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12-12-2015, 08:05 AM
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#81
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Toy Haulin' Full Time!
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Cocoa, FL
Posts: 25
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Well we are 3 weeks into our VTE, and I am still quite impressed with the quality of the build. Towed it 1250 miles back to Florida for the first trip, no issues. One local trip, over 100 mile, boondocked for 2 nights, no issues. We have lived in it for the 3 weeks, a few minor tweaks, the biggest one the lack of sealant on the outside edge of the shower drawer track, simple fix. Only warranty issue was a defective Samsung TV, once the Texas selling dealer registered the sale with FR, local dealer accepted my.pics of the issue by email, got the replacement reported, approved and ordered same day, and when it arrives in will remove the bad tv, take it to the dealer, swap them and reinstall the new TV. Local dealer is happy to service our unit, they don't sell Vengeance, but Forest River will pay any dealer that carries any FR product for warranty work. They will also pay a non-FR repair facility if there are no dealers within a reasonable distance. We had a Coleman and a Crossroads Rushmore previously, and this is a far better unit!
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12-12-2015, 08:39 AM
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#82
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Englewood FL
Posts: 2,797
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If there is any systematic problem at the plant it is the guy who installs the shower stalls who just frankly seems to forget to put sealant on the shower door track!
I can live with that.
__________________
2015 335DS
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12-12-2015, 09:00 AM
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#83
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Central, Fl.
Posts: 1,330
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Shower door sealant guy / girl has been there at least five years now....lol!
__________________
2018 Forester 3011DS (Purchased 04/26/17)
2010 Flagstaff 26 RLSS (Sold 05/16)
2012 Ford F-150 Ecoboost, Screw, H/D, 3.73
1930 lbs CCC
2014 Jeep Rubicon JK
Going where the weather suits my clothes.
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12-12-2015, 09:07 AM
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#84
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steeljag
Shower door sealant guy / girl has been there at least five years now....lol!
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He's Amish, one of the Yoder brothers. They are not allowed to caulk shower door tracks. If he caulks one he'll be shunned.
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12-12-2015, 09:21 AM
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#85
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp
He's Amish, one of the Yoder brothers. They are not allowed to caulk shower door tracks. If he caulks one he'll be shunned.
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I only wish I could caulk as good as the FR techs did to my trailer in Goshen.....
__________________
Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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12-12-2015, 09:48 AM
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#86
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Phat Phrog Stunt Crew
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Upper Penisula Michigan / Arizona
Posts: 2,767
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Service is the key part of everything. After our last winter trip we brought ours in for a leak in the rear slide. After adjusting the slide the best that they could it was discovered the side walls were cracking. Our dealer sent a report to Wildcat about needed repairs. Within a few weeks Wildcat called us to schedule a repair at the factory in the fall. We used it the rest of the summer and it was picked up at our Michigan house in October.
They replaced both side walls, repainted the front cap, replaced a defected wheel, and a new awning. December 1 they returned it to us in Arizona and it looked like brand new. The dealer (Hilltop RV in Michigan) and Wildcat did an outstanding job correcting the problems with no hassles to get it done. Our dealer told us the other brands they handle are just difficult to cover warranties and Forest River takes care of their issues most of the time. We'll buy again.
__________________
Ed & Ruthann / Toby and Tucker
2014 GMC Sierra Crewcab 2500 Duramax
2014 Wildcat 327ck
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12-12-2015, 06:12 PM
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#87
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 20
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Hire a Pro inspector before you buy any RV, new or used.
Since you are buying a used park model, I'll assume you will be dealing directly with the current owner. I would highly recommend you hire a reputable RV service guy to do a detailed inspection, determine what all the existing defects are and obtain a detailed bid from him to correct all the existing problems. It might cost you a few hundred dollars up front, but you can factor that cost into your offer to the owner and probably get a much better deal than blindly entering into a deal that could cost you dearly in the future as you eventually discover all the defects. Risking a couple of hundred dollars up front could save you thousands in the future if you inadvertently buy a lemon.
