DUTCHMEN Complaints

IN MY TRAVEL TRAILER I NOTICED DOORS NOT FITTING CORRECTLY AND THE COUNTER TOP BEING OUT OF LEVEL AMONG OTHER THINGS LIKE DOORS. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRAILER AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT/TWISTED. THE BACK OF THE TRAILER HAS NEVER HIT THE GROUND AND IT HAS NEVER HIT A CURB..I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WANT ME TO SEND IT TO INDIANA FROM OREGON AT MY COST FOR THEM TO REPAIR IT, THAT WOULD BE OVER $6000 FOR ME TO PAY TO REPAIR THEIR JUNK...UNACCEPTABLE YOU DID NOT HAVE THE MODEL OF MY TRAILER SO I CHOSE THE CLOSEST ONE, MY MODEL IS AEROLITE 25' MADE BY DUTCHMEN. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2006 GRAND JUNCTION 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER IN APRIL 2006 WITH POWER KING ST235.80.R.16E TOW TIRES MANUFACTURED IN 2005. TRAVELING FROM BATON ROUGE, LA, I WAS ALERTED THAT I WAS RUNNING ON A FLAT (RR). I STOPPED AND CALLED ROAD SERVICE TO SWAP THE SPARE TO GROUND. AFTER CAMPING IN WEST MEMPHIS THAT NIGHT, WE PROCEEDED TO NASHVILLE, AFTER 20 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. ROAD SERVICE WAS CALLED TO BRING 2 NEW TIRES, ONE TO REPLACE THE SPARE AND ON TO REPLACE THE BLOWOUT. REPAIRMAN CHECKED TIRE FOR PROPER AIR PRESSURE. EACH REMAINING TIRE WERE HOLDING 75 PSI. NO FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL APPROACHING DAYTON, OHIO. THE LR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER BODY AND PLUMBING. I PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE SPARE TO GROUND, THEN CONTINUED TO OUR DESTINATION. TWO NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED TO REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE AND THE REMAINING UNBLOWN ORIGINAL. THESE ORIGINAL TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 7000 MILES ON THEM. I REQUIRE FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES AMOUNTING TO $902.00 PLUS NEEDED REPAIRS TO TRAILER. *TR

6-28-2008 DISCOVERED FIRE IN OUR 2002 DUTCHMEN LITE TRAVEL TRAILER. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE MICROWAVE OVEN RUNNING AND WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. 7-3-08 REALIZED OUR MICROWAVE WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03E044000. IT IS A SAMSUNG MODEL# MR5491G MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2002. ON 7-3-08 I ALSO CALLED THE SAMSUNG COMPANY AND INFORMED THEM OF MY MISFORTUNE. I'VE SENT SAMSUNG PICTURES AND ESTIMATES OF DAMAGES PER THEIR REQUEST, AS WELL AS REMOVING THE OVEN FROM THE TRAILER AND DRIVING IT 50 MILES ONE WAY TO THEIR NEAREST SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAVE SINCE INFORMED ME THAT IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED WAITING ON THEIR CLAIMS DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND. WE ARE MISSING OUR MUCH CHERISHED CAMPING SEASON AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE SHORT OF HIRING A LAWYER, WHICH ISN'T IN MY BUDGET. PLEASE HELP. WHAT DO I DO NEXT. SAMSUNG CLAIM NUMBER FOR MY CASE IS 3000160265. IF YOU CAN HELP I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DUTCHMEN TAB TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL ON THE TRAILER FAILED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE WHEEL BEARING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE TRAILER TO MAKE A GRINDING, CLUNKING NOISE. SHE INSPECTED THE WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (400 MILES AWAY) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE INTO SALES, NOT REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 (NA) DUTCHMEN COLORADO FIFTH WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AXLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JACK KNIFED AND CRASHED INTO THE BRIDGE ABOVE THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET HIS FAMILY OUT OF THE TRAILER. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY SERVICED IN ORDER TO GET IT TO THE SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MECHANIC AT THE TOW YARD STATED THAT THE PINS WERE SHEARED OFF ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT U BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED DOWN AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE REAR AXLE AND SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO INSPECT THE DAMAGES IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT, AND TO ALSO HAVE THE BODY DAMAGES REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT AXLES WILL ALSO FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS A PULL BEHIND; THEREFORE, NO VIN OR MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

2007 DUTCHMEN COLORADO WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND HAS HAD 27 REPAIRS MADE. SOME OF WHICH ARE THE SEWER DRAIN DRAINING UPWARD INSTEAD OF DOWNWARD, WATER LEAKS IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE RV. *KB THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE WHICH WAS CAUSING TIRE WEAR. THE ROOF LEAKED, THERE WERE SEWER TANK PROBLEMS, THE SEALS WERE SEPARATING, THE BUNKHOUSE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY SHUT DURING TRANSIT AND THE SLIDING DOOR TO THE BEDROOM WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. . *JB

