Axle issues and GVWR ratings changed

[N5PHT]

Hello,

I have a Keystone Montana High Country 343RL and it has 5200 pound Dexter axles. I think they are too light duty so I have been dealing with this with Keystone in emails for awhile.

Keystone has now decided my GVWR was wrong on the factory sticker! They have also (both in writing) told me they were mistaken on how much cargo I could carry. Here is the relevant data:

2012 Web page (still now last time I looked): GVWR is not actually listed but “dry weight and cargo allowance” totals: 12,500

Factory GVWR sticker on my 2012 unit: 12,500

2012 Web page specs show cargo allowance of 2920 pounds
My 2012 sticker on trailer states cargo allowance of 2400 pounds (both Keystone and Federal)

((I understand the cargo allowance being reduced to 2400 pounds due to my options I elected at time of purchase with 2nd air, etc.))

NOW, Keystone has sent me new stickers for my trailer stating the first ones were in error. The new stickers:

1. Lowers the GVWR to 12,120 (same as 2013 model of the 343RL)
2. Lowers the allowable cargo to 2,020 pounds.

So, I have tried to call US Gov Dept that handles GVWR rules and have gotten nothing but voice mails and no return calls.

Bottom line questions:

1. Can a manufacturer decide to lower the GVWR a year after purchase – no weighing or even looking at the unit or no unit modifications?
2. Can manufacturer legally sell a unit and state it has cargo allowance of x amount and a year later decide the cargo allowance is significantly less than when purchased?
3. Is it even legal for me to remove the GVWR sticker and replace it with another (I will likely not do that in any case)?
4. I am not sure but I think the VIN number with the Feds has the GVWR – is that corrtect?

My original concern is the weight on the axles. Well, with the GVWR and Keystone’s stated pin weight from the time of purchase the axles are too light duty. But, of course, with the NEW GVWR they are exactly OK – to the pound: 10,400 (they are 5200 rated). How interesting.

Any recourse for the consumer? Or is is best to just forget the issue and enjoy the trailer and hope the axles don’t prove too light? Part of me is incensed that Keystone treats this issue as noted above and part of me is tired of the energy involved. But I really think the 343RL 2012 model is in violation of axle regulations.

One point: I fully realize the actual pin weight may be (could be – depending on how I load the trailer) more than what Keystone states – but that is really not the main point. Would you want to buy a 5er that was sold to carry 2400 pounds cargo safely and a year later the manufacturer decide that was a mistake? And we “goofed” on the GVWR?

Ideas appreciated. Gary Stone, Ham Op N5PHT Montana HC (2012) 343RL and F-250 Ford Diesel.

[Robby9]

Hire a lawyer and file a suit. You didn't get what you paid for.

[Quad]

I'll be honest, I really don't know about on road law and regs. But I work for a forklift company, and its very common for us to change out data tags with dif capacity, heights, weight, and so on as options change on the unit. In the end its what our manufacture says it is as they assume the liability for something that fails. I know that not what you want to hear and it may be totally different for on road vehicles. But I just wanted to get you a little insight.

[therink]

If this helps, my 2013 Sydney 340fbh fifth wheel dry weight dry weight is listed as 10600 with cargo capacity of 1800 lbs/total gvwr of 12,400. I also have 5200lb axles which I feel are too light for this trailer. I weighed it loaded for camping and it scaled in at 12280. 5100 lbs rear axle, 4700 front axle and I around 2400 pin.
I am so close to maxing my axle ratings and am concerned. This rig should have 8 lug 6000 lb axles like the Laredos do.
I will follow this thread.
Steve

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by N5PHT

Hello,

I have a Keystone Montana High Country 343RL and it has 5200 pound Dexter axles. I think they are too light duty so I have been dealing with this with Keystone in emails for awhile.

Keystone has now decided my GVWR was wrong on the factory sticker! They have also (both in writing) told me they were mistaken on how much cargo I could carry. Here is the relevant data:

2012 Web page (still now last time I looked): GVWR is not actually listed but “dry weight and cargo allowance” totals: 12,500

Factory GVWR sticker on my 2012 unit: 12,500

2012 Web page specs show cargo allowance of 2920 pounds
My 2012 sticker on trailer states cargo allowance of 2400 pounds (both Keystone and Federal)

((I understand the cargo allowance being reduced to 2400 pounds due to my options I elected at time of purchase with 2nd air, etc.))

NOW, Keystone has sent me new stickers for my trailer stating the first ones were in error. The new stickers:

1. Lowers the GVWR to 12,120 (same as 2013 model of the 343RL)
2. Lowers the allowable cargo to 2,020 pounds.

So, I have tried to call US Gov Dept that handles GVWR rules and have gotten nothing but voice mails and no return calls.

Bottom line questions:

1. Can a manufacturer decide to lower the GVWR a year after purchase – no weighing or even looking at the unit or no unit modifications?
2. Can manufacturer legally sell a unit and state it has cargo allowance of x amount and a year later decide the cargo allowance is significantly less than when purchased?
3. Is it even legal for me to remove the GVWR sticker and replace it with another (I will likely not do that in any case)?
4. I am not sure but I think the VIN number with the Feds has the GVWR – is that corrtect?

My original concern is the weight on the axles. Well, with the GVWR and Keystone’s stated pin weight from the time of purchase the axles are too light duty. But, of course, with the NEW GVWR they are exactly OK – to the pound: 10,400 (they are 5200 rated). How interesting.

Any recourse for the consumer? Or is is best to just forget the issue and enjoy the trailer and hope the axles don’t prove too light? Part of me is incensed that Keystone treats this issue as noted above and part of me is tired of the energy involved. But I really think the 343RL 2012 model is in violation of axle regulations.

One point: I fully realize the actual pin weight may be (could be – depending on how I load the trailer) more than what Keystone states – but that is really not the main point. Would you want to buy a 5er that was sold to carry 2400 pounds cargo safely and a year later the manufacturer decide that was a mistake? And we “goofed” on the GVWR?

Ideas appreciated. Gary Stone, Ham Op N5PHT Montana HC (2012) 343RL and F-250 Ford Diesel.

The vehicle certification process is quite specific about how, what and where it's labeling will be displayed. If, in fact, your certification label is in error, the vehicle manufacturer must make it right. If not, NHTSA will force them to do so via the recall process. The certification process does not require the entire unit to be weighed. The manufacturer knows the weights of all materials used in its make-up. I don't think that can be disputed unless you're standing in their shoes, so to speak.

You can do some easy math to see if your basic weights are correct. You can user the published pin weight - they MUST provide one as it's in the regulations to do so - and add it to the total GAWR found on the certification label. That total value MUST equal or exceed the GVWR also found on the certification label. Anything less than the requirement is an error by the vehicle manufacturer and MUST be rectified by them.

Look at item #8 in this reference.

I referenced that because it's within Keystones' right to lower the cargo weight to make the certification label correct.

Their figures on their specs for the 2012 model you have are incorrect on their web page.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...l#Anchor-54589

CW