Older Tradewinds safety issue.

[Theberrys]

We now know of two Tradewinds with broken house battery supports.
Here are picthres showing what to look for. It's possible if you have this problem the house batteries could fall out while driving. We have identified two 1999 Tradewinds with this problem. It's not real obvious but easy to chaeck for. The fix isn't expensive and requires a welder.
Dick

[RoadRohrers]

Thanks for the heads up. I am getting ready to pick up and deliver a 1999 Tradewinds for a friend. I will look for this damage before I start the trip.

[Theberrys]

Richard
A guy over on the Yahoo Board said the bill from a RV Dealer for this repair was $800.00. I paid a welder $40.00 and he came to my house to do the work. I did provide the raw material but I'd stay away from the dealer any good welder can do this work. Just be sure to remove the batteries before he gets in there with a welder.

Dick

[Theberrys]

Richard
Another thing to check is the Jack tank on the driver side just aft of the wheels. This has had several threads about the bracket being broken. I'll insert the post from the Yahoo Board so you can get a better idea.

Quote
I too had broken battery support brackets. National paid to have them fixed in July of 2000 when I was in St. Louis. The repair was billed out at over $800 by the RV repair shop that did the work. My coach was no longer in warranty at this time but National paid for it anyway. National said the famous, "never saw this happen before". On this same trip I talked to two other Tradewinds owners in campgrounds and they had similar problems. I also had my hydraulic pump fall off twice before they fixed that bracket also. Again with their famomous comment.
A friend of mine has a 2001 Tradewinds and both problems had been cured by then.
A lot of road vibration occurs behind the rear axle of a rear engine diesel.
End Quote

These two things are the only strange things I'v read about or had myself. Of course normal plumming and appliance things happen but they don't seem to be cronic.

In my opinion the Tradewinds is a well made coach, given it's a RV and I'd buy another on if National were still in business.

Dick