2015 FOREST RIVER SHASTA Complaints

THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE 2015 SHASTA AIRFLYTE 1961 REISSUE TRAVEL TRAILER. AFTER INSPECTION BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS NOTED THE LEAF SPRINGS SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER 1) WERE NOT ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT, 2) WERE OF INFERIOR QUALITY AND 3) HAD ALREADY FLATTENED OUT AFTER LESS THAN 1000 MILES OF TOWING. AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFICIENCIES, THE TIRES ON THIS SINGLE AXLE TRAILER MADE CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WELLS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE CHASSIS AND THE TIRES, PUTTING THE CONSUMER IN DANGER OF SUFFERING A BLOWOUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECOMMENDED A FIX INVOLVING LONGER SHACKLES WHICH INCREASES TIRE CLEARANCE BY LESS THAN 1.5 INCHES, NOT ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE DANGER. THERE ARE 1941 UNITS SIMILARLY AFFECTED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW, EACH ONE A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO OWNERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. SUGGEST SHASTA BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL UNITS AND REPLACE LEAF SPRINGS.

TWO WINDOWS HAVE FAILED ON THIS BRAND NEW CAMPER DUE TO ADHESIVE FAILURE REQUIRING THAT THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLIES BE REPLACED. HEHR IS THE MANUFACTURER WHO IS BEING BLAMED BUT FOREST RIVER INSTALLED THE WINDOWS AND SHOULD BE ENGAGING IN SOME LEVEL OF QUALITY CONTROL. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR MULTIPLE CAR WRECKS SHOULD THE WINDOW FALL ONTO ANOTHER CAR TRAVELLING BEHIND THE CAMPER.

THIS IS AN FR TRAVEL TRAILER WHICH HAS COKER PASSENGER TIRES ON IT INSTEAD OF COKER TRAILER TIRES OR OTHER BRAND OF TRAILER TIRE. THE TIRES HAVE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE AND AS A RESULT ARE RUBBING INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL BOTHER LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR WHICH SHASTA (FR SUBSIDIARY) HAS OFFERED A CHEAP FIX (SHACKLE ATTACHMENT TO SPRING). TIRE SIZE = ST225/75R15D DESIGNED FOR PASSENGER CARS. THE SUSPENSION ON THIS CAMPER CONSISTS OF CHEAP CHINESE 4 LEAF SPRINGS WHICH FLATTEN OUT AFTER ONLY A FEW MILES DRIVEN. THE STICKERS ON THE SIDE OF THE CAMPER INFORMS THE OWNER TO INFLATE THE COKER TIRE TO 65 PSI EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE ITSELF INDICATES ONLY 35PSI MAXIMUM INFLATION. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHICH FOREST RIVER IS NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL 1,941 UNITS BUILT BASED ON THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF THE TIRES RUBBING THEN CAUSING A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS WAS A LIMITED EDITION RUN TO CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHASTA (NOW OWNED BY FOREST RIVER). IN ADDITION TO THE WHEEL WELL CLEARANCE ISSUE, THERE IS ALSO THE MATTER OF THE WINDOWS FALLING OUT. I HAVE HAD TWO WINDOWS REPLACED ALREADY LESS THAN 6 MONTHS INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE CAMPER. MANUFACTURER IS HEHR AND THE ADHESIVE ON THE WINDOWS WAS EITHER A. NOT PREPPED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER SPECS OR B. INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. EITHER WAY THIS POSES A SECOND VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THE WINDOWS COULD (AND HAVE ON OTHER UNITS) FALLEN OUT ON THE ROAD.

BOTH WHEELS ARE TOO CLOSE TO WHEEL WELL CAUSING RUBBING. ALSO FEEL ADEQUATE TRAILER TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED RATHER THAN PASSENGER TIRES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER SHASTA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOW, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING LESS THAN AN INCH FROM BOTH OF THE SIDE TIRES. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SHACKLE INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE AFTER LITTLE USE DUE TO THE SIDE OR TOP RUBBING ON THE COACH. THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER AND HER CHILDREN WERE LOCKED INSIDE. UPDATED 09/09/15. *JB THE GLUE ON THE WINDOWS FAILED AND THE GLASS BECAME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. UPDATED 10/07/15. *JB