RW stepped up for us on warranty issue

[Terry and Nina]

We were headed south in I-35 out of Oklahoma City, with our 2015 38GK with 8K axles, when we heard a noise. I took the next exit and after stopping, was not able to see any obvious reason for the noise. We continued on and I noticed the coach was not following the truck properly. Back end was turned to the left a little. Once in for service, it was determined that a bolt had broken and an axle had shifted. Pictures were submitted to Redwood and Lippert Components. Lippert denied warranty coverage saying our trailer was overloaded. We had the same items we had carried in our previous 30 foot, light weight fifth wheel. The only difference is that I added 70-75 gallons to our fresh water tank before we left.

I spoke with Lippert customer service, but was unable to change their decision.
I spoke with Redwood customer service rep. I got the impression that he did not believe what I was telling him.

My wife and I had met Jim Lazzarino, General Manager at Redwood, when we attended the Phoenix Good Sam Rally last March. Jim had given me his business card. I called Jim and explained what had happened to our trailer and asked if he would be able to help. After looking into the issue and speaking with Jim Izbicki, the Director of Customer Service, Jim Lazzarino called me back to tell me Redwood would cover the repairs under the warranty and that support of their customers was very important to them. A short time later, I spoke with Jim Izbicki and he told me the same thing.

I want to thank Jim Lazzarino and Jim Izbicki for their support with my Redwood. It is good to see that the customer is very important to them.

[atom ant]

Another example of

Lippert Denies (that sounds sooooo Lippert )
Redwood Denies

Jim has to be contacted direct to fix the issue!!

I'm curious what Lippert used as the basis for determining you were overweight? I can't even get close to 6,400 lbs on my 8,000 lb axles even with full water!

I know you folks are happy it's fixed and feel well served by Redwood, but why does it have to go to the top to get a fix? (general frustration question). A lot of folks out there would not have the boldness to do that.

[RomanyLife]

GOOD LORD it's good to see this!! Thank you for sharing.
SHAME ON LIPPERT!!!! I am seeing a VERY ugly trend with them, and it needs to be stopped.

That's great news, GOOD JOB Redwood!

[RomanyLife]

I agree with Brad, what method did they use to determine you were overweight???!!

[Terry and Nina]

Originally Posted by RomanyLife

I agree with Brad, what method did they use to determine you were overweight???!!

They looked at pictures of the suspension damage is what I was told.

[Piper Guy's Gal]

Thank you for sharing, Terry and Nina. So glad you got it fixed and all is right (and safe)!

Could I ask for a clarification please? Did the Redwood customer service rep actually deny your claim? You said that he didn't seem to believe you (and then you called Jim Lazzarino). Just wondering what would have happened if you
hadn't made the call.

And when you had it in for service, did anyone weigh your rig?

[Blue Dogs]

So this means anyone who wants warranty coverage from Redwood must go the the GM to get it fixed? It's great it's fixed but needing to go to the top on every issue is not good customer service. Not everyone has his business card in their wallet. This is wrong in so many ways!

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Terry and Nina

They looked at pictures of the suspension damage is what I was told.

Did it happen to be Brad Smith with Lippert?

[Terry and Nina]

Originally Posted by Piper Guy's Gal

Thank you for sharing, Terry and Nina. So glad you got it fixed and all is right (and safe)!

Could I ask for a clarification please? Did the Redwood customer service rep actually deny your claim? You said that he didn't seem to believe you (and then you called Jim Lazzarino). Just wondering what would have happened if you
hadn't made the call.

And when you had it in for service, did anyone weigh your rig?

He never said the words, "We deny your claim" He said "Lippert denied your claim" and would not offer any solutions to getting the repair done under warranty. The tone of his voice is what gave me the impression he did not believe the trailer was not overloaded. If I hadn't made the call to Jim, I believe I would have had to pay for the repairs. No, the trailer was not weighed when I took it in for service.

[Terry and Nina]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Did it happen to be Brad Smith with Lippert?

I do know know who originally looked at the pictures. It was not Brad Smith that I spoke with.

[Dave&Ginny]

I agree with the above posts......

It's wonderful that Jim stood up and did the right thing......but why did it take Jim? The suspensions on the Redwoods are sub-par at best. Too many have failed and the explanation is that they're over weight. Well maybe they're simply under built for their intended purposes.

