NHTSA Complaint #10490643 — 2007 DRV ELITE SUITE

LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID FROM THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH MONTANA. MANAGED TO FIND A REPUTABLE TRAILER DEALER IN HELENA TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE MECHANIC CRAWLED UNDER MY UNIT HE SAID THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD; THERE WAS A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION. THE FRONT AXLE WAS READY TO DROP OFF THE FRAME. THE INNER PART OF THE LEFT HANGER HAD BROKEN AND THE RIGHT OUTER PART OF THE RIGHT HANGER HAD A FRACTURE CRACK. IF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK HAD NOT GOT MY ATTENTION AND THE AXLE HAD DROPPED OFF, THERE I COULD HAVE BEEN A WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY, (I WAS OVER 2500 MILES FROM HOME.) MORE SUPPORT WAS WELDED ONTO THE HANGERS AND A 2X4 STEEL TUBE WAS WELDED ACROSS FROM ONE FRONT HANGER TO THE OTHER SIDE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I HAVE FOUND TWO OTHER DOUBLETREE MODELS (MOBILE SUITES) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED LIPPERT SUSPENSION. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS BY WINNEBAGO, KEYSTONE AND KZRV/ INFERNO 2008 ALL UNITS HAD LIPPERT SUSPENSIONS. THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF THE KZRV RECALL. NOTE:CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS ON PREVIOUS SAFETY COMPLAINT RECALL: 2008 KZRV 5TH WHEEL TRAILER: LIPPERT SUSPENSION MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: KZRV / INFERNO 2008 MANUFACTURER : KZRV, L.P. MFR'S REPORT DATE : JULY 02, 2008 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 08V307000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: SUSPENSION POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 419 SUMMARY: KZRV IS RECALLING 419 MY 2008 INFERNO FIFTH WHEEL TOY HAULER TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH LIPPERT SUSPENSION HANGERS. THESE SUSPENSION HANGERS MAY BE AT RISK OF PREMATURE WEAR OR FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE UNIT EXHIBITING UNUSUAL BODY LEAN, POOR HANDLING WHILE BEING TOWED, EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, AND/OR FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REINFORCE THE SUSPENSION HANGERS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR UPDATED 01/15/13*LJ PICTURES RECEIVED. 01/17/13