2013 Kaufman Trailer

Defect. Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. and Kaufman Trailers of NE, Inc. (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 gooseneck auto transport trailers and equipment trailers manufactured June 26, through August 6, 2013. These trailers are equipped with kingpins attched to square bottom plates which may crack over time, causing the button to separate from the bottom plate.

Risk. If the kingpin button separates, the trailer could become detached from the towing vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Kaufman will notify owners instructing them to inspect their trailers for kingpins with square bottom plates. Kaufman will ship replacement kingpins to owners of affected trailers, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact Kaufman at 1-336-790-6800.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HYDRAULIC DUMP TRAILER FROM KAUFMAN TRAILER MANUFACTURER. WHEN I REQUESTED AN OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL FROM THE COMPANY, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE AND DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY REQUEST FOR SAFETY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN WRITING AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO PROVIDE A USER MANUAL. A COMPETITOR TRAILER COMPANY BRI-MAR TRAILER MANUFACTURER PROVIDES A 146 PAGE OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL. A FEW EXAMPLES OF CONCERN ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. INTRODUCTION/GENERAL INFORMATION 2. GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION. I COULD LIST MANY MORE BUT THE LIST IS ENDLESS. I AM NOT TRYING TO PUNISH THIS COMPANY I AM TRYING TO MAKE IT A BETTER COMPANY AND LESSEN IT'S LIABILITY AGAINST INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. THE COMPANY DOES PROVIDE TIRE AND AXLE MANUALS BUT THEY ARE COPIES PROVIDED BY THE TIRE AND AXLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S. KAUFMAN TRAILERS DOES NOT PROVIDE A USER, OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY MANUAL FOR THEIR PRODUCT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALREADY MADE SEVERAL MISTAKES USING THIS TRAILER FOR LACK OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTION, FORTUNATELY NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED BUT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS INJURY. MY REQUEST IS A REASONABLE REQUEST AND WOULD NOT COST THE COMPANY ANY SUBSTANTIAL MONEY. ALL COST TO PRODUCE A USER MANUAL COULD BE EASILY MADE UP IN THE COST OF THE THE TRAILER. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOUR CONSUMER SAFETY ORGANIZATION WOULD TAKE A PROACTIVE POSITION AND AT LEAST LET THIS COMPANY KNOW THEY ARE B

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TOURING YTR06 TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE BELT FAILED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TRAIL (NA) TIRES, SIZE ST225/75R15 LOW RIDGE D (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS HAULING SOMETHING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.