Welded-on Trailer Tongue May Detach – 2022 Pelsue Tradesman Fiberlite POD & Tradesman Fiberlite XL Trailers

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October 12, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V684000

Welded-on Trailer Tongue May Detach

A detached trailer frame can separate from the towing vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V684

Manufacturer T.A. Pelsue

Components STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 164

 

Summary

T.A. Pelsue is recalling certain 2022 Tradesman Fiberlite POD and Tradesman Fiberlite XL trailers. The welded-on trailer tongue may detach from the trailer frame.

 

Remedy

T.A. Pelsue will install a bolt-on steel corner cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2023. Owners may contact T.A. Pelsue customer service at 1-303-936-7432.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 


Please be reminded of the following requirements:

We note that T.A. Pelsue has notified owners prior to filing a Part 573 report. The supplied letter does not meet the requirements of Part 577. Please upload a draft letter that is consistent with Part 577 for NHTSA review prior to mailing.

You are required to submit a draft owner notification letter to this office no less than five days prior to mailing it to the customers. Also, copies of all notices, bulletins, dealer notifications, and other communications that relate to this recall, including a copy of the final owner notification letter and any subsequent owner follow-up notification letter(s), are required to be submitted to this office no later than 5 days after they are originally sent (if they are sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or purchaser/owner).

Please be reminded that under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a)(3), it is illegal for a manufacturer, to sell, offer for sale, import, or introduce or deliver into interstate commerce, a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that contains a safety defect once the manufacturer has notified NHTSA about that safety defect. This prohibition does not apply once the motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment has been remedied according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

 


Front Corner Weld Reinforcement on Fiberlite POD and POD XL Replaceable Tongue Frame

Pelsue Company is committed to the continuous improvement of our products, for both products currently in production and those products already in use by our customers. As part of this commitment, Pelsue has identified a potential issue with the frame of replaceable POD and XL trailers, particularly when towed at an unlevel angle behind a 1-1/4-ton truck or larger.

To increase the robustness of these frames, we have developed a pair of external brackets to be applied on each front corner of the trailer frame to better support the welded front cross member. These trusses will be bolted in place and do not affect the replaceable tongue. The Corner Cap kit (127834-AP1) and installation instructions (127834) will be sent at no cost to you. Our service department will help arrange a nearby repair shop that can install these trusses. The estimated time for installation is approximately 30 minutes.

This Bulletin is intended to assist customers in inspecting their trailer to identify the issue (page 2) and to assess risk of failure (page 3). No tools are required to inspect a trailer for this issue. This document applies to the replaceable tongue version of both Fiberlite POD and Fiberlite XL trailers, although either product may be shown in accompanying pictures.

NOTE: This bulletin does not affect trailers made without the replaceable tongue (early POD and XL, SPOT, MCT, STEER, Grizzly). All POD and XL trailers shipped after January 31, 2023 have this issue resolved and do not need the external trusses applied.

Inspection location – Top View

Inspect the welds between the frame rails and front cross-member. Picture below shows a representative trailer with the impacted areas circled in red.

Inspection Location – Bottom View

BEFORE INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER FRAME: Ensure that the trailer is fixed in place by deploying every jack, including the tongue jack. Prevent accidental rolling by fixing the wheels with wheel chocks. Ensure that everything on and around the trailer is secured before getting under the trailer.

In order to fully inspect the affected areas, the inspector must view the frame from underneath. The representative image below is a view of the front curbside corner of the frame weldment from underneath the trailer. The red arrows point to the specific weld joints to closely inspect for any cracks in or around the welds. Be sure to check the weld joints on both the street side and curb side of the trailer.

Inspection Findings

In the event that a crack is discovered during the inspection in these areas, do not attempt to use the trailer for routine use.

Representative pictures of cracked welds for a trailer that should be immediately removed from service are below:

With the trailer jacks deployed and the trailer fully secured, remove any heavy equipment (within reason) and contact Pelsue immediately to report the case. Pictures of the trailer and any cracks or failures can be sent to service@pelsue.com along with identifying information on the customer and trailer model.

