Post by: Curt on July 06, 2016, 08:13:03 PM
In light of that, I decided to use my GPS to get me there on time. Unfortunately, the way I would usually go was clogged with beach traffic, so I had to use an alternate route. The GPS ended up routing me on a bunch of small back roads, one of which was pretty rough.
At one point, there was a huge bump in the road that was impossible to see until I was right on top of it. I hit it at about 30 MPH and knew right away it wasn't good.
I looked in the rearview several times to make sure the trailer looked OK as we finished driving to the launch.
We arrived and got ready to launch, and as I was backing down the ramp, the guy running the tourney pointed to my trailer like there was something wrong.
I stopped and got out to see what was up and he showed me that my boat's hull was resting directly against the fender wells of the trailer.
Then he pointed under the trailer, so I looked and saw that one of the crossmembers on my trailer had snapped (fp)
I also saw that another one had cracked and wasn't in very good shape.
So we took a few minutes to stuff a lifejacket between each fender well and the hull of the boat, strapped the boat back down and headed home, being careful not to take any of those twisty, bumpy roads.
I stopped by a friend's house who does work on boats, outboards and trailers, so he could take a look at it. He's pretty sure it can be welded and reinforced to at least get me through for a few months so I can save up for a replacement trailer.
So he's coming to pick it up tomorrow morning to do the work for me.
I'm not really happy with Bear Trailers right now. This is a 2007 model boat/trailer that I didn't start using until the Spring of 2008, when I bought it. It's never seen saltwater or salty roads, yet it rusted badly enough from the inside out to snap like this.
I will definitely be calling them tomorrow to see what they will do, if anything. My gut feeling is that they will tell me there's nothing they can do, but I will at least try.
This is not the first problem I've heard about with Bear trailers.
Post by: frugalangler on July 07, 2016, 01:36:44 AM
Post by: bullet20dc on July 07, 2016, 06:39:45 AM
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 06:47:53 AM
I think all boat trailers should be built using channel steel or some other type of open beam style.
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 08:19:59 AM
(https://www.bassboatboards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160707%2F027e8a69f7fd8936a002f83e41b58173.jpg&hash=6fcac390ec03f9a47a01e98de802c5419c1a9d83)
(https://www.bassboatboards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160707%2F8e2377bf8741b2872a59e14c308937b8.jpg&hash=3c89682d39dd6af42386d85b17c3ceaaa75dbc39)
Not a pretty sight!
Post by: transamz9 on July 07, 2016, 09:40:56 AM
Post by: frugalangler on July 07, 2016, 09:52:21 AM
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 10:49:59 AM
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 01:07:51 PM
No mention of any kind of customer service, etc.
I left a voicemail for the parts guy and will try to hit this from a customer service angle when he calls me back. More to come... (pcd)
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 01:13:45 PM
wow, saved by the axle, bunks sitting right on the axles - that was one mean azz'd bump you hit
Yes.. the axle saved my butt. I was thankful that it didn't snap one of the spindles and leave me stranded on a back road with my boat on the ground.
The bump wasn't your ordinary bump. It was like a short rise and then an immediate dip that I hit doing about 35 MPH. It was completely invisible until I was right on top of it. As soon as I saw it I hit the brakes hard, but it felt like the truck tires literally almost left the ground for a split second (even though they probably didn't), but the trailer doesn't have the suspension that the truck has, so when it slammed back down it did the damage right there. :crying:
Post by: bullet20dc on July 07, 2016, 03:03:35 PM
not so much for losing the boat but the guy behind you when it lets go.
Post by: Nightmare on July 07, 2016, 04:56:00 PM
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 07:23:15 PM
There's more going on with that broken member than rust. The break is way to clean and vertical - like it was jointed.
Someone on Facebook mentioned the very same thing.
I called Bear Trailers today but got routed to someone's voicemail. I left a message that didn't get returned.
I will be calling them again tomorrow. :nod:
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 07:28:55 PM
after seeing those pics no way if it were mine would i put a boat on that again and tow it dont care how good a welder he is there is more rot then u see now somewhere.
not so much for losing the boat but the guy behind you when it lets go.
@bullet20dc I hear ya with that. But I can't afford a new trailer at the moment, so I will have to make do with this one for the remainder of the season, while keeping a close eye on it.
