Forest River misinformation

[JFM-jr]

Before purchasing a 2009 FR Salem 30QBSS i called the FR tech support to get holding tank capacities. I was told 42 fresh/60 Gray/ 35 black. Purchased the unit got it home crawling around underneath to get familiar with everything I see the tanks. First clue the specs I was given were wrong was the balck and grey tanks were indentical. I look up the manufacturer of the tank stamped on it with the model number and they are both 28 gallon tanks. They did get one out of three correct the fresh is indeed 42 gallon. I guess 33.3% correct is not bad. Not a huge deal here but a far cry from what I was told.

[Filthy Beast]

I guess I would have been a bit more upset as tank size is a deal breaker for us. We want larger tanks as we boondock quite a bit. But whatever works for you.

[Dave_Monica]

Are you sure that there isn't another, separate grey water tank for the kitchen...that's very common. The manufacturers usually quote grey tank capacity as total gallons. We have 2 x 38 gal tanks...spec says 76 gal.

Dave

[JFM-jr]

I'm positive the brochures from FR list the capacities all the way to 2011 the same as she told me. I stopped by the dealer today and looked underneath a 2012 identical model and it has the same 28 gallon tanks as my 09. Looked at a 2012 brochure and what do you know they changed the listed capacities to the correct figures.? It does state on the rear of the brochures FR reserves the right to change specs without notice , real nice eh?

[donn]

And at the bottom of every brochure I have ever seen, whether it was for a car/truck or RV is a disclaimer saying something to the effect "we are not responsible for the specs printed in this brochure. They were accurate at the time of printing."

[ng2951]

You might also check to see when the model year changed. It might be you have either an early or late model year trailer and the specs might have changed.

[Rod Johnson]

Sometimes it goes the other way. I was supposed to have a 34 gal fuel tank for the fuel station, turns out its 40 gallons.

[campdohbrew]

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

Before purchasing a 2009 FR Salem 30QBSS i called the FR tech support to get holding tank capacities. I was told 42 fresh/60 Gray/ 35 black. Purchased the unit got it home crawling around underneath to get familiar with everything I see the tanks. First clue the specs I was given were wrong was the balck and grey tanks were indentical. I look up the manufacturer of the tank stamped on it with the model number and they are both 28 gallon tanks. They did get one out of three correct the fresh is indeed 42 gallon. I guess 33.3% correct is not bad. Not a huge deal here but a far cry from what I was told.

Your experience with being misinformed does make me curious about Forest River organizational structure – what department does Technical Support come under? I guess before now I have never thought about it. Because of your experience, I hope it is not under the engineering department. If the Technical Support is part of the engineering department, there is absolutely no excuse for that type misinformation. The tech support is got to be under something other than engineering.

As you, the difference in tanks’ capacities would not have bothered me simply because I always camp in improved sites with hookups. The biggest difference of what was quoted and what was received is with the grey tank which is 47% capacity of what you were quoted. The black is not too bad as it is 80% capacity of the quoted. The grey tank capacity could reap havoc for somebody who does not camp where there are sewer hookups.

I bet technical support comes under the sales department. It would be nice to see an organizational chart.

[windrider]

The fresh water tank is also probably a 36 gallon, and then you have 6 gallons in the water heater. that makes the total 42 gallons. Of course, you can't use it all, but that amount can be on board. As an RV tech, it is rare to find a camper with a larger gray tank than fresh water tank. No need for it as you would be out of water before the tank is full. It's possible the tech support person looked up the wrong trailer when you called them. If you really need that much capacity, get a Blue Boy, and dump the gray in that when it is full, and have fun hauling fresh water to refill the fresh tank, because it will be dry.

[JFM-jr]

The fresh water tank is 42 gallons I measured the tank dimensions and used the formula to figure out U.S. gallons. Tech support person DID NOT look up wrong model. Have a look in a Forest River brochure from 2009-2011 and tell me the listed specs on a Salem 30QBSS. I since purchasing have and it states 42/60/35. Only the new 2012 brochure shows the CORRECT capacities. I can say the brochure changed but looking at a 2009 (mine) and a 2012 the tanks have not changed only the brochure has. Using the blue boy does not bother me much and I have a 12volt pump with a spare tank in my pickup for freshwater refill so I'm setup just fine and plan on "having fun". Fact is its LAME to be misinformed like I was but I can't wait for camping season.