You are the first I have heard of with a leaking Shadow trailer...

Let's inject some facts and truth into the equation.

For starters, jette1 purchased a 2008 Shadow living quarters trailer from an authorized dealer in Iowa in 2011.   Several months later, she took it back to the dealer because the 19" x 53" bus windows in the horse compartment were leaking.  This is a very large window and no manufacturer will warranty them against leakage.   However, jette1 and her husband took the trailer back to the dealer in Iowa for repairs, at Shadow's expense, and nothing more was heard from them until 2012, when they claimed that leakage had caused extensive damage to the living quarters.  The Shadow factory brought the trailer back to Ocala, FL from Iowa at its' own expense and found that the roof sealant had failed, so it was replaced by sealant from a different manufacturer, again at Shadow's expense, even though the warranty requires the sealant to be checked annually and there is no indication that jette1 ever did so. 

jette1 and her husband also complained about the refrigerator freezing over.  Ordinarily the factory will not get involved with refrigeration issues because they are warrantied by the manufacturer, which in this case was Norcold.   The customers made a number of excuses about why they had not contacted Norcold directly or taken the trailer to an RV repair facility for diagnosis and insisted on bringing it back to the factory. In an effort to appease them, the living quarters supervisor at Shadow attempted to replicate the problem but could not do so.  The bottom line is that the dealer in Iowa has prevailed upon Norcold to replace the refrigerator, free of charge, even though no one has been able to replicate the problem. 

Shadow also replaced the entire living quarters of the trailer, including all flooring, once again free of charge.  When this trailer was built in 2007, the LQ's were subcontracted out and the subflooring was particle board.  (The factory now builds its' own living quarters and the subfloors are treated plywood).  

jette1 and her husband also insisted that a drip edge would stop the bus windows from leaking.  This is debatable, but in good faith Shadow is paying for an RV repair facility in Iowa to install them and is paying an additional $200 to have the trailer tested afterward. 

At this juncture, Shadow has paid over $5,000 to transport jette1's trailer from Iowa to Florida for repairs and has additionally paid for repairs made in Iowa.   Has jette1 been inconvenienced?  I'm sure she has.  But, she has a trailer with brand new living quarters and a brand new refrigerator, ALL FOR FREE!!  Meanwhile, jette1 would like our customers to believe that she had numerous unpleasant interactions with the factory supervisor, when, in fact, she has never, ever, spoken with or emailed him.  This is outright rubbish.  Only her husband has ever communicated with him and as far as the factory knew until several days ago when jette1 began posting defamatory allegations in various public forums, he was satisfied with Shadow's efforts to address their issues.

Shadow has an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction, and in this case the factory and the dealer in Iowa have gone way above and beyond what was required per the manufacturer's warranty.  I don't know what jette1's agenda is, but it's obvious that in this case no good deed went unpunished.  We stand behind each and every trailer we manufacture and we have stood behind hers, but this is ridiculous!   

OK, folks, we all know what assumptions do.  In this case, a couple of you have assumed that all bus windows leak.  Go back and read what I said.  I didn't say they all leak;  I said windows of that size are more prone to leakage.  If they all leaked, no trailer manufacturer would use them.  The fact of the matter is that consumers want them because they allow better airflow but they can be closed in inclement weather.  If consumers didn't want them and if they weren't better for the horses, there would be no demand for them and we wouldn't be having this discussion.  Besides, we ARE talking about the horse compartment, which gets wet every time you hose it down after you haul.  I don't know about any of you but my horses get wet all the time, so what's the big issue?  Besides, jette1's real beef was that she wanted drip edges installed, but we all know that probably won't make any difference.  Well, we're giving this upgrade to her anyway, thus increasing the value of her trailer, which, btw, we have now learned was built in 2007 and used as a demonstrator for a few years and sold, no doubt, at a much lower price than a new trailer.  If it wasn't for Shadow's 7-year warranty and the factory owner's and dealer's commitment to excellent customer service, I doubt she'd have any recourse whatsoever.  I guess you're suspicious about why Shadow is bending over backwards for her because no other manufacturer would do it, but that's part of the Shadow difference.

