FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SALEM TRAVEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER

Jan 14, 2011 — Recall Campaign #11V017000

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SALEM TRAVEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 25, 2009, THROUGH JANUARY 13, 2011. THE BOTTOM LEAF ON THE LEAF SPRINGS MAY ROTATE OUT OF POSITION AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TIRE.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 115 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

11V017000

Manufacturer:	Forest River, Inc.
Recall date:	January 14, 2011
NHTSA Campaign #:	11V017000
Units affected:	115

Description:: FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SALEM TRAVEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 25, 2009, THROUGH JANUARY 13, 2011. THE BOTTOM LEAF ON THE LEAF SPRINGS MAY ROTATE OUT OF POSITION AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TIRE.
Consequeces:: THIS WILL CAUSE THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL PLACE TWO SQUARE BEND "U" BOLTS WITH WASHERS AND NUTS AND RETAINING PLATE THAT WILL BE CENTERED ON THE SPRING CENTER BOLT TO RESTRAIN THE LOWER SPRING LEAF. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREST RIVER AT 574-389-4600.
Notes:: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Affects the following:

2010-2011 FOREST RIVER SALEM

2011 FOREST RIVER SALEM Complaints
THE MAIN FRAME OF THE TRAILER HAS FAILED DOE TO A GROSS ERROR OF THE MECHANICAL DESIGN IN MAKING THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER TOO THIN TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. ADDITIONALLY, THE REQUIREMENT TO USE A LOAD LEVELER BY THE DEALER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER INCREASES THIS LOAD TO THE POINT THAT THE CALCULATED SAFETY MARGIN OF THE CROSSMEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE TONGUE IS 1:1. THE CROSSMEMBER MATERIAL IS STANDARD A36 STEEL WITH A NOMINAL THICKNESS OF .1 INCHES AND IS BENT IN THE SHAPE OF A C CHANNEL, WELDED TO THE FRONT OF A 10 INCH I-BEAM WHICH COMPRISES THE MAJORITY OF THE LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE OF THE MAIN FRAME. THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER IN QUESTION IS USED AS A SUPPORT POINT FOR THE UNDERSLUNG TONGUE THAT IS WELDED TO THE LOWERMOST POINT OF THE I BEAM AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CREATING A FULCRUM RATIO OF APPROXIMATELY 2.896 : 1. THE LEVER BEING THE TONGUE TUBING ITSELF THAT IS THEN PUSHED UPWARD INTO THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WITH A FORCE OF 2400 POUNDS AS CALCULATED USING A MEASURED TONGUE WEIGHT OF 830 POUNDS WITH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UNLOADED OF ALL CARGO AND WASTEWATER AND WITH EMPTY PROPANE CYLINDERS. THIS FORCE IS SUPPORTED BY A TONGUE COMPRISED OF A 2X6 RECTANGULAR TUBING WITH A NOMINAL WALL THICKNESS OF .098 INCHES THAT HAS DEFORMED LONGITUDINALLY AND EXPANDED LATERALLY ACROSS THE SHORT AXIS DIRECTLY UNDER THE FRONT CROSSMEMEBER. THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER HAS THEN RECEDED INTO THE UNDERBELLY OF THE CAMPER AND BEGUN A VERTICAL CRACK THAT HAS COMPROMISED THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER AT SPEED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELECTRICAL BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED DUE TO OTHER DESIGN FLAWS IN THE PROTECTION OF WIRING WITHIN THE WHEEL AND THE DESIGN OF THE MECHANICAL ACTUATION THAT IMPINGES ON THE WIRING HARNESSES FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WHILE BEING ACTUATED. *TR;