NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA85035

SUMMARY:THE ARROWCRAFT DUAL WHEEL CONVERSION CONSISTS OF A SERIES OFSMALL PIPES WELDED TO A LARGE DIAMETER PIPE TO REPRODUCE A THE OEMWHEEL BOLT CIRCLE.THE SECOND WHEEL IS ATTACHED OUTBOARD OF THEFIRST WHEEL.THIS METHOD CAUSES A SEVERE BENDING MOMENT TO BEAPPLIED TO THE INNER WHEEL ATTACHMENT AND THE AXLE BEARINGS.ANALYSIS:THE ARROWCRAFT DUAL WHEEL ADAPTER WAS USED BY THE MICRO-MINI MOTORHOME MANUFACTURERS PRIMARILY BEFORE 1982.THEIR ADAPTERWAS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE ONE PIECE, DUAL TIRED RIM ASSEMBLY.STATUS: ARROWCRAFT HAS FAILED TO CONDUCT A RECALL AS DESCRIBED BYTHE COMPANY PRESIDENT. A PANEL MEETING WAS HELD ON APRIL 27, 1987,CONCERNING ARROWCRAFT DWA'S.IT WAS AGREED THAT A FORMAL INVESTIGATIONOF THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INITIATED.THE CASE NUMBER IS C87-002.===