My “Class Act” Trailer's Structural Integrity Failure

[OldCarGuy]

As you cannot judge a book by its' cover. You sure cannot judge the structural integrity of a trailer by the way it looks. Or by the way the manufacture claims their trailer have superior durability through design and use of materials. After owning four car hauler trailers in my life plus all the research I put into my decision,, I made a major blunder purchasing a “Class Act” Trailer. http://www.classacttrailers.com/ I was willing to pay an extra 20% in cost for the smooth siding that eliminates the rivets. Plus their light-weight rear ramp door that's designed with counter-balancing springs integrated into the hinges. Eliminating the dreaded overhead garage-door style spring and two side cables.

I ordered the trailer through JTI Sales less than two years ago,, http://www.jti-inc.com/ . And took several months going over the specifications and my requirements before placing an order. In particular the type and weight of the cars that I would be hauling. And consequently driving over the rear ramp door. In turn the manufacturer assured JTI that the door would be just fine. After all the trailer's payload is 7,000 pounds, wouldn't you think that the door would have to at least handle that weight? No way else it could get inside! I have driven thousands of cars on and off my Haulmark Car haulers http://www.haulmark.com/ without any problems. For sure “Class Act” could build a product of equal or better quality.

Early on after delivery I voiced my concern to JTI about how the door would bend when I drive my 4,500 pound 1914 Cadillac in. Lest my 6,000 pound 1930 Packard. I was assured that was not a concern. The “Class Act” people designed the most durable car hauler ever produced... The flex was normal and would straighten out. A week ago I loaded a 6,000 pound car into the trailer that proved to be more than their ramp door could handle. That permanently left a 2” bow in the ramp door. And I can no longer close the door.

I immediately called JTI. Who in turn contacted “Class Act”, who asked that I talk directly with them. Guess what? I'm in the middle of another major debate. And looks as if Class Act will not stand behind their structural warranty. Basically they're saying, “Even though they call their Trailers “Car Haulers”. Their ramp doors aren't meant to drive cars over. As they only have a 2,500 pound capacity. I was never told that! If they would have informed me that, I would have saved $3,000.00 and purchased a proven Solid and time-tested Haulmark!

Thread about my mobile toy chest. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10244

Class Act Warranty...

Factory picture what not to do on other brand trailers. Just don't put those guys on the rear ramp door!

View of bow..

Permanent crease..

Side view of 2” bow to ramp door

Door fractures from blocking midway on the door so that I could unload the car.

Class Act claims that they put a 2,500 pound capacity label on the door. This is the only label on the door..

 

[ket-tek]

Sorry to see the happen, I wouldn't let down to easy. Continue to call them weekly (very politely) until they do something for you. Persistance usually pays off.

After you get a new 2500# gate out of them, sell the trailer and buy something else.

It's too bad because that is one nice looking trailer.

My friend has had a enclosed haulmark for over 10 years and it's been all over the country, and it still is straight and solid. Just a little dirty, and been through a few tires.

 

[lawfarm]

OCG,

I'm reasonably certain that, at the end of the day, the issues you describe will be resolved. Class Act will come to their senses and, like other manufacturers who are excoriated on this site. (If they don't come to their senses, they'll doubtless lose many, many sales).

I'm not being critical of you in any way--but I do have a question/observation: if you're driving a 4,000# car into the trailer, unless that car has a REALLY short wheelbase, it appears as though you'd only have 1 axle on the door at a time--right? So we're not talking about 4,000 on the door...we're likely talking about something much less (and likely within the alleged, but unmarked, 2,500# rating). Even a 6,000# car--you're probably talking about 3-3500# at a time (assuming it is nose heavy), which, while it would exceed a 2,500# rating (again, assuming that the door was rated, you had been informed, it was properly marked, etc.), which one might expect to be within the actual working limits for a door designed to carry 2,500#. So I'm very, very surprised that it failed at such a low weight (not to mention surprised that they're trying to now avoid their clear warranty obligations).

Just an observation. Keep us posted on their response, and as always, keep up the great documentation.

 

[Ramblur]

WOW! I'd be pissed too. My US Cargo is almost 15 yrs. old
(and looks it). These days I can hear the plywood protesting heavier
cars being pulled up the ramp but in all these years that door is dead straight
when I close it up. I'm sorry that they're trying to screw you over but if
that door couldn't handle at least 1.5 X (the design load) without failure
then I'd call their 2500 lb rating bogus too. FWIW, I think your selling
dealer should be going to bat for you too.

