FOREST RIVER Complaints

HYDRAULIC HOSE BROKE AT AFFECTING LEVELING OF VEHICLE. NEEDED TO REPLACE HOSE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE. HOSE BROKE AT COMPRESSION CONNECTOR. A DIFFERENT HOSE BROKE 5 WEEKS LATER. IN 2013 WHILE AT THE FOREST RIVER SERVICE CENTER IN ELKHART IN., THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. NOTHING WAS DONE TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SUCH THING FROM HAPPENING. *TR

OUR FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR (MODEL RM2652, SERIAL # 305-00765). THE RIG WAS PARKED AND PLUGGED ON OUR PROPERTY. I NOTICED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COOLING. THE ON/OFF SWITCH WAS IN THE ON POSITION, SO I TURNED THE FRIDGE OFF AND ON AGAIN IN AN ATTEMPT TO "REBOOT". WITHIN SECONDS THE TRAILER FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE HORRID SMELL OF AMMONIA. I EMPTIED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER INTO THE CABINET UNDER THE FRIDGE (WHERE THE MAJORITY OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM) AND EXITED THE TRAILER. ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRAILER FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE "FRIDGE ACCESS PANEL". THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND I BEGAN PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THAT PANEL COMPLETELY AND WAS WORKING ITS WAY UP THE WALLS. THE FIRE CHIEF ADVISED ME THAT MANY DOMETIC REFRIGERATORS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE HAD NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FOREST RIVER FORESTER RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL TERMINALS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE TWO HIGH AMPERAGE STORAGE BATTERIES WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES FROM THE FUEL CONTAINER (PROPANE). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE IMPACT COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION IF THE HIGH AMPERAGE TERMINAL MADE CONTACT WITH THE FUEL CONTAINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND BECAUSE OF THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK, AN EXPLOSIVE TYPE OF FAILURE WOULD POSSIBLY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/16/14*CN UPON FURTHER SCRUTINY OF THE ELECTRICAL PANEL THAT CONTAINS THE TERMINALS IN QUESTION, I NOTICED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TERMINAL MOUNT INTO THE PANEL IS ALSO IN QUESTION. THE POSITIVE (+), ELECTRICAL TERMINAL IS MOUNTED INTO THE NEGATIVE (-), ELECTRICAL PANEL. IT APPEARS THAT THE TERMINALS ARE ISOLATED FROM THE PANEL USING SOME KIND OF INSULATING GROMMET. WHILE THE GROMMETS INSULATING INTEGRITY MAY SURVIVE AN IMPACT, THE TERMINAL ENDS OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND BUS BAR ATTACHED THROUGH THE PANEL COULD EASILY SHORT CIRCUIT WITH ONLY MODERATE DISTORTION. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL IN QUESTION IS THE PRIMARY ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE COACH. WORST CASE SCENARIO - THE TWO HIGH AMPERAGE (DEEP CYCLE) COACH BATTERIES COULD ALSO BE RECEIVING CHARGE THROUGH SAID TERMINAL FROM THE VEHICLE ALTERNATOR THROUGH THE VEHICLE BATTERY. ADDITIONALLY, CHARGE COULD ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY BE PROVIDED FROM COACH AUXILIARY GENERATOR THROUGH ITS INVERTER. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF ENERGY FOR ONE SMALL SPACE.

