2005 Thor California Wanderer

Defect. ON CERTAIN CARGO/TRAVEL TRAILERS, OVERLOADING AND INCORRECTLY POSITIONING CARGO IN THE REAR CARGO AREA CAN RESULT IN ALIGHT HITCH WEIGHT AND AFFECT STABILITY.

Risk. DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC TOW VEHICLE AND ITS HITCH EQUIPMENT, A SUFFICIENTLY LIGHT HITCH WEIGHT CAN RESULT IN SWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOO MUCH WEIGHT INCORRECTLY POSITIONED CAN ALSO RESULT IN SEVERE BENDING OF THE A-FRAME ASSEMBLY, FAILURE OF THE COUPLER ASSEMBLY, AND/OR FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAINS. THIS CAN CAUSE A CRASH INVOLVING THE TRAILER AND TOW VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER, TOW VEHICLE AND HITCH EQUIPMENT; INSTALL NEW CARGO LOAD LIMIT LABELS AND PLACARDS IN THE CARGO AREA; FURNISH LOADING LIMIT INFORMATION; REPLACE THE COUPLER AND SAFETY CHAINS; AND REINFORCE THE A-FRAME. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THOR AT 1-888-697-8467. NOTE: THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERSEDES A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 04V243).

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRAVEL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SUBURBAN AND ATWOOD FURNACES, THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT WILL ALLOW LEAKAGE OF FUMES WHICH CONTAIN COMBUSTION PRODUCTS, INCLUDING A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF POTENTIALLY LETHAL CARBON MONOXIDE GAS.

Risk. FUMES COULD ENTER INTO THE TRAILER AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON INSPECTING THE FURNACE VENT. IF AN OWNER BELIEVES THE VENT IS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, IS NOT SURE HOW TO INSPECT THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT, OR NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT INSTALLATION INSPECTED AND CORRECTED, OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THOR IMMEDIATELY AT 1-877-870-2638 OR VIA THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.THORCA.COM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2006.

IN CHECKING THE TRAILER CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE, I NOTED BARE WIRE IN THE BREAK-AWAY BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS WAS CAUSED BY PINCHING BETWEEN THE ANTI-SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY AND THE FRAME. THE WIRING WAS ROUTED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. HAD I NOT NOTICED THIS, AND FURTHER FRAYING OF WIRES OCCURRED, THE SAFETY BREAK-AWAY BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD FAIL. THERE HAS THANKFULLY BEEN NO ACCIDENT, BUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, DEALER AND FACTORY ASSUME NO LIABILITY, THOUGH THE WIRING WAS PLACED IN THIS POSITION BEFORE I PURCHASED THE NEW TRAILER. THE WIRING WAS ALSO PAINTED TO MATCH THE FRAMEWORK, THUS WAS LESS NOTICEABLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SAFETY BREAKAWAY SAFETY SWITCH LOCATED ON THE FORWARD HITCH OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS BEING COMPROMISED BECAUSE THE CHAIN TO THE STABILIZER UNIT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED TO THE SAFETY BREAKAWAY SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 2005 TRAVEL TRAILER WAS THOR; MODE: WANDERER. THE MODEL NUMBER WAS: 217.*AK