2004 Dutchmen Trailer Recalls & Complaints

Incident: August 21, 2010 · Filed: September 7, 2010

WE HAVE PURCHASED A USED CAMPER WHICH INCLUDES A SAMSUNG MICROWAVE WHICH STARTS WITHOUT PUSHING ANY BUTTONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. APPARENTLY THE FORMER OWNER DID NOT RESPOND TO THE RECALL FOR THIS APPLIANCE. I HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE ONLINE FROM OTHER CAMPER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE. SAMSUNG SERIAL #71QN904973K, MODEL #MR5493G. PLEASE DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. THANKS *TR

Incident: October 23, 2008 · Filed: March 9, 2009

FRAME FAILURE ON A TRAVEL TRAILER. I NOTICED UPON RETURN OF MY LAST CAMPING TRIP THAT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE TONGUE OF THE TRAILER UP AND DOWN AROUND 3 INCHES. *TR

Incident: August 28, 2007 · Filed: March 29, 2008

I LOOKED OUT MY RIGHT MIRROR AND SPARKS WERE COMING OUT OF THE BACK RIGHT WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OF INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND TAKE THE EXIT IN FOREST LAKE, MN TO HIGHWAY 8. I QUICKLY STOPPED MY WIFE TOLD ME TO TURN OFF THE GAS BEFORE WE HAD A FIRE. I CALLED COACH-NET AND THEY DISPATCHED A SERVICE TRUCK TO COME A INSTALL MY SPARE. WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP BACK TO DULUTH. THE NEXT DAY, AUGUST 29TH. I TOOK THE CAMPER BACK TO BULLYANS FOR AN ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE. WHEN BULLYAN?S WAS INSPECTING THE CAMPER FOR AN ESTIMATE THEY FOUND THIS THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REFRIGERATOR GAS LINE AND THAT IF I HAD NOT TURNED IT OFF WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HAD A FIRE. LATER THIS FALL THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN DOWN TO MANEY INTERNATIONAL. THE REAR AXLE WAS MANUFACTURED 1? OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DUTCHMAN TOLD BULLYAN THERE WERE DONE WITH THIS UNIT AND THAT THEY SHOULD CONTACT ALSO THE AXLE MANUFACTURE. THEY HAVE AGREED TO SEND A NEW AXLE WHICH HAS BEEN INSTALLED, BUT I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE LABOR FOR INSTALLING THE AXLE AND SHIPPING FOR THE RETURN THE AXLE TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY ANY OF THE LABOR. ALSO HAS REFUSED TO PLAY FOR THE ALIGNMENT WHICH SHOWED THE AXLE TO BE OUT OF ALIGN 1?. BULLYAN ALSO ASKED THEM ABOUT ALIGNING THE NEW AXLE AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT NECESSARY SINCE THEY ARE ALIGNED AT THE FACTORY! WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE THE CAMPER BACK TO MANEYS, BUT ALSO HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE FIRST ALIGNMENT OR THE ONE WE NEED NOW! I HAVE HAD TWENTY ?TWO (22) DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE FOUR WHEELS. THE RIGHT REAR AXLE WILL HAD FOUR DIFFERENT BACKING PLATE UNITS. IT HAS BEEN ALIGNED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. IT REALLY NEEDS IT AGAIN! I HAVE A TOTAL OF LESS THAT 14,000 MILES AND REPLACED THE BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT WE STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AXLE AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR

Incident: May 25, 2007 · Filed: September 17, 2007

TIRE FAILURE ON 2004 DUTCHMEN CLASSIC 29 FT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER PURCHASED NEW IN FEB 2005. FIRST FAILURE MAY 25,2007 SECOND FAILURE SEPT 15,2007 WITH RESULTS OF DAMAGE TO SKIRT OVER TIRES. CALLED YOUNGBLOODS RV CENTER IN PADUCAH, KY WHERE WE BOUGHT THE 5TH WHEEL AND THEY SAID TO CALL DUTCHMEN, THE MANUFACTURER. DUTCHMEN SAID TO CALL CARLISLE TIRES AND RIMS. THE TIRE SIZE IS ST 225 75R 15 RADIAL TRAIL. CARLISLE SAID TWO YEARS WARRANTY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES HAD 1100 MILES ON THEM . WE FEEL THE TIRES ARE SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND TWO BLOW OUTS OUT OF THREE OUTINGS IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH. AND NO ONE SEEM TO CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE OR DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEY MORE OR LESS SAID YOUR PROBLEM. *JB