In my experience, Forest River products are of average quality and are fairly priced. We have a 40' SALEM destination model and enjoy it immensely. Sure, it had its share of problems as experienced in all new units and I'm glad I got everything in writing that needed to be fixed before agreeing on a price and signing the contract. If you are buying a used unit through a dealer and he is guaranteeing the sale, be sure he has a good reputation, is located close by your RV site and agrees to provide servicing at your site to fix all problems, as identified by your professional mechanic, at no extra cost, as part of the purchase deal - this is very important for park models and destination type trailers that are inherently very inconvenient to return to the dealers shop for every little repair.
Bottom line, hire a professional RV mechanic to do a thorough inspection before you make an offer on any RV or park model- it could cost you a few hundred dollars if the deal falls through, but could save you thousands if you have major problens after you buy it. And it can save a whole lot of dickering with the seller later if everything is in writing before you make your best and final offer!
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12-12-2015, 09:08 PM
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#88
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Palm City, FL
Posts: 298
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Forest River Quality
Not that my Georgetown does not have its quality problems, but generally speaking, I think it's about as good as any considering its reasonable price. My only disappointments so fare have been with the quality of its cameras, hydraulic lines to the leveling jacks and especially with the quality of the vinyl on its seats. I have replaced all those and so far so good. It's body and chassis seem sound and its components are manufactured by the same companies as virtually all other RVs including the Winnis.
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12-13-2015, 12:25 PM
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#89
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,865
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexha
Since you are buying a used park model, I'll assume you will be dealing directly with the current owner. I would highly recommend you hire a reputable RV service guy to do a detailed inspection, determine what all the existing defects are and obtain a detailed bid from him to correct all the existing problems. It might cost you a few hundred dollars up front, but you can factor that cost into your offer to the owner and probably get a much better deal than blindly entering into a deal that could cost you dearly in the future as you eventually discover all the defects. Risking a couple of hundred dollars up front could save you thousands in the future if you inadvertently buy a lemon.
In my experience, Forest River products are of average quality and are fairly priced. We have a 40' SALEM destination model and enjoy it immensely. Sure, it had its share of problems as experienced in all new units and I'm glad I got everything in writing that needed to be fixed before agreeing on a price and signing the contract. If you are buying a used unit through a dealer and he is guaranteeing the sale, be sure he has a good reputation, is located close by your RV site and agrees to provide servicing at your site to fix all problems, as identified by your professional mechanic, at no extra cost, as part of the purchase deal - this is very important for park models and destination type trailers that are inherently very inconvenient to return to the dealers shop for every little repair.
Bottom line, hire a professional RV mechanic to do a thorough inspection before you make an offer on any RV or park model- it could cost you a few hundred dollars if the deal falls through, but could save you thousands if you have major problens after you buy it. And it can save a whole lot of dickering with the seller later if everything is in writing before you make your best and final offer!
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Great idea if you have such a service in your area....... But knowledge is everything I can not rely on someone else so I have to know what issues to look for............. Knowledge is everything
__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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12-13-2015, 02:54 PM
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#90
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 40
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Quality Issues are the responsibility of the MFG
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuicideSaints
Do a quick search and you will have enough to read for weeks about people in the same situation.
The gist is the happy people are out there enjoying their units and the unhappy ones are on here complaining (that is why you see a bunch of negative posts on forums in general).
Basically the industry as a whole suffers from QC issues. Sometimes it is the manufacturers fault and sometimes not. These units are assembled using other manufactured parts so sometimes those parts are the problem which have no bearing on the FR.
Just do a solid PDI and get everything addressed before taking delivery and then use the warranty to fix any problems in the first/second year.
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I have significant issues with an item mentioned in the above comment. He states that "quality issues are sometimes the Mfg. fault and sometimes not". Whether the parts are assembled by the Mfg. or not, they (the Mfg.) decided not to build the component, and to buy it instead. They do their own "due diligence" and we have (Or are forced to trust their judgement) have relied on their judgement when we buy their product. To absolve them from any responsibility when a purchased part or component has a major failure or continues to have continuous problems, is a real travesty in responsibility to the final and ultimate consumer/customer.
Quality is a HUGE issue in the RV industry and these handy man types and DIY. types that take this in stride and have the ability to make the repairs and totally enjoy these tasks do a real dis-service to those of us who pay $50K+ and expect our units to be reliable and perform after the first few warranty issues and PDI. issues are resolved. Quality is the manufacturers and they need to focus big time and making major improvements!
