PALOMINO Complaints

ALL AXLE SEALS LEAKING ON 2013 COLUMBUS 320 RS...6000# AXLES. APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES ON UNIT THAT WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2014....THIS IS BEING REPORTED IN NOVEMBER 2014. GREASE LEAKED THROUGH AXLE SEALS INTO HUB ASSEMBLY, CONTAMINATING BRAKING MECHANISM CAUSING REDUCED TO NO BRAKES ON 14,000# 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. THIS 5TH WHEEL IS USED PRIMARILY IN COLORADO, ON MOUNTAIN ROADS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH LITTLE TO NO ACTION BEING TAKEN BY LIPPERT INDUSTRIES TO ISSUE A RECALL OF THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

WHEEL SEALS FAILED ALLOWING BEARING GREASE TO SPREAD AROUND ALL BRAKE SURFACES. ALL 4 BRAKES WERE EFFECTED. ALL EFFECTED PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *TR

NOTE - AXEL INFO IS: FRONT AXEL SERIAL# 045-002512768, REAR AXEL SERIAL# 045-002512757, NV# 284479, DOM IS 1-16-14. PURCHASED TRAILER NEW WITH FIRST USE IN APRIL 2014. OVER NEXT FEW MONTHS TRAILER WOULD NOT STOP AS EASILY AND QUICKLY AS IT DID WHEN WE FIRST STARTED USING IT. THE CONTINUED REDUCTION IN BRAKING ABILITY OVER TIME REQUIRED THAT I CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE BRAKE CONTROLLER SETTINGS UNTIL I REACHED THE HIGHEST SETTING OF 10. WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE WHILE PULLING THIS TRAILER. ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT I ASKED OUR DEALER TO INSPECT. WHEN THEY DID THEY FOUND THAT 3 WHEELS HAD BLOWN SEALS AND ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS COVERED IN GREASE, THE 4TH WHEEL ALSO HAD A BLOWN SEAL BUT ALTHOUGH IT WAS COMPROMISED IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS THE OTHERS. LIPPERT MFG SENT A MECHANIC TO THE DEALER AND REPLACED ALL FOUR WITH NEW DRUM/BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. I ASKED THE LIPPERT MECHANIC WHAT CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE NEW BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AND HE STATED THEY ARE USING NEW SEALS. TRAILER IS NOW IN WINTER STORAGE SO IT WILL BE NEXT SPRING BEFORE WE CAN USE THEN INSPECT AFTER SOME LIMITED USE TO DETERMINE IF WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW PARTS. *TR

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM LIPPERT INC. INDICATING THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH BRAKE COMPONENTS INSTALLED ON MY COLUMBUS 320RS FIFTH WHEEL THAT COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE TO STOP THE TRAILER. I TOOK IT INTO BERRYLAND CAMPERS AND HAD THEM INSPECTED. THE LIPPERT SEALS USED ON THE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES HAD LEAKED GREASE, CONTAMINATING THE BRAKE PADS WITH GREASE. LIPPERT COVERED PAD AND SEAL REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

AKURET ST235/80R16 TIRE - CATASTROPHIC TIRE SEPARATION ON 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. TRAVELING NORTH ON HWY 701. NO ROAD HAZARDS, ROAD IN GREAT CONDITION. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. COMPLETE LOSS OF THE TOP RADIAL LAYER AND TREAD, IN ONE PIECE. TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 1000 MILES. DATE STAMP IS 2011, TIRES PUT INTO SERVICE EARLY (JAN/FEB) OF 2012. PROPER INFLATION (80 PSI). THIS THE SECOND COMPLAINT FILE FOR THESE TIRES, TWO DAYS EARLIER THERE WAS A INCIDENT THAT I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED(EXACTLY SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, JUST A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND DATE). *TR

AKURET ST235/80R16 TIRE - CATASTROPHIC TIRE SEPARATION ON 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. TRAVELING SOUTH ON SC HWY 31. NO ROAD HAZARDS, ROAD IN GREAT CONDITION. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. CAUSED IN EXCESS OF $2000.00 DAMAGE TO TRAILER. COMPLETE LOSS OF THE TOP RADIAL LAYER AND TREAD, IN ONE PIECE. TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 1000 MILES. DATE STAMP IS 2011, TIRES PUT INTO SERVICE EARLY (JAN/FEB) OF 2012. PROPER INFLATION (80 PSI). THERE WILL BE A SECOND COMPLAINT FILE, TWO DAYS LATER THERE WAS A SECOND INCIDENT (EXACTLY SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, JUST A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND DATE). *TR

TOOK TRAILER TO SHOP BECAUSE BRAKES WERE SLUGGISH AND NOT WORKING WELL. DEALER DISCOVERED ALL SEALS BLOWN AND BRAKES COVERED IN OIL. LINE FOR BRAKES ON FRONT AXLE PINCHED, THEREFORE NO BRAKING ACTION ON FRONT AXLE. HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR BRAKE UNITS REPLACED AND BRAKE LINE TO FRONT AXLE REPAIRED. MECHANIC STATED THAT GREASE IN AXLES WAS NOT PROPER GRADE, TO THIN. LIPPERT AND COLUMBUS PUT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

UNIT RETURNED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FROM THE BRAKE MANUFACTURER (LIPPERT COMPONENTS). DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND GREASE IN THREE OF THE FOUR BRAKE UNITS. DEALER NOTIFIED FORREST RIVER AND LIPPERT, BOTH SEEM TO BE POINTING TO THE OTHER FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THIS RIG IS 17 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY WORK FOR 7 MONTHS OUT THOSE 17 MONTHS. THE RIG HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES OF ROAD TRAVEL ON IT. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD GIVEN THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL POSTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON VARIOUS FORUMS AND MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

BRAKES FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRAKING SINCE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WAS NEW. I COMPLAINED TO COLLIER RV OF ROCKFORD OF POOR BRAKING ABILITY AND ASKED THEM TO INSPECT BRAKES WHICH THEY SAID THEY DID. THIS AUGUST 2014 WHILE AT THE FOREST RIVER OWNERS RALLY IN GOESHEN, INDIANA I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF LIPPERT'S RALLY PRICE ON FORWARD ADJUSTING BRAKES TO BE INSTALLED BECAUSE I WAS NEVER SATISFIED WITH THE 5TH WHEEL BRAKES. WHEN THE LIPPERT TECH. CAME TO INSTALL NEW FORWARD ADJUSTING BRAKES HE FOUND ALL 4 SEALS BLOWN AND 3 OUT OF THE 4 BRAKES WERE COATED WITH GREASE. ONE WHEEL HAD A BAD BEARING ALSO. I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE BRAKES COVERED IN GREASE. AT THE AUGUST 2014 RALLY, I ONLY HAD 1350 MILES ON MY 14 MONTH OLD COLUMBUS 5TH WHEEL. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED MY FIFTH WHEEL, THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE AXLE HAD NO BEARING SEAL CAP. GREASE HAD BEEN FLOWN TO BRAKE SHOES AND DRUM. LIPPERT DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE DAMAGES OR REPAIRS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SHOES AND BEARINGS. *TR