Incident: June 16, 2007 · Filed: June 19, 2007

WHILE TRAVELING HOME TOWING A 2004 FOUR WINDS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER ON I-95 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ,CARLISLE RADIAL TRAIL, ST225/75R15, BLEW OUT ON TREAD AREA. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON TRAILER, CARLISLE TIRES HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BLOWING OUT, AND I THOUGHT POSSIBLY THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ,BUT I COULD NOT LOCATE ONE ON THE WEB. LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON TIRES. BLOW OUT/ MESSED UP SKIRTING ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. *AK

Incident: August 19, 2003 · Filed: May 1, 2007

ON AUG 19, 2003 HAD TO REPLACE TIRE ABD BRAKE ON ALKO AXLE. OCT 15, 2003 REPLACE TWO TIRES AND BRAKES MUCH DAMAGE TO TRAILER THAT WINTER ALKO PAID TO HAVE IN ALIGNED 1 1/4 OUT OF LINE BUT DID NOT REPLACE AXLE! 2005 AUGUST BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN AND NOW NEEDED A COMPLETE $500 BRAKE REPLACEMENT OF ALL SHOES WITH AROUND 12,000 ON TRAILER. DUTCHMEN SAID NEVER HAD THIS FIND OF PROBLEM! *TR

Incident: August 16, 2006 · Filed: October 6, 2006

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR TIRE BLOWOUTS ON MY 2004 5TH WHEEL RV. THE FIRST TIRE THAT BLEW I JUST TOOK IT AS POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARD. THIS YEAR ENROUTE TO NEW YORK ON VACATION, I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE RV. I REPLACED IT WITH A SPARE. ON THE WAY BACK HOME I HAD ONE REAR TIRE ON DRIVER SIDE OF RV BLOW OUT AND THE OTHER REAR TIRE ON PASSENGER SIDE LOSE ALL THE TREAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TIRE. I STARTED CHECKING INTO THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND TWO PROBLEMS. I HAVE AL KO AXLES, WHICH I FOUND ARE A POSSIBLE DEFECT. I CONTACTED AL KO REF. THE PROBLEM AND THEY SENT TWO NEW AXLES, BUT WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM THEY STATED THEY HAD NO RECALL AS THEY COULD NOT SAY IF THE AXLES WERE A PROBLEM OR IF THERE WERE SOME OTHER PROBLEM. THE TRAILER REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE AXLES TAKEN OFF WERE FLAT, COMPARED TO THE NEW AXLES THAT HAVE A SLIGHT BOW TO THEM. I UNDERSTAND HAVING THE BOW IS THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE. THE OTHER PROBLEM WHICH I FIND OCCURR QUITE FREQUENTLY IS CARLISLE TIRES BLOWING OUT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR CARLISLE TIRES BLOWING OUT. THEY EACH HAD PROPER AIR IN THEM 80 PSI, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER WAS UNDER THE WEIGHT. THE TIRES WERE SENT BACK TO CARLISLE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. I DID FINALLY GET THEM TO SEND ME A CHECK FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES, BUT AGAIN NO REPAIR OF THE DAMAGES. DUTCHMAN COMPLETELY HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM

Incident: September 1, 2006 · Filed: October 4, 2006

I HAVE A 2004 AEROLITE CUB 236 TRAVEL TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY DUTCHMEN. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING ON THE INSIDE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED MANY OTHERS (VARIOUS BRANDS OF MFG'S.) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AXLES : AL-KO KOBER CORP. 21611 PROTECTA DR. P.O. BOX 1367 (46515) ELKHART, IN 46516 (574) 294-6651 IS AWARE OF A MANUFACTURING WELDING DEFECT IN THE YEARS OF 2003-2004 ON THEIR RUBBER TORSION AXLES. MANY HAVE STATED AL-KO HAS REPLACED THEIR AXLES DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THE DUTCHMEN WARRANTY IS UP ON THE TRAVEL TRAILER BUT AL-KO HAS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THEIR AXLES. I CONTACTED AL-KO AND THEY SENT ME 2 REPLACEMENT AXLES UNDER WARRANTY. I AM TO REPLACE THE AXLES AND TIRES AT MY EXPENSE. AL-KO MIGHT HONOR TIRE AND LABOR REIMBURSEMENT IF I SHIP THE OLD AXLES AND TIRES BACK TO AL-KO AT MY EXPENSE FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE CASE WHETHER I DO THE WORK OR I HAVE A DEALER PERFORM THE WORK. THE AL-KO PACKING SLIP THAT CAME WITH THE TWO AXLES STATES THIS IS A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT AND TO BILL THE AXLES TO AERO COACH IN INDIANA. I HAVE CONTACTED DUTCHMEN MFG. AND THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF SUCH A THING AS THEM BEING BILLED FOR A WARRANTY ITEM. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ON THEIR END. IN THE MEAN TIME THERE ARE MANY TRAILERS OUT THERE BLOWING TIRES DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE AXLES. WHEN I ASKED WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL I GOT NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN "WHERE DO YOU WANT THE AXLES SHIPPED TO?" I HAVE TWO NEW AXLES AND 5 WORN TIRES THAT I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM RATHER IT IS THE AXLE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE IS NO LISTING FOR AL-KO KOBER SO I HAD TO FILE THIS UNDER DUTCHMEN. *JB

Incident: June 15, 2006 · Filed: August 13, 2006

I OWN A 2004 DUTCHMAN 5TH WHEEL RV. THE TIRES ON IT ARE CARLISLE BRAND. SINCE ITS PURCHASE 2 YEARS AGO, I HAVE HAD 2 BLOWOUTS AND CARLISLE/DUTCHMAN REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND SPARE SAYING TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS PLEASED AND WENT ON. MY TRAILER IS LARGE, ALMOST 11000 LBS DRY. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT STRANGE TO HAVE D LOAD RANGE TIRES SINCE MY DODGE DIESEL HAS E LOAD RANGE TIRES. ON JUNE 15TH 2006 I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN A TIRE BLEW A LARGE HOLE IN IT. I DROPPED THE SPARE AND MOUNTED IT. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED THE SPARE CARLISLE HAD GIVEN ME WAS AN E RATED TIRE. I NOTICED IT DID NOT SAG UNDER LOAD SAME AS OTHER 3 TIRES. WHEN I GOT HOME, I BOUGHT A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. I WAS TOLD THAT SIZE TIRE WAS STANDARD IN 10 PLY E RATED. ON MY TRAILER, THERE IS A STAMPED PLATE WITH TIRE SPECS THAT SHOW 235/85R16 (E) AT 80 LBS PRESSURE. I CONTACTED MY RV DEALER, HE SAID IT SEEMED STRANGE THAT IT WOULD HAVE D RATED THAT ONLY INFLATE TO 65 LBS. HE CONTACTED MANUFACTURE WHO CONTACTED CARLISLE TIRES. CARLISLE SAYS THEY WERE OUT OF E RATED TIRES AT THAT TIME SO THEY BUILT A D RATED TIRE THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS MORE WEIGHT THAN AN E RATED AND THE TIRES ARE SUITED FOR MY RIG. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE MY TIRES ARE COMING APART AGAIN THOUGH I MAY BE PARANOID AT THIS POINT. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WEARING EVEN. I JUST REPLACED MY TRUCK TIRES AFTER 65000 MILES BECAUSE I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY TIRES. I THINK CARLISLE IS MISREPRESENTING THESE TIRES AND THAT THEY COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THEY ARE HOLDING UP A 11000 LB. VEHICLE. *NM

Incident: June 18, 2006 · Filed: July 25, 2006

2004 DUTCHMAN LITE 24QB-SSI WIRING MELTED CAUSING SMOKE. BATTERY POWERED APPLIANCES WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS PLUGGED IN. *KB THE SMOKING BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HEAT. THE CONSUMER STARTED LOOKING AROUND AND NOTICED THAT THEIR WAS NO BATTERY POWER. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NO POWER WAS GETTING TO THE DISTRIBUTION PANEL FROM THE BATTERIES. THE MAIN LOOM THAT RUNS UNDER THE TRAILER HAD BURNED AND FUSED TOGETHER. *NM