DUTCHMEN Complaints

terminator screw in trim/seal on drivers side front did not hit frame causing dog to get stitches catching it running by. screw is in trim and rubber but not frame was jsut hanging there rubbing frame leaving marks.

2022 Dutchman Kodiak Ultimate 2921FK right rear Tire blow-out on I-75 southbound approx. 5 mile North of Forysth, Ga. (exit 187) Notified immediately by individual traveling behind our trailer. Pulled out interstate w/o injury or further damage to trailer. Tires: Ridgeway Sport ST tires with less than 1200 miles (purchased RV trailer May 18th 2022 from Camping World of Dover, Fl)

The contact owns a 2019 Keystone Coleman Travel trailer. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the passenger’s side rear tire assembly and axle detached from the trailer. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the axle bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. A “voluntary” recall was done by Dutchmen for other models of campers similar to this one, but not including this one, where they were being shipped out of the factory with inadequate lube in the wheel bearings causing failure.. See link below for info on NHSTA campaign number 18V843. https://oemdtc.com/1793/18-340-insufficient-grease-on-bearings-may-cause-failure-2019-keystone-cougar-outback-passport-springdale-bullet-hideout-2019- dutchmen-aerolite-atlas-recreational-trailers

I purchased a 2020 Thor/Dutchman Astoria Fifth wheel travel trailer Model number 3173 on 04-02-2021 from DeMontrond RV in Houston Texas. There was bent metal Damage to the pin box support which the dealer said was not a problem as it had been checked out. On the way back home from Houston Texas to Lake Havasu City Arizona ( 1400 miles) the trailed swayed badly to the point i had to slow down to stop the sway. I took the trailer to 3 RV dealers , who said that the pin box support had been bent from a catastophic bending force( the dealer never said anything prior and during delivery about that). the last dealer told me that he had a relative that had a similar trailer , who had the same sway problem, and contacted Coachman who said they didnt know anything about that problem. The dealer said that it might have something to do with suspension or axle placement. I did some checking and found that the axles on the 2021 Astoria had been moved eleven inches to the rear to stop the sway, in other words, THE FACTORY KNEW ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE , didnt tell anyone , but fixed the problem in the 2021 model. In short , they INTENTIONALLY sold a DEFECTIVE DANGEROUS trailer to the dealers and the public The problem cannot be fixed, as the whole trailer has been moved on its chassis to accommodate the eleven inches of axle placement to the rear of the trailer. I have contacted the Texas Department of motor vehicles and filled a safety complaint , and have also contacted Dutchman Trailers , but so far have not heard from them. I am not using the trailer as its too much of a safety/ liability issue My trailer is available for inspection any time . The manufacturer is welcome anytime to inspect the problem , but why would they, they already know the problem.

THE FRAME BY THE REAR AXLE MOUNT IS SPLITTING AND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE CAMPER HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND IS IN NEAR NEW CONDITION. I WOULD GUESS THERE ARE MANY ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM OF LOSING THE REAR AXLE AND TRAILER BREAKING IN HALF. LOOKS LIKE METAL WAS POOR AND ALSO FACTORY PUT TOO MANY WELDS IN ONE SPOT.*DT*JB

I HAVE DIFFICULTY STOPPING MY NEW TRAVEL TRAILER, I HAVE LEARNED DUE TO THIS SUBSTANDARD BRAKING ACTION, THAT THESE UNITS AXLES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE 10,000# GVW. IT HAS TWO 4400# AXLES EQUIPPED WITH 3500# BRAKES ON EACH. I HAVE TO SET THE BRAKE CONTROLLER AT MAXIMUM TO FEEL ANY EFFECT FROM THE TRAILER BRAKES. WHEN MANUALLY ACTIVATING THE BREAKAWAY DEVICE THE TRAILER DOES NOT STOP. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS NEW A YEAR AGO BUT DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THEY FAILED TO CORRECT IT ULTIMATELY STATING WE'VE DONE ALL WE CAN DO. COME TAKE IT HOME. I FEEL THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO TOW THIS VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN A PANIC STOP OR A BREAKAWAY SITUATION. IT IS MY OPINION, (REINFORCED BY 2 PEER REVIEWS AND COMPARISONS TO COMPARABLE SIZED TRAILERS) THAT THE TRAILER (NOT JUST MINE, BUT ALL COLEMANS OF THIS SIZE CLASS) ARE NOT SAFE TO TOW ON THE ROADS. I REALIZE IT IS MY FIGHT BUT I AM LOOKING FOR DOT STANDARDS THAT ADDRESS THE MINIMUM RATING OF THE AXLES AND BRAKING SYSTEMS ON TRAVEL TRAILERS. THESE TRAILERS ARE ALSO A DANGER TO INNOCENT TRAVELERS SHOULD AN EXTREME EVENT OCCUR!! ONE CAN IMAGINE THE RESULTS OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THESE QUITE LARGE IN SUMMER TRAFFIC.*DT*JB*DT*JB

LEAF SPRING HANGERS ARE BENDING FROM TURNS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND NO REINFORCEMENT. AFTER SO MANY TIMES THAT THEY BEND BACK AND FORTH STRESS POINTS ARE CREATED AND THE METAL FATIGUES AND SNAPS, AND THE SUSPENSION AND AXLE BECOMES UNHINGED FROM THE TRAILER AT THE POINT OF FAILURE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PERSONS TOWING IT, CREATING ERRATIC HANDLING. IF ANY OF THE OTHER 3 SPRING HANGERS TO THAT AXLE HAS THE SAME FAILURE THE WHOLE AXLE CAN COME UNATTACHED TO THE TRAILER. THEIR ARE COMPANY'S THAT ARE MAKING AND SELLING AFTERMARKET PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE MANUFACTURER IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT SO FAR. HTTP://WWW.MORRYDE.COM/PRODUCTS/108-PERFORMANCE-CROSSMEMBERS-BY-MORRYDE*DT*DT*JB*JS *TR

2013 DUTCHMEN ASPEN TRAIL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE SEWER WASTE VENT. *LD CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEATING DUCTWORK WAS PENETRATED WITH A SEWER WASTE VENT LINE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE FITTING BROKE WHICH CAUSED FLAMMABLE, HAZARDOUS SEWER GASES TO BE BLOWN THROUGH VEHICLE THROUGH THE FURNACE DUCTWORK. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SAID THAT VEHICLE IS UP TO SAFETY CODES AND REFUSED ASSISTANCE. *DL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DUTCHMEN DENALI 307RLS CAMPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR END THE FRACTURED DUE TO HOLES TO THE MARKER LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SCREWS HOLDING THE LIGHTS DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR SUB FRAME TO FRACTURE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL MECHANICAL & KUSTOMZ DEALER, LOCATED AT 5447 W 700 S, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84104) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED BY KEYSTONE, THE MANUFACTURER, FACTORY IN OREGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR PROCESS WAS NOT RESOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

WHILE TOWING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL ON THE KODIAK CUB SINGLE AXLE TRAILER SHEARED OFF OF THE AXLE. THE WHEEL IN ITS ENTIRETY FLEW, BOUNCED ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, THE MEDIAN THEN TWO MORE LANES OF TRAFFIC BOUNCED OVER A CULVERT AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF A FRONTAGE ROAD. LUCKILY NO ONE ONE WAS HIT BY THE WHEEL, IT COULD EASILY OF BEEN DEADLY. THIS TRAILER WAS LESS THEN ONE YEAR OLD. THE TRAILER WAS FLATBED TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED KEYSTONE. KEYSTONE SAID THEY WOULD REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE NHTSA. THEY THEN GOT IN TOUCH WITH DEXTER THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AXLE. APPARENTLY PER SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE WHEEL PERHAPS DID NOT HAVE A CASTLE LOCK/PIN? IT COULD OF SHEARED OFF OR WASNT THERE? I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM DEXTER VIA KEYSTONE WHAT THE FINAL WORD WAS. THEY DID NOT LOOK AT THE AXLE, INSTEAD JUST HAD THE NEW AXLE SHIPPED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE PLACED ON THE TRAILER TO BE RESOLD. KEYSTONE DID THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACED OUR TRAILER WITH A NEW ONE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE AXLES THAT DAY THAT WERE MADE IN THE SAME FASHION. I WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED NOR DID THE WHEEL INJURE OR WORSE, KILL ANYONE.*DT*DT*DT*JB*JB CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS VIN.*JB