2014 Prime Time Tracer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 (NA) PRIME TIME TRACER. WHILE THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE TRAILER AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS HITCHED TO THE VEHICLE. UPON REACHING HER DESTINATION, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE TRAILER AND SMELLED FUEL AGAIN. ALL THE WINDOWS WERE OPENED AND THE GAS WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FURNACE COVER AND PERFORM A SOAP AND WATER TEST FOR FUEL LEAKS. HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO FIND THE LEAK AT THE FURNACE FITTING, WHICH WAS LOOSE, AND HE TIGHTENED THE FITTING. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED SINCE TIGHTENING THE FURNACE FITTING. PREVIOUSLY, THE FURNACE TURNED ON INADVERTENTLY WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS IN USE. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE FURNACE WAS IGNITED BUT FAILED TO STAY ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH WATER INSIDE THE FURNACE DUE TO GAPS. THE FURNACE WAS REPAIRED BY DRYING THE INSIDE OF THE FURNACE AND THE SEAMS WERE SEALED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RETURN PHONE CALL. THERE WAS NO FAILURE MILEAGE.

AFTER COMPLETING A RECENT CAMPING TRIP, I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR TIRE BALDING, ON TIRES THAT HAVE LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THEM. AS I LOOKED CLOSER AT THE CAUSE OF ONLY ONE TIRE BALDING, IT APPEARS THAT THE AXLE WAS BENT AND OUT OF LINE. FURTHER INSPECTIONS REVEALED THE AXLE RATINGS DID NOT MEET THE LISTED GVWR. EACH AXLE WAS RATED FOR 4400LBS. (THERE ARE 2 AXLES), EQUALING 8800LBS. GVWR IS LISTED AT 9567LBS., WHICH IS ABOVE 8800LBS. LEADING ME TO BELIEVE PRIME TIME MANUFACTURING PLACED UNDERSIZED AXLES ON THIS TRAVEL TRAILER, SINCE IT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE GVWR LISTED, AND CAUSING THE AXLE TO MISALIGN AND THE TIRE TO BALD. AS THIS IS A LARGE, 32FT. TRAVEL TRAILER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WEIGHT BE SUPPORTED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AFTER CONTACTING PRIME TIME MANUFACTURING REGARDING THE AXLES, I WAS TOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRES, WHEELS, SUSPENSION, AND AXLES DOES NOT COUNT IN THE GVWR, MAKING THE TOTAL WEIGHT WITHIN THE 8800LB. LIMIT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 PRIME TIME TRACER 3200 BHT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE FUMES EMITTED FROM THE GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER AFTER IT TRIPPED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING WAS NOT COVERED WITH AN INSULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.