ALUMIBUNK - MAYBE SHOULD BE ALUMIJUNK

[aardvarkman]

JUST VENTING A LITTLE BIT -

Purchased a m2-106 from Alumibunk (AB) in March '05. Also purchased a ProHeat @ the same time from AB.

was given a spec sheet by fax as to what was supposed to be on the truck. 33,000 gvw, Meritor front & rear axles, Michelin tall 22.5 rubber, etc.

Trouble is - when we picked it up it had Goodyear lo-pro's. The Meritor axles turned into Mercedes and the gvw on the title was 29,700. But they did give us a letter stating that the gvw was changed to 33,000 by putting on the Goodyear tires. The mileage sucked because tires were too small. We insisted on them being changed to 22.5 tall after the lo-pros went bad (bad vibration) on the front. They then put no-name 22.5 tall on. Vibration came back. They now have put Dunlops on. The mileage has come up to 10. The Mercedes engine has been worked on twice - for vibration and check engine light on. Still has no power, but they have managed to get rid of most of the vibration. The ProHeat has refused to work longer than a few hours without breaking down. It has been back to AB twice - first having the control panel replaced & then the whole inside unit. It still doesn't work. Now it freezes up after being on an hour. Real great waking up in a pool of sweat in the morning with warm air coming out. AB says to take it to an authorized ProHeat dealer as they cannot repair them. They can sell you one but cannot get it to work.

Now the A/C in the truck also has never worked either - it also freezes up. Each time we have taken it to a Freightliner dealer frozen up they can't get it in until it has unfrozen. So then they cannot duplicate the problem & charge us for checking it out.

I I live to 105 I will never buy another AB anything, nor will I buy another Freightliner. It's back to the Pete 335 with an ITC or Bentz for me. Had a 330 and never had any trouble. The CAT was much better also.

Anyone else having problems with AB or ProHeat ??????????????? let me know - if I get enough e-mails I will look into a class action.

[email protected] AARDVARKMAN
x( x( :'( :-(

 

[Doggie Daddy]

aardvarkman i am surprised that this post has lasted as long as it has without being removed,don't you know that you can't say bad things about EO advertisers...wouldn't be prudent.well anyways,seeing as how no one is minding the store (they must be out of town at a workshop) i will tell you that you are not the first person to ever have problems with AB.in their 20 years in business they have had many o/o's very angry with them for turning out trucks that have major problems with them.i have found in the last 2 years(based on my own experience with one of thier trucks) that they will try to fix your problems,but it is like pulling teeth to get them to act. the other major problem that they have is that their "mechanics"are not skilled enough to deal with the types of problems that thier trucks are having.(if you need proof of that, try finding a certificate of training for thier "mechanics" anywhere at thier woodhaven facility)as for the variation of thier name that you came up with,it has been in use for many years now.i would just like to say that i feel your pain, and i hope that you get some sort of resolution to all of your problems.DD.

 

[rode2rouen]

>JUST VENTING A LITTLE BIT -
>
>Purchased a m2-106 from Alumibunk (AB) in March '05. Also
>purchased a ProHeat @ the same time from AB.
>
>was given a spec sheet by fax as to what was supposed to be
>on the truck. 33,000 gvw, Meritor front & rear axles,
>Michelin tall 22.5 rubber, etc.
>
>Trouble is - when we picked it up it had Goodyear lo-pro's.
>The Meritor axles turned into Mercedes and the gvw on the
>title was 29,700.
>the gvw was changed to 33,000 by putting on the Goodyear.....

>>>snip<<<

>Anyone else having problems with AB or ProHeat
>??????????????? let me know - if I get enough e-mails I
>will look into a class action.
>
>[email protected] AARDVARKMAN
>x( x( :'( :-(


AArdy,

Why did you take delivery of the truck when it was obvious that it did not meet the specs that you had initially agreed upon?????

I'm not trying to bust your chops, but it seems to me that you have to shoulder some of the blame for accepting the truck to begin with.


Rex

 

[Drluvv]

I have to agree with what rode2rouen said, you bare some of the blame for accepting what you didn't pay for. If I went to a steakhouse and ordered a 16oz. prime rib cooked medium rare and they brought me out blackened catfish and told me it was just ##### good as beef, I'd leave without paying a dime. With that said, what's your excuse? It sounds to me like the sales guy got one over on you and you fell for it hook, line and sinker. Better luck next time your in the market for a new truck.

 

[terryandrene]

How is the GVWR of a vehicle determined?

Each manufacturer determines the maximum acceptable weight limits for each vehicle by considering the combined weight of the strongest weight bearing components (the axles) and the weaker components (vehicle body, frame, suspension, and tires).

I find it hard to believe you can increase any vehicle's GVWR by more than 11% by changing the manufacturer provided tires.

 

[davekc]

Terry wrote
find it hard to believe you can increase any vehicle's GVWR by more than 11% by changing the manufacturer provided tires.


I find this intriguing as well. What that has to do with changing the GWR is interesting.
Also, unless changing to all steer tires, fuel economy and speed will be the same.
If you changed to all steer tires, make sure you change out the drives in the winter.

If the computer is not reset, the speedometer will say you are going faster, but in reality your not.
Engine power ect will be unchanged.

As you indicated, the chassis is different from what you ordered.
Does this truck have air brakes?
Many times a low GVW (below 33,000lbs) is designed as a non-cdl truck.

As mentioned by others, I would have refused the delivery of the truck. It sounds like you recieved a ready made chassis.

I hope they heavily discounted this vehicle if you took delivery of it.

Forgot to mention; On either A/C unit if it is freezing up, it is low on freon. There is a leak on it somewhere.
On the AB trucks, there is a J block for the cab to sleeper connection that could be leaking. This is pretty common with them.
Not sure if they have a fix yet or not?

Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[aardvarkman]

SOME ADDITIONS -
TRUCK WAS SHIPPED TO AB WITH 19.5 TIRES DUE TO SHORTAGE @ TIME.
ACCEPTED DELIVERY @ AB BY DRIVER - DIDN'T FIND ANY OF THE CHANGES UNTIL AFTER IT WAS PAID FOR & DELIVERED. I WILL NEVER BUY A TRUCK THAT WAY AGAIN. CIRCUMSTANCES DEMENDED IT AT THE TIME - DRIVER WAS W/O TRUCK DUE TO A SALE FALLING THROUGH AFTER SELLING OURS. NEXT TIME I WILL NOT SELL OURS UNTIL THE NEW ONE IS IN HAND. DRIVER ACCEPTED THE TRUCK - I WOULDN'T HAVE.
TOO SOON OLD TOO LATE SCHMARDT.