The more I think about this, the more I think Bear Trailers should step up to the plate and do something about this, since it's clearly either defects in materials or poor workmanship. Either way, this trailer should have lasted for 15 years, bare minimum.
Post by: bullet20dc on July 07, 2016, 08:00:18 PM
Post by: Curt on July 07, 2016, 08:25:43 PM
i bet they blame it on us living in the salt belt in the winter even tho we dont use it in the winter. dont wanna pizz in your cheerios but i dont think u got chance in heck of gettin any satisfaction. customline (rustomline) ( the one I have) had issues like this and they are gone and should I mention Gamblers stellar customer service
Yep. I'm willing to bet that they try to blame it on salt, etc., etc.
I just sent them a lengthy email, along with a link to pics. I also don't expect them to stand behind their product. This is where the men get separated from the boys, so to speak, when it comes to companies that stand behind their products.
I will keep everyone updated simply because everyone deserves to know whether Bear Trailers will back up their product or not. :nod:
Post by: sbg on July 08, 2016, 12:05:30 AM
i bet they blame it on us living in the salt belt in the winter even tho we dont use it in the winter. dont wanna pizz in your cheerios but i dont think u got chance in heck of gettin any satisfaction. customline (rustomline) ( the one I have) had issues like this and they are gone and should I mention Gamblers stellar customer service
Just had to drag the dredded G name in the mix. Lol.
That really sucks about your trailer. Maybe something can be done about it. Maybe. heck your one step above G boat service. At least they answered the phone in the first place!
Post by: bullet20dc on July 08, 2016, 06:05:42 AM
Post by: Curt on July 08, 2016, 09:22:26 AM
heck your one step above G boat service. At least they answered the phone in the first place!
(giggle)
Post by: Curt on July 08, 2016, 09:22:57 AM
the devil made me do it SBG but you know as well as I the G boat company stands behind their product WAAAAAAAY behind it
(stirthepot)
Post by: Curt on July 08, 2016, 01:25:12 PM
I spoke with a customer service guy this afternoon. He was quite sympathetic with my situation and admitted that the trailer should never have broken like that.
He did bring up the fact that I live in an ocean area, so salt air "would cause rust" on the trailer, but he still said they would help me with this situation.
First, they are offering to help with the costs of repairing the trailer.
Second, although they most likely won't be willing to do a straight up replacement of the trailer, but they will more than likely be willing to work with me on an galvanized trailer upgrade at a reduced cost.
No specific numbers have been discussed yet, but just the fact that they're willing to discuss this with me is a big step in the right direction!
I told him I'd be back in touch on Monday to discuss things further, so we'll see where it goes from there.
More to come... (pcd)
Post by: Curt on July 08, 2016, 03:11:27 PM
The repair job looks really good!
I will plan on using it for the remainder of this season and then replacing it during the winter months.
I will, however, keep a close eye on it for further rust trouble :nod:
Post by: sbg on July 08, 2016, 09:53:26 PM
Charlie. Yeah I know. WAYYYY behind their products with their heads in the sand.
Post by: bullet20dc on July 09, 2016, 07:40:23 PM
Post by: Curt on July 11, 2016, 08:22:59 AM
I will be in touch with Bear Trailers again today to give them the repair price. They had said they would help me with it, so I hope they will stand behind their word. I have no reason to believe that they won't. (nope)
Post by: Curt on July 12, 2016, 09:54:01 AM
More to come...
Post by: Jig Man on July 12, 2016, 10:22:47 AM
Post by: bullet20dc on July 12, 2016, 04:57:20 PM
Post by: Curt on August 15, 2016, 02:52:36 PM
I got a check in the mail the other day that covered 100% of the repair cost for the broken crossmembers a few weeks ago.
My hat's off to them for excellent customer service. :thumbup:
Post by: Nightmare on August 15, 2016, 03:51:44 PM
Post by: transamz9 on August 15, 2016, 04:27:39 PM
Post by: bullet20dc on August 15, 2016, 08:08:01 PM
Post by: Curt on August 16, 2016, 02:35:26 PM
awesome good to hear there are still some righteous dealers out there if I needed a trailer i would deal with them just on your experience with them alone
Thanks @bullet20dc :thumbup:
And, yes, because they treated me properly and honored their word, and stood behind their product, I will definitely do more business with them in the future.
Definitely a breath of fresh air to work with a company like them.