EZ Loader Trailer Warning!!!!!

[Danny]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-07-06 AT 06:09PM (EST)[/font][p]Hey Everyone,

A couple of you are aware of this, others aren't, but if you have an EZ Loader Trailer, you need to check the place where the front post is welded to your trailer.

The front post is the post that has the winch and roller assembly attached, and is the only part of the trailer, with the exception of safty cables, that hold the front of your boat on your trailer.

About a week ago, I found that mine had "torn" lose. Yes, the metal tore!!! Not the weld. The weld is in good shape, but there is a gapeing gap on each side of the post, and around to the front of the post. The gap is nearly 1/2 inch. I called my dealer, to get contact information for the trailer company, but he asked to take care of it for me. That was a week ago. I emailed him pictures, just as he asked. However, I have found out that Kerry, at Jet-A-Marina, was too busy during the past week to contact EZ Loader on my behalf. He, in an email to me, apologized for being too busy to even answer my emailed questions or to return a call. So, I have made my initial attempts to contact the trailer company. I called them twice today, both times got voice mail, and asked for them to call me back. I am still waiting.

I have talked to a couple of guys with welding experience and they tell me that apparently the metal of the trailer apparently had a flaw that weakened it. Perhaps they suggested, it was over heated during the welding process, and they see no way to weld the pieces back together.

In the mean time, I have an 1/2 inch of metal in the front of the post, and about an inch and 1/2 in the back of the post to hold my boat on the trailer. Therefore, it is stuck in my garage.

I had hoped to be on the lake next week for the BASS tournament, but now that looks like it won't happen.

BTW, Kerry told me his sales manager has seen only one such trailer damage, and then he said EZ loader sent a new post to be welded on the trailer, then the trailer was painted. It doesn't appear that will work for me in this case.

Anyway, although I don't know what will happen with this case, I wanted to alert all who have this type of trailer to check their trailers. Had I not noticed this before I headed out that particular morning, I suspect that as soon as I hit a bump, the post would have torn loose completely, and if the boat bounced up, I would think the highway speed wind may have flipped the boat over backwards onto any vehicle behind me. Had that happened, I am sure there would have been lawyers for the insurance companies reaching out to EZ Loader, instead of me.

I'll keep you all posted.... but check your own trailers for damage!!!

Safety first.

Danny

PS, failed to leave my contact info: 270-543-0786

[Danny]

Well, still nothing happening... well not much. I am getting very ticked off, and am very near the end of my patience and will seek alternative ways to satisfy my needs.

Here's what is happening. Kerry sent me an email and said that EZ Loader will no longer return his calls or emails because Jet-A is not the trailer owner. So he recommended someone at Triton.

I called Triton today, and I'm telling you, although they weren't overly optimistic, they are at least really trying to help. Kerry recommended I talk with Tom Moody at Triton. Tom was very nice, and gave me a name of a person at EZ Loader to speak with. He said Triton no longer uses EZ Loader as a supplier for their trailers, haven't since 2003 if I remember correctly. I called and asked for the person Tom suggested, and got his voice mail. I left a message and am awaiting a call back. Per Tom's, at Triton, request, I called him back and kept him updated. I got his voice mail. I left him the message.

He actually called me back.... can you believe it?? Triton seems to be the only ones who really care. Anyway he asked if I wanted him to go ahead and try with EZ Loader. I suggested we give his friend a chance to return my call, and see if he could help me. Then if he won't or can't, I would appreciate his help.

This is getting very old. Three weeks now my boat is not able to be moved!!

Danny

[Danny]

Well, the guy that I was referred to by Triton returned my call. Although he is no longer in the custom trailer plant, he was or seemed appalled by the lack of return calls, and wanted the information. He asked me to send him an email with the pictures I had taken, and he promised to begin making the necessary calls to arrange getting the problem taken care of.

This just proves, a company is only as good as the people who represent them. It will be interesting to see what happens from here.

Danny

[Danny]

I've made three calls to EZ Loader, and left messages each time for the guy who handles warranty issues. You don't get an operator, just an automated menu with 8 options.

The guy has not called me back.

Kerry from jet-a-marina called to apologize for our mis-connection. He said he wanted to help, and he gave me a toll free number, then called back to say he had called, and the guy in warranty took his call. He, Kerry, is emailing the pictures to the warranty guy, and although he was leaving for the day, he will look at the pictures tomorrow and call Kerry back, or at least that is what Kerry told me he said.

Moral, EZ loader doesn't appear to want to talk to actual consumers!

Danny

[Dave Stewart]

If that is what Kerry told you then you can bank on it being true. I know Kerry more than well enough to know not only is he honest but he will go out of the way to try to help you which he obviously is doing. Just for your information, I was up at Jet-A-Marina yesterday and they are really busy.

[Danny]

Dave,

I am sure you know Kerry much better than I do, but he is who I bought the boat from. I thouroughly enjoyed working with Kerry then, and everytime I have needed anything, he has indeed gone way out of his way to help me. That was why I was so disappointed. He and I talked and I'm not mad at him at all. I was of course upset and disappointed, but not mad. I am not one who likes to be mad... though sometimes I do it very well.

Like I said, when I first called him, I had planned to take care of everything myself. Kerry offerred to help me. This was absolutely the way he has always been. I just believe he and I just had a bad timing for this.

I was hoping to have my boat back so I could come to KY Lake next week for the launch of the BASS Elite series. In fact, I found the trailer damage while preparing to take my boat to Jet-A for some work on my tach. I still plan on having Mike do my work for me.

I'm guessing now I won't be there for the first day, as I had hoped, but I do think Kerry is going to help me. I have 100% faith in him, and though temporairly shaken, my faith is back. He is doing this for me, even though he probably won't make any money out of this. He is doing this to take care of a customer.

THAT is customer service!!!!!!

After reading about the Stren Series, I wish I had been down there for some observation this week. I have a feeling a lot of good fisherman could have shown a weekend hack like me some neat stuff. For instance, although KVD is not in the stren series, I've heard watching him fish a bank with his spinnerbait is like going to a selling seminar for a salesman. LOL

I learned a ton fishing with you just that one day, and I'd gladly go again, just as soon as I can afford it..LOL... or if I can just find out when you are launching, I'll follow you??? No Dave, just kidding. I would never follow a guide and "steal" what he sells, but pro fishing is trying to become a spectator sport, and I had hoped to do some spectating next week.

Thanks for the words of support Dave.

Oh, check your PMs on here, sending you something.


Thanks again,

Danny

[CTFSHWHISKER]

i have some experience in welding just wondering if you could scab weld some plate steel over it and re-attach the winch,.I would suspect the tongue will have to be cut out anyway so you could do that as a quick fix,it woild be boxing in the tongue so to speak,if you have to take the trailer back you'll be down for a few weeks at best i would imagine.good luck.

[Danny]

Thanks CTFSHWHISKER,

You are right, the torgue will have to be cut out.. thanks, could not figure out how to describe that as well as you.

One of my biggest concerns is that the side of the trailer tore. Not real far down the side, but enough that there is no top area to weld to.

I don't think the two welders I spoke with at the end all of welding knowledge, but they both said they could not see anyway to weld it back to that trailer. The first one had the same idea you had about adding the plate, but upon inspection he wasn't able to see how to really add it.

Plus, we ahve to becareful not to raise the roller when we add the plate. Currently the roller is as low as it can go, and if it is raised any at all, loading the boat will be a nightmare.

Thanks for the ideas... I am hoping to get up and running as soon as possible, but I have to feel very confident in the repairs.

I'm just glad I discovered the failed metal. Had I not, I may have lost the boat and killed someone. the last time I fished, I remarked to my friend that someone was "tailgating" or I guess I should say "propgating" lol.. but if my trailer had failed then, that van with mother and kids would have had my boat in it.

That would not be good.

Danny

Danny

[CTFSHWHISKER]

just wondering,can the tongue be cut off and then made into a swing away tongue?if you box in the tonue with the roller winch assembly taken off you will have to cut off the assembly post to compensate for the steel thickness you add and if it is in an angle be sure to allow for it so the roller will be located at the same place..install a ratcheting bow strap from trailer to bow eye when towing so the boat won't jump up and down stressing this point that is probably what happened the bow will jump alot if the boat wasn't loaded all the way forward.
good luck
where are you located?

[Danny]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-10-06 AT 01:46AM (EST)[/font][p]I'm in Muhlenberg County.

The way the trailer is made, there are two rails that run the length of the trailer and come to intersect with the tongue. In fact the swing away tongue would be infront of this intersection. Great idea though. I wish I could draw a picture, but am unable to do so with words.

I am very sad about this. I was hoping to hear back from Kerry today. I thought that maybe the trailer company would have returned his calls.

I was hoping to have my boat ready for next week's BASS Elite tournament on KY Lake.

I am now guessing I will have to be satisfied to just attend the weigh in.

Danny