New Sandpiper 365SAQ

ependydad wrote:

Helmsey wrote:
6. I am torn on what to do on the axles. Right now they have 10,840lbs on them and that leaves me 1160lbs of capacity on them. Assuming I had a full load of water, that would leave me with 700lbs of cargo capacity. I knew this was a possibility going in from all the reading here but had hoped for something crazy happening and mine be lighter than the others.

I am happy that FR is stepping up and replacing your axles - but I just don't understand how this is a warranty issue? You knew going in that the 6,000 pound axles were a problem; the yellow sticker limits you to that much weight and you're weighing proved it pretty close to correct.

Most people that buy these rigs do not know about the weight issue until after they purchase the unit. When mine was bought I know I didn't. I bought it, taking face value what was on the side of the camper. When I pulled the unit off of the lot, I KNEW something was wrong as I had just traded in a 355QBQ only 11 months old for the 365. Only 2 feet difference in length but my GOD was it heavier! The stickers on the unit only showed the unit to have a CCC of 966 which initially, I thought would be ok,,,until I got to looking. Once I added the options and the water, I had a grand total of 137 pounds of CCC available before I put anything into the rig!!!!! Most people are not aware of weight issues until after buying it. Looking back, I realize that I should have done more research up front, but took them at face value for their 'published' weights. My thinking is that FR should NEVER have put the 6ks under them. Fr a unit that has NO options at all, it maybe fine, but the options weight piles on quickly. They now KNOW this is a problem and they STILL build them this way. That is the unbelievable part. I believe they do it to still attract the 3/4 ton truck market as most people know what their trucks can pull, and put out weights to make them attracted to it. Marketing! However, once people hook to these rigs, then read up on their new purchases on the net, they find out that they could be hauling a dangerous combination. When Supercab79 and I got into the 'discussion' about these over on the other forum, it opened a lot of people's eyes to just how close to the line these rigs are without putting anything into them. Once they were confronted, they initially balked, but with all of the documentation presented and taking to the forums, they stepped up and did the right thing by replacing the axles. I too, wish more people would read up on their prospective rigs prior to buying them. I thought I DID! I did it by going to the manufacturers website and doing it their as the 365 was BRAND NEW at the time and no one had any feedback on it. Now it appears that they are saying the dealers are partially responsible for the units with 6ks under them. Saying they should have known to order them with 7ks.....NO! They shouldn't build them with 6ks!