[RomanyLife]

Dave, you are 100% right. The suspension is inadequate for the trailer. We are sick that we did not upgrade when we ordered, but now we know that the BEST option is just to go get the Moryde system. I am already a very nervous person while towing because of all that we read here. We are completely afraid to travel with anything in our tanks because of added weight, even though we are NOT heavy (we don't carry much anyway, but if you are full time, you HAVE stuff). We should be able to have fluids in our tanks and not be panicked about a catastrophic failure.

[Piper Guy's Gal]

We had our 36 RL weighed twice: once by a police officer trained in accident reconstruction and then again by MorRyde. We were within our weight capacity both times. When we had the suspension replaced, we learned we had a crack spring. I know there have been several others who have had this problem. My point is that the overloaded weight excuse sounds like BS and is getting old.

[travelin' texans]

First off I would not have called Lippert, as my warranty was with RW!! Ours has been weighed twice also & both times we were 25 lbs over our 16.5k gross, so technically we are overloaded, but not per axle. In my opinion, it would've been a helluva fight!

[Ken&Cyndie]

May I ask which bolt broke? We were travelling west on I90 near Buffalo NY 2 weeks ago when our TPMS alarm went off (Right rear tire overheating). Got to a service plaza and found the right rear hanger bolt missing and the rear axle shifted forward. We were able to get a mobile repair co to replace the missing wet bolt with a generic bolt and somewhat straighten the hanger. Redwood did step up and paid for the repair but I will be nursing the rig 350 miles to morryde in two weeks to get the IS installed. BTW I have had the rig weighed and we are well within the limits. 8K axles, H rated tires, disk brakes- the weak link seems to be the suspension.

[travelin' texans]

As I've stated before, it would be money well spent to order the Mor Ryde heavy shackles & wet bolt kit ($100) & replace the OEM as A of the spring eyes are plastic bushing & wet bolts that won't take grease. Unless of course you are heading to get IS ($3000 - $6000) system!!

[RomanyLife]

If I were Redwood (well, that would be a long post...)
It would be very awesome if Redwood could:

1. Acknowledge that there is a problem with the design of the suspension system in certain units that left the factory when they are loaded as designed (i.e.: as built, fulltimers only have enough weight left to pack a package of paper plates and 5 pair of undies before being overweight-UNREASONABLE)

2. Partner with MorRyde to offer certain Redwood Owners a discounted install of new suspension.

This will do a number of things. First, it will heal the wound that has been festering about this woefully lacking suspension system. *The Rally is going to be enlightening (sorry Redwood) because many folks are having their rigs weighed there, and many are not going to like what they learn...

Second: It will alleviate future claims and expense with warranty and even lawsuit with the defective systems out there.

If my suspension gives, I HAVE a recent weighing of my rig, I will NOT allow them to claim that we are overweight. Because we have the standard suspension, we are severely limited to what we can haul. We may as well not HAVE holding tanks...

It wouldn't have to be a huge discount, but something that would be received as Redwood caring and working to overcome mistakes in design. THIS is all any of us asks. Mistakes are one thing, but to pretend that it doesn't exist doesn't fool anyone, and just causes very bad damage to their reputation. People shop reputation FIRST!!

[atom ant]

There is nothing wrong with a traditional leaf spring axle system for these, however when you build them cheap, they break. Spring hanger brackets could be twice the size. Bolt failure is a bolt failure from cheap bolts, not a design flaw.

Mor-ryde is not the answer.

If you want the real answer - you just get entirely away from Lippert. I see Lifestyle RV is pretty much Lippert free now - their own frame, Mor-ryde pin box and suspension, ......

[travelin' texans]

Brad, I visited with a couple with a 6 month old Lifestyle & they they had a full page of issues that had to be addressed, from leaking level system (not LCI, Bigfoot) to all the outside storage doors didn't fit. So they may be Lippert free, but not trouble free!! I may have avoided future suspension problems with the heavy shackles, but other than the greasy brakes I didn't any suspension troubles before that upgrade.

[atom ant]

So they are ahead! I've had leveling system leaks (denied by warranty) and cabinet doors that broke right off and fell to the ground, plus the suspension problems.....