 

[akdiesel]

That has got to be frustrating. Not only do have to deal with legal issues, but now you also have a product that you can not useqhat was intended for untill it is fixxed.
Good luck in the pursue to get them to correct the problem.

 

[Brad54]

How close are you to the place you bought it? I realize it's not the dealer's problem, but I bet if you had the side of that trailer wrapped with the words "Don't Buy a Class Act Trailer--Their Doors Are Weak And They Won't Stand Behind Their Warranty" and then park it across the street on a Saturday morning, you'll get some response.

I'd have a vinyl lettering guy do up those words, put them on the trailer, and take pictures of the trailer and send it to the company, along with a list of websites you will be publishing it on. (Here, HAMB, YellowBullet, etc. etc. etc. ), and a list of events you will be attending with it.

-Brad

 

[1320stang]

Have a lawyer send them a letter I think.

They ought to give you a full refund, plus $2000 for your cabinets and whatever receipts you have for your improvements.

 

[bazar01]

Most designs have a minimum of 1.5 and some even use a factor of safety of 3.
So if the ramp door is rated for 2,500 lbs, it should handle at least 3,750 lbs I would think.

 

[Kevin54]

Seems like you and trailers are not getting along to well lately. I think my beef would be with JTI seeing that they REASSURED you a few times on your concerns. Get them to fix it then they can hash it out with Class Act. The first clue should be when they say "no problem" or "nothing to worry about". That seems like everyones answer to make an easy sale or a way to get the customer to go away and hopefully won't come back. I'd reaffirm to JTI what they told you about the door not being a concern. If they won't budge, then threaten with a lawyer and link them to a few sites that so that they will see negative responses about their product. A little negativity can go a long way. Hopefully it won't go on as long as the car trailer ordeal.

 

[evil16v]

Re: My “Class Act” Trailer's Structural Integrity Failure

What a POS!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the warning! My old Pace shadow has the standard "cable door" and Loads my 4000 pound Buick without issue. I only paid 3200 for it. It is a 10k Gross (5200# dexter axles). so it is about the same payload as your trailer.

 

[Keep]

What is really sad is that this seems to be the new "norm" It is never anyone's fault or problem, it is always someone elses.

I would give the manufacture one more shot then I would contact a Lawyer. I would take a camera and take very detailed pictures of every surface of the trailer. This should/would help cover you on the "There was a warning posted" Of course they will say that you must have removed that warning after the door folded.

I would then ask them exactly where they supposedly put the 2500lb warning. Then get some really good pictures of that area as well.

Next call would be to your local news crew and ask them about their "consumer problem" section all the local stations up here have them "Five on your side" where they take a news crew to the problem vendors shop and ask a bunch of questions about why they are not doing what they are supposed to be. Usually gets a very quick resolution.

 

[walrus]

Early on after delivery I voiced my concern to JTI about how the door would bend when I drive my 4,500 pound 1914 Cadillac in. Lest my 6,000 pound 1930 Packard. I was assured that was not a concern.

Seems to me the dealer should step up if they told you it wasn't a concern?

 

[Jack Olsen]

Couldn't hurt to forward a link to this thread to both JTI and Class Act. They can see how they're losing credibility and customers.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Start a "Class Act *****" web page

 

[HOTFR8]

Seems like you and trailers are not getting along to well lately.

Good luck Dont you just hate it when these things happen
I hope it all works out for you OCG.

 

[global72]

That *****. Sorry your having the troubles.

Thanks for a heads up and good description of the problem with pictures.

 

[IdahoJoe]

This kind of information, real facts backed up with pictures and documentation are why online forums are so great.

It gives everyone who reads this thread some concrete information to base their next purchasing decision on.

Thanks for the info! I'm anxious to see if they do anything to back their product.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Wow OCG you sure have your share of trailer problems. Even thou you seam to do more research than most of us before you buy.
So just how do they say you are supposed to load your car in the car trailer? Sling shot? Catapult? Ridiculous.

 

[LWW]

Agreed. It's pretty pointless to have door that can't handle the rated axle weight of the trailer...

I'm looking to replace my BigTex open trailer with an enclosed model and was looking at the ClassAct, but this thread immediately takes them off the table for me.

