NHTSA Complaint #11289033 — 2015 KEYSTONE COUGAR

ONLY EVENT SO FAR, A PROPERLY INFLATED TIRE HAD THE TREAD COME OFF THE CASING AT ABOUT 7000 MILES AT 60 MPH. I REPLACED THE OEM LOAD RANGE 'D' TIRES WITH LOAD RANGE 'E' TIRES.THESE OEM TIRES AT 2540# GIVE A SCANT 160# SAFETY MARGIN. IN JULY WHILE DOING MAINTENANCE FOR A 1500 MILE TRIP I READ THE AXLE TAGS SO I COULD OBTAIN THE CORRECT SEALS FOR THE HUB BEARINGS. THE AXLES ARE RATED 4400# EACH TIMES 2 IS 8800#. THE GVW RATING FOR THE TRAILER IS 10,000#. SO IF THIS 5TH WHEEL IS TRAVELING FULLY LOADED IT IS 1200# OVER THE CAPACITY OF THE INSTALLED AXLES. I AM A CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIAN, I FIND THIS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LARGE HILLS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.