2008 DUTCHMEN DENALI Complaints

AFTER PARKING THE TRAILER, I OBSERVED THE REAR AXLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE U BOLTS SECURING THE AXLES TO THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE LOOSE. ONE NUT WAS COMPLETELY MISSING. WE HAD JUST TRAVELED 400+ MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WAS MERE LUCK THAT THE AXLES DID NOT FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. I SAW NO SIGN OF THREAD LOCKING COMPOUND ON ANY OF THE COMPONENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DUTCHMEN DENALI TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE U BOLTS ON THE REAR AXLE, LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE CAMPER, BECAME LOOSE. THE AXLE TWISTED SIDEWAYS, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT GOT UNDERNEATH THE CAMPER AND NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE U BOLTS WERE LOOSE. IF THE BOLTS HAD BROKEN OFF, A LOT MORE DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. HE MANAGED TO TIGHTEN ALL OF THE U BOLTS AND DID NOT NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT PLACING THE BOLTS ON CORRECTLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 400. UPDATED 5/26/09 *CN THE U-BOLTS ON BOTH AXLES WERE N EVER TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE REAR AXLE AND LEAF SPRINGS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TIGHTENING OF THE U-BOLTS ON THE FRONT AXLE. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB