Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

TRAILS WEST TRAILER OWNERS BEWARE

2

2fun4u

Well-known member
This post is to make you aware of a potential issue with the construction of the trailers.

We own a 28’ 2014 Trails West RPM Gooseneck trailer with the heated floors and all the “stuff.” We bought it and were in LOVE with it and used it all last season. It was awesome! We were able to haul five sleds or 2 razors easily with plenty of room and nice options – the heated floors were fantastic!

We wanted to put a fuel cell under it, so we crawled under about a month ago to measure and see if we could fit something in between the cross members. While under there, I noticed a crack on one end of one of the cross members! I couldn’t believe it. Then, as we looked further, we found that ALL FIVE of the cross members that are in the area where the floor goes up and over the axles are cracked on BOTH ENDS! One side has multiple cross members cracked all the way through.

We called Trails West to see what they could do to help us out since there is no reason beams like that should crack. They never called us back, so we had to call a second time. They told us since we were the second owner, they wouldn’t do anything. The warranty only extends to the first owner. Of course, they “have never heard of this” in one of their trailers.

As a business owner in the snowmobile industry, if I had someone call me with an issue “I have never seen before” I would do everything I could to ensure it wasn’t our manufacturing process that caused the issue instead of completely dismissing them. And, I would do everything possible to make that customer happy again.

So now, we have a $25,000 paperweight – at least until we figure out how to tear it apart and replace the cross members ourselves.

We think the issue will probably only show in the trailers with the heated floors. We suspect it will come down to the way that the cross members were cut to put in the heated floor. We can’t see until we tear it apart, but we also suspect that the cuts put in were square, which means that the cracks occurred at the corners of the square cuts. We will be sure to post pics of them as soon as we get the spray in foam off to see what’s up. Take a look at the pictures - The one actually looks like two beams - it's actually a break all the way through - there are two of them in the picture.

As a fellow owner of one of these trailers – I would recommend you check yours before the season starts. If you find you have the same issue - let them know no matter what. they need to know that they have an issue.

If you are the first owner, congratulations! I hope they help you out and not completely dismiss you like they did us.

Pics didn't show up - here are the pics of the breaks and the trailer when we first got it. We were so excited about it ONCE. The pics show both sides on the raise section of the deck of the trailer.

:frusty:

Trailer-1.jpg Trailer-2.jpg Trailer-3.jpg 2016-06-30 12.51.13.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure if you're expecting them to, but no pictures are showing up.


How about stand behind their product - regardless of 2nd owner or not?
Sounds like a helluva liability issue if the trailer breaks in half going down the road and kills someone. Bet they will wish they would have addressed the issue then.
 
How about stand behind their product - regardless of 2nd owner or not?
Sounds like a helluva liability issue if the trailer breaks in half going down the road and kills someone. Bet they will wish they would have addressed the issue then.

Unless maybe first customer was overloading said trailer maybe?

I have no idea how hard or easy that would be with one of these trailers or maybe it's bad welds at the end of the cross members? Can't see the pics so it's hard to tell what we are looking at.

But either way "standing behind your product" ends when products are not used as intended IMO. Not sure if that's the case with this trailer or not.
 
It has heavy axles

Unless maybe first customer was overloading said trailer maybe?

I have no idea how hard or easy that would be with one of these trailers or maybe it's bad welds at the end of the cross members? Can't see the pics so it's hard to tell what we are looking at.

But either way "standing behind your product" ends when products are not used as intended IMO. Not sure if that's the case with this trailer or not.

The trailer has the heavier axles, so i'm told that with those, it is actually rated to hold a VEHICLE!

I know we have only ever had 5 sleds or 2 - 2-seat razors in it at one time. The previous owners dirt bike and sled and I know them well and am confident they never overloaded the trailer. Yes, you can't be sure, but I would think, as a company, you would at LEAST want to look at it since "you've never seen this before."
 
are the beams notched or cut on the top side for the floor heat system? seems they are all in a row this would indicate something common in each
 
Looking into that

are the beams notched or cut on the top side for the floor heat system? seems they are all in a row this would indicate something common in each

That's what we suspect. They put that spray foam in so we have to get that out before we can see. We think they installed the beams then cut into them for the heated floor... Causing the beams to fail at the corners of the cut.

We will see.... I'll post pics when we get that apart.
 
I tried to warn you all about this potential issue years ago

I made mention of their improper fabrication techniques when they posted a build video years ago on this very forum, and all I got was a bunch of Burandt huggers giving me grief as well as the Trails West Manager himself, trying to save face by saying that was an old video and they were doing it different currently (then). He came across as such an arrogant azzhole, I'm not surprised he did not call you back and tried to duck the issue entirely. He was in denial then and likely still is.

There is not enough weld on those cross members to survive the flexing it has to endure. Essentially they are only tack welded on one side across the top. thus when the trailer is twisting and flexing down the road it is ripping and tearing at both ends of the short one dimensional weld, and once the crack gets started it runs fast from there.

And it's not just the Trails West Brand; Most trailers built these days are made way too light! We see about half a dozen a year at work here in Alaska, most arrive via a roll on / roll off recovery trailer or a roll back truck, because they can not be towed safely! It should be illegal / criminal to make trailers as light and disposable as they do nowadays. We find it surprising they survive the trip to the dealer on the semi-trailer, they are built that light and little to no welds holding them together.
 
Last edited:
Pictures are working now.... WOW!

I'm interested to see what is behind the spray foam, but where are the welds?!
 
If you own one of the trailers above, climb under it and take a look so you can help this guy out. I suspect there are many more.
 
Premium Features



Back
Top