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06-19-2015, 06:29 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Considering switching to Forest River
We've been a long time Keystone family ( 3 years with a Zeppelin and 10 years with a 30ft Cougar). In all this time we have really enjoyed our Cougar and have had little to no problems with it. Due to its age we are considering trading ours in and going with the Forest River 33RETS. I've done some research and found that it seems to be a pretty good model.
Any advice, recommendations, suggestions about the pro's and con's with Forest River is greatly appreciated.
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06-19-2015, 06:43 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 981
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Welcome to the forum!
I think you'll find the vast majority on this these boards are very happy with their Forest River... And I think most would do their best to stay in the family. Speaking for myself, we're on our 3rd TT and would exhaust all FR options before moving onto another MFG.
Good luck on finding your next camper.
2015 Coachmen Apex 288BHS
2014 Toyota Tundra 5.7L CrewMax
Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums
__________________
2015 Coachmen Apex 288BHS
2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 5.7L
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06-19-2015, 07:02 AM
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#3
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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I would not even consider a different manufacturer.
No bull; just fact. I have NEVER seen a company that will go the extra hundred miles like this one.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-19-2015, 07:21 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hawkins, Texas
Posts: 1,243
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You will love dealing with Forest River. I had a Keystone Everest and email keystone several times most with NO response. I email Prime Time a Forest River Company and I have always received a timely response. Customer service is outstanding at FR and poor at Keystone IMO. Good luck and happy camping.
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06-19-2015, 07:27 AM
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#5
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Senior Junior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 118
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Switched too...
We have been Keystone folks too with a Montana 5th, Cougar 5th then a Outback TT bunkhouse (thinking grandkids, etc.). That did not pan out as envisioned so we decided to focus more on ourselves and get something more suitable for travel and ordered a FR Sunseeker MBS 2400R. Drives and maneuvers similar to my Ram crew cab dually. Keystone has been good for us as far as minor issues, but one thing that bothered me more than anything was the fading of the front cap on all three. I love the look (not cost) of the full body paint and hope that solves the fading issue with all the graphics being paint as opposed to decals as well as the 4 coats of clear coat on top that can be waxed.
__________________
[B]2022 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS
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06-19-2015, 07:30 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,428
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I'm happy with my unit, but my post sale experience has been very sub par. That has to do with my dealer as much as anything.
__________________
Now-2014 Sierra 346RETS 5er BUB
Then-2002 Keystone Springdale 286RLDS TT
Nights camped in 2014-28, 2015-127, 2016-10
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06-19-2015, 07:32 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: top side land of Lincoln
Posts: 7,509
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clr
I email Prime Time a Forest River Company and I have always received a timely response.
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X2, Prime Time has been very helpful to me even after the warranty ran out.
__________________
2014 LaCrosse 323RST-TE-C
2009 Chevy 2500HD Z71
Seasonal
Zelda the campin dog
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06-19-2015, 07:56 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,299
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A big factor in your decision should be the dealer. The dealer can make your experience very good or very bad.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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06-19-2015, 08:54 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KDHfan
Welcome to the forum!
I think you'll find the vast majority on this these boards are very happy with their Forest River... And I think most would do their best to stay in the family. Speaking for myself, we're on our 3rd TT and would exhaust all FR options before moving onto another MFG.
Good luck on finding your next camper.
2015 Coachmen Apex 288BHS
2014 Toyota Tundra 5.7L CrewMax
Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums
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Thanks KDHFan for the positive response ( and for the welcome ) !
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06-19-2015, 08:55 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herk7769
I would not even consider a different manufacturer.
No bull; just fact. I have NEVER seen a company that will go the extra hundred miles like this one.
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Thanks Herk for the response!
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06-19-2015, 08:56 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clr
You will love dealing with Forest River. I had a Keystone Everest and email keystone several times most with NO response. I email Prime Time a Forest River Company and I have always received a timely response. Customer service is outstanding at FR and poor at Keystone IMO. Good luck and happy camping.
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Hi CLR, since I have only had to deal with my dealer on repairs/warranty issues I have never had to deal directly with Keystone but I have heard that they are not the best. Thanks for your honesty!
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06-19-2015, 08:59 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hexnut
We have been Keystone folks too with a Montana 5th, Cougar 5th then a Outback TT bunkhouse (thinking grandkids, etc.). That did not pan out as envisioned so we decided to focus more on ourselves and get something more suitable for travel and ordered a FR Sunseeker MBS 2400R. Drives and maneuvers similar to my Ram crew cab dually. Keystone has been good for us as far as minor issues, but one thing that bothered me more than anything was the fading of the front cap on all three. I love the look (not cost) of the full body paint and hope that solves the fading issue with all the graphics being paint as opposed to decals as well as the 4 coats of clear coat on top that can be waxed.
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Hi Hex!
Believe it or not at 10 years our Cougar is just now beginning to fade ( and this in the South Florida sun...just I've been lucky). What we are seeing is the separation on the front of the outer shell to the wood underneath (kind of a bubble affect).
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06-19-2015, 10:16 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
A big factor in your decision should be the dealer. The dealer can make your experience very good or very bad.
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You are absolutely right Flybob! I would actually be looking to buy this one from the same dealer who sold me the 2 Keystone's.
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06-19-2015, 12:12 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 46
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You will find good and bad about any MGG. We have had 2 FR campers. 1 TT, 1 fifth wheel. Have had 1 great experience and 1 bad experience. So go with your heart and a good dealer
__________________
Eddie Bryant
Camping days 2015-16 so far
On a 7 week trip.
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06-19-2015, 12:19 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Pfafftown NC
Posts: 2,353
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It needs to be said over and over: The dealer is everything. In my opinion the dealer is 50% of the equation. Maybe more.
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06-19-2015, 12:20 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Oklahoma City Metro Area
Posts: 235
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I am new to Forest River but have nothing but good to say. My dealer was very good and on the first request regarding the barbecue grill that came with our Mini Lite, Forest River voluntarily just sent a complete new grill UPS direct to my home. How can anyone complain about that kind of after sale service.
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06-19-2015, 12:26 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Full timer,,,at Lake Georgetown in central Texas for the winter.
Posts: 442
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I'm happy with our Windjammer by Forest River Rockwood. The only complaint I have is trying to get a response out of the factory on getting instructions on how to safely adjust one of our slides. I'm going to try a third time to get a response after even talking to the factory about it.
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06-19-2015, 12:40 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MB
Posts: 79
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The dealer is huge but so is the product. Our third fiver was a 2013 Cougar that we bought new and it was a nightmare. We had numerous problems from the get go. These were mostly electrical problems but there were others as well The dealer had a superb service department and that's what probably kept them going as their products seemed pretty questionable. After two years of nothing but headaches we dumped it and got a Cedar Creek Silverback. We've only used it for 10 nights so far but the build quality seems far superior to the Keystone product. That being said, there were certain design features of the old one that we liked. There is no perfect RV
Cheers
__________________
Flatlander
2015 Silverback 29IK
2010 Silverado 2500HD LTZ
6.6 Duramax / Allison 1000
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06-19-2015, 01:09 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Jackson, GA
Posts: 341
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Three Way Campers in Marietta, GA have been wonderful to deal with so far.
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06-19-2015, 01:24 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Evereddie
It needs to be said over and over: The dealer is everything. In my opinion the dealer is 50% of the equation. Maybe more.
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I couldn't agree with you more Evereddie!
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