17.5" Wheels

[two_bit_score]

This is still in the works and no resolution yet. They don't know it yet, but I'll be visiting with them later this week along with the hubs & wheels. And yes, the liability could be huge. What they've done seems to void all the warranties and liability that the various manufacturers provide.

Also, I want to point out that the trailer manufacturer (PJ Trailer) had nothing to do with creating the problem. It was the dealer who made the decisions. I've only recently contacted PJ Trailer warranty department and their initial response is that's not right, but wants some more information.

The trailer currently sits on blocks next to the barn until this is fixed. I still like the trailer although I haven't been able to use it yet and don't want to return it. I have a couple things I want to do to it, but won't until this is resolved.

This is probably one of those cases where the dealer needs to hope he has enough liability limits to cover his exposure.

 

[nisaacs]

They don't know it yet, but I'll be visiting with them later this week along with the hubs & wheels.

Maybe I misunderstand, but are you saying you are pulling the hubs off the trailer? I would not disturb the new Dexter axles (warranty), let the dealer do that. Take the complete trailer back.

 

[crazyal]

At some point I think I would be talking with a lawyer. You can try dealing with the dealer once more but they seam like they are going to stand their ground. If they are an authorized dealer for PJ that puts PJ on the hook as well. I'm thinking that PJ will want to know what they are doing. If one of those wheels falls off and an accident happens both the dealer, PJ, and Dexter will be the ones who will have the deep pockets lawyers love. Don't get me wrong, injury or loss of life is the biggest concern. But after seeing the pic of that stud I wouldn't trust any of them.

If you do go to the dealer I would mention that you've been talking with PJ as well. I'm guessing that they may want to take the trailer back vs risk loosing PJ. If they still don't want to deal with this in the correct safe way then I think I would also look into the various state agencies that will help.

 

[Hay Dude]

At some point I think I would be talking with a lawyer. You can try dealing with the dealer once more but they seam like they are going to stand their ground. If they are an authorized dealer for PJ that puts PJ on the hook as well. I'm thinking that PJ will want to know what they are doing. If one of those wheels falls off and an accident happens both the dealer, PJ, and Dexter will be the ones who will have the deep pockets lawyers love. Don't get me wrong, injury or loss of life is the biggest concern. But after seeing the pic of that stud I wouldn't trust any of them.

If you do go to the dealer I would mention that you've been talking with PJ as well. I'm guessing that they may want to take the trailer back vs risk loosing PJ. If they still don't want to deal with this in the correct safe way then I think I would also look into the various state agencies that will help.

What CrazyAl says is NOT crazy. Id get a lawyer to send them the appropriate letter and they should make it right.
Its better than doing something insane, like flooding their basement, etc.

 

[two_bit_score]

What CrazyAl says is NOT crazy. Id get a lawyer to send them the appropriate letter and they should make it right.
Its better than doing something insane, like flooding their basement, etc.

Yes if they got a letter under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act they would immediately make it right.

3T has very limited damages at this point though. The dealers liability is any of those other trailers they have running out there that might have a failure under a load on the highway.

 

[3Ts]

Maybe I misunderstand, but are you saying you are pulling the hubs off the trailer? I would not disturb the new Dexter axles (warranty), let the dealer do that. Take the complete trailer back.

At some point I think I would be talking with a lawyer. You can try dealing with the dealer once more but they seam like they are going to stand their ground. If they are an authorized dealer for PJ that puts PJ on the hook as well. I'm thinking that PJ will want to know what they are doing. If one of those wheels falls off and an accident happens both the dealer, PJ, and Dexter will be the ones who will have the deep pockets lawyers love. Don't get me wrong, injury or loss of life is the biggest concern. But after seeing the pic of that stud I wouldn't trust any of them.

If you do go to the dealer I would mention that you've been talking with PJ as well. I'm guessing that they may want to take the trailer back vs risk loosing PJ. If they still don't want to deal with this in the correct safe way then I think I would also look into the various state agencies that will help.

Yes if they got a letter under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act they would immediately make it right.

3T has very limited damages at this point though. The dealers liability is any of those other trailers they have running out there that might have a failure under a load on the highway.

I already pulled one wheel off in the process of discovering this. Because the studs are damaged I can't put it back on. I'm not sure I'd want to tow it another 100 miles in the condition the dealer delivered it in, in any case. I checked the other 3 wheels by backing off one lug nut so it was not in contact with the rim on each wheel to see if any were different, they're not. So, I pulled the grease cap off the spindle of each wheel and took the spindle nut off and pulled the whole wheel hub, rim and tire assembly so they can see for themselves. It's about 100 miles to the dealer, I'm about half way between two of them. I talked to a friend of mine and he mentioned something i'd not considered, that is that they may have mixed SAE and Metric threads. The nuts would start a thread or two and a big impact wrench would force it all the way on from there (and destroy the threads in the process).

This has taken longer that I would like and I've missed some opportunities to haul stuff, but the thanksgiving holiday has slowed responses down. I've been emailing the various manufacturers and asking them what they think and require. That takes several days from question to response. So I've tried to be patient and give everyone an opportunity to consider the question and provide an answer. I've contacted PJ and have just sent them the info they requested so a couple more days for them to do what they do before I expect a response. I am considering escalating the issue to the state and if necessary to get the legal system involved (hopefully that won't be required).

I told the dealer earlier that I've contacted PJ and Dexter and have the specs for the wheel rim, so they know.

I compliment you for taking this so well.
I know Id be furious.

Thank you, I'm trying. I was in at the dentist's office yesterday for a cleaning and they took my blood pressure. 170 That is way high for me so I had to explain what was going on. I'm trying to stay calm but I'm also running out of patience.

Tomorrow will be interesting, the wheels and hubs are in the truck. I should have an update for y'all tomorrow night.

 

[nisaacs]

It is a good thing you have good observation skills. What about the poor customers who are unaware? They probably have not converted very many, in spite of their claim of, "we always do it this way". But even 2 or 3 is too many. You can bet that after you, Dexter and PJ educate the dealer, they will not be contacting and recalling the previous conversions.

Pretty sure the nuts were the same ones that were holding the 16's on. They were damaged when the tapered portion of the nut made contact with the sharp, square cut 5/8's hole of the new wheels. When they were torqued down, the nut was pinched into the stud threads and destroyed.

Good luck tomorrow!

 

[crazyal]

It's possible they used the wrong nuts and that damaged the threads. But that says more about the dealership and the people they have working there. It's even possible that they are different pitch threads to purposely make doing what the dealer did not possible (without force). What sort of mechanic in good conscious would force a nut onto a stud with the air gun hammering all the way? How could they even torque the nuts down correctly. Hopefully someone with some power at that dealership steps up and makes this right.

 

[nisaacs]

It's possible they used the wrong nuts and that damaged the threads. But that says more about the dealership and the people they have working there. It's even possible that they are different pitch threads to purposely make doing what the dealer did not possible (without force). What sort of mechanic in good conscious would force a nut onto a stud with the air gun hammering all the way? How could they even torque the nuts down correctly. Hopefully someone with some power at that dealership steps up and makes this right.

It's okay to think outside the box, but your imagination just went into high gear

They buzzed off the 16's and buzzed on the 17.5's with the same nuts. Where would a trailer dealer find metric or non standard lug nuts? They are all either 1/2, 9/16's or 5/8's fine thread, in tapered or flange style. But yes, anything is possible with that dealer.

 

[ruffdog]

It is common for brand new (very dry) studs and nuts to seize if they are run with a high speed impact. The new nuts/studs have small burrs on them from the manufacturing process and with the speed, will start galling the thread.