2011 COACHMEN FREEDOM EXPRESS Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 COACHMEN FREEDOM EXPRESS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TRAILER'S OUTRIGGERS WERE BULGING AND FRACTURED THE FRAME. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE TRAILER WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE TRAILER RECENTLY FAILED A STATE INSPECTION DUE TO FRACTURES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO AXLES. THE TRAILER WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

RETURNING FROM VACATION IN KNOXVILLE, IOWA WE WERE TRAVELING WEST ON THE TURNER TURNPIKE BETWEEN TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY. THE TRAVEL TRAILER HAD MADE A SUDDEN MOVE TO CHANGE LANES, I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND LOOKED IN MY LEFT MIRROR TO NOTICE A FIRE, SPARKS AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER. I STOPPED AND EXTINGUISHED A FIRE IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND HUB. I CALLED A HEAVY DUTY WRECKER SERVICE TO ASSIST IN MOVING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER FROM DANGER OF THE TURNPIKE. WE SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT OF FLYING J TRUCK STOP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS ABLE TO CALL A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TRAVEL TRAILER AXLES AND BEARINGS REPAIRED. CURRENTLY THE TRAILER IS IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAVING THE DAMAGES ASSESSED. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WE HAVE HAD ON THE SAME AXLE WITHIN 6 MONTHS. *TR

TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY PULLING CAMPER. STOPPED IN REST AREA AND OBSERVED THAT REAR AXLE HAD BENT AND RIGHT SIDE TIRE WAS AT APPROX 20-25DEGREE ANGLE. AFTER THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. 2 DAYS LATER THE LEAF SPRING ON RIGHT SIDE IN FRONT OF FRONT AXLE SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD. THE AXLE MANUFACTURER EVENTUALLY SENT HEAVIER DUTY AXLES TO WARRANTY THEM, REFUSED TO COVER DAMAGE CAUSED BY THEIR BENT AND DEFECTIVE AXLE. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CAMPER WAS CONTACTED, IT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE AXLE MANUFACTURER AND DOING NOTHING FOR THE CRACKED SPRING, WHICH WAS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. *KB