I PURCHASED A 2013 FOREST RIVER 356 SAQ IN AUGUST OF 2012. I USED IT DURING THE REST OF THAT SEASON. COME TO FIND OUT FOREST RIVER ONLY PUT 6 THOUSAND POUND AXLES UNDER A 40+ FOOT CAMPER. IN THE SPRING I PULLED IT TO A CAT SCALE AND WEIGHED THE UNIT. MY VERY UNLOADED CAMPER REAR AXLE WEIGHT WAS 11,500 LBS. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO OVER LOAD AND NOT EVEN KNOW. IF I WERE TO FILL MY FRESH WATER TANK THIS WOULD SURELY PUT ME VERY CLOSE TO THE AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND OVER ONCE I LOAD MY UNIT WITH ALL THE THINGS WE NEED FOR A FAMILY OF 4 TO GO CAMPING. IN THE LATER 2013 MODELS FOREST RIVER CAME OUT WITH THE OPTION OF 7 THOUSAND POUND AXLES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FOREST RIVER SIERRA DIVISION VIA E-MAIL ANY THEY SAID IF I WOULD TOW MY UNIT FROM MAINE TO INDIANA (ON MARGINAL AT BEST AXLES) AND THEY WOULD DO THE WORK FOR $2500. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER SURVEYOR SPORT RV EQUIPPED WITH SUMITOMO TOWMAX POWER KING TIRES, SIZE 205-75-R14 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE DROVE AT 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A SAFE AREA WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,500.

CARLISLE TRAILER TIRES 2 OF 4 TIRES EXPLODED ON MY CAMPER I HAVE A REMNANT FROM THE 1ST ONE & A PICTURE OF THE SECOND THE 3RD TIRE HAS A DEFECTIVE BELT I HAVE THE 3RD & 4TH TIRE IN MY GARAGE. *TR

AFTER FIRST PULL WITH 5TH WHEEL THE BRAKES ON THE COACH WOULD NOT STOP EVEN SET TO MAX GAIN AND MANUAL CONTROL, TOOK TO BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE ISSUE LOOKED INTO. THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. TOOK BACK HOME AND ADJUSTED THE PADS TO HARD DRAG, (I AM A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC) STILL BRAKES DO NOT STOP COACH. TOOK COACH BACK TO DEALER AFTER CAMPING SEASON TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO BRAKE ISSUE, THEY SAID NO ISSUE, TALKED TO FACTORY REP THEY SAID NO ISSUE, THE FACTORY TALKED TO MANUF OF AXLES THEY SAID NO ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE RECTIFIED, I CAN NOT EVEN ENJOY THIS COACH OUT ON THE U.S. ROAD SYSTEM WITH OUT FEAR THEY I COULD NOT STOP WITH OUT AMPLE TIME OR DISTANCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FOREST RIVER XLR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIDDLE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

2012 GEORGETOWN 378 F MOTORHOME MANUFACTURED BY FORREST RIVER. RV GENERATOR EXHAUST LEAKING INTO CABIN OF RV AND MAKING OCCUPANTS SICK. CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS RINGING WHENEVER GENERATOR WAS TURNED ON. SLIDEOUTS ON RV DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND ARE ALLOWING VEHICLE EXHAUST INTO THE CABIN OF THE RV MAKING OCCUPANTS SICK. *TR

PULLING FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER TO MYRTLE BEACH S.C. 20 MINS OUT WE THREW THE ENTIRE CENTER OF TIRE TREAD DAMAGING SKIRTING AND UNDER SIDE. TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT ALL THE WAY AND BEING DOUBLE AXLE TRAILER I WAS UN AWARE OF PROBLEM UNTIL WE STOPPED FOR ACCIDENT ABOUT 20 MIN. LATER. A PASSING MOTORIST MADE US AWARE OF PROBLEM AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT NEXT EXIT AND HAVE SPARE PUT ON. I CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE NITE BEFORE LEAVING AND READ 78 PSI ON ALL 4 TIRES. WE COULD HAVE BEEN THE NEXT ACCIDENT. HAVE PLACED CALL TO SUPPLIER OF TIRE LIONSHEAD SPECIALTY TIRE AND WHEEL LLC.. THEY SAY NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIRE TO THEM. SENDING ME A CLAIMS FORM MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP. TIRES HAVE 2000 MILES AND ARE 17 MONTHS OLD FROM TRAILER PURCHASE DATE. THEY SUPPLY TIRES TO PALOMINO DIV. UNDER THE TRAILER NAME SABRA.