VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH MANY PROBLEMS BUT PERHAPS THE MOST POTENTIALLY SERIOUS IS THE SEVERE RUST ON ALL COMPONENTS OF THE UNDERCARRAIGE WHICH WILL I BELIVE WILL SOONER THAN LATER CAUSE A DISASTER WHETHER BY LEAKY FUEL LINES, BRAKE LINES, PROPANE LEAKAGE OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER POSSIBILITIES. THE RUST IS SO SEVERE THAT NONE OF THE PROFESSIONALS (SAND BLASTERS) CONTACTED BY MYSELF OR THE FRAME MANUFACTURER (FREIGHTLINER) WOULD DO THE NECESSARY CLEANUP, PRIMARILLY BECAUSE SAND BLASTING WOULD ONLY MASK A DEEPER PROBLEM OF HIDDEN RUST AND WOULD ALSO CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS FROM SAND INFILTRATION AND ERROSION OF METAL THICKNESS (E.G. FUEL AND BRAKE LINES). ADDITIONALLY, THE COACH MANUFACTURER (GULF STREAM) WHO I BELIEVE IS AT LEAST EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE (IF NOT MOST RESPONSIBLE) FOR THE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL HAZARD OF THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY RESPONDED THAT IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I STRONGLY DISSAGREE. GULF STREAM PURCHASED THE FRAME AND RUNNING GEAR FROM FREIGHTLINER AND ATTACHED BY WELDING MANY BRACKETS AND ADDITIONAL FRAMING TO THE ORIGINAL FRAME. NONE OF THIS WORK WAS PROTECTED BY PAINT OR UNDER COATING AND ALL ADDED COMPONENTS ARE HEAVILLY RUSTED INCLUDING AREAS ON THE PROPANE TANK. IN ADDITION TO THE ITEMS LISTED IN THIS COMPLAINT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS BUT PERHAPS THE ONE THAT MOST CONCERNS ME IS THAT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WHEN MEDIUM SIZED BUMPS ARE ENCOUNTERED, THE FRONT OF THE COACH ON THE REBOUND, ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE THE GROUND (AND ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS BOTH ON CALIFORNIA HWY I-5 AT 40 MPH IT HAS WHILE OTHER LARGE VEHICLES SEEM TO HANDLE THE BUMP. I BELIEVE THAT BY ADDING VARIOUS ELECTRIC GENERATORS TO THE CHASIS IN FRONT OF THE AXLE CAN HAVE VERY DIFFERENT EFFECTS E.G. A GAS OR PROPANE PROPELLED GENERATOR PROBABLY WEIGHS IN AT APPROX. 800 TO 1000 LBS AND A DIESEL GENERATOR BY ITS NATURE WOULD PROBABLY WEIGH IN BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 LBS. I DON'T BELIEVE MANUFACTURERS ALLOW FOR THIS ADDITIONAL WEIGHT AND IN EFFECT ALLOW A DANGEROUS CONDITION.
- NHTSA ID
- 701445