NHTSA Complaint #10936422 — 2013 PALOMINO COLUMBUS

THE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WE PURCHASED CAME WITH SUPPLIED 6000 PND LIPPERT AXLES. THE AXLES ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT CARRIED ON THIS TRAILER. 7000 OR 8000 POUND AXLES SHOULD BE STANDARD. IN 2013 THIS IS WHAT THEY USED. IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THEY USED HEAVIER AXLES. WE ARE EDUCATED TO THIS AND ARE SENSITIVE TO BRAKE, AXLE SEAL, AND OVERALL TIRE MAINTENANCE. LIPPERT SEALS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO BE INFERIOR. WE HAD THE SEALS REPLACED WITH HIGHER QUALITY DEXTER SEALS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO SO THAT WE COULD AVOID ANY ISSUES. ON 11/26/16 WE WERE RETURNING FROM A TRIP WHEN WE LOST A WHEEL WEST OF CLAYTON NM ON A STATE HIGHWAY. WE ARE ASSUMING THE AXLE BEARING FAILED, WHICH CAUSE THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BECOME SO HOT, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CATCH FIRE. THE WHEEL, HUB, LUGS, TIRE CAME AWAY FROM THE AXLE. AND BOUNCED ACROSS THE NM STATE HIGHWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, IT DIDN'T HIT ANYONE.