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03-17-2016, 10:33 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Erie
Posts: 1
Colorado
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Kodiak trailers are unsafe
One week after I bought a 2014 Dutchmen Kodiak trailer, a friend noticed my brake wires were completely chewed . It appears that Dutchmen is too cheap to protect the brake wires and approximately 1 ft of the wires are exposed to the road and animals. What's worse is that the wiring is the colored wiring with a plant based insulator. It's going to cost me $1,000 to have everything re-wired and my magnets replaced. I'm just glad I didn't get killed!
Of course Dutchmen gave me the finger about repair costs. It was "built to spec". An unsafe spec! $5 of protective plastic would have saved me $1,000. Thanks Dutchmen!
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03-18-2016, 12:03 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Cody
Posts: 1,764
Wyoming
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If you really believe you have a case in re faulty wiring... then get in touch with an attorney, and let them advise you if you indeed have a case. If so, file suit to be made whole. Don't just be content with their (Dutchmen's) reply if you feel you've been wronged.
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Tom
2013 VOLTAGE 3200 (EPIC I & II)
2014 Ford F-450 PLATINUM
2018 BMW R1200GS RALLYE
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03-18-2016, 01:20 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ft. Pierce
Posts: 312
Florida
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There is NO way that chewed wires could cause your magnets to go bad. 30 minutes and a couple of bucks of wire will solve the problem. Welcome to RVing..... Fix the problem and forget about attorneys and suing Dutchman...
Quote:
Originally Posted by smutchler
One week after I bought a 2014 Dutchmen Kodiak trailer, a friend noticed my brake wires were completely chewed . It appears that Dutchmen is too cheap to protect the brake wires and approximately 1 ft of the wires are exposed to the road and animals. What's worse is that the wiring is the colored wiring with a plant based insulator. It's going to cost me $1,000 to have everything re-wired and my magnets replaced. I'm just glad I didn't get killed!
Of course Dutchmen gave me the finger about repair costs. It was "built to spec". An unsafe spec! $5 of protective plastic would have saved me $1,000. Thanks Dutchmen!
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03-18-2016, 01:43 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Brush Prairie
Posts: 42
Washington
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smutchler
One week after I bought a 2014 Dutchmen Kodiak trailer, a friend noticed my brake wires were completely chewed . It appears that Dutchmen is too cheap to protect the brake wires and approximately 1 ft of the wires are exposed to the road and animals. What's worse is that the wiring is the colored wiring with a plant based insulator. It's going to cost me $1,000 to have everything re-wired and my magnets replaced. I'm just glad I didn't get killed!
Thanks Dutchmen!
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I can see why you are upset but I cant believe anyone would pay $1000 due to the wires being damaged. Splice in some new wire and do it right, I think $20 should cover the repair parts. Should be a very simple wiring job and as mentioned above, you magnets should be unaffected.
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2005 Dutchman Colorado 28ft Bunkhouse FW
1995 F250 7.3L Diesel 5 speed
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03-18-2016, 03:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Tucson
Posts: 872
Arizona
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All of our trailers have exposed brake wires. There's tens of thousands of trailers on the road. Educate me on the plant-based wire insulator. Why would the magnets be an issue? Call me skeptical.
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2014 Voltage 3600
2013 Chevy 3500 CC DRW
2019 RZR 1000XP Trails and Rocks Edition
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03-18-2016, 10:32 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
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I use Meguire's products on all my toys. Nu-Finish is cheaper and easy to take off, but I don't think it lasts as well. Ice is easy on and off, and can be used on anything. Great thing is it doesn't leave any white residue. Doesn't hold up well at all though.
Rusty
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2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
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03-18-2016, 02:20 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Brush Prairie
Posts: 42
Washington
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lcv800
I use Meguire's products on all my toys. Nu-Finish is cheaper and easy to take off, but I don't think it lasts as well. Ice is easy on and off, and can be used on anything. Great thing is it doesn't leave any white residue. Doesn't hold up well at all though.
