McElrath Trailers

Fatigue Cracks in Frame – 2016-2020 McElrath Trailers VX50-800 & VX30-800 Trailers

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January 31, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V060000

Fatigue Cracks in Frame

The cracked welds may affect the trailer’s handling, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V060

Manufacturer Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers

Components STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 305

 

Summary

Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers (McElrath Trailers) is recalling certain 2016-2020 VX50-800 and VX30-800 trailers. The welded area of a structural joint of the trailer frame may crack from fatigue.

 

Remedy

McElrath Trailers will notify owners, and VermeereBay logo dealers will add additional trailer frame gussets to reinforce the welding area, free of charge. The recall began March 27, 2020. Owners may contact McElrath Trailers customer service at 1-888-686-7278.

 

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.safercar.gov.

 

FIELD CAMPAIGN
SERVICE BULLETIN #

SVM2020-002

DATE:

12 March 2020

 

Subject:

Trailer Frame Reinforcement Kit (VMK00-0504)

 

Background:

McElrath has decided that a defect, that relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain model year 2017 – 2020 McElrath VX30-800 and VX50-800 model trailers. McLaughlin is administering this campaign on behalf of McElrath.

 

TRAILER FRAME FAILURE MAY OCCUR

During towing, higher than expected frame loading may result in bending and/or fatigue cracks of the trailer frame main beam. If a fracture occurs, unpredictable trailer handling may result.

 

DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY POSSIBLE

When towing the vacuum excavator on public roadways, a crash may occur resulting in death or serious injury if the trailer frame fails. Property or equipment damage may also occur.

 

Solution:

IMMEDIATE MACHINE MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED

VMK00-0504 has been created to provide the necessary parts and instructions to reinforce the trailer frame. This kit must be installed as soon as possible.

Please be reminded that it is a violation of Federal law for you to sell or lease the machines covered by this notification until this recall has been performed on these machines. Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of this law.

 

DEALER PARTICIPATION

REVIEW REPORT, ORDER KITS, CONTACT CUSTOMERS

  1. Reports will be emailed during the week of March 12, 2020, to dealerships shown in our records which have units in their territory affected by this Alert. Please review the report for accuracy, including owner and/or address changes.

If the information contained in the report is NOT correct, please notify VermeereBay logo Corporation Product Safety Department on or before March 25, 2020 at:

Telephone: 641-621-7060
Fax:  641-621-8562
Email: productsafety@vermeereBay logo.com

 

  1. Dealerships Order Kits by contacting McLaughlin at:

Telephone: 864-277-5870
Email: [email protected]

Each dealership should determine the quantity of Kits to order initially depending upon the number of units that may be available for immediate upgrade. Do not order more Kits than needed for immediate installation.

 

  1. Contact your affected customer(s) to schedule a mutually acceptable time to upgrade their machine. Note: Letters will be sent to the customer(s) on or about March 26, 2020. Also refer to Owner Notification section below.

 

If you have any questions concerning the installation of VMK00-0504, please contact the McLaughlin Service Department at 864-277-5870.

 

Note: Future notices to dealers and owners are dependent upon the receipt of Warranty Claims by the VermeereBay logo Corporate Warranty Department.

 

REIMBURSEMENT

Upon completion of each Kit installation, a Warranty Claim must be submitted to the VermeereBay logo Corporation Warranty Department for reimbursement of the cost of the Kit and labor, 3.5 hours.

 

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Sample Letter: Included at the end of this Bulletin is a sample letter which will be sent by VermeereBay logo Corporation directly to the Owners on or about March 26, 2020, via USPS certified/registered mail. The owner notification will be translated into:

  • Spanish

All translated owner notices will also include English owner notification.

This owner notification/letter instructs the owner to contact their local dealership to arrange for a time to have the Kit installed. After receiving VMK00-0504 from the McLaughlin Parts Center, you must contact your affected customer(s) immediately and schedule a mutually acceptable time to upgrade their machine.

We regret any inconvenience these corrective measures may cause you. This required work is for safety of the towing vehicle occupants and other drivers and passengers on the public roadways. We hope you agree the safety benefits surpass the inconvenience.

 

McLAUGHLIN GROUP, INC.

 

Attachment:

VMK00-0504 Kit Instructions

NHTSA SAFETY RECALL NUMBER NHTSA 20V-060

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

First Notice
Trailer Frame Reinforcement Kit (VMK00-0504)

Model: «Model»
This notice applies to your vehicle,
Serial No: «VIN»

 

March 26, 2020

VIA USPS CERTIFIED/REGISTERED MAIL

 

Dear «MODEL» Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

McElrath has decided that a defect, that relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain model year 2017 – 2020 McElrath VX30-800 and VX50-800 vacuum excavator trailers. McLaughlin is administering this campaign on behalf of McElrath.

 

TRAILER FRAME FAILURE MAY OCCUR

During towing, higher than expected frame loading may result in bending and/or fatigue cracks of the trailer frame main beam. If a fracture occurs, unpredictable trailer handling may result.

 

DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY POSSIBLE

When towing the vacuum excavator on public roadways, a crash may occur resulting in death or serious injury if the trailer frame fails. Property or equipment damage may also occur.

 

IMMEDIATE MACHINE MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED

VMK00-0504has been created to provide the necessary parts and instructions to replace to reinforce the trailer frame. The kit must be installed as soon as possible.

Please contact your authorized, independent VermeereBay logo dealer immediately to arrange a mutually acceptable time and location to install VMK00-0504 at no cost to you for labor or materials. The installation of this kit is estimated at 3.5 hours of labor.  If the VermeereBay logo dealer travels to the unit to install the kit, costs may be incurred by the owner. You must have your machine upgraded for these safety features.

 

Contact your local VermeereBay logo Dealer:

«Service_Dealer_Name»
«Serv_Dealer_Add1» «Serv_Dealer_Add2»
«Serv_Dealer_City» «Serv_Dealer_St» «Serv_Dealer_Zip»
«SERV_DEALER_COUNTRY»

Telephone:

«Serv_Dealer_Phone»

 

According to our records, you currently own a McElrath «MODEL» vacuum excavator trailer. The Model and Serial Number of the «MODEL» is shown at the top right of this letter.  If you no longer own this unit, please notify the Product Safety Department at:

Toll Free:  800-829-0051, extension 7060
Telephone: 641-621-7060
E-mail:  productsafety@vermeereBay logo.com

If possible, please provide the name and address of the new owner.

We regret any inconvenience that these corrective measures may cause you. The required work is for the safety of the towing vehicle occupants and other drivers and passengers on the public roadways. We hope that you agree that the safety benefits surpass the inconvenience.

 

Very truly yours,

PRODUCT SAFETY DEPARTMENT

 

Federal regulations require that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten (10) days.

If the authorized dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge and within a reasonable time, contact VermeereBay logo Product Safety, on behalf of McElrath and McLaughlin Group, Inc., by email at productsafety@vermeereBay logo.com or by calling 800-829-0051 or 641-621-7060. You may also submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov

10 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKEMODELYEAR
MCELRATH TRAILERSVX30-8002016-2020
MCELRATH TRAILERSVX50-8002016-2020

 

13 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V060-9285.PDF 212.762KB


⬇ Download PDF (207.78 KB)

 

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V060-6481.pdf 245.619KB


⬇ Download PDF (239.86 KB)

 

Miscellaneous Document- VX50 Literature

RMISC-20V060-6034.pdf 1199.245KB


⬇ Download PDF (1.14 MB)

 

Miscellaneous Document- VX30 Literature

RMISC-20V060-4061.pdf 3076.28KB


⬇ Download PDF (2.93 MB)

 

Miscellaneous Document- VermeereBay logo MV Solutions Literature

RMISC-20V060-1012.pdf 1340.857KB


⬇ Download PDF (1.28 MB)

 

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-1

RCLQRT-20V060-7231.PDF 211.125KB


⬇ Download PDF (206.18 KB)

 

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V060-4438.pdf 1885.295KB


⬇ Download PDF (1.8 MB)

 

Safety Bulletin

RCSB-20V060-1276.pdf 1040.963KB


⬇ Download PDF (1016.57 KB)

 

Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-2

RCLQRT-20V060-0638.PDF 211.225KB


⬇ Download PDF (206.27 KB)

 

Recall 573 Report- Amendment 2

RCLRPT-20V060-1348.PDF 216.008KB


⬇ Download PDF (210.95 KB)

 

Miscellaneous Document

RMISC-20V060-4976.pdf 218.351KB


⬇ Download PDF (213.23 KB)

 

Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V060-3031.PDF 211.422KB


⬇ Download PDF (206.47 KB)

 

Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-3

RCLQRT-20V060-2468.PDF 211.309KB


⬇ Download PDF (206.36 KB)

 

Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V060&docType=RCL

 

 

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