NHTSA Complaint #10242677 — 2007 KEYSTONE MONTANA

WHILE HOOKING UP FIFTH WHEEL RV TO TOW VEHICLE VIA ELECTRICAL UMBILICAL CORD A SEVERE SHORT OCCURRED CAUSING EXTENSIVE WIRING DAMAGE INSIDE THE FIFTH WHEEL RV. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY INADVERTENTLY INSERTING UMBILICAL CORD PLUG FROM FIFTH WHEEL INTO RECEPTACLE ON TOW VEHICLE 180 DEGREES OUT OF PHASE. EVEN THOUGH PLUG AND RECEPTACLE ARE KEYED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO PLUG IT IN INCORRECTLY. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY CHARGE WIRE FROM FIFTH WHEEL TO BE APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE GROUND OF THE TOW VEHICLE AND CAUSED SEVERE MELTING OF INSULATION, RED HOT WIRE, AND LOTS OF SMOKE. THERE APPARENTLY IS NO SAFETY DEVICE, IE., FUSE OR FUSIBLE LINK PROVIDED BY THE MFG OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TO PREVENT THIS DAMAGE FROM HAPPENING IN CASE BATTERY CHARGE WIRE CONTACTS GROUND IN ANY FASHION, SUCH AS INADVERTENTLY INSTALLING UMBILICAL CORD PLUG INTO RECEPTACLE ON TOW VEHICLE UPSIDE DOWN. *TR