 

[35mastr]

Wow,What good is a 7k trailer with only a 2500 pound door limit. That is the most lame thing I ever heard. I would try contacting them one more time. Then seek legal council. Then I would do as suggested above and send them all the links that you are posting on.

After that. I would have the trailer lettered. load your cars that you normally take to the biggest shows that are in your area. As in Good guy's and park it right in the venue where everyone could see it.

I bet they will fix it real quick when someone from their company sees it.

 

[e-tek]

I guess their new tag line can be: You broke it, you own it!!!

 

[fourfeathers]

That *****, but think how easily a person could be hurt or rare car damaged. A door would seem like nothing then.
I would go to the dealer's ***! Why do we pay them, and not go straight to the MFGR?

 

[babzog]

I dunno... this kinda is the dealer's issue, at least in part since they "assured" you that what you were experiencing was "normal". You didn't happen to get that in writing did you? I always ask for oddball items such as this to be put into writing... keeps everyone honest and they know that they can't just blow you off by claiming your issue is normal and expected.

Good luck!

 

[kwb]

Just looking at it even if that was a very well engineered door as thin as the section is and knowing what I know of other trailer doors I would have a hard time buying that it could support 2500# plus dynamic effects of the bounce you get as you come over the lip.

I would definitely say design flaw to the point of not being fit for purpose that it was sold with one loophole being that while capacity of trailer is enough they may have designed for a lighter race type car (hence the 2500# design load) to be rolled in along with tools/supplies that don't roll in at the same exact time.

A poor design should still have a FS of 1.3 which would yeild the door at 3250# or the designer was a ******* and designed around UTS and an evenly distributed load.

 

[Steve from Socal]

I would suggest you get a Lawyer to handle it if they balked, I would also contact the FHSA and report the failure, DOT and FHSA oversee the construction of cargo trailers. The feds could fine them and force a recall of their product. It is time to play hard ball with the manufacture when they ignore a gross defect.

Steve

 

[jcs_in_ky]

You have to check all of the components of a trailer very carefully before buying. When I was doing research prior to buying a new flatbed trailer last year I looked at several brands. Aall trailers are rated at a certain gross weight but often not all of the components are made to hold the entire rated weight. Just to give one example, several of the trailers I looked at did not come with tires on them that would support the gross weight of the trailer when the max gross weight of the tires was added up. I've seen them do the same with couplers. It's not uncommon for them to sell a 7000 lb. gross weight trailer with a couple only rated at 6000 lbs. From what I've seen over the years trailer manufactuers don't have the best reputation in the world for being completely honest about their products and many of them will go with a lesser part in order to save a few dollars in the manufacturing process.

 

[jtillery]

I have never seen a ramp door that was rated anywhere near the carrying capacity of the trailer. I did alot of research on them last year when I was looking for a 6x12 to haul a couple motorcycles. All the manufactures I looked at (Class Act was not one of them) had the door capacity clearly listed in the specifications. I just looked at Class Act's website, and the 2500 pound door capacity is clearly listed there now.

I am local to your area, and I have owned 2-3 trailers sold through JTI, I have never bought one directly from them, so I don't know how reputable they are. It is definitely a possibilty that they did not show you spec sheets with the door capacity and they may have removed the sticker on purpose. Whether it was intentional or not, JTI dropped the ball for you by recommending the wrong trailer for your needs if there was not an underlying structural problem with the trailer.

That being said, I do not think the door should have failed under the load you had on it. Like one of the other posters said, you wouldn't have all the 6000 pound weight of the car on the door at one time. I have only seen a few cars loaded on car trailers with ramp doors, but I did not notice any flexing. Also as others have said the capacities are typically understated, I would expect them to be from Class Act since they advertise how much stronger/better built they are than the competition.

It is very likely their response was a knee jerk reaction, if they sell a decent volume of trailers, they probably have alot of attempts for warranty work when the customer was genuinely overloading the trailer.

Hopefully you can get it resolved without too much trouble. Others have suggested contacting an attorney. I think that would be risky, that may make them more willing to work something out, but it may competely kill any chance for resolution. If it went to court, I think it would be unlikely you would win. They would claim it was overloaded, you would have to prove it wasn't and show the actual structural defect. With the time and money spent it would likely be cheaper to buy a new door. If they truly are a "Class Act" then they will do something to help make it right.

 

[Mmaxed]

I looked at the link you posted when you first got the trailer in '07. I could see no weight limit stickers on the door when the trailer was new.

 

[-B-]

You may also want to play the interstate fraud card contact your states AG, their state's AG and the federal AG. the more arrow you can sling the better and faster reaction you will get.

 

[Wardster]

Tell the dealership and Class Act that you have been advised to get a written denial of your warranty claim.

-Wardster

 

[Ramblur]

Tell the dealership and Class Act that you have been advised to get a written denial of your warranty claim.

-Wardster

Way to go Wardster! I REALLY like this idea.

 

[Vicegrip]

That *****. I had an enclosed and used it for a light track car but lugged some sedans from time to time. I moved a Benz once and stacked some lumber under the open door to counter the flex during loading. The beaver tail door did not look like it was going to fail but I did not want it to flex to the point of pulling rivets or de-laminating.

 

[Ironcrow]

Even if Class Act Trailer caves completely, what's the best they could do? They only have 2500 lb doors. Put a new door on and tell OCG not to load any car? Class Act Trailer will have to take the trailer back and refund the purchase price.

 

[e-tek]

That *****. I had an enclosed and used it for a light track car but lugged some sedans from time to time. I moved a Benz once and stacked some lumber under the open door to counter the flex during loading. The beaver tail door did not look like it was going to fail but I did not want it to flex to the point of pulling rivets or de-laminating.

Taking precautions such as this would seem common sense to me...but I guess if you pay a decent buck for something you want it to work as advertised! Course on the other hand when I pay a good buck for something I end up babying it so as not to wreck it!

 

[Plombob]

Thanks for the info! I won't buy one of those trailers. Good luck to you.

 

[kwb]

Even if Class Act Trailer caves completely, what's the best they could do? They only have 2500 lb doors. Put a new door on and tell OCG not to load any car? Class Act Trailer will have to take the trailer back and refund the purchase price.

If the door can be straightened or a replacement fit a couple of 'fins' along the edges that would slip just inside of the jamb as the door closed would add a lot of strength but I would also probably do as suggested with the blocks of the wood for use while loading. Adding Tire Guides out of a channel section about 12" wide of aluminum or formed steel sheet with expanded metal 'traction' attached to the structure would also probably work and not look out of place or too much like a fix.

I would probably also go with the 'for sale' option once it is resolved if not a 100% satisfying fix. I would only consider a replacement door with adequate stiffness as promised during sales pitch as a 100% fix.

 

[therealjakeg]

Your a good guy, your the reason I am on this thread, I show everyone your complex. You are a brilliant man and I belive the sales team at JTI will end up footing the bill because they know that you are not someone just off the streets buying this. You definitlty look into what your buying and do you research. Best of luck. I hate situations like this. We all stand behind you.

 

[Wardster]

Way to go Wardster! I REALLY like this idea.

It needs to be part of a letter that includes a timeline of events, phone calls, visits to the dealer, etc. This needs to be sent to the manufacturer by certified mail with a copy going to the dealership.

 

[1320stang]

Take that car to some scales and scale both the front and rear weights and see if it exceeds the 2500# limit.

 

[OldCarGuy]

I want to thank all the members for all your ideas and support. It's totally appreciated.

Their Website NOW states that the ramp door has a 2,500 pound capacity. But for sure the weight of the cars that would go over the ramp was discussed many times throughout the quoting process. The Class Act remarks about the door capacity that I received through the dealer, stated that only half the total weight of the car would be on the ramp at a time....

I paid Class Act for a number of upgrades and some design changes to accommodate my cars. I originally had it quoted to have the height increased by 18” along with the lengthening the ramp door. The factory said the door couldn't be designed strong enough to carry my cars without going to an overhead spring counterbalance. Defeating one of the main reasons why I was even considering their trailer. After careful measuring, we agreed that 12” would be just enough to clear the roof of my 7' 4” car. And the door could carry the load of my cars. They charged me $322.00 for that 12” and another $90.00 for the redesigned ramp door with extra reinforcements to accommodate the increased height and weight of my cars.

On the surface the “Class Act” trailer looks great. But they surely do not live up to their name. They have yet to return my calls or to JTI,, the selling dealer. With my diligence, I finally have reached a nice lady today for a second time. That informed me that they are not going to replace the door. But would make me a new one for $1,000.00 plus shipping. But refused to give me any names of who is actually in charged. She did ask me for some photographs. That I'll send off..