New stuff: Catastrophic failure

rvrlaxn

Cadet
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
29
Just got all new 2000 lb axle, bearing buddy hubs, leafs, hangers, brackets, hardware, new LoadStar 14 inch wheel tires...all of it. Put under a 1400 lb rig and went 3 miles.. total leaf spring failure. One went straight flat, the other looks like a "W". the W leaf sent the brand new tire into the trailer frame and fender causing a 6 in gash and massive blowout. The flat leaf cause sever rub on the the other new tires inboard sidewall with severe rubber loss and melting...tires shot. Brand new stuff from AAA Trailer Parts. Looked great going on, price was right. 2 days now trying to get some support. Luckily I was on a test run after the suspension replacement, and stuck to the frontage roads, but damn 3 miles. Will keep posted on customer support. Axle and hubs are fine, but I see them owing me leafs and another set of wheel/tire assys.
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,316
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Who is the manufacturer and where were the springs made?
 

robert graham

Admiral
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
6,908
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

The good part is you weren't 200 miles down the road, got hurt or killed anybody. Mostly just equipment failure. My guess is the leaf springs weren't heat treated correctly, or not at all. Seems they should give you some relief for all your trouble. Other than a failure, I'm not sure how you could tell if they were heat treated or not...probably made in Taiwan from old beer cans? Glad nobody got hurt!
 

N3UP

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
125
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Gotta love that low cost Chinese steel!
 

rvrlaxn

Cadet
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
29
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Dont know the mfg, but certainly made in china springs. The Axle and hubs look well made, and were built from raw stock (axles anyway) buy AAA Trailer Parts. I have been trying to contact them to resolve issue. I feel that they will make it right.
 

rvrlaxn

Cadet
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
29
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Follow up.
NO response from AAA Trailer Parts. Will not answer calls or email. Filed a BBB complaint. I do not expect anything to come of it, but at least it is on file. To bad. Seemed like a good company. The local mfg axle it A one. Guess they "ordered out" for the leaf springs and ect.. Glad it didnt result in a highway failure. Righty tighty and SCREW China. They will be the death of us. Buy MADE IN THE USA. When at all possible.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

I hate to rain on your parade but there are some things that may have gone wrong for you that were not the fault of the spring manufacturer. Springs need to be the right length for the spacing between the front and rear shackles. If that spacing is not correct for the springs, or the springs incorrect for the shackles, binding occurs, springs can break, shackles can go overcenter and lock causing -- you got it -- catostrophic failure. When everything was installed and the trailer sitting loaded on its wheels the bottom end of the rear spring shackles should have been angled to the rear of the trailer. If they were pointing forward, or if they were laying against the frame or close to it, that was the issue and that is exactly what made a "W" out of the spring and flattened the other one.
 

rvrlaxn

Cadet
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
29
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Silvertip. Springs were the same dimensions and rating as the OEM. Rear hangers were deflected slightly aft when loaded. In fact, they are not now bottomed out on the frame. It is pretty obvious that these springs had no 'spring'. Live and learn I suppose. At least I was not rolling down Hwy 85 at 70Mph running 3 wide.
 

bonz_d

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
5,276
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

We are all thankful no one was injured in this mishap. I guess this is a good example of the odds were something goes catastrophic and we all get to hear about it as opposed to the successes that we never hear about. Also an example of why a shakedown cruise whether it be on land or one the water!
 

linxlvr

Seaman
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Messages
61
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

That's really something 1400 pounds is something like 550 on a spring. Bubblegum alloy should have been able to stand up to that for a year or two.

I think you should write a note to the vendor advising them that "in 'x' period of time you will be contacting the attorney general of the state and the DOT of the state also, unless a suitable explanation can be made for this occurrence".

I would think this MIGHT open up a dialog. If not, contact the parties mentioned with all the info and be sure to explain the safety issue aspects, as the people contacted may not be thinking it through.