If no cracks are identified, please call Pelsue Service at 1-303-936-7432 so we can schedule the installation of the Corner Cap Kit specified on page 1 and arrange to ship the components and instructions to the proper installer.

 


Installation Instructions

#127834‐AP1: Reinforcement Parts Kit, Fiberlite Pod Replaceable Tongue Frame, Front Corner Welds

Introduction

These instructions are to help guide the installation of the Reinforcement Parts Kit for Pods and XL units.

 

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Chronology :

January 13, 2023 customer Sefnco notified Pelsue of the first incident.

January 23, 2023 a new design for these two models of trailer frames were released.

January 30, 2023 the Service Bulletin describing the defect and the “fix” for trailers in the field was created.

March 21, 2023 the first batch of Corner Caps for the field fix on affected trailers were sent to customer Lumen.

August 23, 2023 the second incident was reported.

August 23, 2023 J & B Trailers in Lubbock, TX reported this defect to NHTSA.

September 11, 2023 Dave Thornton (NHTSA) contacted Pelsue regarding the defect and spoke with Pelsue CEO Chris Munson.

September 21, 2023 through filtering Work Orders in our ERP system Pelsue determined there were 117 Pelsue Tradesman Fiberlite POD trailers & 47 Pelsue Tradesman Fiberlite XL trailers potentially affected (total 117 + 47 = 164 trailers).

September 25, 2023 Pelsue learned of the Safety Recalls Portal, NHTSA reporting requirements and the 573 Report.

September 29, 2023 Pelsue created Vehicle Reports for both trailer models.

October 12, 2023 Pelsue submitted a Safety Recall on the Safety Recalls Portal.

 


2 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE MODEL YEAR
PELSUE FIBERLITE POD TRADESMAN 2022
PELSUE FIBERLITE XL TRADESMAN 2022

 


5 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-23V684-5076.pdf 646.745KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-23V684-8862.pdf 859.435KB

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-23V684-7769.pdf 517.953KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-23V684-5768.PDF 214.305KB

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Issued Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-23V684-4687.pdf 133.606KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V684&docType=RCL

 


 

Bestseller No. 1
CURT 25100 Straight Tongue Trailer Coupler for 3-Inch Channel, 2-In Hitch Ball, 5,000 lbs
  • PRECISE FIT. This trailer coupler is designed to mount onto a 3-inch wide trailer tongue beam and couple to any standard 2-inch diameter trailer ball
  • EASILY ADJUSTABLE. Equipped with a posi-lock spring and adjustable nut on the inside, this trailer hitch coupler can easily be adjusted to ensure a snug fit on the trailer ball
  • SECURE COUPLING. The posi-lock latch mechanism of this trailer tongue coupler accepts a safety pin or coupler lock for enhanced security
  • HIGH-STRENGTH. Constructed from punched, die-cut steel, this trailer ball coupler is rated as a class 3 trailer coupler and has a capacity of 5,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 700 lbs. tongue weight
  • CORROSION-RESISTANT. To easily outlast the elements, including rain, snow, dirt, road grime and more, this straight tongue trailer coupler is finished in a durable zinc plating and makes a great boat trailer coupler
Bestseller No. 2
XPE Straight Trailer Coupler for 2 Inch Ball Hitch, 2" Channel Width 3500 Lbs Trailer Tongue Coupler
  • Easy To Operate: Press The Valve Lock At The Bottom Of Our Valve And Pull It Upwards, Use Our Trailer Coupler To Attach The Trailer Ball, Then Press Our Valve Downwards Until Our Valve Latch Is Locked
  • Adapted Size: XPE Trailer Coupler Is Suitable For 2 Inch Trailer Hitch Ball , 2 Inch Wide Trailer Channel Is Suitable For Most Models, And Can Carry A Load Capacity Of 3,500 Lbs!
  • Sturdy And Durable: The Surface Of The Trailer Hitch Receiver Adopts Galvanized Technology, Which Is Easier To Drive On Snowy, Rainy, Dirt Roads, And Has Strong Rust And Corrosion Resistance! You Don'T Need To Replace It Often!
  • Wide Range Of Uses: XPE Trailer Coupler Is Suitable For Towing Motorhomes, Boats, Campers. Great Workmanship, Such A Useful Tool, You'Ll Need It.
  • Rigorously Tested: Manufactured To Original Factory Specifications. The Establishment Complies With Standard Specifications And Strictly Follows Factory Quality Control. Strict Quality Standards Ensure Good Quality, Powerful Functions And Safe Use.
SaleBestseller No. 3
CURT 25217 Black A-Frame Trailer Coupler, 2-Inch Hitch Ball, 7,000 lbs
  • PRECISE FIT. This trailer coupler is designed to mount onto an A-frame trailer tongue and couple to any standard 2-inch diameter trailer ball
  • SECURE COUPLING. The sleeve-lock latch mechanism of this trailer tongue coupler fully encompasses the trailer ball when coupled, providing maximum security and safety for towing
  • ENHANCED SECURITY. The sleeve-lock latch accepts a safety pin or coupler lock that passes completely through the neck of the coupler, ensuring maximum security for heavy-duty loads
  • HIGH-STRENGTH. Constructed from high-strength steel with a solid steel neck, this trailer ball coupler is rated as a class 4 trailer coupler and has a capacity of 7,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 1,050 lbs. tongue weight
  • CORROSION-RESISTANT. To easily outlast the elements, including rain, snow, dirt, road grime and more, this A-frame tongue trailer coupler is finished in a durable black powder coat and makes a great boat trailer coupler
SaleBestseller No. 4
Buyers Products 0091562 Heavy Duty Straight Tongue Trailer Coupler for 3-Inch Channel, 2-5/16 Inch Hitch Ball, 15,000 MGTW, Class 4, Zinc Plated, Auto Engage Latch
  • MGTW 15,000 pounds
  • Auto engage latch for easy one hand operation
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Bestseller No. 5
CURT 25330 Channel-Mount Adjustable Trailer Coupler, 2-5/16-Inch Hitch Ball, 14,000 lbs , Black
  • EASILY ADJUSTABLE. Designed to mount onto a vertical channel bracket, this trailer hitch coupler can easily be adjusted up or down to ensure level towing across your vehicle and trailer (CURT channels #48610 and #48650 recommended, sold separately)
  • PRECISE FIT. This trailer coupler can be mounted on a wide variety of heavy-duty trailers and couple to any standard 2-5/16-inch diameter trailer ball
  • EASY OPERATION. Equipped with an easy-lock latch mechanism, this trailer hitch coupler is quick and simple to operate and offers a snug fit on the trailer ball
  • HIGH-STRENGTH. Constructed from heavy-duty cast steel, this trailer ball coupler has a capacity of 14,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 2,100 lbs. tongue weight
  • CORROSION-RESISTANT. To easily outlast the elements, including rain, snow, dirt, road grime and more, this adjustable trailer coupler is finished in a durable black powder coat
Bestseller No. 6
Straight Trailer Coupler 2" Ball 2" Channel Width 3500 LBSTrailer Tongue Coupler
  • Fits 2" wide straight trailer tongues and 2" trailer balls,3500 LBS load capacity.
  • Easy-lock latching system for simple operation.
  • Features holes to accept a safety pin or coupler lock.
  • Zinc finish on thick durable die-cut steel for rust and corrosion resistance.
  • NBJINGYI specializes in the production of trailer accessories. It has a group of professional and advanced production equipment and technical personnel who can provide customers with high-quality products at reasonable prices.
SaleBestseller No. 7
CURT 25200 Black A-Frame Trailer Coupler, 2-5/16-Inch Hitch Ball, 10,000 lbs, GLOSS BLACK POWDER COAT
  • PRECISE FIT. This trailer coupler is designed to mount onto an A-frame trailer tongue and couple to any standard 2-5/16-inch diameter trailer ball
  • EASY OPERATION. Equipped with an easy-lock latch mechanism, this trailer hitch coupler is quick and simple to operate and offers a snug fit on the trailer ball
  • SECURE COUPLING. The easy-lock latch mechanism of this trailer tongue coupler accepts a safety pin or coupler lock for enhanced security
  • HIGH-STRENGTH. Constructed from punched, die-cut steel, this trailer ball coupler is rated as a class 4 trailer coupler and has a capacity of 10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 1,500 lbs. tongue weight
  • CORROSION-RESISTANT. To easily outlast the elements, including rain, snow, dirt, road grime and more, this A-frame tongue trailer coupler is finished in a durable black powder coat and makes a great boat trailer coupler
Bestseller No. 8
VEKINSE Straight Tongue (Zinc) Trailer Coupler with Hardware, Easy Remove Sticker and Instruction fit for 2" Channel, 2" Hitch Ball, 3,500 lbs, Silver
  • ✅PRECISE FIT FOR SECURE TOWING: The VEKINSE Straight Tongue (Zinc) Trailer Coupler is designed to fit 2-inch wide straight trailer tongues and 2-inch trailer balls. With a load capacity of 3,500 lbs, it ensures a precise fit for secure and reliable towing.
  • ✅EASY-LOCK LATCHING SYSTEM: The easy-lock latching system of this trailer coupler provides simple and hassle-free operation. It allows for quick and easy coupling, saving you time and effort when hitching your trailer.
  • ✅ENHANCED SECURITY FEATURES: This trailer coupler features holes that accept a safety pin or coupler lock, providing enhanced security for your trailer. You can have peace of mind knowing that your trailer is securely coupled and protected from theft or accidental uncoupling.
  • ✅DURABLE ZINC FINISH: Constructed from thick and durable die-cut steel, this trailer coupler is finished with a corrosion-resistant zinc coating. The zinc finish adds durability and longevity, protecting the coupler from rust and corrosion, even in harsh outdoor conditions.
  • ✅VEKINSE - YOUR TRUSTED TRAILER ACCESSORIES PROVIDER: VEKINSE specializes in the production of high-quality trailer accessories. With a commitment to customer satisfaction, innovation, and value, VEKINSE delivers exceptional products that meet the needs of trailer owners. Trust VEKINSE for reliable and dependable trailer couplers.
Bestseller No. 9
METOWARE Straight Trailer Tongue Coupler for 2" Ball, 2" Channel Width Trailer Coupler 3,500LBS
  • EASY ADJUSTABLE:Equipped with a posi-lock spring and adjustable nut on the inside,This trailer hitch coupler is easy to adjust for a better fit on the trailer ball.
  • APPLICABLE MODELS:Suitable for 2" wide straight trailer tongue and 2" trailer ball,capable of withstanding 3500 pounds of load force.
  • CORROSION RESISTANT:This straight-tongue trailer coupler features a durable galvanized finish that is easier to drive on rain, snow, and dirt roads for greater corrosion resistance.
  • SAFE AND SOLID:Trailer tongue coupler latching mechanism accept a safety pin or coupler lock for added security.
  • SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: METOWARE provides return and replacement service& life-time free customer service on all METOWARE brand cars products.
Bestseller No. 10
CURT 25328 Channel-Mount Adjustable Trailer Coupler, 2-5/16-Inch Hitch Ball, 15,000 lbs, B
  • EASILY ADJUSTABLE. Designed to mount onto a vertical channel bracket, this trailer hitch coupler can easily be adjusted up or down to ensure level towing across your vehicle and trailer (CURT channels #48610 and #48650 recommended, sold separately)
  • PRECISE FIT. This trailer coupler can be mounted on a wide variety of heavy-duty trailers and couple to any standard 2-5/16-inch diameter trailer ball
  • EASY OPERATION. Equipped with an easy-lock latch mechanism, this trailer hitch coupler is quick and simple to operate and offers a snug fit on the trailer ball
  • HIGH-STRENGTH. Constructed from heavy-duty cast steel, this trailer ball coupler has a capacity of 15,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 2,250 lbs. tongue weight
  • CORROSION-RESISTANT. To easily outlast the elements, including rain, snow, dirt, road grime and more, this adjustable trailer coupler is finished in a durable black powder coat

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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