NHTSA Complaint #10472958 — 2009 GULF STREAM PRAIRIE SCHOONER

DESPITE HAVING BEEN TOWED ONLY 3,200 MILES, THE VISA 19 ERD'S DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE INNER 2 TO 2 1/2 INCHES OF TREAD DOWN TO THE CORDS. THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ON THE TRAILER SHOWED SIMILAR, THOUGH LESS DRASTIC WEAR. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ON A LOCAL ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED RATHER THAN INTERSTATE 95 WHERE WE WERE HEADED. PRESSURE IN THE TRAILER'S TIRES HAD BEEN CHECKED BEFORE EACH DAY'S TRAVEL TO MAINTAIN THE 50 TO 53 PSI SPECIFIED BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. WE NEVER OVERLOADED THE TRAILER. FRESH, GREY AND BLACK WATER HOLDING TANKS HAD ALWAYS BEEN EMPTIED BEFORE TRAVELING. ITEMS CARRIED IN THE TRAILER HAD BEEN WEIGHED INDIVIDUALLY, TOTALED AND DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE TRAILER (60% FORWARD OF THE AXLE AND 40% REARWARD). AT NO TIME DID THE CARGO EXCEED 605 LBS. WHICH IS ONLY 60% OF THE TRAILER'S 1018 LBS. STATED CARGO WEIGHT LIMIT. OTHER OWNERS OF 19 FT. VISAS HAVE POSTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET, AND MOST HAVE POINTED TO PROBLEMS WITH THE LIPPERT 3500 GAVW AXLE. GIVEN HOW EVIDENT THE TOE OUT IS ON OUR VISA, WE MUST AGREE THAT THE AXLE IS FAULTY. THE POTENTIAL FOR BLOW OUTS, CRASHES AND DEATH OR INJURIES WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION. *TR UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ UPDATED 09/12/2012 *JS *JS