In the end, I believe you will find yourself compensated. Even if there is "No Warranty" on the parts, there is usually a "guarantee of merchantability" clause in state law. This basically states that a product must perform the purpose it was sold for.

I am not sure of state law in SC of course, but I know here in NY the above gets a lot of attention. The problem is rarely are people aware of their protection as consumers.

I do encourage you to hold them accountable, for as long as we allow it as consumers, it will worsen.

I was once told "We get what we accept". I have found that to be true as an individual, and as a society.

--
dw
 

rvrlaxn

Cadet
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
29
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

I filed a complaint with the BBB. It is my first time filing such a complaint. I was happy with the format which the BBB gives you. I filed a concise, factual, non-demanding or threatening complaint. I will give it a week or so. It appears that they hold cases as open or closed depending on the level of feedback from both parties. I did not ask for replacement of the leaf springs, as I do not trust their supplier. I asked for monetary compensation for the springs. I also asked that the new 14 inch LoadStar tires be replaced. One was a blowout, and the other is damaged enough only to be a spare. We will see.
 

jeeperman

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
1,513
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Try using a hacksaw on the springs.
Compare the same hacksaw action on a known regular hunk of steel like a piece of angle iron.
The hacksaw action will be significatly different between the two.
The spring steel will be very resistant to hacksawing.
 

BaileysBoat

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Messages
716
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Where did the 2000 lb axle spec come from? If you go to the ShorLand'r website they recommend a SLB22 trailer with a GVWR of 2960 lbs, capacity of 2200 lbs.

http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/boattotrailer/mfg.aspx?type=

http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/t_specs.aspx?type=&productID=1088

I mean, a 2000 lb axle minus 400 for the trailer allows for only 1600 lbs. MAX. Are you sure the Key Wes only weighs 1400 lbs? Boats never seem to get lighter.

None of the above alters the fact that AAA trailer is very wrong not responding to you.
 

jondavies

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
178
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

If the trailer is still in damaged condition, I would contact my local highway patrol office and ask them to at least witness and document the failure (it may be helpful to have them on record if you have to litigate). Perhaps they would be willing to contact AAA as well, as it seems they are selling a product that presents a serious hazard on the highway.

This is in addition to contacting the state AG and DOT as DW advised above.
 

ajgraz

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 1, 2010
Messages
1,858
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Who installed the stuff? You or the shop? If the shop installed it then I don't see any way in heck they could get away with this!
 

rvrlaxn

Cadet
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
29
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Seems my last reply did not go through. Anyway. I did file with the BBB and have a case number and a time limit for the business to respond. They are not obligated, but it is in their best interests.
As far as the state of the material of the leafs. I have resources to have the steel NDI hardness tested. I will do that, and post the results. Yes, comparison sawing with a hacksaw would give me and idea of the relative hardness, but if I can have it harness tested why not.
I will purchase new leafs from local shop. Will get 3000 lb rated this time. Trailer is original and placarded for 2000 GVWR. Boat specs at about 1150. 75HP maybe 350. Will never have more than 500 of gas and gear. But still. 3000 leafs this time.
All parts purchased online, and installed by me. NOTE I did a better job than any shop would do. I am an aircraft mechanic by trade, and by default pay very close attention to detail, consider possible fail points and safety against them, ect.. You get the idea, I science fornicate most of my projects, drives wife nuts. Laugh...
Will keep ya'll posted.
 

The_Kid

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
447
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Your numbers add up to an overloaded trailer.

1150 Boat
350 motor
500 of gas and gear
2000 Total
2000 GVWR is the total weight of the trailer and everything loaded on it. You're already at 2000 without adding the weight of the trailer.
 

'78 Crusader

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
407
Re: New stuff: Catastrophic failure

Your numbers add up to an overloaded trailer.

1150 Boat
350 motor
500 of gas and gear
2000 Total
2000 GVWR is the total weight of the trailer and everything loaded on it. You're already at 2000 without adding the weight of the trailer.

Thats the first thing I thought of when I read the post.
 
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