Concertone problems.

hankpac · 09-28-2010, 08:27 PM

I have a 08 Wildcat, 34 RLS. I bought it new in 09.
The Concertone 600, died last week. After shutting it off, suddenly the screen where the blue letters show channel etc, started flashing, and randomly going on and off. After that, while the "standby" (on/off button) shows red, it does not function. I also tried activating by sliding in a DVD, to no avail.
I contacted RF, and got no answer. I wrote to Rod Batts, again no answer.
I wrote to Concertone, The support tech suggested cutting off power for three minutes to make the system re-boot. Didn't work.
We spend up to 4 months at a time in our RV, and this is unacceptable. At this point I am ready to dump this thing and buy a Comfort.
Warrantee support is poor. Quality is mediocre.
Other issues:
Drains and controls not lined up with access door. Added.
Bathroom door poorly lined up. Fixed.
Galley grey water drain leaks. Fills drain pipe. Can't find a dealer who will work with FR.
Freshwater overflow not connected to fill pipe. Only allows 3/4 fill.
and now the Concertone is dead.
I had an 84 Avion that I traded in for this thing, and it was PERFECT.

yvesm · 09-29-2010, 06:09 AM

Welcome to Forest River Products, we have a 2011 Rockwood and the list of problems keeps getting longer. This morning I was out walking the dogs and I looked up at the front of the camper and it looks like its starting to delaminate. Because of many issues with the camper we are canceling all of our fall trips. We will contact our dealer for waranty repairs, if we cannot get things fixed we will most likely sell the thing (at a major loss).

annamarie · 09-29-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvesm

Welcome to Forest River Products, we have a 2011 Rockwood and the list of problems keeps getting longer. This morning I was out walking the dogs and I looked up at the front of the camper and it looks like its starting to delaminate. Because of many issues with the camper we are canceling all of our fall trips. We will contact our dealer for waranty repairs, if we cannot get things fixed we will most likely sell the thing (at a major loss).

Which TT did you purchase and when? I'm sorry to hear of all your problems with your TT. Has it been in for warrenty work yet?

yvesm · 09-29-2010, 09:16 AM

Purchased it winter 2010 (March I think). It was ordered from the factory. It has been in once for waranty work in the spring, then we were out traveling all summer. We have been home for a couple of weeks now. When the camper went in for waranty work last spring the dealer did not fix the items that were defective and said to us "its a Forest River Product, what do you expect". I did repair all of the water leaks, the cooling fan behind the fridge, fixed water pump, fixed several bad wire crimps, replace city water fill and check valve, fixed swing bunk so it would stay in place. I have to make an appointment with the dealer and go in with a list for this fall. We have been looking a the following RV's as a replacement in order of preference, Carrigage fith wheel, Tiffin motor homes, Fleetwood Tioga, and Airstream. Our previous RV was a 2001 Forest River Shamrock, never a bit of trouble over 9 years of use (about 6 weeks a year).

Sagebrush · 09-29-2010, 09:38 AM

I owned two of those products you listed (don't need to name names) and had both units back to the factory numerous time for a long list of problems. They were not that receptive to my returning over and over to have the same problem corrected either.
I think the bottom line is that they all assemble products that will need repair. They are trying to cut corners, so they buy from vendors with the cheapest price, and at times come up short on the assembly.
I am pleased with the FR product I purchased. They have been responsive in repairing the items that needed repair. Some dealers are better staffed to handle problems,and do a better job.
I hope you get your list resolved and continue to enjoy the RV experience.

**KyDan** · 09-29-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankpac

Warrantee support is poor. Quality is mediocre.
Other issues:
Drains and controls not lined up with access door. Added.
Bathroom door poorly lined up. Fixed.
Galley grey water drain leaks. Fills drain pipe. Can't find a dealer who will work with FR.
Freshwater overflow not connected to fill pipe. Only allows 3/4 fill.
and now the Concertone is dead.
I had an 84 Avion that I traded in for this thing, and it was PERFECT.

Why exactly did you trade??
Sorry about your bad luck.
A phone call is usually way better than an e-mail when
you're trying to get something done.
My concertone died last trip out.
I spent the last 2 days swapping it out for a Jensen.
Naturally the cabinets needed modification to get it to
fit.
We're happy with ours after 2 1/2 years.

**Bob Fields** · 09-30-2010, 08:10 AM

Thanks for the comments! ;-)

I do NOT handle the Concertone Support emails, so when you reference those here PLEASE do NOT assume I have seen them.

If you would like my assistance, I will need information as to how I can do that.

Let me know if I can help with anything specifically...

hankpac · 09-30-2010, 02:05 PM

Bob Fields: I saw your post and wondered if you are actually a FR employee?
If so, you sure CAN help.
As explained above, the Concertone failed after we owned the coach for less than a year. (2008, bought as new in 2009). The unit failed after shutting down, one evening with flashing LED's on the face plate, that randomly went on and off, for a few seconds. This was about a minute after shutting down, and removing the DVD we were watching.
It never functioned again in any manner. The red "ready" light glows, but no change wether one punches the on button or inserts a DVD.
Concertone Support suggested a "reboot" by shutting off all 12 Volt power. I did so. No change.
I bought the unit in Iowa, and live in Oregon, so taking it to the selling dealer is impossible.
I took it to Courtesy RV in Klamath Falls, after getting an authorization from Rod Batts, for Warantee work last December, but the stereo was not an issue at the time. In fact up to then we had never used it. Courtesy took the rig in as a kindness, but up until last week or so, had never been paid for their work.

