2007 Dutchmen Colorado

2007 DUTCHMEN COLORADO 5TH WHEEL. 28FT. TRAILER IS NOT LIFTED UP HIGH ENOUGH ON CHASSIS. TIRES ARE RUBBING UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER AND ON THE FENDER WELLS. ENOUGH SO THAT WE ARE AFRAID TO PULL OUR UNIT ANYMORE. MORE RUBBING ON THE TIRES IS GOING TO CAUSE A TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAILERING, CAUSING A BLOWOUT ON THE ROADWAY, WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT, INJURING OR KILLING OURSELVES OR OTHER MOTORISTS. OUR UNIT IS NOT OVERLOADED, AND HAS THE CORRECT TIRES ACCORDING TO PLACARDS ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES HAVE RUBBED SO MUCH THAT THE INSIDE OF THE FENDER WELLS ON THE SLIDEOUT IS DOWN TO BARE METAL. A SERVICEMAN HAS SAID THE ONLY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO ADD BLOCKS TO THE LEAFSPRINGS AND LONGER CUSTOM MADE UBOLTS TO LIFT THE TRAILER HIGHER OFF OF THE CHASSIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 (NA) DUTCHMEN COLORADO FIFTH WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AXLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JACK KNIFED AND CRASHED INTO THE BRIDGE ABOVE THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET HIS FAMILY OUT OF THE TRAILER. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY SERVICED IN ORDER TO GET IT TO THE SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MECHANIC AT THE TOW YARD STATED THAT THE PINS WERE SHEARED OFF ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT U BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED DOWN AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE REAR AXLE AND SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO INSPECT THE DAMAGES IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT, AND TO ALSO HAVE THE BODY DAMAGES REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT AXLES WILL ALSO FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS A PULL BEHIND; THEREFORE, NO VIN OR MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

2007 DUTCHMEN COLORADO WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND HAS HAD 27 REPAIRS MADE. SOME OF WHICH ARE THE SEWER DRAIN DRAINING UPWARD INSTEAD OF DOWNWARD, WATER LEAKS IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE RV. *KB THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE WHICH WAS CAUSING TIRE WEAR. THE ROOF LEAKED, THERE WERE SEWER TANK PROBLEMS, THE SEALS WERE SEPARATING, THE BUNKHOUSE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY SHUT DURING TRANSIT AND THE SLIDING DOOR TO THE BEDROOM WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. . *JB

WHILE CONDUCTING A PRE TRIP INSPECTION ON MY RV I FOUND THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE. I WEIGHED MY RV AND WAS WELL UNDER MY AXLE RATINGS. I TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE AXLES AND SAW THAT THE SPINDLE WELDS LOOK LIKE THEY WERE WELDED IMPROPERLY. IT APPEARS THAT TOO MUCH HEAT WAS APPLIED AT THE END OF THE WELD AND THE WELD FELL THROUGH INSIDE THE AXLE PIPE LEAVING A FLAT SPOT AND ABOUT 1 TO 2 INCH RUNS THE RUNS LOOK LIKE PAINT RUNS BUT ARE STEEL RUNS THAT DID NOT PENETRATE AND CAN BE BROKEN OFF BY HAND. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS CAUSED THE STEEL TO BECOME BRITTLE AND THAT THE EXCESS HEAT CAUSED THE AXLES TO BE WARPED OR EVEN STRESS CRACKED. MY RV IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WAITING TO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE WELDS THAT I CAN E-MAIL THE POOR WORKMANSHIP CAN BE EASILY SEEN IN THE PHOTOS. *TR