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12-13-2015, 03:27 PM
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#91
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,865
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Out of the thousands ands thousands of units sold I would be curious to know the number the have numerous issues and those that have few to no issues......
We have had our Puma nearly four years now and we fall in the few to no issues............. & it was under 30K........ We always hear the bad but rarely the good.........
__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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12-13-2015, 03:43 PM
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#92
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 40
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Again. You miss the point! That is the way it should be. That is what we should expect! Your philosophy is best shown with the quality issues Ford, GMC, and Chrysler had. Look where they are now! Course the reward was the Japaneze, Chinese, Germans and Korean cars we have now It is important to place a stronger emphasis on quality and customer service. Remember, we used to replace our cars at 3 years or 70 or 80,000 miles. Quality improvements have changed that big time! I had 30+ items on a $65K unit and several went 2 and 3 warranty return visits. Several were major mfg. Defects. We need quality improvement big time!!!
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12-13-2015, 08:51 PM
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#93
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,865
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Sorry no point missed here, I feel the quality of Ford, Chevy, Dodge is currently poor at best, they are right there with the RV companies.................
never replaced a car at 3 years or 80K ...... usually 10 years or 200K yes. You should see the quality issues we have at work with all models.......... The Jeep stays at the dealership for something its got 40K, The Chevys have had numerous issues including gas leaks at 80K or less........ if the big three have had improvement can't see it here..... then look at the recalls the big two have had....... My RV has had less issues.........
:Campfire:
__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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12-13-2015, 09:49 PM
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#94
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Simons Island, GA
Posts: 1,234
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The real problems I have had [am having] with my FR are safety problems and that is a huge deal to us. I don't mind leaky shower [mine doesn't] squeaky doors or drawer, knobs falling off or any other nitpick items. My problem is with intentionally under rated tires and axles for the POSTED maximum allowable CC. Our unit came with LRD tires that would not carry the posted max weight. Tires that scrape the wheel wells when you hit a bump. Axles that rotate only 15* when they should be using the 24* units only because of price and poor engineering.
Wiring harnesses, propane lines, water lines run right in front of the tire where a blowout will take out all of them. It's happened to me twice. Not once, twice. I have reported all the problems to the NHTSA, but haven't seen any changes. Just wanted to establish a tracible constructive reporting due diligence in case someone in my family is injured due to any of these problems.
Oh yes, all the TowMax tires that came on it in 2013 have exploded, including the spare. That's 5 tires in 2,000 miles.
__________________
Aviator Wright Flyer #1919
Army Pathfinder Vietnam, 3 tours
DAV, MOPH, VFW, NRA, 1stCav. ABN
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12-14-2015, 03:47 AM
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#95
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 146
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A constant problem we have is led's burning out.
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12-14-2015, 04:13 AM
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#96
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Toy Haulin' Full Time!
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Cocoa, FL
Posts: 25
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LEDs burning out? Sounds like a serious 12v power issue. That should not be happening.
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12-14-2015, 07:20 AM
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#97
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 146
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I see would think so, jus hope its not.
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12-14-2015, 07:23 AM
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#98
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Toy Haulin' Full Time!
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Cocoa, FL
Posts: 25
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Has anyone else had this problem? LEDs should last thousands of hours, and unlike filament based lighting, is not affected by the vibration caused going down the road. The only LEDs I have had burn out are the ones in the awning.
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12-14-2015, 07:40 AM
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#99
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stormy2000
A constant problem we have is led's burning out.
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Make / Model / Year????
Thanks
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12-14-2015, 07:45 AM
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#100
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oshawa, ON
Posts: 983
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FWIW, I've not had a problem with my unit, it has been good. Would I buy a FR again - absolutely (based on my experience).
Trailers are no different that vehicles or appliances; when you sell millions of them there are bound to be some issues out there.
__________________
Dave, Southern,ON
2017 GMC SLT HD All Terrain Crew Cab (6' 6" Box) 2012 Roo 23SS
E2 Trunnion WDH (1,000 lb / 10,000 lb)
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