My boat trailer axle broke off while driving!

[Ultrasport12]

Hi Will,

Did you try Ranger corporate or just your dealer? Most of the time dealers cannot do anything when it comes to extending warranties or doing any customer good will. My bet is that they can easily give you a thousand off, they could probably do that for anyone on the list price of a new trailer. I would try finding a number to a corporate rep and see what they say. Be nice but very firm, do not get mad that will not help at all. You may ask your insurance company if there is anything they think you should do. And you could always contact an attorney. I agree that is a very bad thing to happen and luckily you had enough experience to keep it going straight long enough to pull over. I can tell you right now if someone got hurt hitting the axle you can bet you and Ranger would both be in court.

The problem of course is how good would a new trailer be? Would you have the same problems with one down the road? From what I see a lot of those type of axles have cracking problems.

...Jamie

 

[wl1193]

I talked to the dealership and gave them photos. The dealership contacted Ranger and forwarded the photos. The dealership was nice and helpful.

The guy from the Ranger warranty department called me and told me about the $1000.00 discount. I was very nice to the guy at corporate even though I wanted to give him a piece of mind. He had an attitude of it's not our fault and you should be glad that we're giving you $1000.00 off a new trailer because you are out of warranty. A new trailer like the one I have retails at $6200.00 if you include all the fees like dealer prep, shipping, taxes etc. So that drops the price to $5200.00.

I have no idea what my insurance company will cover since they hired a marine surveyor to look at the boat, motor and trailer. He is busy and will not see them until next Thursday.... So I am in a holding pattern.

 

[BajaSportsmobile]

The problem is that they used a torsion axle and by its very design, it wants to rotate out of the frame. The mounting of the axle to the frame was insufficient to handle the rotational force, the mounts work hardened and failed.

Small Claims Court - file a claim and they will bend over backwards to help you out and avoid the case, a case where there is clear evidence of design flaw, known by Ranger, and not passed on to an original owner.

 

[twogone]

I hate me some courthouses, but I just would not be able to let this one go. $1000 discount on another f'd up trailer? WHAAAAAAT ARE Y'ALL THINKIN'? That offer alone indicates some acceptance of responsibility on their part. I'd just have to see a dang lawyer to get informed.

Hey Ranger... :l7:

 

[BIGVANS]

Can we say ....... Class Action?
:a4:

 

[86Scotty]

Can't blame you at all. It's service after the fact that sets apart the great companies from the do-what-it-takes-to-get-by companies.


Herb

You mean there are great companies left? I can't find one, except very small ones. Any great ones get big quick, and as soon as they get big, so do their lawyers who defend them. The sad state of America.

 

[Ultrasport12]

I hate me some courthouses, but I just would not be able to let this one go. $1000 discount on another f'd up trailer? WHAAAAAAT ARE Y'ALL THINKIN'? That offer alone indicates some acceptance of responsibility on their part. I'd just have to see a dang lawyer to get informed.

Hey Ranger... :l7:

:g1: I know if I was on that road and saw a trailer axle coming at me I would not be happy, let alone if it hit me.

(welcome back Marc)

 

[MadScience]

If it was my trailer, I'd probably value my free time more than what it might cost to have that trailer re-built out of pocket.

However I'd still want to do what I can to get the original builder to inform other owners if this is indeed a wide-spread issue. If it is, and it's not clear that we have enough information to really know that this wasn't an outlier, but really someone at the manufacturer should be looking into that), then this is really a public safety issue.

Does anyone have any experience with how the NHTSA works for such issues? Just looking, there's a link on the http://www.nhtsa.gov/ site to report a vehicle or child seat defect. I'd certainly submit a report.

BTW, happy to hear no one was hurt. It's certainly another thing I'll add to the list of things to check on any trailer I tow.

 

[daveb-SMB]

My guess is the boat took a high or hard bounce as well. I'd be lookin over that transom and the hydrolics as well, especially if you wern't using a transom saver.

 

[kgior]

I can't quite tell from the photos but if the brackets have been failing causing to much strain on the mounting welds you may have some luck with the axle company. Most of them have the brackets mounted on the axle before it is shipped to the trailer company. Find out the axle manufacturer and give them a try as well.

 

[eldude]

It looks to me like the welds broke, rusty? Thats a shear break, I cant really tell, but in the pics it doesn't look like good penetration in the weld. Thats what happens when you do production welding, some of the welds get slapped on and not properly welded. Glad to see your prop was not damaged. When I was 22 or so, I for got to clamp the jet ski trailer hitch to the tow ball, I hit my first bump and thank GOD I had the chains correctly attached because it came off and slammed into the back of my truck. No damage to truck or trailer, just my pride!!! :b1: