5th Wheeler Safety concerns in Australia

[RobertRyan]

A case of two steps forward and one backward
Australian 5vers having problems

Alarm bells rung over non-compliance of American-style fifth wheelers and hitches sold in NSW

The NSW department of Fair Trading has issued a public warning about the safety of Australian RV Gooseneck fifth wheeler trailers and Hijacker fifth wheel assembly hitches due to non-compliance with Australian Design Rules.
According to Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe, the vehicles were sold by Play Mor, Newcastle RVs and Newcastle RV Specialists over the past four years. The companies’ former director is James Fredrick Kaufmann.
Play Mor and Newcastle RVs are now in liquidation, while Newcastle RV Specialists is currently trading as RV Specialists.
Stowe said NSW Fair Trading has been working closely with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Roads and Maritime Services and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development about the safety issue.
“Australian RV Gooseneck 4.5 tonne heavy vehicle trailers with VINs beginning with 1JW100 are the subject of a current national voluntary recall,” he said.
“Non-compliance includes low exterior lighting visibility; rear bumper mounted too high; king pin and skid plate may not have required markings; and the braking system may not be the correct configuration.”
There are also concerns that Australian RV Gooseneck trailers under 4.5 tonnes (commencing with the same VIN 1JW100) may have similar safety issues.
“Fair Trading is also issuing a warning about the Hijacker fifth wheel assembly hitches as James Kaufmann has not provided Roads and Maritime Services with any evidence that these products are compliant with Australian Design Rules,” he said.
“These problems pose a significant danger to the vehicle operator as well as other road users and need to be addressed immediately.”
Owners of any of these products bought from the aforementioned companies are encouraged to have their vehicles inspected immediately.
“Affected consumers should contact James Kaufmann who now trades under RV Specialists Pty Ltd and Summer Life RV Pty Ltd on 02 4954 6652 to remedy the problem,” he said.
NOTE: Photo of Summer Lite RV fifth wheeler is for illustration purposes only.

[shepstone]

Yeah they have some bad roads there. I am originally from New Zealand , but I have spent many years in West Australia around Perth and up north in Darwin when I was a kid. Trust me those roads were bad back then. You could drive hundreds of miles on roads that were no more than red bull-dust dirt roads . Most of the water tanks along the way had been shot full of holes , when they say outback they mean outback.. Blink once and you could miss the next "town"..

[Slownsy]

Bombero you win the spelling contest. I am sorry but english is not my language

[RobertRyan]

Wet Coast wrote:
The bun fight over who's road is rougher could go on all day! I have driven in both countries. on and off road. It's normal for a DownUnder excursion on a "highway" to be hundred's of miles of washboard eyeball rattling gravel and river crossings because there are no bridges..

So, your outside kitchen has waterproof gaskets on the door! Then there are the ocean beaches and 150+ mile sand islands that are part of the highway system. Think Dempster Highway...

Those examples in no way compare to the potholes or missing expansion joints on I5!

Not really a Highway, but things you encounter Off Road in Australia. You can travel around Australia on fairly nice paved roads, but to see the "real bush" means you go over what you mentioned

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Slownsy wrote:
Robert forget the roads in Australia is worse than in America, it is rubbish, joust yesterday we traveled on the worst road we have ever experienced in Virginia.
Many roads in the states are in weary bad shape due to lack of maintenance.
Frank.

"....joust yesterday...."

".....weary bad shape...."

Is that an attempt at "Down Under" spelling"?

~

[Wet_Coast]

The bun fight over who's road is rougher could go on all day! I have driven in both countries. on and off road. It's normal for a DownUnder excursion on a "highway" to be hundred's of miles of washboard eyeball rattling gravel and river crossings because there are no bridges..

So, your outside kitchen has waterproof gaskets on the door! Then there are the ocean beaches and 150+ mile sand islands that are part of the highway system. Think Dempster Highway...

Those examples in no way compare to the potholes or missing expansion joints on I5!

wasn't this topic about bumper heights and hitches..

happy Friday

[RobertRyan]

Laknox wrote:
If they can't export them physically, what's wrong with licensing production here or, if they've got the funds, actually set up shop? Frankly, it's still beyond me why =some= manufacturer hasn't stepped up with "offroad" or "rough road" suspensions as an option. In my mind, "offroad" would include greater frame and axle clearance and suspension travel whereas "rough road" would be more on the lines of the current MorRyde IS or a torsion suspension; anything to soften the ride on our paved roads. About the time we got our Komfort, they were building a 19' "back country" TT, with BFM All Terrain TA tires and some hefty ground clearance. They were discontinued about '06, or so. I know several hunters who would kill for something like that, but make do with buying older, beat-to-hell small trailers, jacking them up with lift kits.

Good question. I know costs ,getting a distributor and the lack of name identity are definite problems . How much of a market is another question. They do have an Overland Exposition in the US, but I noticed they sold mainly low price items ,Tents, Truck Campers etc, very few big ticket items, ones which were there were mainly for show
All Terrain Warriors had a lightweight FUSO based vehicle at the Exposition, how it sells is another matter. Compare this with about 5-6 such builders in Australia for 23 million, too the maybe 2-3 builders of similar vehicles for 300 million
All Terrain Warriors Expedition Vehicle

Southern Cross Caravans Off Road 5th Wheeler

[laknox]

RobertRyan wrote:

Laknox wrote:
Maybe they should start thinking export! 🙂

Most are small family owned companies, who seem to treat the customers as part of the family. In some cases I.e Trulux the customers help out in the Office

If they can't export them physically, what's wrong with licensing production here or, if they've got the funds, actually set up shop? Frankly, it's still beyond me why =some= manufacturer hasn't stepped up with "offroad" or "rough road" suspensions as an option. In my mind, "offroad" would include greater frame and axle clearance and suspension travel whereas "rough road" would be more on the lines of the current MorRyde IS or a torsion suspension; anything to soften the ride on our paved roads. About the time we got our Komfort, they were building a 19' "back country" TT, with BFM All Terrain TA tires and some hefty ground clearance. They were discontinued about '06, or so. I know several hunters who would kill for something like that, but make do with buying older, beat-to-hell small trailers, jacking them up with lift kits.

Lyle

[RobertRyan]

Laknox wrote:
Maybe they should start thinking export! 🙂

Most are small family owned companies, who seem to treat the customers as part of the family. In some cases I.e Trulux the customers help out in the Office

[RobertRyan]

Slownsy wrote:
Robert forget the roads in Australia is worse than in America, it is rubbish, joust yesterday we traveled on the worst road we have ever experienced in Virginia.
Many roads in the states are in weary bad shape due to lack of maintenance.
Frank.

Frank really they have a Tamani Track,?not not at all. I have also been around the US , agree paved roads are worse than you get here ,but Outback roads that are dirt and rocks , corrugations for several thousand miles? No That is what the discussion was about Off Road use age not paved road use age in Australia of US 5vers

[Slownsy]

Robert forget the roads in Australia is worse than in America, it is rubbish, joust yesterday we traveled on the worst road we have ever experienced in Virginia.
Many roads in the states are in weary bad shape due to lack of maintenance.
Frank.

[laknox]

RobertRyan wrote:

laknox wrote:
Robert, why do you post here? Looks like you can get all the abuse you want back home? 🙂 Seriously, though, I like the fact that Australia is regulating at least =some= of the RV industry, but IMO, it's looking for issues where there aren't really to be found. If a manufacturer sells a product in the U.S. (or elsewhere), and can point to literally decades of safe use here, why isn't is just a formality to be able to have it "certified" over there and forego a bunch of "testing". Or is it more a case of gov't drones needing something to justify their existence/jobs?

Lyle

More different uses, different country, Real problems appeared with US 5 vers When people dragged them over terrain that people would wince at in the US, but thought of as normal here
You had suspensions collapsing etc. Now a few local builders have made 5vers, that can take that sort of abuse

Maybe they should start thinking export! 🙂

Lyle

[RobertRyan]

laknox wrote:
Robert, why do you post here? Looks like you can get all the abuse you want back home? 🙂 Seriously, though, I like the fact that Australia is regulating at least =some= of the RV industry, but IMO, it's looking for issues where there aren't really to be found. If a manufacturer sells a product in the U.S. (or elsewhere), and can point to literally decades of safe use here, why isn't is just a formality to be able to have it "certified" over there and forego a bunch of "testing". Or is it more a case of gov't drones needing something to justify their existence/jobs?

Lyle

More different uses, different country, Real problems appeared with US 5 vers When people dragged them over terrain that people would wince at in the US, but thought of as normal here
You had suspensions collapsing etc. Now a few local builders have made 5vers, that can take that sort of abuse

[laknox]

Robert, why do you post here? Looks like you can get all the abuse you want back home? 🙂 Seriously, though, I like the fact that Australia is regulating at least =some= of the RV industry, but IMO, it's looking for issues where there aren't really to be found. If a manufacturer sells a product in the U.S. (or elsewhere), and can point to literally decades of safe use here, why isn't is just a formality to be able to have it "certified" over there and forego a bunch of "testing". Or is it more a case of gov't drones needing something to justify their existence/jobs?

Lyle

[RobertRyan]

laknox wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

laknox wrote:
And there have been how many problems caused by these issues? Dumb that they were sold that way, but, I agree, protectionism seems to be more the case than anything.

Lyle

Nothing to with protectionism, I found out after making the post an Expatriate English PIA who has been making complaints to the Government Authorities about US 5vers. On the Caravanners Forum, he was asked to give examples of problems he knew about. He then became abusive and said he would not post replies. He has problems with Australian Caravans as well, strangely none with many English companies. He is a serial pest with unfortunately some industry connections
If I known he was behind the news story I would not have made the initial post

He's a TROLL, as opposed to a troll. 🙂

From

Lyle

From Caravanners Forum, he made the initial post in this thread
Trolling about 5th Wheelers