Manual for 2011 Forester 3121ds

[smulrenin]

I just purchased a 2011 Forester 3121ds. The manual I have is generic to all motorized Forest River's. Does anybody know if I can get a manual specific to my model?
There are two switches next to the battery disconnect by the steps. One is for the floor lights. I can not figure out what the other switch is for.

[Ford Idaho]

Auto step retract/extend?

[smulrenin]

no the steps are built in and do not retract.

[lbrunning]

On my 2011 3170 one switch is the outside light the other is the awning and that switch is clearly marked awning. As far as a manual goes what you got is as good as it gets. If you spend some time looking around on this forum you will find out that it is much more informative than your manual but keep it handy you might need it to start a campfire someday.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by lbrunning

On my 2011 3170 one switch is the outside light the other is the awning and that switch is clearly marked awning. As far as a manual goes what you got is as good as it gets. If you spend some time looking around on this forum you will find out that it is much more informative than your manual but keep it handy you might need it to start a campfire someday.

[F and E Damp]

My older FR has three switches, porch and outside lights. floor night-lights and steps. If you just have two, and fixed steps, you probably just have the outside lights and floor lights. On my MH, there are outside lights at the entry door and on the driver's side near the dump valve bay.

[paulmlac]

smulrenin - Welcome to the forum from a fellow Sparty!!! The awning switch is labeled pretty clearly as awning. So I would bet the outside light switch as others said. On my Sunseeker, the outside light switch glows red when it is on.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by smulrenin

The manual I have is generic to all motorized Forest River's. Does anybody know if I can get a manual specific to my model?

no such thing as a model-specific manual. not even a model-type specific manual.
generic owners manuals are a RV standard, no matter who the manufacturer is.

you may have a manual for the chassis, but not for your model or brand.

[bgilly]

On my 3171 the step well switches are not labeled. The ones in the convenience center are labeled.
My step well has 3 switches, 1 switch for the porch light, 1 switch for the awning LED light and the 3rd switch is for the night light/step well light.

Manuals are generic with the expectation that the dealer will educate the buyer of all the coach model specific items. Problem is, on the day of delivery/orientation, so much is going through your head in one class - hard to recall everything.

As Brian Clemens has stated, so many changes on the fly make it nearly impossible to keep model specific manual current/accurate. That is why there is a healthy Forest River internet support forum. Besides, folks are less than likely to read the manual cover to cover and retain what was read.

But for what it is worth (note to bclemens - trying to be constructive) - it would be nice to have some tag cards hanging or specific pamphlets on various coach features such as:
1) the operation of the speaker A/B switch noting which speakers are in what zone from the control.
2) the location of the sub woofer and the operation of the controls located on the sub-woofer box.
3) 12/120 volt breaker/converter devices. I'm knowledgeable on mine but I didn't know my converter was located in the outside cargo. I came from a travel trailer where everything was in the WFCO box. I think there should be more detail of the power sources (including the automatic switch of the generator) for each coach.
4) in addition to the power mentioned in #3 it would be beneficial to have operational detail of the BIM, coach battery, chassis battery "networking". The forum has a number of discussions on the inter-connectivity of the coach batteries to the chassis battery, from the chassis alternator to the bypass jump switch. I think just from the safety perspective an owner should know where all the power sources are and how to safely disconnect them.
5) more specific information to each coach model on the slide controls and the locations of the control box.

There are many more but they are more basic that most owners can get through the discovery without much head scratching but tags or detailed information on the items mentioned above will likely result in quicker happy ownership .

I love my Forester and all the cool things Forest River has done to their RV's!

Bobby

[smulrenin]

Thanks Bobby. I think i have it figured out.
I purchased my Forester used from a dealer that sold it on consignment. Therefore, I did not get a very informative walkthrough. Thank God for this forum.

[bgilly]

Originally Posted by smulrenin

Thanks Bobby. I think i have it figured out.
I purchased my Forester used from a dealer that sold it on consignment. Therefore, I did not get a very informative walkthrough. Thank God for this forum.

Well, in my long babble I neglected to mention that being you have a used unit - the porch light bulb could be expired.

Yea, unfortunately resell buyers are in worse position than the original buyer - considering too that prior owners tweak their RV. Can be a real bag of treats/tricks.

Bobby

[lkin]

I have the same year and model. The switch is for thepass side outside light