FOREST RIVER Complaints

TWO TIRES BLEW OUT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES APART. FIRST TIRE DAMAGED WIRING AND BODY OF 5TH WHEEL. TIRES WERE CLASS C. SAMS AND GOODYEAR STATED THESE TIRES WERE UNDER RATED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH E RATED TRAILER TIRES. *TR

I PURCHASED FOUR NEW GOODYEAR MARATHON TRAILER TIRES (225/75/15 LOAD RANGE D) FOR MY FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER JUNE 2012. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES BLEW APART IN THE FIRST 1500 MILES. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THEY SHOULD NOT BE BLOWING APART WITH ALMOST NO USE AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT DAMAGE FROM ROAD HAZARDS. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THESE SAME TIRES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOON. THESE TIRE FAILURES HAVE DAMAGED MY CAMPER BUT, I'M JUST GLAD IT DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH, INJURY, OR DEATH. *TR

AS I WAS LEAVING A CAMPGROUND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE EXIT FROM CAMPGROUND WAS DOWNHILL AND COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. DROVE NEXT DOOR TO RV SERVICE AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. THE BRAKE LINES HAD BROKE.THEY WERE RUSTED FROM THE OUTSIDE. FORD DEALER REPLACED 3 LINES. FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE BILL OF 458.56 BECAUSE IT WAS 2 MONTHS BEYOND WARRANTY.THE MOTORHOME WAS NEVER IN SNOW,ICE OR SALT WATER. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FROM NEW WITH THE LINES. *TR

ABOUT 10 HOURS INTO A 60-65 MPH TOW FROM ATLANTA ON I-20 IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER JUST PAST THE LA STATE BORDER THE RR GOODYEAR MARATHON ON MY 30' ENCLOSED 13,000 LB TRAILER EXPLODED.. MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM INDICATED 98 PSI OF PRESSURE IN THAT LOAD RANGE D TIRE AND 105 DEGREES F TEMP. MY FRONT AXLE E LOAD TIRES WERE READING 115 PSI AND 105 DEGREES F. NO SLOW AIR LEAK OCCURRED, THE TIRE SIMPLY EXPLODED CATASTROPHICALLY. I PULLED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY NEAR AN EXIT AND INSTALLED ONE OF THE TWO SPARES I CARRY. THE TRAILER SUSTAINED $300 IN BODY DAMAGE AND THE ADJACENT FRONT TIRE MONITOR ($65) WAS DESTROYED BY FLYING CARCASS DEBRIS. THE TIRE WAS EXACTLY TWO YEARS OLD, ORIGINAL TO THE TRAILER AND HAD JUST 9,000 MILES ON IT. INSPECTION PRIOR TO THE TRIP REVEALED ODD TREAD WEAR PATTERNS BUT THE GOOD YEAR TIRE SHOP I HAD INSPECT IT THEORIZED IT WAS CAUSED BY REAR-AXLE ARTICULATION IN LOW-SPEED TURNS AND OF NO CONCERN TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE TIRE, NOR A REFLECTION OF ANY TRAILER SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT OR LOADING ISSUE.. I SHOULD HAVE PULLED THE TIRE. I NOW BELIEVE IT WAS FORESHADOWING CATASTROPHIC CARCASS SEPARATION CAUSED BY CUMULATIVE HEAT CYCLES. I HAD NEW VALVE STEMS INSTALLED AS TWO WERE FOUND LEAKING AND I HAD THE WHEELS BALANCED. NO AIR LOSS, SIDEWALL BUBBLES OR OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT. PER THE GOOD YEAR MARATHON SERVICE BULLETIN, I ALWAYS RUN THESE TIRES 10 PSI ABOVE THE INDICATED COLD SIDEWALL PRESSURE, FOR THIS LOAD RANGE D TIRE, THAT'S 75 PSI. FOR THE E LOADS ON THE FRONT AXLE, THAT'S 90 PSI, UP FROM 80. THIS FOREST RIVER WORK AND PLAY TRAILER WAS DELIVERED TO ME FROM THE MANUFACTURER WITH INCORRECT TIRES -- D LOAD INSTEAD OF E LOAD, WHICH RUN RIGHT AT 3,000 LB WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE 6K AXLES. I HAVE EXTENSIVELY WEIGHTED AND ADJUSTED MY WD HITCH AND TRAILER LOAD TO ENSURE ALL TIRE CONTACT PATCHES, SUSPENSION AND HITCH COMPONENTS ARE WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE WEIGHT CAPACITIES. *TR

