NHTSA Complaint #10616805 — 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT

THIS 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT 26FBS TRAVEL TRAILER SUFFERED FROM A FAILURE OF THE TRAILER FRAME, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HANGER BRACKETS THAT SERVE AS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR TORSION AXLES TO THE TRAILER ITSELF. THE DAMAGE INITIALLY WENT UNNOTICED, BUT UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE REAR-MOST TIRES OF THE TRAILER WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND ON AN INCLINE.CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER REVEALED THAT THE REAR MOST HANGER BRACKETS HAD BROKEN ON THE TRAILER (NOT THE AXLES THEMSELVES) AND THE AXLE HAD SPUN INTO A LOCKED POSITION, STILL ATTACHED BY THE FRONT TWO RETAINING BOLTS. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FOUR ATTACHMENT BOLTS PER AXLE, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE AXLE ONLY REMAINED ATTACHED BY TWO BOLTS AND HANGERS. INSPECTION AND REPAIR BY A CERTIFIED WELDER INDICATED THAT THE HANGER BRACKETS SUFFERED FROM WEAK WELDS AND THIS RESULTED IN THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE WELDER REPAIRED ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING FUNCTIONING ATTACHED HANGER BRACKETS NOTING ITS WEAKNESS. *JS