As for the comments about using inferior caulk and subflooring, we already acknowledged that back in 2007 these things happened.  That's no big secret.  The important point is that as soon as the factory learned about it, they changed the brand of caulk they were using and began making their own LQ's.   It was no small feat to add the equipment and materials and train people to do the work, but it got done and now all components are of the highest quality.   No manufacturer will ever be 100% free of these types of issues (look at Toyota -- they have more than their share but their products are still some of the best made for the money, overall).  What counts is how the manufacturer responds to problems.  I think both overall and individually in jette1's case, Shadow has responded very well.   Her trailer is worth more now, with a new LQ and refrigerator, and in better condition than when she bought it! 

The other issue that's being glossed over is whether customers ever read their warranty papers and whether they use common sense when purchasing a horse trailer that's obviously been sitting outside for 3 to 4 years.  And, how do you know that the dealer didn't inspect the caulk annually?  I can't imagine that this trailer was leaking the entire time it sat on the dealer's lot and was being used as a demo and no one noticed what jette1 claims was "extensive" damage.  That just doesn't pass the smell test.

You can call me biased because I am a Shadow dealer, but the flip side of the coin is that I see the good and the bad, both people-wise and trailer-wise.  I won't mention any particular brands, but I see what comes in as trades and even the new-used ones can't hold a candle to an older Shadow, much less our new ones.  As long as we continue to innovate and improve and stand behind what we make and sell, we are doing all we can to make our trailers the safest and easiest-hauling in the country.  It's easy to be negative and say, "Well, if they are continuing to improve that means what they did before and what they're doing now can't be very good" but that attitude isn't what made America (or anything else) great.   The consumer deserves nothing less.     

@blackcows, it IS as simple as that.  You're absolutely right and Shadow has done and is doing everything humanly possible to fix the problem.   I beg to differ about the analogy between a barn roof and a trailer window, though.  The contents of the barn are intended to remain dry at all times, while the horse compartment of a trailer is going to get a lot wetter when you wash it down than a couple of drops of rain from a window.  The roof leakage into the LQ was a separate issue that was handled completely and appropriately by total renovation.   We also have no information about how the trailer was used before it was sold.  I don't know what "demo" means in this context --  maybe it was a loaner and gone over some very rough roads and that contributed to some of the issues.  We don't know, so a new barn roof and a used trailer may not be a fair comparison under the circumstances.   All I know is that consumers are quick to jump on any manufacturer, be it cars or trailers or dish detergent, that acknowledges the occasional "oopsie" and constantly strives to do better, even if they're already the best.   The negative spin is part of what's bringing America down.    

Goz63, I guess what you're telling me is that slander is an acceptable form of dispute resolution, although I suspect you would be the first to protest if the shoe were on the other foot.  Sorry, it just offends my sense of justice and that's something I don't think anyone should ever be told is "whining" or "get over it".   Do you talk to your friends and family that way, too, when you disagree with them?  And blackcows, our trailers are sold all over the world, to places like Central and South America, Europe and Australia, where the roads are an absolute nightmare, and we still have very few problems.  Our axles and springs are sturdier and our Goodyear tires are more durable than you will find on most trailers, just for starters.  Seems to me that the regulars on this forum are more about twisting posts they disagree with and less about educating consumers, or themselves.   Obviously I misunderstood the purpose of the forum.

Anyone who wants to really learn about how a safe, sturdy, easy-hauling trailer is made, go to the Shadow factory website, www.shadowtrailer.com and see for yourself.  Or better yet, go see one and do a head-to-head with any other trailer out there, and then message me with any constructive comments or suggestions.

Safe travel and happy motoring this summer to all.

I've always had a problem with a new poster on this forum bashing any trailer manufacturer.  First and only post to gripe about something.

forum credibility is earned ...

Four years old and the mfg. takes it all the way back to plant in Florida to try and make it right... I might want to try one out....  Would like a 2+1 simular to this, maybe with an eight foot DR...

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Retento, we have several 2 + 1's on our lot - one with LQ, the other with a big DR.  No need to build one!  Call us, 352-629-0212.  Thanks!  Renee

renee@shadowhorsetrailer.com

Something smells here....started to look like it backfired for the orginal poster but now the manufacture has interest in selling a trailer....

I just had major warrenty work done on a top shelf trailer and IMO, it was handled perfectly, but not to the extent posted earlier.