DUTCHMEN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 TOWING A 2018 DUTCHMEN KD2711BS18 CAMPER (NA). WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LEAF SPRING DETACHED AND THE CAMPER FRAME DROPPED ONTO THE WHEELS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CAMPER WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 COLEMAN DUTCHMAN 192RVS (NA) EQUIPPED WITH RIDGEWAY SPORT SP TIRES, SIZE: R14 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DETACHED AND ENTERED INTO THE CAMPER RV ITSELF. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE SHELVING, WATER LINE, AND SEWER LINES, ALONG WITH THE FLOORING BY THE WHEEL WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CAMPER FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

WE HAVE FOUND SEVERAL STRUCTURAL FRAME MEMBERS WITH SUBSTANDARD WELDS. WE HAVE EVEN FOUND ONE WALL FRAME MEMBER THAT HAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FLOOR FRAME. ALL OF THESE ARE HIDDEN AND CANNOT BE SEEN WITHOUT REMOVING BODY PANELS. ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE NUMEROUS PLACES IN SIDE WALLS THAT ARE DELAMINATING CAUSING A LOSS OF STRUCTURAL STABILITY. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO REQUEST WARRANTY REPAIRS. KEYSTONE HAS DENIED ALL REPAIRS.

OUR 2013 DENALI TRAVEL TRAILER MODEL 246RK VIN [XXX] HAS HAD THE A-FRAME PORTION (FRONT TONGUE) OF THE FRAME DETACH FROM THE FRAME ON ONE SIDE. IT APPEARS AS IF THE TWO PIECES OF THE FRAME HAD ONLY BEEN TACKED TOGETHER ON ONE SIDE AT THE FACTORY AND THE WELDING WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS DONE CORRECTLY AND IT SEEMS AS IF IT HAD BEEN BEARING THE LOAD BECAUSE IT NOW HAS A SMALL CRACK. THE TRAILER HAS A MINIMUM OF 6,000 MILES ON IT. TWO DAYS AGO AFTER SETTING UP FOLLOWING A SHORT DRIVE WE NOTICED THAT THE A-FRAME WAS SITTING AT AN AWKWARD ANGLE ON THE TRAILER HITCH JACK. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING BROKE, THE WELDING WASN'T THERE FROM THE BEGINNING. THE TRAILER IS NOW IMMOVABLE. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SEVERAL PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *DT*JB

TIRE: GOODYEAR MARATHON ST23580R16 MOUNTED ON 2012 DUTCHMEN VOLTAGE V3200 5TH WHEEL TOY HAULER THIS IS THE EXPLOSIVE FAILURE OF TWO GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES WITH 100 MILES OF EACH OTHER RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE RV EACH TIRE HAD BEEN CHECKED PRIOR TO TRIP AND WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. TIRES WERE PURCHASED MAY 2016 AND HAD LESS THAN 3000 DOCUMENTED MILES. ON 09/17/18 WHILE TRAVELLING TO OUR DESTINATION AND AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ON HWY 98 NEAR THE TOWN OF CRAWFORDVILLE FL, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE RIGHT REAR. CHUNKS OF TIRES WERE SEEN FLYING OFF THE REAR AREA OF THE RV. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED APART. MODERATE DAMAGE TO RV. ON 09/17/18 WHILE RETURNING FROM OUR DESTINATION AND TRAVELLING AT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE-10 NEAR LAKE CITY A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE LEFT REAR OF THE RV. CHUNKS OF TIRE AND RV FLEW OFF INTO THE INTERSTATE. THIS CAUSED A HAZARD TO MOTORISTS AS WELL HAS MY WIFE AND I. VEHICLES AND SEMI'S HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID DEBRIS PLACING US IN JEOPARDY. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THE LEFT REAR GOODYEAR MARATHON EXPLODED APART CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE RV. PRIOR TO EACH TRIP EACH TIRE WAS INSPECTED AND INFLATED TO 76PSI. TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM MID 80'S TO LOW 90S. NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDS WERE STRUCK PRIOR TO TIRE FAILURES.

WESTLAKE TIRES FAILING ' OPERATING TIRE PRESSURE: 80PSI COLD ' AVG OPERATING SPEED: 55-60MPH ' TRAILER LOAD: LIGHT, NO TOY IN THE REAR ' EEZTIRE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM - 4 SENSORS NOVEMBER 1, 2017 ' APPROX MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT: 1,300 MILES SINCE PURCHASE DATE LEFT ON NOV 1, 2017 FOR A TRIP FROM CA TO CO. BEING VERY WEARY OF THE TIRES FROM ALL THE REPORTS I HAD BEEN READING, I ALWAYS CHECK THE TIRE FOR WEAR AT EVERY STOP. UPON ARRIVING IN HEBER CITY, UTAH WE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES (DRIVER-SIDE FRONT) WAS WEARING STRANGE. THE OUTER TREAD WAS WORN MORE THAN THE REST OF THE TIRE. WE MADE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE ON THE FINAL 200 MILES TO OUR DESTINATION. WE MADE SEVERAL STOPS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE TIRE WEAR. ONCE ARRIVING, I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT BIG O TIRES IN CRAIG, COLORADO. JUNE 18, 2018 ' APPROX MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT: 2,500 MILES SINCE PURCHASE DATE ON OUR RETURN TRIP FROM CO TO CA ON JUNE 20, 2018, WE STOPPED IN HEBER CITY, UTAH FOR FUEL. UPON CHECKING THE TIRES, I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE WESTLAKE TIRES HAD LOST APPROX 40% OF A COMPLETE SECTION OF TREAD, ONLY THE STEEL CORDS WERE LEFT. THE TIRE HAD NOT LOST TIRE PRESSURE NOR HAD THE TEMP CLIMBED TO RAISE THE ALARM ON THE TPMS SYSTEM. LUCKY WE HAD CAUGHT THIS BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW APART AND CAUSED ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY. WE PROCEEDED TO A LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER LESS THAN MILE AWAY WHERE I HAD ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED WITH SAILUN 14PLY TIRES. THESE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THESE TIRES FAILING. THEY ARE SEVERELY OVER-RATED AND NEED TO BE PULLED OFF THE MARKET AND A NATION-WIDE RECALL ISSUED, HOPEFULLY BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE.

NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE LIPPERT BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN ADJUSTED TO SEAT THE SHOES INTO THE DRUM. I HAD A LOCAL HORSE TRAILER DEALERSHIP ADJUST AND SEAT EACH OF THE 4 BRAKES PRIOR TO OUR FIRST TRIP, AS WELL AS CHECK THE HUBS. NO GREASE WAS ADDED; THE EXISTING GREASE APPEARED IN GOOD CONDITION, AND THE DRUMS WERE SHINY AND DRY. WE DROVE OVER DONNER SUMMIT WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE 2018 ONE TON TOW RIG HAS AN EXHAUST BRAKE, SO BRAKING ON THE DESCENT WAS MINIMAL. AFTER PASSING THROUGH RENO, BEFORE CARSON CITY I NOTICED THE TRAILER PUSHING THE TRUCK AND TESTED TRAILER BRAKING BY APPLYING THE TRAILER BRAKES ONLY, WHICH IS POSSIBLE WITH A THUMB LEVER ON THE GM FACTORY INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER. THE TRAILER BRAKES WERE ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLE. AT OUR DESTINATION JUST SOUTH OF CARSON CITY I REMOVED THE RUBBER INSPECTION GROMMITS AND COULD SEE GREASE COATING THE DRUMS. THE NEXT DAY I HAULED THE TRAILER TO BOB'S PERFORMANCE CENTER IN GARDNERVILLE AND HAD IT FURTHER INSPECTED. HIS TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT THE CHINESE LIPPERT BACKING PLATES (BRAKE ASSEMBLIES) AND SAID "WE SEE THESE PIECES OF [XXX] BLOWING SEALS ALL THE [XXX] TIME?. FUNNY IF IT WASN'T PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK. THEY ALSO POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THE SCOTCH LOCK ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS USED TO WIRE MY BRAKES HAD A LARGE GAUGE WIRE COMING FROM THE FRAME BUT A TINY GAUGE WIRE LEADING TO THE BRAKE MAGNETS. THEY OPENED ONE AND SHOWED ME HOW THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO CONNECT SUCH DIFFERENT WIRE DIAMETERS AND TESTED THE AMPERAGE AT THE MAGNETS, WHICH WAS BELOW SPEC (1.8 AMPERES INSTEAD OF 3 AT FULL BRAKING). RATHER THAN KEEP MY KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL AND WAIT FOR APPROVAL FROM THE NOTORIOUSLY UNSCRUPULOUS RV MANUFACTURER, KEYSTONE/DUTCHMEN, I FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF THE SHOP TECHS AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLIES WITH AMERICAN MADE COMPONENTS AND ALSO HAD THEM RE-WIRE USING CRIMPED BUTT-CONNECTORS IN PLACE OF THE SCOTCH LOCKS. *TT VIN IS INVALID CONSUMER STATED AXLES ARE NOT VENTED. UPDATED 9/20/18*JB *DT *JB *DT THE CONSUMER CLAIMS THAT NO ONE ADDED ANY GREASE TO THEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DUTCHMEN DENALI. THE PULLING VEHICLE WAS A 2017 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING AND SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER DIFFERENTIATED DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE TOWING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT FOR EACH AXLE WAS 4,400 LBS AND THE GVW TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT WAS 8,800 LBS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A WEIGH STATION, THE TRAILER'S WEIGHT WAS 85,000 LBS. AND THE OVERALL MAXIMUM WEIGHT FOR THE AXLE WAS 10,500 LBS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

FAULTY TIRES: THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT CONCERNING TIRES THAT CAME WITH THIS VEHICLE. TIRES ARE RIDGWAY SPORT XT. I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I75, 60 MPH, PAVEMENT DRY. HAD AN IMMEDIATE BLOW OUT (SECOND TIRE). TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON RIGHT SIDE, REAR. ST225/75-R15. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH INFERIOR MATERIALS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. AS WITH THE PREVIOUS CLAIM FOR ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE'S TIRES WERE INFLATED TO THE RECOMMENDED PSI (65) BEFORE THE START OF THE TRIP AND THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY DEBRIS ON THE ROAD AND THIS WAS A TRAILING TIRE (THERE ARE 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE). I HAVE TWO MORE TIRES THAT I HAVE TAKEN OFF THE VEHICLE THAT ARE NOT DAMAGED SHOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM FOR INVESTIGATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 11/24/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DUTCHMAN ASPEN TRAIL. WHILE BEING OPERATED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BUMPER DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELDS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT APPLICABLE. UPDATED 11/06/17*LJ *JS