDIATELY SHIPPED A NEW AXLE TO MY DEALER, AND THEY INSTALLED. OVER THE NEXT YEAR, I PUT AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES ON THE TRAILER, AND AGAIN, NOTICED THE SAME EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AT THE SAME LOCATION. I TOOK THE TRAILER TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS TOE IN, AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY TOE OUT. I FAXED THE ALIGNMENT REPORT TO MY DEALER, WHO THEN FAXED THE REPORT TO AL-KO. AL-KO OFFERED TO SHIP ME TWO NEW AXLES, WHICH I MUST PAY TO HAVE INSTALLED, ($300.00), AND SHIP THE OLD AXLES BACK TO THEM FOR EVALUATION. I REQUESTED AL-KO PAY TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE, BUT THEY ONLY AGREED TO AXLE REPLACEMENT. NOW, THE INTERESTING PART... AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALER, AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE LASAR ALIGNMENT MACHINE THAT DISCOVERED MY ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, IT WAS STATED THAT TRAVEL TRAILERS, IN GENERAL, GO OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT WHEEL BALANCING, OR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THIS PRACTICE IS UNSAFE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MISALIGNMENT CAUSES RAPID, EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, CAUSING, IN TURN, TIRE FAILURES WHICH CAN LEAD TO A CRASH. I OFFER AS A SOLUTION: REQUIRE THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER TO PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND PROVIDE THE END USER, THE CONSUMER, WITH A BEFORE AND AFTER CERTIFIED, ALIGNMENT REPORT. I WILL FAX YOU MY ALIGNMENT REPORT, UPON REQUEST. *TR
SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A 2005 WILDCAT 28RK FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. IN JULY, 2006, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES OF SERVICE, I NOTICED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I CALLED THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, AL-KO KOBER, STATED THAT I HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND THEY WERE VERY RESPONSIVE, TO MY SURPRISE, AND IMMEDIATELY SHIPPED A NEW AXLE TO MY DEALER, AND THEY INSTALLED. OVER THE NEXT YEAR, I PUT AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES ON THE TRAILER, AND AGAIN, NOTICED THE SAME EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AT THE SAME LOCATION. I TOOK THE TRAILER TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS TOE IN, AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY TOE OUT. I FAXED THE ALIGNMENT REPORT TO MY DEALER, WHO THEN FAXED THE REPORT TO AL-KO. AL-KO OFFERED TO SHIP ME TWO NEW AXLES, WHICH I MUST PAY TO HAVE INSTALLED, ($300.00), AND SHIP THE OLD AXLES BACK TO THEM FOR EVALUATION. I REQUESTED AL-KO PAY TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE, BUT THEY ONLY AGREED TO AXLE REPLACEMENT. NOW, THE INTERESTING PART... AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALER, AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE LASAR ALIGNMENT MACHINE THAT DISCOVERED MY ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, IT WAS STATED THAT TRAVEL TRAILERS, IN GENERAL, GO OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT WHEEL BALANCING, OR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THIS PRACTICE IS UNSAFE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MISALIGNMENT CAUSES RAPID, EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, CAUSING, IN TURN, TIRE FAILURES WHICH CAN LEAD TO A CRASH. I OFFER AS A SOLUTION: REQUIRE THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER TO PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND PROVIDE THE END USER, THE CONSUMER, WITH A BEFORE AND AFTER CERTIFIED, ALIGNMENT REPORT. I WILL FAX YOU MY ALIGNMENT REPORT, UPON REQUEST. *TR
HAD OPERATED SURVEYOR TRAVEL TRAILER, BY FOREST RIVER, FOR TWO YEARS, ACCUMULATING ABOUT 10,000 MILES OF SERVICE. ON TRIP THIS SUMMER WE NOTICED ON 6/24/06, ONE TIRE WAS WORN DOWN ON INSIDE SURFACE, TO THE POINT WHERE THE STEEL CABLE WAS VISIBLE (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). REPLACED TIRE. FURTHER ON THE TRIP ON 7/2/06 WE NOTED THAT ANOTHER TIRE WAS WORN SMOOTH ON THE INSIDE 2 TO 3 INCHES. REPLACED TIRE. ON 7/8/06 WE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE INSTALLED ON 6/24/06 WAS ALREADY WEARING SMOOTH ON THE INSIDE AFTER TRAVELING ONLY 1,400 MILES. REPLACE THIS TIRE. LUCKILY WE OBSERVED THE WORN TIRES BEFORE THE TIRE FAILED, SO WE NARROWLY AVOIDED A BLOWOUT. I COMPLAINED TO THE TRAVEL TRAILER DEALER WHO SOLD THE TRAILER (WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS. NO RESPONSE. I CONTRACTED AL-KO AND THEY OFFERED TO SHIP REPLACEMENT AXLES, HAVE THEM RETURNED FOR INSPECTION AND HAVE THE NEW AXLES INSTALLED. I GOT A VERBAL REPORT THAT THREE OF THE SPINDLES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, BUT ONLY TWO HAD PRODUCED UNEVEN WEAR. AL-KO CLAIMED THAT THE ARM HOLDING THE SPINDLE SHAFT WAS BENT. I REQUEST A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFLECTION BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. THE AL_KO REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE WHEEL MUST OF HIT A STUMP OR CURB. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ALL THE MILES ON THE TRAILER AND DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANY SUCH OBJECTS. NOTE THAT AT THE TIME OF SALE I OBSERVED MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT WHEELS AND THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL WHEN TRAILER TAKES A TURN. *JB
HAD OPERATED SURVEYOR TRAVEL TRAILER, BY FOREST RIVER, FOR TWO YEARS, ACCUMULATING ABOUT 10,000 MILES OF SERVICE. ON TRIP THIS SUMMER WE NOTICED ON 6/24/06, ONE TIRE WAS WORN DOWN ON INSIDE SURFACE, TO THE POINT WHERE THE STEEL CABLE WAS VISIBLE (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). REPLACED TIRE. FURTHER ON THE TRIP ON 7/2/06 WE NOTED THAT ANOTHER TIRE WAS WORN SMOOTH ON THE INSIDE 2 TO 3 INCHES. REPLACED TIRE. ON 7/8/06 WE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE INSTALLED ON 6/24/06 WAS ALREADY WEARING SMOOTH ON THE INSIDE AFTER TRAVELING ONLY 1,400 MILES. REPLACE THIS TIRE. LUCKILY WE OBSERVED THE WORN TIRES BEFORE THE TIRE FAILED, SO WE NARROWLY AVOIDED A BLOWOUT. I COMPLAINED TO THE TRAVEL TRAILER DEALER WHO SOLD THE TRAILER (WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS. NO RESPONSE. I CONTRACTED AL-KO AND THEY OFFERED TO SHIP REPLACEMENT AXLES, HAVE THEM RETURNED FOR INSPECTION AND HAVE THE NEW AXLES INSTALLED. I GOT A VERBAL REPORT THAT THREE OF THE SPINDLES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, BUT ONLY TWO HAD PRODUCED UNEVEN WEAR. AL-KO CLAIMED THAT THE ARM HOLDING THE SPINDLE SHAFT WAS BENT. I REQUEST A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFLECTION BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. THE AL_KO REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE WHEEL MUST OF HIT A STUMP OR CURB. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ALL THE MILES ON THE TRAILER AND DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANY SUCH OBJECTS. NOTE THAT AT THE TIME OF SALE I OBSERVED MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT WHEELS AND THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL WHEN TRAILER TAKES A TURN. *JB
THIS FAILURE IS OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER FAILURE, THE REPAIR FACILITY DISCOVERED THE TRAILER AXLES WERE BENT/OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS CONDITION REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE BOTH AXLES. ANECDOTAL INFORMATION: THIS OWNER HAS MET TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TRAILER MAKE AND MANUFACTURER THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES. IN EACH CASE THOSE OWNERS ALSO HAD THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE THE AXLES. *JB
THIS FAILURE IS OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER FAILURE, THE REPAIR FACILITY DISCOVERED THE TRAILER AXLES WERE BENT/OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS CONDITION REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE BOTH AXLES. ANECDOTAL INFORMATION: THIS OWNER HAS MET TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TRAILER MAKE AND MANUFACTURER THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES. IN EACH CASE THOSE OWNERS ALSO HAD THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE THE AXLES. *JB
1. I WAS TOWING A 2005 WILDWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. 2 THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE AXLE SUSPENSION. THE SPRING EQUALIZER THAT LINKS THE TANDEM AXLE LEAF SPRINGS TOGETHER CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRAVEL TRAILER FELL ONTO THE SPINNING TIRES, AND THE TIRES WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE TRAILER. ONCE THE EQUALIZER BROKE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AXLE WAS ONLY HELD ON BY ONE BOLT. IT COULD HAVE MADE THE TRAILER BECOME UNSTABLE, SWERVE AND ROLLOVER; HOWEVER, I WAS TOWING WITH A DUAL REAR WHEEL PICKUP AND THE TRAILER REMAINED BEHIND THE TOW VEHICLE. 3. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO COE ALIGNMENT IN JAMESTOWN, KY. A NEW SPRING EQUALIZER WAS INSTALLED. I STILL HAVE THE OLD EQUALIZER AND CAN SEND YOU PICTURES IF YOU LIKE. IT APPEARS THE EQUALIZER HAD PREVIOUSLY CRACKED AND LOST A SECTION, MAKING IT WEAK. *JB