CPSC: I1350263A. CONSUMER STATED AFTER PURCHASING A TRAVEL TRAILER SHE DISCOVERED IT LACKED AN OUTSIDE EXHAUST VENT FOR A RANGE HOOD OVER THE GAS RANGE. *LN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE AND HE DISAGREED THAT AN OUTSIDE EXHAUST WAS NEEDED AND THAT A RECIRCULATING TYPE HOOD WAS ADEQUATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER FREEDOM EXPRESS TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END FIBER GLASS PUSHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, CREATING A SPOON THAT CAUSED THE WIND TO BE UNSTABLE. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE TRAILER TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH OR ABOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIBER GLASS; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE TRAILER DID NOT GENERATE A MILEAGE READING. ... UPDATED 08/19/13 *BF

2013 WILDWOOD 36 FT. TRAVEL TRAILER . TURNING THE OVEN ON THE CAMPER GOT REALLY HOT .HAD THE EXHAUST FAN ON OVER THE STOVE .WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE IF THE VENT WAS OPEN AND THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE VENT .CALLED FOREST RIVER THERE RESPONSE WAS IT HAS A CHARCOAL FILTER SO THE HOOD SYSTEM DID NOT NEED TO BE PIPED OUTSIDE. I STATED WHERE DOES ALL THE HEAT GO IN MY CAMPER IS THIS NOT A HEALTH HAZARD SINCE THE STOVE RUNS OF PROPANE.THE WALL BEHIND STOVE AND SIDE OF REFRIGERATOR ARE TO HOT FOR ME. FUEL SYSTEM AND EQUIPMENT AS SPECIFIED IN ANSI/NFPA 1192 STANDARDS ON RVS STATES SEALED COMBUSTION AND DIRECT VENTING TO THE OUTSIDE IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PROPANE APPLIANCES. I AM TRYING TO FIND AN ANSWER TO WHY THERE IS NO OUTSIDE VENT. BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVED THIS BETWEEN FOREST RIVER AND RIVA. RIVA HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER FOR ME FROM FOREST RIVER BUT AFTER THREE DAYS STILL NO WORD. *TR

