2015 Grand Design Solitude

WHILE DOING A ROUTINE INSPECTION WHILE TRAVELING FOUND I HAD LEAKING WHEEL SEALS WHICH ARE KNOWN BY MANUFACTURER TO LEAK. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP DURING TRAVEL FEARING GREASE WOULD GET ON MY BRAKES AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. THE VERY NEXT DAY WHILE TRAVELING, UPON ARRIVING AT RV SITE REALIZED I HAD A BROKEN SPRING ON THE RIGHT REAR AXLE. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED UNTIL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THESE TWO ITEMS ARE NOT ONLY UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS BUT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND DEATH. I FEEL THE SPRINGS AND AXLES ARE OF VERY POOR QUALITY AND UNDERSIZED FOR WEIGHT OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF BROKEN SPRING FOUND THAT THE SECOND LEAF HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME CAUSING THE TOP SPRING TO BREAK.

PURCHASED NEW IN 2015. FOLLOWING 4000 TO 5000 MILES OF TRAVEL, I EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE ON TWO OF THE FOUR WHEELS ON THIS FIFTHWHEEL RV TRAILER. WENT TO MECHANIC AND REVEALED ALL FOUR SETS OF BRAKES SATURATED WITH GREASE FROM FAILED WHEEL BEARING GREASE SEALS. TWO OF THE BRAKE MAGNETS WOULD NOT FUNCTION DUE TO A HEAVY LAYER OF GREASE. THIS IS ALL FACTORY INSTALLED PARTS THAT WERE NOT DUE FOR SERVICE FOR ANOTHER 6000+ MILES. THIS TRAILER WEIGHS 15000 POUNDS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE DESCENDING A STEEP GRADE WHERE DISASTER WAS SURELY WAITING.

ON CURB SIDE WHEELS THERE WAS EXCESSIVE GREASE LEAKAGE INTO BOTH ELECTRIC BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. OBVIOUS SEAL/GREASE FAILURE. IN ADDITION ON REAR WHEEL, THE MAGNET ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO NOT SECURED AND "FELL OUT" WHEN HUB WAS TAKEN OFF. WAS ABLE TO CLEAN UP AND REPACK FRONT WHEEL, BUT REAR WHEEL WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. PICTURES OF REAL WHEEL DAMAGE INCLUDED. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES ON RV. LIPPERT WAS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AXLE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE SOLITUDE 379FL.