1. I WAS TOWING A 2005 WILDWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. 2 THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE AXLE SUSPENSION. THE SPRING EQUALIZER THAT LINKS THE TANDEM AXLE LEAF SPRINGS TOGETHER CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRAVEL TRAILER FELL ONTO THE SPINNING TIRES, AND THE TIRES WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE TRAILER. ONCE THE EQUALIZER BROKE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AXLE WAS ONLY HELD ON BY ONE BOLT. IT COULD HAVE MADE THE TRAILER BECOME UNSTABLE, SWERVE AND ROLLOVER; HOWEVER, I WAS TOWING WITH A DUAL REAR WHEEL PICKUP AND THE TRAILER REMAINED BEHIND THE TOW VEHICLE. 3. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO COE ALIGNMENT IN JAMESTOWN, KY. A NEW SPRING EQUALIZER WAS INSTALLED. I STILL HAVE THE OLD EQUALIZER AND CAN SEND YOU PICTURES IF YOU LIKE. IT APPEARS THE EQUALIZER HAD PREVIOUSLY CRACKED AND LOST A SECTION, MAKING IT WEAK. *JB
FROM PURCHASE CREAKING UNDER TRAILER, BELLY PAN FELL OFF ON THE ROAD TWICE, THEN FOUND 5-6 LENGTHWISE CRACKS IN THE FRAME ( WELDED BY LIPPERT'S MANUFACTURER OF THE FRAME) TWICE. TRAILER NOW DOG TRACKS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FROM RUBBING ON FRAME. MOTION CAUSES EVERYTHING TO MOVE DRAWERS FALL OUT EVERY TRIP. COUNTER REPLACED BECAUSE IT CRACKED, PULLS AWAY FROM WALL. MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS. *JB
FROM PURCHASE CREAKING UNDER TRAILER, BELLY PAN FELL OFF ON THE ROAD TWICE, THEN FOUND 5-6 LENGTHWISE CRACKS IN THE FRAME ( WELDED BY LIPPERT'S MANUFACTURER OF THE FRAME) TWICE. TRAILER NOW DOG TRACKS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FROM RUBBING ON FRAME. MOTION CAUSES EVERYTHING TO MOVE DRAWERS FALL OUT EVERY TRIP. COUNTER REPLACED BECAUSE IT CRACKED, PULLS AWAY FROM WALL. MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2005 LEXINGTON MOTORHOME FROM A DEALER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WHICH WAS MANUFACTOURED BY FOREST RIVE, INC. I STARTED A TRIP AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SHORTLY INTO MY TRIP I DISCOVERED THAT APPARENTLY DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT, UNDER THE MOTORHOME SLIDEOUT 4 HOLES ALLOW CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CABIN. AT FIRST THE CARBON MONOXIDE CAME FROM THE GENERATOR EXHAUST BUT LATER WE DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO THE MOTORHOME ALSO PRESENTED A PROBLEM. MEASURMENTS OF OVER 450PPM WHERE REGISTERED ON THE CO2 ALARM. I ENDED UP IN EMERGENCY TWICE AND HAD THREE EXPOSURES AND CONFIRMED POISONINGS OF CARBON MONOXIDE. FOREST RIVER INC. MANUFACTURED THE MOTORHOME AND HAS YET BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR MY CO ALARM, I FEEL I WOULD BE DEAD TODAY. THE FACTORY (OF COURSE) DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR DESIGN. BECAUSE OF THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT, I AM NOT MORALLY ABLE TO SELL THIS MOTORHOME AS IT IS A DEATH TRAP. I FEEL THE FACTORY HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE MANY MODELS THAT USE THIS SLIDEOUT DESIGN IN THEIR MOTORHOME OF THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE DOES DIE OR SUFFERS SERIOUS DAMAGE FROM THIS VERY DANGEROUS POISION. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURE APPARENTLY DID NOT DO THE FORD RECOMMENDED ALIGNMENT OF THE BODY AFTER BUILDING THE MOTORHOME AND THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO GET A FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE SAFETY PROBLEM.
I PURCHASED A 2005 LEXINGTON MOTORHOME FROM A DEALER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WHICH WAS MANUFACTOURED BY FOREST RIVE, INC. I STARTED A TRIP AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SHORTLY INTO MY TRIP I DISCOVERED THAT APPARENTLY DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT, UNDER THE MOTORHOME SLIDEOUT 4 HOLES ALLOW CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CABIN. AT FIRST THE CARBON MONOXIDE CAME FROM THE GENERATOR EXHAUST BUT LATER WE DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO THE MOTORHOME ALSO PRESENTED A PROBLEM. MEASURMENTS OF OVER 450PPM WHERE REGISTERED ON THE CO2 ALARM. I ENDED UP IN EMERGENCY TWICE AND HAD THREE EXPOSURES AND CONFIRMED POISONINGS OF CARBON MONOXIDE. FOREST RIVER INC. MANUFACTURED THE MOTORHOME AND HAS YET BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR MY CO ALARM, I FEEL I WOULD BE DEAD TODAY. THE FACTORY (OF COURSE) DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR DESIGN. BECAUSE OF THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT, I AM NOT MORALLY ABLE TO SELL THIS MOTORHOME AS IT IS A DEATH TRAP. I FEEL THE FACTORY HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE MANY MODELS THAT USE THIS SLIDEOUT DESIGN IN THEIR MOTORHOME OF THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE DOES DIE OR SUFFERS SERIOUS DAMAGE FROM THIS VERY DANGEROUS POISION. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURE APPARENTLY DID NOT DO THE FORD RECOMMENDED ALIGNMENT OF THE BODY AFTER BUILDING THE MOTORHOME AND THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO GET A FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE SAFETY PROBLEM.