The Concertone issue occurred while still under warrantee, when we were in a remote area of Oregon, without cell or internet service. We notified both Concertone and FR as soon as we returned home.
So far no offer to replace from Concertone, and no word at all from FR.
If you can help me out with this issue I would be grateful.
I have to leave here again very soon, and if I have instructions, I can do the install myself.

KY Dan: We traded to get into a larger rig, since we spend so much time traveling, and plan to do some volunteering in National Parks. The Avion was just a bit cramped. No slides, and only a double bed (not a Queen).
We thought the newer rigs would reflect a comparable level of quality, at 25-40k and up per unit. Guess not.

**KyDan** · 09-30-2010, 02:30 PM

Hank, I believe a phone call is infinitely better than a faceless
email.
There is a sticky post with Forest River contact info
in the General Community Discussions forum.

2 years ago when my unit was new I tried repeatedly to get
someone at Concertone. They would not answer and never
returned any calls left on voice mail. Donno if that's changed
now or not. I got my replacement radios thru my dealer who
was a full day drive away. We mailed them back and forth until
I got one that worked sort of and I gave up.
Call Forest River
Call and keep calling until you get someone live. Tell your story
and see what happens. Don't give up and be firm but polite.

Like my grandma used to say,
"you'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"!

Good Luck!!

Forest River Inc.
Forest River : RV, Cargo Trailers, Boats, Commercial, Housing
3010 College Ave.
PO Box 124
Goshen,IN
46527-0124
Tel: (574) 533-5934
Fax: (574) 533-6085

Product Mgr: Roy
Admin. Nancy Nigh(Asst)
(574) 389-3068
nnigh@forestriverinc.com

Warranty: Ron Summers
(574) 295-1791
rsummers@forestriverinc.com

Warranty: Walt Williamson
(574) 295-1791
wwilliamson@forestriverinc.com

Parts&Service: Randy Houser
rhouser@forestriverinc.com

Parts: Darrell Christenson
(574) 389-9305
Service: Chad Peters
(574) 389-3231
cpeters@forestriverinc.com

ddygulski@forestriverinc.com

Forest River Parts and Service 574-534-3167 & 574-537-1377. Numbers are from the 2004-5 Yellow Book for South Bend/Elkhart/Goshen Area.
574-533-5934 or 574-642-2640
Contacts at the time:
- Steve Byler Sales (x111)
- Mike Markum Ultralite Warranty (x115)
- Mike Yoder Service Manager (x108)

Hokiehall · 09-30-2010, 03:03 PM

Hank,

Bob Fields is a Concertone representative that has agreed to help out on the forum with issues concerning the Concertone products. He is not connected to Forest River.

bluerayjack · 09-30-2010, 03:27 PM

So how can we reach you Mr. Fields? I am on my third unit and still doesn't work. I get noise out of one speaker which is nothing but static

Hokiehall · 09-30-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluerayjack

So how can we reach you Mr. Fields? I am on my third unit and still doesn't work. I get noise out of one speaker which is nothing but static

Send him a PM on this site and go from there.

**Bob Fields** · 10-04-2010, 02:38 PM

I was traveling last week and hardly available - please let me know what I can do to help. I replied to a different thread and sent you a PM just now.

I see you are waiting for a replacement - let me know how that goes then we can determine if any further action is necessary.

**Bob Fields** · 10-04-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankpac

...
The Concertone issue occurred while still under warrantee, when we were in a remote area of Oregon, without cell or internet service. We notified both Concertone and FR as soon as we returned home.
So far no offer to replace from Concertone, and no word at all from FR.
If you can help me out with this issue I would be grateful.
I have to leave here again very soon, and if I have instructions, I can do the install myself...

What has your dealer said about this? If they agree it is warranty they should coordinate the replacement. FR handles the warranty on these factory installed units (just as GM replaces the BOSE components they install in their vehicles).

Let me know where you stand with this and we will go from there...

Thanks

hankpac · 10-04-2010, 07:08 PM

Bob,: Thanks for the offer of help.
I have not heard from anyone including Mr Batts, who was helpful before.
the thing does not work, I am traveling to San Francisco, with it broken.
I would install it myself if I could get a unit shipped to me at home.
The dealer is in IOWA, and I live in OREGON.

bluerayjack · 10-06-2010, 08:55 PM

Mr. Fields,

Still awaiting receipt of the 4th unit from the factory. However, I do have another issue. There is a fold out table below the television on the Windjammer RV. This is where the tv, etc. plug in. Below this is two doors. The door on the left is (was) screwed shut. The door on the right opens, but nothing behind it. However, the door on the left has a big black box that appears to be a speaker. If it is in fact a speaker, it doesn't work either and if it did, how does the sound escape behind the solid door?

dezolen · 10-06-2010, 09:11 PM

Subwoofer is the mystery box. Only produces base sound when amp outputs deeper base notes. 4th unit? Didn't I read on one of the posts that we exagerate failure rates and Concertones are reliable??

bluerayjack · 10-06-2010, 09:37 PM

Well that would explain why it doesn't work. We've never had any amp outputs!!!

camper25 · 10-26-2010, 08:38 PM

We purchased a brand new 2009 Rockwoor TT and the troubles began, We have been through 8 Concertone ZX600's We give up, you win you have completely distroyed our faith in any concertone products we would like our money back, you know a refund like any department store would give when a product they sell is't any good!!!

hankpac · 10-26-2010, 08:50 PM

Mr Batts contacted me, in answer to my letter to him, and asked me to send him the unit. I did so, but haven't received the replacement as of yet. I expect that if things work as normal, it would be here next week.
I am concerned that I am going to have repeated problems.
These Chinese made units are absolutely lowest quality. What would one expect? They are made with slave labor, in a communist country, at the lowest possible cost to the company supplying FR.
I did the removal, and will do the install myself.
Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.....

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