Darwin Maring, 17 July 2008
My 2002
Scamp 5r Post
Axle Replacement Report
I notified both
Scamp and AL-KO (along with pictures) in 2005 of the
axle situation and was blown off by both of them. All my communications, from 2005 to 2008, with
Scamp and AL-KO were certified with return receipt. I firmly believe that having everything in writing and PROOF that I sent it a must when dealing with companies in situations like this.
When the axle problem blossomed on the Fiberglassrv web site and with me receiving emails and phone conversations from Blair McClure, Kamper bob and a phone call from an individual that had the problem on a 2007 within a very short period of picking it up, I sent my package back to Scamp along with some of the posts and requested that they:
Send me a new (BOLT ON) axle
Pay for my Temporary repair so I could move the unit with some sort of safe feeling.
Pay to have the temp repair removed and new Bolt On axle installed.
Kent of Scamp accepted my proposal and when I sent him the estimate of the cost he balked at the estimated 12 hours of labor -Do Not Post Email Addresses- $60 per hour to complete the work. He said that he use to weld and thought it should not take more than 4 hours however he would pay for 6 hours and because he had me over a barrel, I agreed to pay for anything over 6 hours.
My welder is a Certified welder and when he looked at the pictures of the failed axle he stated that he thought because the axle bracket was not supported fully on the frame of the camper and because there is a bolt hole and weld so close to the hole that he thought the heat from the weld may have crystallized the bracket thus allowing it to RIP the bracket.
Anyway:
Scamp sent me the new AL-KO axle with BOLT on bracket.
The welder removed the temp fix and installed the Bolt On Axle and if I ever need to replace the axle again I can do it myself just by jacking the unit up, unbolting the old axle and bolting on a new one.
I sent Scamp a bill for the temp fix and the new install and they sent me a check.
Scamp ask for my 5r
Vin and serial number because they said they lost all their records in the fire.
I think Scamp should :
Because they apparently do not have any records of where the pre-fire campers are, I think they should take out adds in Camping magazines (Good Sam for one) to notify Scamp owners on how to go about inspecting their units and what to do should they find the problem.
I also think they should notify the Federal Highway and traffic safety people of a possible problem so notifications can be posted and the public be notified. Just think what the outcome could be should some one be hurt or killed by a failure that they knew about since 2005 and may be adjudicated to be liable for. A prior notice could save some grief and their corporation if it was adjudicated their fault.
Thanks to Blair, Kamper Bob and all the others who have helped in this process.
Forgot to thank Pete Dumbleton for starting this thread. Many thanks Pete.