Stealth Trailers Warranty: Ed Walker Only good for chicken coop. It will rust inside out before use, there is no paint on them at all. Bristol Indiana

I ordered goose nick a custom made trailer for $35,000 paid at the dealer Levesque Trailers in Onoway, Alberta, Canada.

List of poor workmanship from manufacture and differences from diagram found:

1-             Many loose aluminum panels inside.

2-             Poor workmanship on all trims.

3-             The structure of the trailer was not primed.

4-             Rusty water coming from under the trims due to the unprimed steel structure. See pictures attached.

5-             Rust at great degree can be seen, up to 12 inches inside the panels around the back door, side 20 feet split door and entrance door. See pictures attached.

6-             Rear ramp door was not built to hold 6,000 LB as per diagram, or to sustain 30-vehicle traffic a day as per order. The wood chip panel broke and the steel tubing bent loading the empty tanks with 5,000 pound.

The 8 bolts on the door locking mechanism where holding on only by two threads on the metal wall. No nuts where found on the bolts behind the wall to secure the heavy ramp door properly.  

7-             Undercoating was applied only to the steel and not on the wood chip floor - rust is showing inside the fenders and frame due to the poor workmanship on the undercoating application. See pictures attached.

8-             Front cap metal damage due to poor workmanship. Does not meet the diagram specifications. See pictures attached

9-             According to the certificate of origin the empty weight is 6604 LBS. The actual empty weight is 13000 + pounds, and is rated for 14000 pounds G.V.W.R.  A major misrepresentation. According to this weight, the trailer should have been built with three 7000 pounds axles and installed forward to maximum wheelbase as permitted by the Ministry of transportation.  The current installation of only two axels and wheelbase creates an unbalanced weight distribution.

According to the fifth wheel hitch trailers weight distribution chart, up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the total weight should go on the fifth wheel hitch.  Therefore for a 14000 pound G.V.W.R trailer, no more then 3500 pound should go on the fifth wheel hitch.

I loaded the trailer with, a 40 pound tool box, one gas 6500 watts generator, one diesel 7500 watts generator, Three 30 gallons empty steel tanks, One 60 gallons empty steel tank, four hose reels and one 60 gallons air compressor. All this loaded on the trailer floor towards the back. An estimated weigh of 1000 pounds.

As per the above, the pick up truck was with 7634 pounds on the drive axle and 10670 pounds on the trailer axles. The empty weigh on the drives is 3740 pounds, according with the weigh chart the fifth wheel hitch was over weigh by 394 pounds with about 1000 pounds load.

10-          Spare tire carry and spare tire is not in the diagram but the trailer needs spare tire to pass the safety inspection for commercial registration as it was designed for.

11-          Missing electrical 220 AC outlet fixture, an empty metal box with loose wires is attached outside the wall.

12-          Type of insulation was no discussed nor is explained in the diagram.  The product used is AYR-FOIL, which is a vapor barrier used along with proper insulation, and NOT instead of.

13-          Poor workmanship on steel joints, not welded properly. See pictures.

14-          Poor workmanship on windows installation, loose and missing screws, dents and scratches where found the same day the trailer was picked up.  Pictures already provided to Levesque Trailers .

15-          The 3 steps leading to the loft on the gooseneck are too high and are different sizes. For a normal and safe use the steps according to the Canadian building regulation should be built 7 ¾ inches high by no lees then 11 inches deep. I am not applying this regulation I am just mentioning what is recommended for safety reasons.

#1 step high 12”1/4 x11” deep 

#2 step high 12” x10” deep

#3 step high 12”7/8 x10”1/4 deep

And the last step leading to the loft floor is 11”1/8 high.  This differences cost an unbalance and safety concern.

16-          Side split door 20 feet by 8 feet, has no functionality. Was built too heavy to be operated by one person. Hinges where welded in such a way that the door could not be closed in a normal manner. One of the doors is 1 inch bigger then the other.

This special order trailer was requested for a specific use - a mobile oil changing business.   It was made clear that this trailer with the rear ramp door must be designed to withstand 30 vehicles per day - 30x2 meaning loading and unloading - at a maximum weight per axle of 5000 pound since a pick-up diesel truck weights 8000 pound.

I questioned Kyle about the construction and how many axles should be installed on this particular trailer, because another trailer manufacturer representative mentioned to me that such a trailer could not be built with (2) two 7000 pound axles. For a trailer with that dimension (3) three 7000 pound axle was the proper procedure. Then Kyle Levesque  confirmed over the phone that the manufacturer Stealth Enterprises, were experienced and knew what they were doing and that the two axels were sufficient. 

The product delivered and paid in full, even the 10 per cent of the total that was supposed to be in my position until issues and deficiencies were discussed and solved as per the diagram, was charged to me or I could not pick up the trailer from your dealer.

I Guillermo de los Santos never contacted the manufacturer during the proses of building this trailer since Kyle Levesque is the dealer and the representative of Stealth Enterprises, LLC. I trusted that Kyle understood my requirements as they were clearly represented to him when I started the ordering process.  The product delivered does not meet the requirements that were mandatory for the successful operation of the mobile oil change business.  As such the below list is a summary of items that must be fixed in order to meet the original standards and purpose for the safe operation of this trailer:

List of Claim:

1-             Remove all the inside panels to get to the metal structure.

2-             Apply primer as required.

3-             Needs inspection on all the metal structure and electrical wire and correct any poor workmanship.

4-             Install proper insulation.

5-             Install all the inside panels properly with glue as per order.

6-             Install all the trims correctly.

7-             Front cap metal has to be replaced, and installed as per diagram.

8-             Install spare tire carry and tire.

9-             Ramp door must be replaced for one that can sustain the weight as per diagram or reinforced it for 6000 pound. A roll up door can be installed instead and two aluminum ramps can be used.

10-          Undercoating has to be applied properly.

11-          Correct the weight distribution problem by moving the axle forward to the maximum wheelbase allowed and adding (1) one 7000 pounds axle.

12-          Install electrical 220 AC outlet fixture.

13-          Steps to the loft need to be done all the same size for safety reasons.

14-          Side 20 feet split door needs to be in operational condition for one person, I will arrange and bill the cost.

15-          Electrical wires need inspection upon removing the inside panels for primer application, any poor workmanship found will be fixed and the cost added to the total.

16-          After removing the panels to prime the structure, the structure has to go through an inspection and any poor workmanship found will be fixed and the cost will be added to total.

Manufacturer can send a roll up door and aluminum ramps or I will arrange and claim the cost back me.

Estimate done by Carstairs RV Centre is $11,698.40 plus GST.

Estimate for 2x9000 pound axles $5,700 plus GST. In order to fix the weight distribution the wheelbase has to be relocated.

Estimate done by Auto Truck Depot for undercoating is $799 plus GST.

Estimate for rear door, remove chipboard panel reinforce door structure and install plywood board or stronger board, replace cables for a winch. Other option is replaced ramp door for roll up door and use two vehicles aluminum ramps. Laborer and parts 3,500 plus GST

Estimate for side door to make functional $1,500 plus GST

The total of this claim is: 

Prime and Front Cap    $11,698.40

Undercoating                     $799.00

Rear Door                       $3,500.00

Side split door                $1,500.00

2 axles                            $5,700.00

                         $23,194.40

              GST      $1,159.87

                         $24,354.12