I am completely blown away with this. Crawled under my 2001 Cougar the other day for usual spring maintenance/inspection to get ready for the season. When I was shocked to find the two main I=beams were TWISTED AND CRACKED!!! I had noticed first the spring shackles were crooked and out of shape, then eyeballed the frame rails to see them WAVY in shape. Then found 8" long cracks in BOTH I-beams!
This trailer is meticulously maintained, never ever even been near an accident or abused, and this 8 year old trailer has a frame rendered useless??? It's not road worthy. it is used a total of maybe 2 weeks a year.
Three days ago I notified Keystone Manufacturing, and they asked for pics which I gladly sent, but never heard back, even after calling every day at least 3 times a day...
Am I stuck with this junk frame?
Has anyone out there experienced this?
I wonder how many Cougars are out there on the road like this without owners knowing about it? Could be extremely dangerous, and think the word should get out for all trailer owners to check this potential accident waiting to happen.
I do not have any hope that Keystone will help with this. Their frame manufacturer (Lippert) indicated to me that the frame has a 2 year warranty. I said, why would it do this? Their explanantion was multiple backing it into tight areas with tight turns, flexes and stresses the frame. I said, but you people are designing these just for that purpose, how can you make a frame so defective?
I received no comment.
Would appreciate anyone's help with this, as we are about to loose many prepaid campsites, and no camping season!!!
That's about the lamest excuse I've ever heard of. Sounds like you've used your trailer about as much in 8 years as I have in the first 6 months. Most RV manufacturers warranty their frames for 10 years or more, I don't know about Keystone. The warranty is not voided because you've been "backing it into tight areas with tight turns" because that's what folks DO with a trailer. Maybe Keystone should tell folks when they purchase them that they are required to use only pull through sites
skipnchar wrote: That's about the lamest excuse I've ever heard of. Sounds like you've used your trailer about as much in 8 years as I have in the first 6 months. Most RV manufacturers warranty their frames for 10 years or more, I don't know about Keystone. The warranty is not voided because you've been "backing it into tight areas with tight turns" because that's what folks DO with a trailer. Maybe Keystone should tell folks when they purchase them that they are required to use only pull through sites
I couldn't agree with you more, a frame has GOT to last longer than this. Frame people said they only build the frames to the RV manufacturers specs.
Gonna call once again tomorrow (Keystone), if I cannot get the customer service agent I started with, I'm gonna ask for an officer of the company!
Can you post some pics here? Does your trailer have full length longitudinal 2x2 box sections welded on the bottom of the I-beams as mounting points for the spring shackles? Or, are the U-sections of bent 2" flat stock they call spring hangers on travel trailers just welded to the bottom flange of the I-beam?
Let us know the outcome of this. My best friend is looking to buy a cougar this weekend because of the rear bike rack. If they blow you off I'm sure he will be crushed and they wont be getting a sale from him. You may want to send a letter to Trailer life magazine under RV action. A lot of us read it and usually they get a response.
arthurs family wrote: Let us know the outcome of this. My best friend is looking to buy a cougar this weekend because of the rear bike rack. If they blow you off I'm sure he will be crushed and they wont be getting a sale from him. You may want to send a letter to Trailer life magazine under RV action. A lot of us read it and usually they get a response.
pupeperson wrote: Can you post some pics here? Does your trailer have full length longitudinal 2x2 box sections welded on the bottom of the I-beams as mounting points for the spring shackles? Or, are the U-sections of bent 2" flat stock they call spring hangers on travel trailers just welded to the bottom flange of the I-beam?
One other question, particularly since you are risking losing your camp sites / vacation plans, etc., how much faith do you have in Lippert or Cougar or whoever fixing this for you? I'd say notify them that you're going to go get it fixed (shouldn't take a good welder long to jack it up get the pieces lined up and welded back together and then fish-plate the cracks -- it'd probably be better than new) and send them the bill. If they don't end up making you whole again, that's what lawyers are for. But, as far as damages like loss of your vacation sites and on and on, you have an obligation to mitigate those to the greatest extent possible, which handling as above would do if someone can get it done in time.
pupeperson wrote: One other question, particularly since you are risking losing your camp sites / vacation plans, etc., how much faith do you have in Lippert or Cougar or whoever fixing this for you? I'd say notify them that you're going to go get it fixed (shouldn't take a good welder long to jack it up get the pieces lined up and welded back together and then fish-plate the cracks -- it'd probably be better than new) and send them the bill. If they don't end up making you whole again, that's what lawyers are for. But, as far as damages like loss of your vacation sites and on and on, you have an obligation to mitigate those to the greatest extent possible, which handling as above would do if someone can get it done in time.
All good advice....I do not trust a Cougar dealer for this repair,
if I do not get answers tomorrow, I will be trying an experienced welding shop for an estimate.
Thanks
I think you need to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) as soon as possible. Hopefully they will take action on this as it could be more than a random happening. I don't know the frame manufacturer of the trailers we own, but I really hope they are not Lippert. The sliding tray for the gas bottles is made by Lippert, and it is a pain in the arse to use, I don't think it could be built any cheaper. Before you hire a welder to fix the frame, I would take dozens of very clear pictures, backliting to highlite the cracked areas.
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