Cracks in the front end cap

[rqathome]

I was waxing my Salem Hemisphere 299Re on the weekend and on the front end cap I found cracking on the left hand side. I'm not sure if it's just in the gel coat. Either way the trailer is only 2 1/2 months old and we have only been out 5 times since we purchased the trailer logging less then 150 miles. Any ideas to what may cause these crack and are they repairable or does the whole front end cap need to be replaced?
What underlying issues may be causing the cracks?

[BigJohnD]

Welcome to the forum rqathome. I feel your pain on that one. When you get a chance, check out this thread:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...cap-53444.html

I've been through this 3 times. Mine looked pretty close to that, but were more towards the top. Repaired and repainted once, replaced the whole cap second time, and then repaired the new cap and repainted on the 3rd round. Can it be fixed, yes, if it is done correctly. Ours was only in the gel coat, or seemed to be. I looked at the old cap after it was removed, and there were no signs of thin fiberglass or anything.

Have you contacted your dealer or Salem / Forest River. Need to get it documented. I'm wondering now if this is the same cap manufacturer that builds the Silverback caps.

[Lloydg]

They certainly look like stress cracks and nothing structural, but something I would not like or expect on a trailer only 2 1/2 months old. Better get it back to the dealer and let them evaluate it and get it fixed or replaced. Good luck.

[rqathome]

Dealer has been contacted still waiting his response, but have not contacted Salem/Forest River waiting on dealer to do his part and get back to me.


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[rqathome]

I am dealing with a small town dealer and I don't believe he has the experience or personnel to undertake such a project.


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[Lloydg]

If they don't have the experience to undertake your project, then either they or FR should direct you to a service group that does. You don't say where you live. How far from Goshen are you?

[rqathome]

I'm in Cornwall, Ontario


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[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by rqathome

I'm in Cornwall, Ontario

That's about 700 miles. Best to see if your dealer can direct you to someplace that can do the warranty work. Could you have a larger dealer in New York do it if there is no other near you in Ontario? Another idea is to get in writing that FR will fix your cap next year at the international rally in Goshen. If you've never been to it, you might want to try it.

[rqathome]

There's a dealer in Ottawa which is about 70 miles from Cornwall. I haven't approached them yet, waiting on my dealer to give me some news from Forest River.


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[Lloydg]

70 miles is reasonable and you can stay in-country. Good luck.