UPON RETURNING HOME FROM A SHORT CAMPING TRIP WITH FRIENDS I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ON THE "WOLF PUP" TRAVEL TRAILER WERE SHOWING EXTREME WEAR ON ONE SIDE, AND THAT THEY WERE LEANING OUTWARD FROM THE VEHICLE (APPROX. 700 TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE TRAVEL TRAILER) . AFTER RESEARCH ON FORESTRIVERFORUMS.COM, I DISCOVERED THAT A MANY NEW OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING "BENT AXLE" PROBLEMS. FOREST RIVER AND LIPPERT (THE AXLE MANUFACTURER) HAVE REPLACED AXLES ON THESE WOLF PUPS, BUT OWNERS SAY THAT THEY'VE HAD TO RETURN A NUMBER OF TIMES (3 TO 4 TIMES) TO HAVE THE REPLACEMENT AXLES REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY WOLF PUP IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THAT IT IS MY PROBLEM AND NOT FOREST RIVER'S PROBLEM (THE DEALER DID AGREE TO CONTACT LIPPERT TO SEE IF THE AXLE WOULD BE REPLACED) . I CALLED FOREST RIVER CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FIND OUT THEY COULD HELP ME WITH THIS AXLE PROBLEM. I'M PRESENTLY WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM HER. THE NEW 2013 WOLF PUPS HAVE A NEW "LEAF SPRING" AXLE INSTEAD OF THE "TORSION BAR" AXLE THAT'S ON MY WOLF PUP. THIS SEEMS TO PROVE THAT FOREST RIVER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE CORRECTED IT. I'VE ALSO TALKED TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM FOREST RIVER'S CALIFORNIA DIVISION. THIS DIVISION MANUFACTURES THE "EVO" (A SMALL TRAVEL TRAILER THAT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE "WOLF PUP"). HE TOLD ME THAT THE "EVO" USES A LEAF SPRING AXLE AND TO HIS KNOWLEDGE HAS NEVER USED A TORSION BAR AXLE SYSTEM. I'M HOPING THAT A RECALL WILL BE ORDERED FOR MY WOLF PUP SO THAT MY PROBLEM CAN BE PROPERLY CORRECTED. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT DOMETIC WILL DO NOTHING TO REPAIR THE WELL KNOWN DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF THEIR COOLING SYSTEMS CONCERNING THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BOILER TUBE. FIRST OF ALL DOMETRIC ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE OF FIRES THAT RESULTED WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LAWSUITS. THEY CAME OUT WITH A PREVENTATIVE SOLUTION AFTER THE FACT (I'M NOT ALONE HERE) TO INSTALL A HIGH TEMP. CUT OUT SWITCH SO AS TO PREVENT THE UNIT FROM STARTING A FIRE. THIS MEASURE DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BOILER UNIT. THIS LEAVES THE OWNERS OF THEIR UNITS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT COST AND DOMETIC COMPLETELY GETS AWAY WITH A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED POORLY DESIGNED COOLING UNIT. WHEN ONE LISTENS TO THE RECORDING ON THE RECALL LINE DOMETIC ADMITS THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

(REPORT PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED 18 APRIL BUT MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY BEEN DELETED). AT ABOUT 31,600 MILES ON MY RV (2009 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE MOUNTED ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH CUMMINS 350HP ENGINE), THE ENGINE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. DURING REPAIR AT A FREIGHTLINER FACILITY, THREE OF FOUR RETAINING BOLTS WERE DISCOVERED BROKEN ON THE FAN HUB MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF THE ENGINE; THE FOURTH HAD BACKED OUT SEVERAL THREADS AND THE FAN TILTED INTO THE SHROUD AND SEIZED IN PLACE. FREIGHTLINER REPAIR TECHNICIAN STATED THEIR FACILITY HAD MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS ON CUMMINS/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS RVS; THE FAILURE OCCURS WITH SOME FREQUENCY; THE BOLTS AND DESIGN OF FAN HUB APPEAR TO BE INADEQUATE FOR LOADS APPLIED BY THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY BELT; AND THAT FAILURE OF ALL FOUR BOLTS COULD SHATTER THE FAN BLADES WHEN IT SEIZES IN THE SHROUD RESULTING IN SHRAPNEL DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR AND SEVERED ELECTRICAL AND FLUID LINES. FURTHER CONSEQUENCES COULD INCLUDE A NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT TRAFFIC FLOW TO AVOID BECOMING A COLLISION HAZARD. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE FAN HUB, FAN, RADIATOR AND OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE ADDED BY FREIGHTLINER TO THE CUMMINS ENGINE DURING CHASSIS MANUFACTURE. REPAIR REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE AND EXPENSIVE REMOVAL OF ENGINE ACCESSORIES. USE OF THIS CUMMINS/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS CONFIGURATION BY OTHER COACH MANUFACTURERS IS UNKNOWN. TECHNICIAN ON MY REPAIR DRILLED AND TAPPED A FIFTH BOLT TO STRENGTHEN THE FAN HUB. ONLINE FORUM INQUIRY AND INTEREST FROM OTHER OWNERS SUGGESTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. ONE OTHER OWNER LEARNED THAT FREIGHTLINER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL BUT THEY HAVE A FIVE BOLT FAN HUB FOR PURCHASE THAT EVIDENTLY ADDRESSES A LOAD FAILURE PROBLEM WITH THE FOUR BOLT DESIGN. *TR