Little Guy Provides A Happy Ending.....

[Mary K]

Sandman,
I worked on boats for many years and rot was a way of life. See if you can figure out if it is water or insect damage. With water you will see the trail of past leakage. with insect you will see little piles of sawdust, tiny holes. etc. If the damage is confined to a small area and the manufacturer won't help you, there are several low cost options open to you. First determine where the leak is coming from and fix it if you can. there is a product that we used on boats called git-rot you inject it into the bad wood and firms it to the point that you can work with it. If you are dealing with insects also, I'm sure you know there are products that you can use to get rid of them. Don't get discouraged there is nothing there that can't be fixed. The epoxys and other things out there today are amazing. I'm sure everyone here will help you in anyway that they can. Post pictures and ask advice, I have found this forum to be like a big family, full of friendship, help and advice.
Good luck
Rick

Rick, He just purchase this TD, like this weekend..it's crazy man!!! Just Crazy.

Mk

[demtears]

WOW! sorry about your bad luck, I would choose to take the 2006 model if your money back is not an option. They say they can repair it in one day COME ON! maybe if they where to just glue a piece of wood over the hole. Sounds like Sub-Standard workmanship to me. I would think to repair the roof and the floor properly would take more than just one day (my opinion).do hope things work out for you.

[sandman]

Thanks for the sympathy and advice. I just wrote Chris at LGW and told him that both options just didn't appeal to me. If they rebuilt it, I would just have new wood to rot again. They offered to put me up in a hotel and pay for gas. I am not trying to be a harda$$ and I have yet to yell at anyone. I usually stay calm and collected...it's my wife that they have to watch out for..She goes after manufacturers with faulty products like a relentless pit bull. The dealer is offering to drive a 2006 Sport up to my front door. Apparently the water is also capable of coming up through the bottom when on the road in the rain. I don't think I would be any better off with an 06 either.....Lord, decisions, decisions......I politely told them that I was just leaning towards getting my money back and forgetting about owning a Teardrop.

You guys have seen my drama played out here over and over. I have to be one of the unluckiest teardrop owners/builders in the world. The big camp out and cycle ride is only 5 weeks away and I am once again without a dry place to sleep. I chunked out my tent after it mildewed and molded from last years rainy camp out event. Alas, I am already looking for a quick fix to get me by...a truck bed mounted tent. Ebay has a few and it may get me by for 4 days and 3 nights.

[elmo]

I am starting to think motorcycles are not suppose to travel by way of teardrops.

[sandman]

I am starting to think motorcycles are not suppose to travel by way of teardrops.

Elmo-I think you hit the nail right on the head. BINGO!!!!!! I have been cursed from the beginning and now it's rubbed off on you. Dude, what are we going to do???? Maybe we should design a teardrop just for dirtbikers and have it made of space age alloys.

Nothing worse than going into your garage and smelling mold and rot coming out of your new teardrop. I will put up some pics later.

[GPW]

Sand,Make them FIX it or replace it or give you a full refund + your expenses!!!! They admitted it was their bad materials ...If you do not hold them accountable , they'll just keep making bad TD's and selling them to everyone else...Just think of all the other TD owners you'll be helping...either that or let them deal with your wife...

My neighbor just bought a graywolf TT for his hunting camp , when he got home noticed the bottom was bulged out... and full of water ... he had all kinds of fits at the dealership and made them replace the entire trailer with a "good one "...
While sorry craftsmanship might have been the norm for FEMA trailers is is totally unacceptable for us campers...BE FIRM !!!!

[Podunkfla]

Sandman... I think I would keep on politely griping my way up the company ladder to the top. And, maybe send them a link to this thread too. They prolly stand to lose a lot of potential sales if they don't handle this right. Bad news travels wide and far fast on the net. Your offer to pay a little more and get a new model was more than fair. They should GIVE you a new one just so they could show how far they will go to make a happy customer... If they were smart.

If not... How about taking the 2006 and immediately sell it. Then get a craftsman built one from one ot the fine builders on this forum?

JMHO

PS: Sometime back I saw some pictures of their manufacturing process online. I was not impressed with the materials I saw. Maybe they have gotten better after eating a few bad ones?

[rbonner]

Sorry for your bad luck .You could always take the 2006 . If its a new old stock it shouldnt have any miles on it. Undercoat it as soon as they bring it then you dont have to worry about the bottom. There arent many places for a tear to leak up front, you could take the trim off and silicone under it. You could be ready to go then, If I still rode thats what Id do.... or just get your money back. (pluse the new decals) 3M makes a real good spray undercoating.

[Jiminsav]

dude, if the guy you bought it from offered to drive a new one up there, i will personally go to the lot and check it out for you before he leaves..
don't give up, we'll get you straight, just let me know what I can do for you.

[rainjer]

I would think if they are offering you the 06 that maybe they have already gone thru it to make sure it did not have the same probme or it has already been corrected. I would ask them if that is the case & if so, take the 06.

Do the give you any type of warranty on a used trailer. If so, maybe you can get some sort of extension on it also.

Jeremy

[sandman]

The trailer is actually brand new. It's just an 05 model that has never sold. It's just sat and sat for 2 years waiting for an owner. The factory offers a 1 year warranty on any trailer as long as you are the first owner so even though it is an 05 model, it is fully covered under warranty.


Here's some pics of the wood rot damage:


Rotted front ceiling panel


The rest of the rotted ceiling panel.


Lower roof spars at floor rotted.


Here's where my hand went through the floor. Everywhere you see black, is rotted through and through.


A few inches from the bad hole, I pushed thhis screwdriver with minimal pressure and it went right through the floor.

[jdarkoregon]

Man Sandman, Sorry to hear of your tough adventure. I'm putting a Ditto on what Brick Said. Many People are reading this thread and will make future decisions based on the outcome of it.

Good Luck, Don't give up, and comfort your wife, she needs it too. We are all feeling your frustration.

John

[jeepr]

Wow, that is really horrible! I would be so pissed! I wish I had some advice for you. I would personally try and get my money back. The biggest problem I see is that you bought it in another state, that makes threatening them with court difficult.

[Creamcracker]

...you asked the advice of friends on THE internet Tear drop web-site about your problem ... so now everyone knows about the defective nature of their 05 and 06 model...EVERYONE is interested in knowing whether they will stand behind their product or will they just "duck out" --- tell them they can be sure that if they don't replace the model with an 07 then pretty soon everyone will be "guided" away from buying a Little Guy made trailer --- it's up to them! Can THEY salvage this situation or are they prepared to take the consequences of being known as a bad company selling a bad product.

[sandman]

Well, the good thing about the dealer I bought it from is he is standing behind it 100%. He offered to bring me an 06 for an even trade. He then told me he would do whatever I wanted as far as getting a refund or new trailer. He is a very reputable dealer and cares about his reputation. He has called me several times today to find out what Little Guy is telling me. The trailer was actually stock that belonged to another dealer in Savannah, GA that went out of business and sold him all his stock. The dealer did not know a lot about the condition of the trailers from the other dealer..honest mistake on his part. Like me, he assumed since it was unused that it had no issues. I will know to bring a hammer and a flashlight next time I buy a trailer or car..lol.

I did get a very nice call from the Chris at LGW and he told me they would resolve and make me a happy customer. He would not tell me what they were working out but he told me it would make me smile when I hear the news.