Word Of Warning On Road King Trailers

[Wylicat]

My 198 DLV Carolina Skiff came with a Road King trailer. The trailer is great until you have a problem. Once the issue with the camber surfaced, Road King "passed the buck" and denied any responsibility.

Furthermore, they did not return my phone calls three times after leaving messages, and "customer service" was unavailable to speak to me. Right now the manufacturer of the axle, TieDown, is supposed to send me a new axle, but Road King has refused to send me replacement tires that were ruined due to the axle problem.

If you have a choice I would suggest buying from a dealer that does not sell Road King trailers. After doing some research I have heard of many horror stories with Road King and their product service. The bottom line is that if something goes wrong Road King will do little to help you.

[Top Cop]

Thank you for this information. I have a Road King. I will ta a good look at my trailer

[Wylicat]

Top Cop, the problem will show up as cupping, or wear, on the inside of your tires. It is kinda hard to notice until it gets bad. Basically what is happening is that the spindle is flexing slightly causing more pressure on the inside of the tire.

When it first surfaced last year, I took it to my Road King dealer and Road KIng said it was my fault because he axle was out of alignment. Obviously that was not true because it happened again six months after the "repair".

The conversations I have managed to have with Road King have them wanting to only take responsibility for the aluminum frame of of the trailer. Everything else they will pass off to the vendor. So, the so called "five year warrranty", only applies to part of the trailer.

I have owned two other "cheaper" boat trailers and never had an issue, and now I have a "high dollar big name" trailer and not only does it break, but the customer support is awful.

Don't even get me started on the problem with the trailer lights....LOL!!

[lwilson296]

I have a Road King trailer and I had cupping as well, it ended up the axle was not installed true and square. I realigned it myself with a tape measure, wrench and a hammer and so far (knock on wood) I have fixed it.

LAW*Cheers*

[Tparkin]

I have a Venture trailer and have had as many, if not more, problems with it. I don't think it's the manufacturer as much as the product and its use. Sometimes I think we tend to expect too much out of a trailer that has constantly got its full weight capacity loaded on it and gets submersed in water. Not trying to be argumentative but boat trailers take some pretty major abuse and the fact that they hold up at all is pretty impressive.

[Wylicat]

"....Sometimes I think we tend to expect too much out of a trailer...."

Tparkin, in my opinion a trailer that wears out a set of tires in less than a year has something bad wrong with it. Furthermore, when it is under warranty, and the manufacturer trys to pass off the problem to someone else, then there is even more wrong with the brand.

They do do a lot of work, but I paid a premium price to get a trailer that I thought would perform better than most. Silly me.

lwilson296, they tried to tell me the cupping was due to the axle being out of alignment on the first go around. Even if it was, Road King built it that way. I did not move the axle. Again, something that is their fault and they don't want to cover it under warranty.

Hopefully most other have had a good experience with Road King trailer, but I can at least in knowing that this is the last one I will ever own.

[lakebiker]

"....Sometimes I think we tend to expect too much out of a trailer...."

Tparkin, in my opinion a trailer that wears out a set of tires in less than a year has something bad wrong with it. Furthermore, when it is under warranty, and the manufacturer trys to pass off the problem to someone else, then there is even more wrong with the brand.

They do do a lot of work, but I paid a premium price to get a trailer that I thought would perform better than most. Silly me.

lwilson296, they tried to tell me the cupping was due to the axle being out of alignment on the first go around. Even if it was, Road King built it that way. I did not move the axle. Again, something that is their fault and they don't want to cover it under warranty.

Hopefully most other have had a good experience with Road King trailer, but I can at least in knowing that this is the last one I will ever own.

Well, that makes two of us. :mad::mad:

[Bluemoon]

my 2005 Road King Trailer
I stepped off the boat onto the rear step built in the finder,and went to the ground, the dang thing had no support but right up to the fender,none under the step! now the back step is broken off. be careful when getting out the boat when it is own the trailer.

I have another Road King but it built by Harley!!