for anyone looking at a Kendon Industries, LLC - Stand-Up Motorcycle Trailers and Lifts trailer... be VERY careful inspecting the welds
mine's ancient (1999) but they blew holes in some of the tubes and powdercoated right over it. I inspected for damage when I bought it, but assumed that a company of that caliber would produce a good product and have good QC, so I didn't inspect welds with factory powercoat over them.
Note that the powdercoat goes right over the holes. This isn't something that happened over time. Sure, it caused it to crack over time, but it never should have left the factory with those holes.
It's the lower tube at the front right tiedown point. I was rear ended once, not particularly hard (bent the hitch coupler that attaches to the car and put a little ding in the end of the ramp), but the bike on at the time was <300lb and as far as I can tell these are only loaded by the bike.
I emailed them with photos and while I was offered a discount, I never got anything resembling "you're right, that weld is awful, QC screwed up, it never should have made it out of the factory". This is even though I specifically stated that I hoped their QC has improved since.
It's a 20 year old trailer, I don't expect a replacement, or really anything for that matter, but all I got from them is the option for a discount and that it isn't a known point of failure :rolleyes
I have since repaired it, including adding gussets, but I bought a Kendon largely because they're known to be bulletproof and didn't expect to ever have to replace anything beyond wheel bearings, tires, and electrical.
mine's ancient (1999) but they blew holes in some of the tubes and powdercoated right over it. I inspected for damage when I bought it, but assumed that a company of that caliber would produce a good product and have good QC, so I didn't inspect welds with factory powercoat over them.
Note that the powdercoat goes right over the holes. This isn't something that happened over time. Sure, it caused it to crack over time, but it never should have left the factory with those holes.
It's the lower tube at the front right tiedown point. I was rear ended once, not particularly hard (bent the hitch coupler that attaches to the car and put a little ding in the end of the ramp), but the bike on at the time was <300lb and as far as I can tell these are only loaded by the bike.
I emailed them with photos and while I was offered a discount, I never got anything resembling "you're right, that weld is awful, QC screwed up, it never should have made it out of the factory". This is even though I specifically stated that I hoped their QC has improved since.
It's a 20 year old trailer, I don't expect a replacement, or really anything for that matter, but all I got from them is the option for a discount and that it isn't a known point of failure :rolleyes
I have since repaired it, including adding gussets, but I bought a Kendon largely because they're known to be bulletproof and didn't expect to ever have to replace anything beyond wheel bearings, tires, and electrical.