Rusty
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Did you post this on the wrong thread? Does not seem to fit here, or am I missing something?
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2005 Dutchman Colorado 28ft Bunkhouse FW
1995 F250 7.3L Diesel 5 speed
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03-18-2016, 04:32 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
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$1,000 to repair brake wiring ...........I'm in the wrong line of work.
I do have some ocean front property out here in the desert I will sell you.
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Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
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03-19-2016, 10:03 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WanderingWades
Did you post this on the wrong thread? Does not seem to fit here, or am I missing something?
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Yup, it was supposed to answer an inquiry on what wax to use. Sorry about the confusion.
Rusty
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2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
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03-19-2016, 10:04 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Lancaster
Posts: 263
Pennsylvania
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Welcome to the “chewed wires club”. For whatever reason some critters have a taste for wire insulation. I’ve had it happen years ago and know many other members of the club. I’ve also read where Honda was having rodent problems with soy based wire insulation in their cars, but didn’t know it was being used in other applications, quite possibly so...
I am curious about a couple things though. Was the $1,000.00 estimate for repairs given to you by a service facility? If so, I would never, never again go there. Your magnets are most likely still good as was pointed out by others, I can see no possible way they could be damaged from that since they were effectively disconnected from the circuit. Also replacing some wire is usually pretty simple to do; and if you are not comfortable doing it yourself, not that expensive at a reputable service facility. Nowhere near $1,000.00.
If you have already paid a shop $1K for this repair, I would consider taking them to task for that bill and ask why the magnets were replaced (if in fact they were). Way over the top for a couple hours work worst case, and a few dollars’ worth of wire. My thoughts for what it’s worth. Hope all is well now and time for a camping trip!
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2015 Voltage 3305, Gone for Good !
2014 Ram 3500 dually, Aisin, Gone but not Forgotten.
2018 Winnebago Sunstar 32YE
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03-20-2016, 12:56 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
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Critters chew wire and it doesn't matter WHAT it is made out of. I have replaced about every type of wire know to man at some point or another due to rodent damage, including some that was encased in lead. Yes they chewed through the lead outer sheath.
I also agree, $1,000 is way out of line and I don't understand why they replaced the magnets either. You can buy a complete brake assembly for ~$50 and the replacement magnets for around $35. Labor to replace brake assemblies is 45 minutes per wheel if that, about he same for magnets.
Aaron
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There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
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03-20-2016, 09:33 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Lancaster
Posts: 263
Pennsylvania
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc
Critters chew wire and it doesn't matter WHAT it is made out of.
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So very true. I don't understand what the attraction is? It couldn't possibly be the flavor My wire chewing incident was way before the soy based insulation debacle too. Honda had a real problem when they went to the soy based insulation in their cars. There were so many rodent destruction issues that they had to come up with a fix. They used a "rodent repellent tape".
Amazon.com: Honda 4019-2317 Rodent Tape: Automotive
It's just one of those things that happens I guess...
__________________
2015 Voltage 3305, Gone for Good !
2014 Ram 3500 dually, Aisin, Gone but not Forgotten.
2018 Winnebago Sunstar 32YE
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03-20-2016, 11:44 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Youngstown
Posts: 712
Florida
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Had to replace a magnet once due to critters eating the wires, they nawed it all the way down to the grommet, didn't leave enough to splice.
Agree with others, $1K way too much.
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03-20-2016, 03:50 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Brush Prairie
Posts: 42
Washington
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thom
Had to replace a magnet once due to critters eating the wires, they nawed it all the way down to the grommet, didn't leave enough to splice.
Agree with others, $1K way too much.
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If you remove the hub, you have plenty of wire inside to splice into; I've done it, no problem.
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2005 Dutchman Colorado 28ft Bunkhouse FW
1995 F250 7.3L Diesel 5 speed
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03-20-2016, 08:47 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ft. Pierce
Posts: 312
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WanderingWades
If you remove the hub, you have plenty of wire inside to splice into; I've done it, no problem.
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True
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