BOB Trailers, Inc. strollers

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Aug 18, 2011 · , published by CPSC Sep 12, 2011

   The product, in the report: BOB Infant/child Stroller, Revolution Model # SO13048, Serial Number AF012319. This is a three-wheel jogging stroller with a 12-inch front wheel and two 16-inche rear wheels. All have inflatable tires and tubes.

   My daughter asked me to check the air pressure in the tires of her baby stroller manufactured by BOB Trailers, Inc., 5475 Gage St., Boise, ID 83706. The stroller in question is a “Revolution” model SO13048 (Serial Number AF012319) and was originally purchased new in 2005. This particular stroller has three wheels, one 12-inch from wheel that swivels or can be locked and two rear 16-inch wheels that are fixed. Each of the wheels has a rubber inner tube and a tire. In checking the tire pressure I noted that the larger tires were marked 40 PSI and the smaller tire was marked 35 PSI. All the tires bear the name “KENDA” and are the original equipment on this stroller. Several days after I filled the tires to the correct PSI, as indicated above, I noticed that one of the larger tires was flat. Upon closer examination, the tire had blown off its rim completely on one side. I removed the wheel and removed the tire and tube noticed a jagged hole about a half to three-quarters of an inch about an inch or so away from the tube’s valve stem. I surmised that the tire blew out. Looking closer at the wheel I noticed for the first time that it said “MAX. PRESSURE = 30 PSI (206 KPa).” Remembering that I had filled the rear tires to 40 PSI, I immediately reduced the pressure in the one remaining undamaged rear tire to 30 PSI, as indicated on the wheel rim. I also reduced the pressure in the front wheel. I ordered new tubes for all three wheels in the belief that my having over-inflated them might cause them to lose their integrity at a later date. As I was checking out the wheels, I noticed that the inflation pressure information on the tires did not match the information on the wheel rims. In the case of the front wheel, the tire stated 35 PSI but the wheel stated the maximum pressure as 30 PSI. Likewise, the rear tires stated 40 PSI but the wheels stated the maximum pressure as 30 PSI. I was glad to know that the overinflation of the tires was not the result of carelessness on my part and I actually had followed the information printed on the tires. The problem is, of course, that the information cannot be correct on both the tires and their respective wheels. Given that one blew out after only several days or a week suggests that the information on the wheels calling for a lower PSI may be correct. Several things are, I believe, important to consider here. First, these tires and tubes are not like steel-belted automobile tires in which a difference of 5 or 10 PSI might not present much, if any, safety hazard. These are relatively small stroller tires in which a difference of this magnitude does indeed pose a serious safety risk. In the case of the small front wheel, the difference was almost 17% (5/30) and in the case of the rear wheels, the difference was 33.3% (10/30). I am not an engineer and therefore cannot say whether the wheel is not suited for the tire/tube configuration or vice versa. The second important thing to consider is that these strollers are sold as “jogging strollers” and usually are pushed by persons who are jogging, running, or walking at a fast pace. A blowout of a front or rear wheel while the stroller and its infant or child occupant is being pushed by a jogger could easily result in a catastrophic spill with dire consequences for the jogger as well as the child. I would estimate that hundreds of thousands of these strollers were produced and sold in the United States over the past decade alone and many are still in service or will be used again or handed down among family and friends. I have noticed that BOB Trailers still markets the wheels and tires for this unit through an affiliate (http://www.bobparts.com/hpages/bobstroller_parts.html). Current models of BOB strollers on sale at Babies R Us in Fairfax, Virginia, show that the front and rear tires and wheels both state 30 PSI as maximum inflation. I think that my case may reveal a potential safety hazard to others who may still have the same model stroller. I think this matter deserves immediate attention and that the company should recall and replace all the tires and/or wheels, as necessary, to prevent a tragic situation from occurring. Thank you.

   Model

   Revolution Model # SO13048

   Serial number

   AF012319

   Bought from

   friend

   Bought

   Jul 2, 2011

   Where

   Clifton, Virginia: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand BOB Trailers, Inc., made or sold by BOB Trailers, Inc

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources