2010 Cougar Broken Springs

anthonbloom · 08-18-2011, 10:17 AM

My Cougar 315 SAB was wearing rear tires on the inside down to the belts in 2000 km. My service dealer inspected the axles three times in the last year and said there was nothing wrong with them. I collected the trailer from them yesterday and towed 200km in pouring rain and strong winds and when I looked under the trailer at home...the left rear springs had all four leaves broken and separated by six inches and the other side had half the second spring missing and reversed camber. They even trimmed away a bit of the bodywork where the front wheel was peeling back the aluminium! Now I am waiting to them to send some new springs so that I can get somebody competent to make the trailer roadworthy. Meanwhile the dealer, Islander RV of Grand Falls Newfoundland still seem to be more concerned about getting someone else to take responsibility than getting me back on the road!

antiqfreq · 08-18-2011, 10:55 AM

Keep on them and make sure they pay ALL the bills as this is their responsibility.
Keep us posted!

Jo

bdaniel · 08-18-2011, 11:20 AM

Wow, you are lucky the axle did not come out from under the trailer. I had a similar problem with my previous Wildcat 5th wheel.

Broken Springs

Bobby

anthonbloom · 08-20-2011, 05:06 PM

The registered letter to the company owner seems to have helped get things straightened out. The dealer is sending four new springs and getting a local shop to do the repair in my driveway. As soon as that is done I'm returning the busted lemon and getting a 2012 version of the 3318SAB at a very reasonable price - including a $2,500 "loyalty bonus"! We really like the floorplan of this trailer and I am hoping that the beefier axles and 16" wheels will better carry the weight of the trailer. My math on the 2010 with 5200lb axles and GVW of 11,500lb tells me that the axles would be 1,100lb overweight at gross, of am I missing something?

**JRTJH** · 08-20-2011, 06:27 PM

From what I can determine, the "new technology" figures axle weight/GVW differently than it did years ago. In "my day" the Axle rating was greater than the GVW. However, it appears that by today's calculations, it's axle rating plus tongue weight that figures into the GVW. For example, on my Springdale, the axles are 3500 lbs each which is 7,000 lbs, The GVW is 8100 lbs. The tongue weight "dry" is 1120, giving the trailer a GVW of 8120.

GO FIGURE !!!!! ????? at any rate, using that "logic" your trailer is probably figured at the two axle ratings plus the dry tongue weight.... See if that adds up for you?

anthonbloom · 08-20-2011, 06:38 PM

That's what my dealer said - subtract the 1500lb pin weight, but logic tells me that when I hit a bump the pin is just a pivot and just about all the weight is being applied to the axles. If I was manufacturing a trailer to be pulled over the roads we have in North America these days, I would overbuild the axles and running gear for the safety of the owner, passengers and other road users.

bdaniel · 08-21-2011, 04:40 AM

Check the tire ratings also. You will find that almost in every case the weight rating of the camper is the tongue rating plus the max of either the axles or the tires.

Bobby

gepaine · 08-27-2011, 04:04 PM

I think it would be the Min not the Max of either the axles or the tires plus the tongue weight.

anthonbloom · 08-31-2011, 04:25 PM

Well, the guy from a local truck shop came and replaced all four springs with new ones fabricated locally and the dealer paid the costs. When the right axle was jacked up the spring parts fell out on the other side, the shackle dropped free and the axle was swinging free! Three days later I returned the 2010 and drove back with a 2012 318 SAB having negotiated a very reasonable price. I did a detailed inspection and then deposited the broken springs on the service desk and had words with all those responsible for the negligent axle inspection. I also got the $25.00 labour cost back for the axle inspection!!
The new trailer's axles seem more solid and the 16" wheels and beefier tires look much more appropriate and I have checked the torque and tire pressures. In fact the trailer is a big improvement with the extra access to the bathroom, entertainment center and somehow more room in the rear. The baggage doors are more solid and the door under the bedroom slide does not get caught when the slide closes like the 2010. I will still have to deal with Islander RV as they are the only service center that can deal with warranty work. I just hope that I have better luck with this one! Thanks for your support on this.

Festus2 · 08-31-2011, 04:53 PM

Glad to hear that you were able to successfully resolve this unfortunate axle problem. You are lucky to have come through this without any injuries to you and anyone who happened to be with you while you were pulling this behind you! I shudder to think what could have happened.
It would be interesting to hear what the service people at the dealership had to say when they were confronted with this.
Did the $2500 "loyalty bonus" come from Keystone or from the dealership?
I will give you credit but not sure if I would be in a hurry to get right back into RVing and especially with another Keystone. Good for you! Enjoy your new Cougar!

anthonbloom · 09-05-2011, 09:27 AM

Just back from a weekend in the new rig. The 2012 SAB318 has fixed most of the niggling annoyances in the 2010 model, notably a much improved stance and ride with the new axles and larger wheels and much less jiggling when set up. The improved bedroom with the dresser and pass trough to the bathroom is great and the entertainment center is much better than the swing arm tv in the 2010. I'm glad I made the change although I would have preferred a different incentive!

Festus2 · 09-05-2011, 09:35 AM

None of us need that kind of motivation! However, it appears as though everything has come full circle and; by the results of your shakedown trip, a terrific outcome. Enjoy.

You may also like: