woodman1
massachusetts
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Joined: 09/05/2008
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Hi everyone. I feel like an old family member. Although I never posted before, I am a avid reader of RV.NET. for over 3 years. Almost two years ago I purchased a Keystone Copper Canyon 5th wheel model 252fwrls. The first year we only used it once on a 600 mile trip. The 2nd year we traveled across country, app. 12,000 miles. When we returned from our trip the right front tire was worn almost bald on the outer side. The other tires were evenly worn, almost like new. I returned the trailer to where I purchased it for inspection. The mechanic told me it had a bent axle. He notified Keystone, they told him to take measurements and send pictures of the tire. This has been on going for 2 months with repeated calls and lost e-mails. This week they notified the dealer they wouldn't warranty the axle saying I must have hit something. The mechanic said there was no marks or damage to the tire or rim. I called customer relations and what they said was it was my fault. I must have hit something even though I didn't. Their response was try and prove it was bent before I bought it. How is someone going to prove that? Is this how Keystone handles their warranty? I have had a number of minor problems that were under warranty and I fixed them myself. This is my first claim. I also forgot to mention the axle is an AL-KO and has a 2 year warranty. Has anyone had a similar problem? If so, do you have any suggestions as to how I can settle this?
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Jack_Diane_Freedom
Lindsay Ont, and Gulf Coast Florida
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Joined: 05/11/2005
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Suggest you call AL-KO and see what they have to say.
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CactusJohn
Scottsdale, AZ
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Joined: 03/23/2008
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I had the same thing happen to me while my 5er was still under warranty. I had excessive wear on the outside of one of my tires and the others were worn normally. My independent RV repair shop (no Ameri-Camp dealers in AZ) sent it to an axle shop and they determined that it was a bent axle spindle and that it was likely “impact related.” I didn’t think I had hit anything either, but it’s difficult to prove a negative.
2007 Ameri-Camp Summit Ridge SF27RK 5er
2008 F250 Lariat SuperCab, 6.4L PSD
Reese 16K Kwik-Slide with BedSaver
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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Joined: 09/25/2007
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Kind of hard to prove something never happened. I believe I am facing the same thing right now. I noticed today both tires on the drivers side are wearing on the inside edge and both tires on the passenger side are wearing on the outside edge. Called the dealer today and sounds like they are going to try and wiggle out of it. Told me to have it checked at a alignment shop but if it came like that the tire wear would have showed up before now. The 5er is 9 months old with 5,000 miles on it.
Papa Bob
1* DW "Granny"
1* 2008 Brookside Sunnybrook 32'
1* 2002 F250 Super Duty 7.3L PSD
Husky 16K hitch, Tekonsha P3,
Firestone Ride Rite Air Springs, Trailair Equa-Flex, Champion C46540
"A bad day camping is better than a good day at work!"
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100ton
Huntington Beach, California
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Joined: 05/08/2005
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I would think the proof that you hit something would fall on Keystone. As stated, how are you to "prove" that you didn't hit something?
If your insurance deductible allows, perhaps you should turn it over to your insurance company. Maybe your insurance company can talk to Keystone concerning fault, after all, they are experts in the field.
Just a thought.
See you out there,
Robert
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jason_rving
North Georgia
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Joined: 04/18/2003
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What year is your Keystone?
My 2004 had a bad axle and I was successful in getting ALKO to send me two new axles and Cedar Creek helped me put the pressure on them, even when my Warranty with Cedar Creek was way past (that's why my next rig will be another Cedar Creek). I did however end up changing the axles myself, it was a big job but not that hard with the right tools.
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raygreg
Seattle,WA
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Joined: 06/30/2003
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Easy fix. Take it to a frame and axel shop. About $100 per axel and they will align it to better then new specs.
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yankeecamper
FUQUAY VARINA, NC, USA
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Joined: 05/04/2003
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GOOD LUCK getting them to do any thing for you. I have a 2006 mountaineer had a bad axle and Keystone or Dexter would do anything for me. First they said it ws overloaded. After I proved that it wasn't overloaded they said they wouldn't cover bend axle. If you take it to the axle shop to have it straighten make sure they know want they are doing. Had mine done and it didn,t do any good. I replaced both 6000 lb axles with 7000 lbs axles. The other problem could be shackles bushings. Replace all your shackles bushings with brass greasable bushings.
Barb and Rich, Fuquay Varina, NC
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab
Dually 4x2
5.9-Liter HO Cummins Turbo Diesel
2006 Mountaineer 5er by Montana-344RET-3 slides
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woodman1
massachusetts
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Thank you everyone for your replies. My trailer is a 2006. I guess my main reason for posting my complaint is how Keystone handled it. The last time I called the person didn't have my claim file or even know my name. They completely dismissed my side of the claim. They even said that maybe the carrier who delivered the trailer caused the axle to bend. Doesn't my warranty begin the day I purchased it? not when it left the factory. I can't believe a company can stay in business treating their customers like that. Well now they have one less customer.
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yankeecamper
FUQUAY VARINA, NC, USA
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No more Keystone products for me
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