2012 EZ LOADER BOAT TRAILER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 EZ LOADER BOAT TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 68 MPH, THE ENTIRE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED AND FRACTURED FROM THE AXLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION PROPERLY ON E Z LOADER BOAT TRAILER SINCE I FIRST USED IT TO PLACE MY BOAT INTO THE OCEAN. I WOULD HOSE OFF THE BRAKES AND WHEELS AT THE RAMP WITH FRESH WATER AFTER LAUNCHING AND RETRIVING THE BOAT. I HAVE USED SOAP FROM MY PRESSURE WASHER WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOME WHICH IS WITHIN A MILE OF THE RAMP.THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO LOCK UP. I HAND TO USE A SLEDGE HAMMER ON THE HUBS TO FREE THEM UP EACH TIME I HAD PARKED THE TRAILER. I TOOK MY BOAT TRAILER TO A TRAILER REPAIR FACILITY ON 8-26-2015 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEIZED AND NOT FUNCTIONING. THEY POINTED OUT THAT ALL OF THE HARDWARE HAD RUSTED AND THE RUBBER SEALS HAD CRACKED RENDERING THE BRAKES IN-OPERATIVE. I CALLED THE E Z LOADER COMPANY IN WA STATE AND SPOKE TO THE WARRANTY MANAGER ABOUT THE ISSUE. HE STATED THAT WHEN THEY SELL A BOAT TRAILER THEY DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL BE USED? HE STATED THEY DO SELL TO THE US GOVT AND HAVE TO SUPPLY STAINLEES STEEL HARDWARE THAT DOES PREVENT CORROSION AND WILL OPERATE SAFELY IN SALT WATER. ALTHOUGH MY TRAILER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY HE OFFERED TO SEND ME REPLACEMENT HARDWARE. I ASKED HIM IF IT WOULD BE STAINLESS HARDWARE THAT THEY INSTALLED ON THE US GOVT. TRAILERS AND HE SAID NO. IT WOULD BE THE SAME AS I HAD ALLREADY HAD. I TOLD HIM I WOULD BE WASTING TIME AND MONEY TO PUT DEFECTIVE BRAKE PARTS BACK ON THE TRAILER. I PAID $1,786.04 TO HAVE STAINLESS KODIAK PARTS INSTALLED THAT ARE WARRANTED FOR TEN YEARS. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER OF A LARGE BOAT DEALER IN THE BOSTON, MA AREA AND HE STATED THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRAILERS. HE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A SOLUTION IN UTILIZING STAINLESS HARDWARE.

TRAILER SURGE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. TRUCK SWERVED/WAS PUSHED ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN INTO OPPOSITE LANE. WHEN TRAILER WAS INSPECTED LATER THE BRAKE LINES WERE FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. ADDITIONALLY THE U-BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ROLLERS ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. FAILURE OF THESE BOLTS WILL RESULT IN THE BOAT COMING OFF THE TRAILER.