2009 UTILITY VS2RA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 UNITED EXPRESS TRAILER (N/A) WITH MASTER TRACK TOURING TIRES (N/A), SIZE FT225/75/R15, DOT NUMBER: 9QM1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

PURCHASED AN 8 X16 CAR HAULER FROM QUALITY TRAILERS 4 LESS ON NOVEMBER 10,2009. TRAILER WAS USED FOR HAULING VEHICLES TO AND FROM SHOP LOCATION WITH NUMEROUS ADJUSTMENTS TO RECEIVERS, HITCHES, TIRES, SHOCKS, AND STABILIZER BUSHINGS ON OUR 1985 FORD F250 TO TRY AND ADJUST FOR A CONSTANT TAIL WAGGLING ISSUE. ON JULY 8, 2010 WE WERE HAULING A1997 FORD RANGER WITH NO ENGINE IN IT BACK TO OUR SHOP LOCATION. UPON TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY THE REAR AXLE ON THE TRAILER BROKE WITH THE VEHICLE STILL ON THE TRAILER. WHEN WE LOOKED TO SEE WHY THIS HAPPENED WE NOTED THAT THE AXLE HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY WELDED. WE CONTACTED BOTH QUALITY TRAILERS 4 LESS AND LONE WOLF TRAILERS WHO ARE OUT OF ALABAMA AND THE HOLDER OF THE WARRANTY FOR OUR TRAILER. AFTER 3 DAYS WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM LONE WOLF TRAILERS ADMITTING THAT THEY KNEW OF SOME OF THE TRAILERS HAVING FAULTY AXLES . AT THIS POINT IN TIME AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6 EMAILS AND 4 PHONE CALLS WE ARE NO CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION OF THIS SITUATION. WE FEEL THEY NEED TO BE REPORTED SIMPLY ON THE BASIS THAT THEY KNEW OF FAULTY AXLE SITUATIONS AND YET THEY DID NOT CONTACT US THE CONSUMER TO LET US KNOW OF THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SAFETY HAZARD. IF THIS BREAKAGE HAD OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY OTHER BUSY ROADWAY AND NOT IN OUR DRIVEWAY I AM QUITE SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT IT. WE DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT AS THE ONLY DAMAGE DONE WAS TO THE TRAILER ITSELF AND HAPPENED ON OUR PROPERTY. WE FEEL THAT THEY NOT ONLY PUT OUR SAFETY BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS ON THE LINE BY NOT NOTIFYING US OF THE KNOWN AXLE PROBLEMS AND NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY. *TR

A STOUGHTON 40 FT HOPPER TRAILER INCURRED A FRAME FAILURE UNDER LOAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER CROSSING RR TRACKS. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THIS TRAILER IN INCORRECT IN THE REQUIRED FIELD FOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION. "STOUGHTON" IS NOT AN OPTION ON THIS SITE. *TR

THULE UTILITY TRAILER IS EQUIPPED WITH BAD SAFETY CHAINS. THE CHAIN IS MADE OF PLASTIC COATED STEEL CABLE WITH THE CRIMMPED COUPLINGS. I PULLED THE CHAIN WITH MY HAND AND IT CAME APART. THIS CHAIN SUPPOSE TO KEEP TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE IN CASE IT LOOSES BALL CONNECTION. TRAILER IS DESIGNED TO CARRY 1300 POUNDS OF CARGO LOAD, SO THE CABLE SHOULD BE MADE MUCH MORE DURABLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT CABLE WAS CRIMPED OVER PLASTIC COATING THAT IS THE BIGGEST CABLE HANDLING VIOLATION. E-TRAILER, THAT SOLD ME THULE 205 UTILITY TRAILER SENT A REPLACEMENT CABLE THAT WAS MADE EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. I WAS POINTING OUT THIS PROBLEM TO CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER JULY, BUT SHE WAS WONDERING WHY ONLY MY CABLE BROKE, BUT NO ONE ELSE COMPLAINED. I TRIED TO EXPLAIND HER THAT IF SOME ONE HAS TO RELAY ON SAFETY CABLE, THESE CABLE WILL FAIL AND THEY WILL HAVE LAW SUITS. I AM THE ENGINEER THAT WORKS WITH CABLES AND I KNOW THAT EVERY MANUFACTURER OF COATED CABLE PUTS NOTES WARNING DO NOT CRIM ANYTHING OVER PLASTIC COATING AS IT WILL NOT WORK. APPEARS THULE CAN NOT READ INSTRUCTIONS, OR THEY ARE NOT TARNSLATED IN TO CHINESE WHERE TRAILERS ARE MADE. THEY SOLD A LOTS OF TRAILERS AND LOOKS LIKE EVERY ONE HAS THIS HIDDEN PROBLEM. I MADE MY OWN CABLES NOT WAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN.