Yet another tire blowout

[Scotttkd2]

5 month update - still waiting on parts from Newmar for the body shop repairs, with no ETA as of today. Body shop in Albuquerque has winterized my coach so I am assuming they are not expecting any progress any time soon. After a lot of consideration and research my wife and I made the decision for a myriad of reasons to move on, and have purchased a new to us 2009 Newmar King Aire 4561, as we expect to be on the road for another 3-5 years from coast to coast at least once a year. Currently back in our winter home base in FL, and getting the "new" coach moved into, fine tuned and "up to speed". It was in very good condition, and a dream to drive cross country with the ISX 650hp Cummins in the rear. No sweating the hills and on ramps with that motor! We both really miss the layout of the 4037 Kountry Star, and have some interior mods we will be making to get it closer to that layout, but we have plenty of time to work on it now while sitting still in Fort Myers.

When the Kountry Star is finally finished in the shop I will retrieve it and consign it somewhere, not entirely sure which market to put it in at this point though. It's painful as it will have 2 brand new front wheels, all 6 brand new tires, and 6 brand new AGM house batteries, on top of all the upgrades I made on it over the last 2 years of ownership.

It is a good coach as far as it goes, I am just not comfortable with the chassis full time and going cross country repeatedly like we need to use it. For someone who will be using it seasonally like most "normal" people do, it will be a great comfortable coach.

Still thankful no one was killed, injured or damaged in the tire failure episode, it could and probably should have been so much worse than it was. All the rest can be worked out with enough time and patience.

 

[Neemer]

Congrats, @Scotttkd2 ! That’s a pretty bold move IMO.

 

[Neal]

After a lot of consideration and research my wife and I made the decision for a myriad of reasons to move on, and have purchased a new to us 2009 Newmar King Aire 4561, as we expect to be on the road for another 3-5 years from coast to coast at least once a year.

Congrats and glad to hear you're continuing to move forward and enjoy your life while that saga unfolds. Almost wonder if it could be trucked to Newmar and let them fix it on site and if that's the only way it will ever get fixed?

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Not good at all, Scott. Glad you kept control!

Can you please also clarify what rig you have. Your profile shows you have a 2009 King Aire, but you've made a couple reference about the tires being "factory...build".

And, do I see a Tyron Band around that rim?

 

[Rich W.]

5 month update - still waiting on parts from Newmar for the body shop repairs, with no ETA as of today. Body shop in Albuquerque has winterized my coach so I am assuming they are not expecting any progress any time soon. After a lot of consideration and research my wife and I made the decision for a myriad of reasons to move on, and have purchased a new to us 2009 Newmar King Aire 4561, as we expect to be on the road for another 3-5 years from coast to coast at least once a year. Currently back in our winter home base in FL, and getting the "new" coach moved into, fine tuned and "up to speed". It was in very good condition, and a dream to drive cross country with the ISX 650hp Cummins in the rear. No sweating the hills and on ramps with that motor! We both really miss the layout of the 4037 Kountry Star, and have some interior mods we will be making to get it closer to that layout, but we have plenty of time to work on it now while sitting still in Fort Myers.

When the Kountry Star is finally finished in the shop I will retrieve it and consign it somewhere, not entirely sure which market to put it in at this point though. It's painful as it will have 2 brand new front wheels, all 6 brand new tires, and 6 brand new AGM house batteries, on top of all the upgrades I made on it over the last 2 years of ownership.

It is a good coach as far as it goes, I am just not comfortable with the chassis full time and going cross country repeatedly like we need to use it. For someone who will be using it seasonally like most "normal" people do, it will be a great comfortable coach.

Still thankful no one was killed, injured or damaged in the tire failure episode, it could and probably should have been so much worse than it was. All the rest can be worked out with enough time and patience.

I’m really impressed at how well you’ve handled this whole thing. Looking forward to some KA pics.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Not good at all, Scott. Glad you kept control!

Can you please also clarify what rig you have. Your profile shows you have a 2009 King Aire, but you've made a couple reference about the tires being "factory...build".

And, do I see a Tyron Band around that rim?

Those pics are the 2020 Kountry Star 4037 that I had the most recent blowout issue with as detailed in this thread. We have decided to move on from that coach and now have the older 2009 KA in my signature and the 2020 is still being repaired. It will be consigned away if i ever get it out of the body shop. Yes, that is a Tyron, that was not installed correctly and "slipped". It's right hand side counterpart was also not installed correctly and while it didn't blow it required I replace the right side wheel as well as the left that made contact with the pavement when the tire shredded.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Congrats, @Scotttkd2 ! That’s a pretty bold move IMO.

Thanks, I didn't go into all the details, but we considered throwing in the towel and went as far as making an offer on a home in our winter location and giving up the RV lifestyle entirely, but ultimately cooler heads prevailed and we realized we really needed to be mobile for 3-5 more years. Once we decided that it was just a matter of what kind of RV would we be comfortable full timing in that had the capability of going coast to coast as needed. I really wanted a 10-15 year old Newell, or Prevost but the budget wasn't there for that. The 09 KA fit the budget and is a much heavier duty chassis than the 2020 KS. I am happy with it so far, just working out the "new to us" kinks that we all have to work out.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Those pics are the 2020 Kountry Star 4037 that I had the most recent blowout issue with as detailed in this thread. We have decided to move on from that coach and now have the older 2009 KA in my signature and the 2020 is still being repaired. It will be consigned away if i ever get it out of the body shop. Yes, that is a Tyron, that was not installed correctly and "slipped". It's right hand side counterpart was also not installed correctly and while it didn't blow it required I replace the right side wheel as well as the left that made contact with the pavement when the tire shredded.

Thanks for the info, Scott. Forgive my redundant question; I have NO idea why I only saw the "first couple" posts by you...my fault.

I now see you DID have Tyrons. I asked, because I have read elsewhere of faulty installs. Really sorry that you had to find out the hard way that you were one of them.

Enjoy the new KA!

 

[Scotttkd2]

Update to my last update - After 9 months in the shops and 30K plus in repairs the 2020 Kountry Star is finally repaired and ready to be picked up. I am arranging for a driver to go get it in Albuquerque and drive it to Phoenix where it will be detailed and consigned. A lot of lessons learned on this one, not the least of which was Albuquerque is not the place to have a break down that needs a shop to repair. We are still getting to know (and getting the bugs worked out of) the new to us 09 King Aire, some things we really like and some we really dont like. (Kind of describes the whole RV lifestyle thing actually). Unfortunately leaving FL for the summer we ran into some repair issues with this coach, wasn't unexpected, but is annoying, and are on 3 weeks now waiting for parts to make repairs. Living in the parking lot at NIRVC Atlanta, currently and I can say they are as good here as they were for us in Phoenix and Vegas in the past. I wish more RV dealerships had their attitude and level of service. I am trying to learn patience with this full time life style and so far that has been a tough task for me. Hope all is well with all of you!

 

[Joe Dutchstar]

Sorry you are resigned to living in the NIRVC Atlanta parking lot. We were there for a week last Fall which was more than enough for us.
But luckily NIRVC allows you to stay there during repairs.

Best of luck.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Yeah, not my usual plan for a summer vacation, but it could be worse. Have met some really nice folks that are also here for repairs and picking up new coaches. Still amazes me their repair shop is open 7 days a week though!

 

[Scotttkd2]

In July the Kountry Star was picked up in Albuquerque and driven to Mesa AZ to consign it. Upon arrival and inspection, while the body work looked good, it was discovered that there were still major electrical issues with the coach. Slides not working, batteries unable to hold charge even after being replaced, still no comfort steer, etc. Had kept the insurance company andjuster and a regional manager in the loop, and they are picking up in Mesa where Albuquerque apparently just gave up trying. Bottom line its now entering month 3 in the shop in Mesa after a full year in the shops in Albuquerque. The good news is the Phoenix area has lots of RV tech expertise and I am more confident they will get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later. Oh how I wish I had paid the thousands of dollars to have it towed to AZ to begin with.

 

[Richpatty]

Thanks for the update!

 

[AbdRahim]

I am trying to learn patience with this full time life style and so far that has been a tough task for me. Hope all is well with all of you!

Don’t feel bad.This is one of life’s toughest lessons for many of us. And some really never master it.

Rving is not for wimps. I have to constantly remind myself.