VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A HANNIGAN MOTORCYCLE TRAILER, SIERRA MODEL, MADE BY HANNIGAN MOTORSPORTS, 4044 HWY 641 SOUTH, MURRAY, KY 42071, (270) 753-4256. I HAD TO LIST ANOTHER MANUFACTURER BECAUSE HANNIGAN IS NOT LISTED AND YOU CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT A MANUFACTURER. TRAILER HAS UNUSUAL UNDERSIDE AERODYNAMICS THAT CAUSE ROAD DUST AND FINE SAND TO BE SUCKED FROM THE ROADWAY AND ON TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER JUST BEHIND THE WHEELS. DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT STARTED, AS THE AREA IS NOT READILY VISIBLE, BUT JUDJING FROM AFTER THE BODY WAS PENETRATED, THE EROSION IS VERY FAST AFTER THE GEL COAT PROTECTING THE FIBERGLASS IS WORN AWAY. OPENING THE TRAILER ON 21 JULY, 2005, HAVING JUST ENTERED ALASKA, THE INTERIOR WAS VERY DUSTY. AFTER UNLOADING I NOTICED TWO 6" HOLES IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE. NO REPAIR FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN TOK ALASKA, SO REPACKED TRAILER AND DROVE TO FAIRBANKS THE NEXT DAY. NO REPAIR FACILITY THERE EITHER AND ON ENTERING A PARKING LOT APPARENTLY GEAR INSIDE THE TRAILER WAS HANGIN DOWN AND CAUGHT THE CURB. TRAILER WENT AIRBORNE THEN LANDED LIKE AN ANCHOR. I WAS FLUNG FORWARD AND HIT THE WINDSCREEN. ON EXAMINATION THE HALD DAY'S DIVE HAD ERODED ANOTHER SQUARE FOOT OF THE BOTTOM, INCLUDING ALL FORWARD LEADING EDGES. HAD THAT OCCURED AT ANY SPEED, EXPECIALLY ON A CURVE, LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. REPAIRED AS BEST I COULD WITH HEAVY RUBBER MAT AND DUCT TAPE AND WENT TO ANCHORAGE, WHERE THERE WAS A REPAIR FACILITY. PART I HAD TAPED AND RUBERIZED SURVIVED, BUT SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL EROSION TO THE FORWARD EDGES BEHIND THE AXLE. ENTIRE READ UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER REBUILT IN WASILA, AK, AND PROTECTIVE PLATE ADDED.

NHTSA ODI #10134094

Official recalls

07V396000 · Equipment

Aug 31, 2007

ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH COVERED HAYRACKS, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE HAYRACK TO THE ROOF MOUNTING BRACKET MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE HAYRACK TO SEPARATE FROM THE TRAILER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FASTENERS SECURING THE HAYRACK TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE ROOF OF THE TRAILER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT 4-STAR AT 1-800-848-3095.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE05044 · Loose Axle Hardware

Opened Aug 17, 2005 · Closed Oct 19, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:rear

ODI DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM DURING A SERVICE BULLETIN REVIEW.ON JULY 21, 2005, 4-STAR FORWARDED ODI A COPY OF A SERVICE LETTER RECENTLY SENT TO THEIR DEALERS AND OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO INSPECT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BRACKET BOLTS ON THE AXLE SUSPENSION.A LINE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS INSTALLED ON THE AXLE WERE NOT APPROPRIATELY TORQUED. ODI'S INVESTIGATION PROMPTED 4-STAR TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE AXLE CONFIGURATION AND ITS ATTACHING HARWARE.4-STAR HAS NOW CONCLUDED THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ERRONEOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: STARTING WITH THE FIRST PRODUCTION TRAILER, A BRACE BAR WAS WELDED TO THE TRAILER'S FRAME TO ADD STABILITY TO THE FLOOR OF THE TRAILER.THE BAR WAS THEN BOLTED TO BRACKETS WITH LOCK NUTS AND THE BRACKETS WERE THEN WELDED TO THE AXLES.THEREFORE, THE ADDED STRENGTH SUPPLIED BY THE WELDS MAKES THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE IRRELEVANT.AT ODI'S REQUEST,4-STAR PROVIDED DATA AND EXAMINED TRAILERS FROM EACH MODEL YEAR AND PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS THEIR CLAIM.( CONTINUES ON PAGE 2)