2004 FLEETWOOD GEAR BOX Complaints

TONGUE WEIGHT AT THE PIN IS AT 1,860 POUNDS DRY. AMOUNT OF TONGUE FLEX HAS BENT THE PROTECTIVE DIAMOND PLATE AT FRONT OF TRAILER. REESE 1200 POUND HITCH AND DUAL CAM SWAY CONTROL IS ALREADY SHOWING SIGNS OF SEVERE WEAR AND FATIGUE. AFTER COMPLAINTS OF WEIGHT THE DIAMOND PLATE WAS TRIMMED UP AND MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TO WELD IN A BALLIST TUBE OR PLATE AT THE REAR OF TRAILER OF ABOUT 500 POUNDS. THIS TRAILER IS UNSAFE AND A TONGUE FAILURE CAN OCCUR AND KILL SOMEONE. THE TONGUE WEIGHT WHEN FULLY LOADED WITH FLUIDS, CARGO, ETC. EXCEEDS 2300 POUNDS AS A LARGE PORTION OF THE 120 GALLON FRESH WATER TANK IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE FORWARD AXLE. IT TOOK ABOUT 2500 POUNDS OF BALLAST TO GET THE TONGUE TO AN ACCEPTABLE WEIGHT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL REFUND FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH 2005 FLEETWOOD TRAILER . *TS THE GEAR BOX MODEL NUMBER IS 335FS. *NM

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT IT WAS A REAL EFFORT TO TOW THE TRAILER AS IT WAS FREQUENTLY SWAYING. THE BOTTOM OF THE DIAMOND PLATE BENT. ***NAR RECEIVED 10-18-05*** *TS THE CONSUMER USED THE TRAILER FOR FOUR TRIPS TOTALING 1400 MILES. DURING THE THIRD TRIP THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TONGUE OF THE TRAILER WAS BENDING UPWARD CAUSING THE DIAMOND PLATE AT THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER TO PINCH-UP. ON THE FOURTH AND LAST TRIP THE WITH THE TRAILER IN MAY THE CONSUMER NOTICED SIGNIFICANT BENDING OF THE BOTTOM OF THE DIAMOND PLATE AND BENDING HIGHER UP ON THE DIAMOND PLATE. THE CONSUMER'S BROTHER PURCHASE A TRAILER JUST LIKE THE CONSUMERS AND WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HE DETERMINED THAT THE TRAILER WAS TOO HEAVY AT THE HITCH PIN. BASED ON THE CONSUMER'S COMPLAINTS THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO VOLUNTARILY REPURCHASE THE CONSUMER'S TRAILER. *NM

EXCESSIVE TONGUE WEIGHT RESULTING IN THE BENDING OF THE TONGUE FRAMEWORK, DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE AS WELL AS CAUSING UNSAFE TOWING CONDITIONS. UNLADEN DRY TONGUE WEIGHT IS 17%, @1390 #'S. WHEN LOADED AT MAXIMUM MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION OF 11,700 #S, TONGUE WEIGHT WILL EXCEED 1700 #'S. BOTH WEIGHTS EXCEED MAX LOADS FOR FACTORY INSTALLED CLASS 5 HITCH ON FORD SUPER DUTY TRUCKS. *NM

WE HAVE A NEW FLEETWOOD GEARBOX LSV 260FS RV AND THE HITCH TOUNGE WEIGHT IN EXCESS OF 20% OF THE GCVW. THE AXLES ARE SET BACK TO FAR ON THE FRAME CAUSING THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *JB