FOREST RIVER Complaints

I HAD THE TREAD SEPARATE FROM THE SIDEWALL ON MY TRAILER TIRE. POWERKING TOWMAX S/T225/75R15 (BPR LRD) DOT CODE ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE IS OHMC 2206. TIRES WERE ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT 65 PSI. LUCKILY FOR ME, THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT VERY LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 5 MPH) AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER OR INJURIES CAUSED. TIRE IS RATED AT 2,600 LBS (FOUR TIRES FOR A TOTAL LOAD ON THE AXLES OF 10,400 LBS) AND LAST FULL WEIGHT AT A CAT SCALE WAS JUST OVER 8,000 LBS ON THE AXLES (1,600 ON THE PIN FOR A TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT OF ~9,600 LBS WITH A GVW FOR THE TRAILER OF 11,500). TIRE SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 2.25 YEARS. TRAILER IS A 2007 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT 29BHBP 5TH WHEEL. *TR

OUR CAMPER, 2006 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL, CAME WITH KENDRA KARRIER LOADSTAR ST 235/80 R16 TIRES (DOT 7YHJ ANB 4404). WE BOUGHT CAMPER USED IN AUGUSTA, GA DURING MAY 2007. CAMPER IS IN GREAT SHAPE HAVING BEEN KEPT UNDER COVER AT ALL TIMES. TIRES HAD PLENTY OF THREAD, WERE PROPERLY INFLATED, AND LOOKED GOOD. WE HAVE TAKEN 4 OR 5 SMALL TRIPS WITH THE CAMPER DURING THE PAST 15 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING FROM COLUMBIA, SC TO CHARLESTON, SC WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH THEN CONTINUED OUR TRIP (MEANING TIRES WERE NOT HOT). ALMOST AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK ON THE ROAD ONE OF OUR LOADSTAR TIRES DETREADED ON US. TREAD CAME OFF ONE OF OUR FRONT RIGHT TIRE JUST LIKE IT WAS A RETREAD. THE TREAD THEN ACTED LIKE A CHAIN SAW THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAMPER. PIECES OF RUBBER AND STEEL WIRE WERE EMBEDDED ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE CAMPER. BIG HOLE IN CAMPER FLOOR, DAMAGE TO INSULATION, WIRES, RIPPED FIRE EXTINGUISHER OFF WALL, DAMAGE TO DOOR AND CAMPER OUTSIDE. TIRE NEVER WENT FLAT. KENDRA KARRIER LOADSTAR WARRANTY IS NON-EXISTENT. THEY MAKE BAD TIRES THEN DON?T STAND BEHIND THEM. I HAVE PICTURES OF TIRE AND CAMPER DAMAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 (NA) FOREST RIVER SANDPIPER SPORT TRAILER. THE VEHICLE HAS GREEN BALL TOWMASTER TIRES, SIZE 225/75R/15D (NA). THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE TRAILER BEGAN SWAYING LEFT TO RIGHT. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT BOTH TIRES WERE BLOWN OUT. THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE FROM THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT BEHIND AND THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD NOT HAVE BLOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE PRACTICALLY NEW, AND THEY ALSO HAD 85 PERCENT TREADWEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COST FOR ONE OF THE TIRES, BUT NOT THE OTHER. THE VIN, FAILURE MILEAGE, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN.

RV STANDING STILL AT THE TIME. PIECE OF TRIM FELL OFF. 1.5" X 1.5" X 13.5', SQUARE 1/8" THICK ALUMINUM TUBING. APPROX. 20 LBS. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED IF I WAS DOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY!!! FOUND THAT IT WAS SECURED BY 4, SELF TAPPING SCREWS, THAT HAD SHEARED OFF. I HAVE THE SAME KIND OF TRIM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COACH (MUCH LONGER PIECE), WHERE I FOUND AT LEAST ONE SHEARED SCREW ALREADY. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID (JUST BRING IT IN AND GET IT FIXED!) KIND OF SCARES ME NOT KNOWING IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I DON'T SEE WHY NOT! THIS IS A FOREST RIVER, GEORGETOWN, MODEL 373. I'M PROVIDING THIS INFO BECAUSE YOUR DROP DOWN DOES NOT SHOW THIS MODEL!! *TR

I HAVE A CEDAR CREEK 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. WHEN I RETURNED HOME FROM A TRIP I NOTICED ALL THE WHEELS WERE TILTED INWARD AND THE TIRES WERE WORN TO THE STEEL CORE INSIDE. I CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND HE SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. I FOUND ANOTHER PERSON ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EXACT AXLE FAILURES AND REPLACED THEM. I BELIEVE A CHECK OF COMPANY RECORDS WILL FIND MANY CASES OF OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF UNIT HAVING REPLACED THESE AXLES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 43 YEARS AND NEVER SAW AXLES FAIL LIKE THIS. *TR

6"-8" LONG LONGTITUDAL CRACKS IN THE FRAME ABOVE EACH AXLE ON BOTH SIDES OF A 2001 CARDINAL 29 FIFTH-WHEEL. *TR

2002 FOREST RIVER SANDPIPER RV DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED BUT THE REFRIGERATOR IS STILL NOT WORKING. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED A SUBSTANCE HAD BEEN LEAKING FROM THE TRAILER FOR A LONG TIME. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER GEORGETOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE WINDSHIELD TOP OUTER CORNERS CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE CAMPGROUNDS. FOREST RIVER ADVISED HER TO CALL GEORGETOWN; HOWEVER, NO ONE COULD BE REACHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF 8528 RLFS FIFTH WHEEL. THE FRESH WATER TANK FELL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH WHEEL AS THE CONTACT WAS FILLING IT UP WITH WATER. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE FIFTH WHEEL WAS PURCHASED AND THEY AGREED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ

CRACKED VALVE STEMS ON CAMPER. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED FURTHER YET BECAUSE IT COVERS 2006 AND HE PURCHASED HIS CAMPER IN 2005 . *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD HIS VALVE STEMS REPLACED ON HIS RV. *JB