2002 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ALUMASCAPE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

ON 9/27/2013 I HAD A BLOW-OUT WITH A BCT TK42 ST225/75R15 ON MY 24" 5TH WHEEL ALUMASCAPE TRAILER. THE RESULT WAS A 3-4' TREAD SEPARATION THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY TRAILER. THE TIRE LOCATION WAS AT THE RIGHT REAR SIDE. THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $400 AND INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE PLASTIC FENDER COVER AS WELL AS REPAIR TO THE STEEL PROPANE LINE THAT WAS BROKEN JUST TO THE REAR OF THE TIRE. THERE IS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE JUST ABOVE THE TIRE. I BOUGHT A NEW GOODYEAR TIRE FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE BCT (BEIJING CAPITAL TIRE) IS MADE IN CHINA. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE ON THIS TIRE WAS LESS THEN 9,000 MILES AND CAME WITH THE TRAILER WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN AUG 2010. I AM REPLACING THE TIRE IN FRONT OF THIS ONE WHICH IS ALSO A BCT. THIS TIRE HAS NO DOT CODE THAT I COULD FIND. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY (30W BY PASS)WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH .THE NEXT EXIT WAS TO DOUNINGTOWN, PA. THE GOODYEAR STORE WAS LESS THEN A MILE AWAY. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE AND THAT THEY ARE MADE IN CHINA UNTIL I READ IT ON THE SIDEWALL. *TR

THIS IS A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2002 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ALUMASCAPE 30RKD FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE FORM WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CORRECT VEHICLE TO BE ENTERED - THIS IS NOT AN ATLANTIS ISSUE. THE ALUMASCAPE TRAILER IS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER 5.2K AXLES. WHILE PERFORMING ANNUAL BRAKE INSPECTION AND BEARING LUBRICATION, A FAILURE OF THE DEXTER BRAKE SHOES WAS EVIDENCED WHEN I REMOVED THE BRAKE DRUM FROM THE AXLE. THE BONDED BRAKE LINING, ON THE FORWARD SHOE, HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE ON BOTH AXLES. THIS SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED ON THE BRAKES ON BOTH OF THE DUAL AXLES. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE LININGS HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE SHOES. FOR FAILURES TO OCCUR ON BOTH AXLES APPEARS TO BE A FAILURE OF THE BONDING MATERIAL USED TO GLUE THE BRAKE LINING TO THE BRAKE SHOES. *JB

WHILE TOWING MY 2002 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ALUMASCAPE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER I EXPERIENCED TWO CATASTOPHIC TIRE FAILURES WITHIN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. THE TRAILER IS A MODEL 30RLD WITH A DRY WEIGHT OF ABOUT 9600LBS. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT LT RADIALS, SIZE LT225/75R16, LOAD RANGE E. THE DOT INFORMATION IS: G18R DOT MKIL MMHV 16/01. THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH MY RV, AND CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES ON THEM. I RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAIN 80PSI IN THE TIRES. ON AUGUST 5TH, 2004, AT 2000 MILES ON THE TIRES, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION AND IMMEDIATE DEFLATION ON I 15 NORTH OF LAS VEGAS NV. THE TREAD WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE OF THE TRAILER, AND THE CASING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 105 DEGREES, AND I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004 ON I 40 WEST OF NEEDLES, CA. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 70 DEGREES. THE TREAD CAME LOSE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE CASING AND I AGAIN EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE DEFLATION. ON BOTH OCCASIONS PIECES OF THE TREAD SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED THE SIDE OF MY TRAILER. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE GOODYEAR TIRE CO.*AK