NHTSA Complaint #10283485 — 2007 RV - FIFTH WHEELS DESIGNER

WE TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW CARRIAGE 5TH WHEEL 4/1/07. ON 6/18/09 WE NOTICED A BULGE IN (1) OF 4 TIRES WE HAVE ON OUR 5TH WHEEL DURING A TIRE CHECK. UNDER GOOD FAITH WE PURCHASED AN IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT TIRE. THEY WERE ALSO ROTATED. WE CHECKED ALL TIRES AGAIN BEFORE DEPARTING ON AN EAST COAST TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH SC. UPON DAY ONE 7/18/09 MID-AFTERNOON OUR RIGHT FENDER OF THE TRAILER WAS TORN AWAY. UPON FINDING A SAFE STOPPING POINT-WE FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BLOWN. WE WAITED ALONG THE FREEWAY 2.5 HRS FOR A TOW REPAIR. WE DUCK TAPED OUR FENDER. WE PROCEEDED TO THE NEXT EXIT (2 MILES)TO VERIFY TIRE PRESSURE IN THE SPARE. WE FOUND ANOTHER TIRE WITH ONLY 25 LBS AND SEVERELY BULGING. WE HAD ANOTHER HOUR TO LIMP TO OUR DESTINATION. WE ARRIVED SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7:30PM. THE NEXT DAY TIRE WAS EXTREMELY LOW. WE COULD NOT TRAVEL HOME. NOTHING COULD BE DONE TILL MONDAY-7/20/09. WE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO OUR TRAILER COMPANY, TIRE COMPANY AND LOCAL TIRE DEALERS. THE TIRE COMPANY, GPX-TOWMAX CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AGREED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF ONLY $120 FOR ONLY THREE TIRES. WE WOULD NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE PREVIOUS PURCHASE OF $153.50. UPON REPLACING THE TIRES THEY FOUND THE 4TH TIRE (UPON REMOVING FROM RIM) WAS SEPARATING AS WELL. WE HAD TO PURCHASE FOUR NEW TIRES TO RETURN HOME ON. WE HAVE ALSO INCURRED $146.58 IN EXPENSES TO REPAIR THE FENDER. WE ADVISED TO DESTROY THE TIRES AND LEAVE THEM IN TN. ONLY THE BLOWN TIRE WOULD NEED TO BE EXAMINED. THEY WOULD ARRANGE A CALL TAG. WE EVEN STOPPED AT A KY WEIGHT STATION TO PROVE WE ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT. (WHICH THEY CLAIMED) WE JUST RECEIVED NOTICE BY LETTER REJECTING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WE ARE TOTALLY TO BLAME. THEY WILL NOT COVER OUR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF THE JUNE PURCHASE, THE 4TH TIRE,AND THE REPAIR. IN FACT, THEY WANT US TO "SIGN A RELEASE" AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT. NO WAY. WE ALSO WERE JUST ADVISED REIMBURSEMENT OF THE JUNE PURCHASED TIRE WILL ONLY BE $35. NOTE-OUR 5TH WHEEL IS A CAMEO BY CARRIAGE (NOT ON YOUR LIST. *TR