Crossroads Zinger Travel Trailer Warning

marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Not sure I understand the issue. I have worked as an ASE master tech for a Mazda Volvo dealer (granted not an RV dealer) but still.

If a trailer sits for 5 years and has 50 miles on it, there is no reason to lube the axles. The lube doesn't go bad or leak out.

Not so…

Trailer bearings need more attention because of lack of use and irregular use not from over use…

Lubricating greases release oil when stored for long periods of time or when used in bearings as a function of temperature... The degree of oil separation will depend upon the thickener, base oil and manufacturing method…

It is the oil in the grease that lubricates the bearing, grease is only the carrier for the oil that lubricates the bearing… setting for long periods also allows in humid air to be absorbed, and for the grease to run rancid, rusting and pitting of the bearing…

when they are used often this is much less of a problem… depending on the quality of the bearing and grease they can run tens of thousands of miles between servicing even outlasting the vehicle sometimes…

Not sure I understand the issue. I have worked as an ASE master tech for a Mazda Volvo dealer (granted not an RV dealer) but still.

If a trailer sits for 5 years and has 50 miles on it, there is no reason to lube the axles. The lube doesn't go bad or leak out.
My trailer gets a squirt of grease every few trips. My boat trailer gets a shot every outing, but it sits in water for 8 hours at a time.

The issue is not always with preventative maintenance or dealer not willing to repair something. Many times a part will just flat out fail !!!! In that case who are you gonna blame?
It is called life. Things happen in life. If your kidney fails, who are you gonna blame?

You can buy a brand new car and have a part fail in 2 weeks, or have that same part last 25 years. It might not be anyones fault.

There is no info on this thread if the OP had to pay or if it was covered. Either way it is not a "disaster".

Blaming an entire rv manufacturer for an axle bearing going bad is crazy. They don't make the axle or bearing, they source it from someone.

nomad297 wrote:
Here is a link to realtor Brian Petrelli's story about how he didn't follow his warranty instructions. Without this link, none of this make sense.

Bruce

Even more interesting Brain is comparing a RV warranty and customer service to Real Estate?

Per Brains blog..

Over the years, our team has helped thousands of buyers. We've received calls, days, weeks, months, and years after closing where a homeowner has a crisis and we go out of our way to help them. I've spent countless hours on the phone with warranty companies, plumbers, contractors, electricians and more to fix problems that I didn't cause so that my clients knew that we were there for them. I cannot imagine referring a client to page 67 of a warranty manual 1 month and 12 days after my contract had expired.

Many of us in real estate are on the front lines of customer service every single day. We deal face to face with our clients and we go out of our way to make sure their home buying experience is a pleasant and successful experience. But this was a reminder to me that the customer service should never stop. My family and I were in a crisis and Crossroads showed us that they didn’t care. Make sure that when a client calls you two years after the sale, that you take a minute, listen to their problems and show them that you care."

First of all Brian, let me tell you this.. I know of NO REAL ESTATE AGENT which is going to help and go beyond the SALE CLOSURE. Once the deal has been closed and all monies have been distributed the "agent" has not further obligations to the buyer or the seller.

You as an individual "agent" CAN make a CHOICE ON YOUR OWN to "help" a PAST "customer". You do so as a "goodwill gesture" on your own time and money, the AGENCY pays you nothing for this.

Same goes for anything else in life, the manufacturer gives a warranty BUT in doing so YOU have obligations to CARRY OUT REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.

You failed to maintain the bearings so the manufacturer is not obligated to do anything.

Herein lies the problem… people and I am not referring to the OP, its just his post that brought it up again… but people buy an item, any item, and fail to read, understand, or follow the manufactures recommendations or maintenance schedules… then when a problem occurs it is somehow the fault of the manufacture or the dealer, or the Indian chief…

The sales agreement, the warranty, and the maintenance schedules are all a part of a contractual agreement binding both parties to their content…

When this is said in response to a complaint or a rant about the problem we get chastised for not being supportive toward the poster, and/or are somehow just trying to blame him… we should be supportive and the facts as we know them or as stated be damned…

This bearing failure could be the result of a manufacturing defect, poor maintenance, neglect, maladjustment, or overloading and a host of other reasons…
That being said it would be difficult to blame the manufacture for this problem under any circumstance… why??? Because if the maintenance had been followed the problem may have never happened in the first place, or even if the maintenance schedule was followed you would have to look at the service provider that did the job… bearing maintenance is the responsibility of the operator always, warranty or not and are not covered under the warranty except for defective parts or workmanship… once the unit is beyond the first service recommendation the warranty means nothing on that part, nor is the resulting damage to other parts caused by its failure…

Another problem here is the unit is beyond the 2 year warranty and never reached the 6 thousand mile service period, and infrequent use of a bearing would require a higher degree for service than one used regularly… there are legitimate reasons for the requirement of mileage or time whichever comes first..

Again that said there is never a reason or excuse for bad service of any kind and in any profession… no excuse for anyone to be rude, promise something and not produce what’s promised, or failure to respond to any claim legitimate or not… just for the record, just like good service, as far as bad service goes it happens in every industry, even in real estate…

I wish the best to the OP in getting his problem resolved, and I hope Crossroads make some type of restitution and shared cost, but IMHO any payment made by Crossroads, Dexter, or the dealer, would be a Good Will payment and not a required one, and I wouldn’t be so quick to publicly criticize them…

Here is a link to realtor Brian Petrelli's story about how he didn't follow his warranty instructions. Without this link, none of this make sense.

Bruce

I learned from my dad when I was a little boy to always feel each hub every time we stopped (rest areas, gas stations,..) to check how warm/hot they were and to compare the differences between each hub. It only takes a minute or so to do.

They should be warm but not hot.

It has helped saved me over the years on when I need to look at the brakes or repack the bearings.

Just my opinion.

Did you think posting twice on this site would get you more attention? It does suck to have things like this happen, but maybe if you came to this forum a few months ago and asked how to maintain your bearings, you wouldn't be in this position. Buyer beware is correct, know how to take care of your equipment.

First time poster and he had to post it twice

Sour grapes. If you don't know how to take care of a travel trailer, you shouldn't own one. This is not Crossroads' problem. You didn't get your way, so you had a little temper tantrum and posted bad things about the company that wouldn't give you something they don't owe you.

Grow up, be a man and take responsibility. Stop the whining

I don't see a story here since the trailer was over two years old and according to the Crossroads manual the bearings are to be serviced at least every 6mo so the OP either didn't do any maintenance or that which was done was done improperly so it's not Crossroads issue but lies squarely in the lap of the O.P. from what I see and understand.

Larry