NEWLY PURCHASED 2009 ECLIPSE MILAN 25 RKS TRAVEL TRAILER, 30 FOOT LONG THAT HAD BEEN PULLED ONLY 45 MILES HOME FROM DEALERSHIP HAD THE FRAME BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE TIRE CREATING TRAILER SWAY AND ALL FOUR TIRES HAD BEEN HITTING AND RUBBING THE FRAME OF THE TRAILER. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED ONLY A FEW TRAILERS HAD BEEN MADE WRONG, BUT I CAN TELL BY LOOKING A PICTURES ON THE INTERNET OTHER 25RKS ARE ALSO TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT HAD TWO MORE IDENTICALLY DANGEROUS TRAILERS. THE MANUFACTURE REPLACED AN UNDERSLUNG AXLE WITH AN OVERSLUNG AXLE, BUT NOW THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLES ARE JAMMED AGAINST THE CENTER HANGER. THEY DID NOT LUBE THE NEW LUBE FITTINGS NOR DID THEY USE A TORQUE TO TIGHTEN THE WHEELS. I VIDEO TAPED THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I NOTIFIED ECLIPSE REPS AND THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE TRAILER FRAME THAT THEY SHOULD NOTIFY NHTSA, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY PLAN ON IT. THE WORKERS THAT CHANGED THE AXLE SAID THEY HAD BEEN DRIVING ALL AROUND CHANGING OUT AXLES FOR PEOPLE THAT HAD BOUGHT THEM. AGAIN, THIS IS AN ECLIPSE MILAN 2009 25 RKS. *TR

10230186 2 DAYS AGO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR OFFICE. I'VE SINCE RECEIVED MORE PERTINENT INFORMATION AND AM TRYING TO ADD IT HERE, AS A DOWNLOAD. PLEASE ADD IT TO YOUR FILE, AS IT PROVES THE 2 GROMMENTS WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LINK SO I CAN E MAIL YOU THE INFORMATION I HAVE. THE PHOTO'S, DOCUMENTATION WILL BACK UP MY STATEMENTS. PLEASE SEND A E MAIL ADDRESS WHERE I CAN SEND IT. THANKS......... *TR

WE OWN A BRAND NEW 2006 37QSL GRAND JUNCTION 5TH WHEEL. OUR 1ST BLOW OUT WAS LESS THAN 3000 MILES IN NORCROSS GA. (I HAVE RECEIPTS)WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES, WE HAD OUR 2ND BLOW OUT AN INTERSTATE NEAR AMSTERDAM NY. OUR 3RD BLOW OUT, WAS NEAR LAKE HAVASU, AZ WITH LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON THE TIRES. AFTER 3 BLOW OUTS ON THE HIGHWAY, FINALLY THE MANGER (RICK) AT BIG O TIRES, FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE VALUE STEMS WERE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED. HE SHOWED US THAT 2 WASHERS INSTEAD OF ONE WAS PUT ON THE VALUE STEM, SO WHEN THE TIRES HEATED UP, THE 2ND WASHER WOULD OFF AN ON CAUSE THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO A BLOW OUT. HE WROTE A LETTER FOR US AND WE TOOK PHOTO'S OF THE TIRES AND THE VALUE STEMS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE 4 TIRES - WAS NOT THE TIRES, BUT THE INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE VALUE STEMS. WE CONTACTED LION'S HEAD SPECIALTY TIRE AND WHEEL, AS GRAND JUNCTION AND BIG O'S TIRES TOLD US LION'S HEAD SPECIALTY TIRES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE VALUE STEMS. WE HAVE DATES, DOT TIRE NUMBERS, RECEIPTS, PHOTO'S AND ALL WAS SENT TO LION'S HEAD SPECIALTY TIRES WITH 4 OR 5 CONVERSATIONS. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE DAMAGE TORE OUT ALL THE 110 WIRING, SOME 12 VOLT WIRING, TORE UP THE FENDER SKIRTS, DAMAGE TO THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF THE RIG, OUR BIG SLIDE IS DAMAGED AS WELL. PLUS JUST ABOUT GETTING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY CHANGING THE 3 TIRES. ANY HELP OR DIRECTION OF WHERE WE CAN PURSUE THIS CASE, WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, SO NO ONE ELSE WILL FALL PREY TO THIS COMPANY'S POOR WORKMANSHIP AND ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF OTHERS, SINCE THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, ALONG WITH THE PROOF THAT I SENT TO THEM. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP. SINCERELY, LORETTA J. SAVARY *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DUTCHMEN WINNER CIRCLE RV. DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE REAR AXLE, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE INNER WALL. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE OUTER WALL. THE FAILURES CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF UPDATED 05/20/08. *JB