FOREST RIVER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER VIBE. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT AND HER HUSBAND WERE ALERTED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THEIR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND PULLED THE TRAILER OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AXLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER. HOWEVER, AS THEY BEGAN TO PULL OFF THE EXIT, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LINKED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V624000 (SUSPENSION) WITH THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL FOREST RIVER. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB *JS

ON 27-APR-2018 I PURCHASED A NEW FLAGSTAFF 832OKBS. THE TIRES ON THIS TRAVEL TRAILER WERE CASTLE ROCK (LIONS HEAD TIRES) ST22575R15 LOAD RANGE E 10 PLY TIRES. ON THE FIRST DAY OF A RECENT TRIP, ABOUT 28 MILES FROM HOME, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON THE TRAVEL TRAILER EXPLODED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE AND THE DAMAGE TO THE FENDER AREA OF THE TRAILER. I INSPECTED THE OTHER TIRES AND DID NOT SEE ANY OTHER DAMAGE SO I INSTALLED MY SPARE TO RESUME OUR TRIP WE GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND I DECIDED TO STOP AT THE NEXT REST AREA (24 MILES FROM THE FIRST BLOWOUT) TO CHECK EVERYTHING OUT AND RE-TORQUE THE LUG NUTS ON THE WHEEL I CHANGED. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE LEFT FRONT TRAILER TIRE BLEW. THESE TIRES ALL HAD 2017 DATE STAMPS AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 4235 MILES. I CHECKED ALL THE TIRE PRESSURES BEFORE WE LEFT AND THEY WERE PROPERLY INFLATED TO 80 PSI. I HAD RECENTLY WEIGHTED THE TRAILER LOADED AT A PILOT TRUCK STOP AND IT WEIGHTED 9080LBS, WHICH IS WITHIN THE SAFETY RATING OF THE TIRES. AFTER MY TIRE FAILURE I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE CASTLE ROCK ST22575R15 FAILING CATASTROPHICALLY. I FILED A CLAIM WITH LIONS HEAD AND THEY AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL FIVE TIRES BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE TO MY TRAILER. VEHICLE DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THERE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO LIFE AND PROPERTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 PRIME TIME AVENGER EQUIPPED WITH POWER KING TOWMAX STR TIRES, SIZE: 205/75/R14 (NA). THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BY A 2013 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TRAILER TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES MORE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TRAILER TIRE ALSO BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE STORE TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. THE RV MANUFACTURER AND RV DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I PURCHASED A 2018 SABRE COBALT 37BHQ FIFTH WHEEL IN MAY 2018. I HAVE TAKEN THIS FIFTH WHEEL ON 5 TRIPS, ALL OF WHICH WERE LESS THAN 50 MILES FROM HOME. ON THE FIFTH TRIP I ARRIVED AT THE CAMPGROUND AND NOTICED THE RF TIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF IN A LARGE SECTION AND PARTS OF THE STEEL BELT WERE EXPOSED. I ENDED UP REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM RV OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES (CASTLE ROCK ST235/80R16).*DT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER IMPRESSION FIFTH WHEEL. WHILE LOOKING AT THE TRAILER PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FROM A DISTANCE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AXLES WERE NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO CURTIS TRAILERS (10177 SE POWELL BLVD, PORTLAND, OR 97266, (503) 760-1363) TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AXLE HANGERS WERE IMPROPERLY ALIGNED, WHICH CAUSED UNEVEN WEAR TO THE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT WITHOUT CORRECTIVE MEASURES TAKEN THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A BLOWOUT OF THE TIRES AND POSSIBLE OTHER DAMAGES OR INJURIES. THE TRAILER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 1,000. *TR*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER SALEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LEAK EMERGED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDE OUT PORTION OF THE TRAILER. THE LEAK CAUSED MOLD TO FORM. THE DEALER AN MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FOREST RIVER WILDWOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUPPORT FRAME THAT HELD THE FRESH WATER TANK ON THE TRAILER DETACHED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING OUT. WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN THE TRAILER STRUCK A HOLE OR SPEED BUMP, THE WATER TANK PLACED PRESSURE ON THE VEHICLE'S FRAME, WHICH CAUSED IT TO DROP DOWN AND BEND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TANK AND HAD PUNCTURED TWO HOLES IN THE PLASTIC WATER TANK, CAUSING WATER. TO LEAK OUT. THE TRAILER WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MOVED UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CROSSMEMBER WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

SAFETY ISSUE WITH A NEW MODEL RV. HAVEN'T HEARD ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AFTER REPORTING IT TO THEM VIA EMAIL TO SABRINA SHANNON OF THEIR CHEROKEE OWNER RELATIONS OFFICE ON SEPT 7 2019. I TOLD THE BLUE DOG RV DEALERSHIP SALESMAN DEREK BROWN IN BEND OR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE CONTACTED HIS FACTORY REP ABOUT IT. FOREST RIVER HAS NOT COMMUNICATED TO ME ON THIS ISSUE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNS OVERLOADING (TOO MUCH WEIGHT) OF THE CONNECT POINT BETWEEN THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE RV. THE PART BEING OVERLOADED IS THE FRAME COUPLER WHICH FITS OVER THE HITCH BALL FROM THE TOW VEHICLE. THE PARTICULARS ARE AS FOLLOWS: MANUFACTURER: FOREST RIVER DIVISION: CHEROKEE MODEL: WOLF PUP 18TO (WESTERN DIVISION MADE IN OREGON ONLY MODEL YEAR: 2020. I HAVE THE SAME MODEL RV- 18TO -BUT IT'S THE MIDWESTERN DIVISION ( MADE IN INDIANA) MODEL YEAR 2019. THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (CALLED GVWR) OF MY 18TO IS 4999LBS AND THE A FRAME COUPLER IS RATED FOR 5000 POUNDS. ITS CLOSE BUT NOT OVERLOADED. THE PROBLEM I'VE NOTED IS THAT THE 2020 MODEL MADE IN OREGON IS CERTIFIED BY FOREST RIVER AT 5600+ LBS GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT, BUT THE A FRAME COUPLER HAS THE SAME RATING AS THE RV I HAVE 5000LBS. THE PROBLEM IS A 600LBS OVERLOAD IN WEIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE PART MAY WEAR PREMATURELY AND/OR EVENTUALLY FAIL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I'VE SEEN A TOTAL OF TWO 18TO UNITS AT TWO BLUE DOG RV DEALERSHIPS. 1 IN BEND OR AND IN REDMOND OR THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SO ITS NOT A ONE UNIT MISTAKE. NOTE THE 2019 18TO WESTERN DIVISION ALSO HAS A GVWR OF 5600+. I HAVE NOT SEEN A MODEL TO DETERMINE IF THE A FRAME COUPLER HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IF IT DOES IT ENLARGES THE RANGE TO THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT 2018 OR EARLIER MODEL YEARS THE FIX IS SIMPLE. A DIFFERENT A FRAME COUPLER RATED AT 6000-8000LBS - GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT. THE 2019 MODEL MADE IN INDIANA STILL HAS THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT AT 4999LBS SO ONLY THE OREGON LOCATED DIVISION MADE THE CHANGE. *TR *JS *DT *DT VIN UNAVAILABLE *JB*JB

WE HAVE A 2017 CEDAR CREEK 38FBD WITH DUAL 7000 POUND AXLES AND OEM ALLOY WHEELS. THE SECOND OF MY FOUR ALLOY WHEELS CRACKED SOMETIME DURING THE 3 DAYS WE WERE SETUP AT COE RIVERSIDE PARK @ LAKE KANOPOLIS, KS. I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN MY AFTERMARKET TPMS ALARMED THAT THE TIRE WAS AT 5 PSI RATHER THAN NEAR 110PSI WHEN I TURNED IT ON. IF THE CRACK AND RESULTING PRESSURE LOSS HAD OCCURED WHILE WE WERE PULLING OUR FIFTH WHEEL, WE MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRAILER AND INJURED NOT ONLY OURSELVES, BUT OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AS I STATED, THIS IS THE SECOND WHEEL TO FAIL. THE PREVIOUS FAILURE WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WITH PRETTY MUCH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WEIGH OUR FIFTH WHEEL EVERY SO OFTEN AND SO FAR WE'VE NEVER HAD OVER 6700 POUNDS ON EITHER AXLE. OUR TIRES ARE G RATED TO ~3800 POUNDS WHEN IN A DUAL AXLE CONFIGURATION (SAILUN 235/85R16) THAT WERE PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH 2019.