2000 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

DURING A ROUTINE HIGHWAY TRIP (60+MPH), A RELATIVELY NEW TIRE (7,000 MILES OF USE), THAT WAS PROPERLY INFLATED (90PSI), MOUNTED ON A LOADED HORSE TRAILER, DISINTEGRATED. THE FAILURE CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL, BUT THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL AND GOT THE VEHICLE SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. A PASSING STATE PATROL OFFICER HELPED INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE. THE TRAILER'S FENDER WAS DAMAGED BY THE FAILED TIRE. THE TROOPER OFFERED HIS OPINION THAT THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO STRUCTURAL/QUALITY ISSUES, RATHER THAN LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE IN QUESTION WAS A CARLISLE RADIAL TRAIL RH, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR TRAILERS. IT WAS NOT A RECAP. BUT IT FAILED LIKE A RECAP. MOST OF THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE CARCASS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT RUST WAS FLAKING FROM THE FRAME/FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE TECHNICIAN AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE 70 VEHICLES WITH IDENTICAL BODIES DUE TO THIS FAILURE. IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $5,000 TO $6,0000 TO RE-WELD THE FRAME. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING HER VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT APPLICABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ HORSE TRAILER. THE VEHICLE HAS CARLISLE TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, ALL OF THE TIRES IN THE FIRST SET BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT HAS MAINTAINED THE PROPER AMOUNT OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES. CARLISLE WOULD LIKE THE CONTACT TO REMOVE ALL OF THE TIRES FROM HIS MOTOR HOME AND FORWARD THEM, WHICH MEANS HE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE TIRES AGAIN. THE TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

DOMETIC HAS A RECALL ON THE RV TYPE 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR MODEL RM2652 THAT WAS INSTALLED BY SUNDOWNER TRAILERS MFG. IN MY SIERRA 720 / 8010 LIVING QUARTERS HORSE TRAILER. THIS RECALL IS DUE TO A POSSIBLE FATIGUE CRACK IN THE BOILER/GAS TUBE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A " TORCH" IF ESCAPING GASES GOT TO AN IGNITION SOURCE, WHICH ALSO RESIDES AT THE BOILER TUBE LOCATION AS THIS IS A COMBO GAS/ELECTRIC APPLIANCE, CAUSING A VEHICLE FIRE. DOMETIC HAS COME UP WITH A WORK AROUND BANDAID, WHICH WOULD, HOPEFULLY, SHUT DOWN THE GAS FLOW BY INSTALLING A SENSOR NEAR OR ON THE BOILER TUBE TO DETECT THE GAS LEAK. HOPEFULLY, THIS WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE ENTIRE UNIT BECAME A 70MPH BALL OF FLAMES WHICH WOULD CAUSE INJURY AND / OR DEATH TO MY SURPRISE WINNING SHOW HORSES WHICH WOULD VALUE INTO THE $100,000.00 RANGE. I AM ABSOLUTELY SCARED TO SUBJECT MY HORSES TO THAT KIND OF POTENTIAL DANGER IN HOPES THAT DOMETIC'S BANDAID WILL WORK. IF THIS WERE JUST ANOTHER RV THAT DIDN'T TRANSPORT VALUABLE LIVE STOCK, I WOULDN'T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT IT AS I DO CARRY INSURANCE. HOWEVER, TO TAKE THIS CHANCE WITH SEVERAL LIVES, I JUST DON'T THINK IT IS WORTH IT ! YOUR ATTENTION INTO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. PLEASE REPLY SO THAT I KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO PROCEED... THANK YOU. *TR