Posted 2011-08-20 10:12 AM (#136815) Subject: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Missouri
Has anyone been disappointed with their KB? I take excellent care of mine and had hoped it would have held up better over time than it has. The aluminum side is coming unstuck exposing foam, the bars on the drop down windows come off all the time and I keep ordering new ones, the hinges are pretty fragile and make me nervous that my horses are going to be in the trailer when I arrive at my destination and I have to use a blunt instrument to beat the back latches open on the tack and back door.
I have learned now that there are better trailers...that are by far superior to this trailer in the same price range. Beware before you purchase one of these. They look pretty on the lot but the long haul shows it to be poorly made and will not stand up to the test of time...point in case...look at an old Sundowner...you just can't kill one of those old beasts. They're awesome. Look at the horse trailers for sale and look at a 10 year old SD...they look just as good 10 years old as they did new. Not mine. I'm embarrassed to pull mine down the road...looking like I'm hauling junk around. I'm doubtful it will make it 10 years. Of course it's falling apart before my eyes after the warranty is up. Gotta love that. Can't imagine what kind of nickel and dime costs are going to come up over the next few years...that is if I decide to keep it. I like my equipment to look clean and try to keep it in tip top shape, but to keep up with this standard, I'm thinking it's gonna start getting expensive. Natalee
Posted 2011-08-21 7:11 PM (#136852 - in reply to #136815) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Veteran
Posts: 165 Location: Western Ar
Ours is a 2005 model and been pulled all over the country and quite a few Forest service Roads. I do fairly good maintience on it.and the only problem is the dropdown window hinge that froze up due to a metal pin attaching the aluminium hinge froze up and had to take it apart to oil it up. Now that I caught that all it will need is a shot of WD-40 once in a while. I would like to see pictures of this damage it might help some of us Kiefer owners to prevent it happening to us with proper maintinence.
Posted 2011-08-21 8:32 PM (#136854 - in reply to #136815) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Georgia
I had one for 9 years and only had a few plastic parts on the living quarters that needed replacement just because of sitting in sun and heat for 9 years. The only thing I didn't like was the way the hinges stick out on the sides. I was always afraid a horse was going to get hurt.
Posted 2011-08-22 2:31 PM (#136880 - in reply to #136815) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Missouri
So I just called Kiefer's parts department and found out that my trailer doesn't have a warranty anymore because they filed for bankruptcy. Nice real nice. I am traveling right now so I can't get pics loaded. I'm jealous that everyone has had such luck with their trailer. I'll be getting rid of mine as soon as possible and buy me something that will last.
Posted 2011-08-22 5:12 PM (#136884 - in reply to #136880) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Member
Posts: 43 Location: Valdosta, GA
I have had 2 Keifer Built Genesis trailers. Both have been LQ trailers. The current one is a 2004 that I have had for 7 years. Both were well built upper middle of the road trailers. With proper maintenance, I expect my trailer to last a long, long time. I show all over the country, and my KB has been hauled to TX, PA, IN, NC, TN, etc. No problems at all! When people see my trailer, they assume it is NEW. It looks that good. When my current trailer was still in the 3 year hitch to bumpter warranty, I called KB over a couple of small things and was extremely impressed with their customer service. Yes, they have been bought out by a huge manufacturing company. From what I understand, same KB manufacturing facilities, same KB management, and many of the same KB employees. To be fair, I do understand that my KB trailer is not a 4Star, Bloomer, Elite, etc. But, it's a NICE, solid all aluminum trailer that I am proud to pull down the road. BTW, I just had a tire go out on the trailer on I-75. When the service man go to me, he said he expected to see half of my fender either bent or missing. Only damage was a torn break line wire and a few scratches on the inside of the fender well. He was impressed and said that the accident alone says alot for the construction of my trailer.
Posted 2011-08-22 5:47 PM (#136889 - in reply to #136815) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Veteran
Posts: 165 Location: Western Ar
Pleasureman; that being said same thing happened to me on the brake line. When I repaired it I replaced it where if I blew another one it should not tear the aliminium channel off
Posted 2011-08-22 8:14 PM (#136893 - in reply to #136815) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Veteran
Posts: 165 Location: Western Ar
I took a piece of flat Alumium and put a heavy solid bar on it then put it in a press and made a bend for the wireing with each side flat and then pop riveted it. Hopeing if I have another blowout there will be very little for the tread to catch on. I am fixing to have to put new tires on ours next year and I'm going to go ahead and put 16.5's on it. kinda like a V with a flange on each side of the V
Posted 2011-08-24 1:14 PM (#136965 - in reply to #136815) Subject: RE: My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
Veteran
Posts: 114
I have 2007 Keifer Genesis and I am not having any of those issues, huge heavy latches on the doors, I lost one bar because my horse kicked it out.
all seams still fused and I pull mine a lot over some rough roads. My issue was the Carslile tires. Had to replace those.
My 3 Year Old Keifer Built All Aluminum is Falling Apart
