First and last forest river product

[Craigban157]

Originally Posted by Radio

I do. I carry a heavy extension cord and run it out through a slide seal to the pedestal and run the heater with that. The trailer breakers will handle the heater fine. But they won't handle the heater AND the coffee maker!

ah, another good idea, thanks. Two most important things to me in the morning coffee and heat. We are camped in Maine and it's pretty cool here at night and in the morning.

[Flybob]

The extra cord to the pedestal does not always work. If you have a 30A pedestal, there are generally three of those ganged a little further upstream to another breaker box with 100A breakers. If all thee sites on one 100A breaker use the extra cord to the pedestal trick then the 100A breaker will trip and all three sites will be out.

[Craigban157]

Originally Posted by Flybob

The extra cord to the pedestal does not always work. If you have a 30A pedestal, there are generally three of those ganged a little further upstream to another breaker box with 100A breakers. If all thee sites on one 100A breaker use the extra cord to the pedestal trick then the 100A breaker will trip and all three sites will be out.

Thanks for the tip. The pedestal I'm at has a 50a and 30a, I'm using the 30a for the camper, will the heater with a cord work with that with out tripping everyone off? Can I just plug the heater in the camper wall socket on 30a with any problems?

[schrederman]

I use a 1500 watt heater just plugged in inside the trailer, usually. I set the t-stat at about 65 so the heater will come on if needed. I haven't noticed it on even once, and we usually camp in winter... albeit usually in southern Oklahoma or Arkansas. It doesn't get that cold down in these parts... usually... I use the stove and make individual cups of coffee, so no coffee maker to worry about. I also use a $90- Oster toaster oven instead of the oven in the camper... with much better results. I do have to remember to turn off the heater to use that.

[caper]

The pedestal I'm at has a 50a and 30a, I'm using the 30a for the camper, will the heater with a cord work with that with out tripping everyone off? Can I just plug the heater in the camper wall socket on 30a with any problems?

You will not have a problem using the pedestal, it should have 100 amps serving it. If you plug the heater into the camper wall socket you might trip
a breaker in the trailer if you are using an other high amp appliance (coffee maker, toaster or electric kettle.

[caper]

Call FR and see if the local dealer can fix the pump and pay you for any expenses that you have to pay to get it fixed. Also is there a mobile RV repair company in your area that would repair the trailer under warranty?

[Radio]

Originally Posted by Craigban157

Can I just plug the heater in the camper wall socket on 30a with any problems?

Yes, but....

You have to actively manage your power usage. Turn off the heater before making coffee, provided the coffee maker and heater are both on the same breaker inside the trailer.

Not a big deal. And if you trip a breaker, just reset the thing.

[DAF44]

Have you solved the CD playing issue?

If not, I would remove the unit, and check if the factory transport screw was removed by the FR installer. This screw is in the rear of the unit and has a tag attached to it telling the installer to remove it. If it is still there, that's the problem and a very easy fix.

[B and B]

With your oven you now have heat. Set it for 250 and you will be warm. Just crack a window open for a little oxygen. Don't sleep with it on. We camped when I was a kid with out a heater or even a oven. Just a 3 burner cooktop and a flower pot, that was a radiant heater on top of the stove and a propane light like a coleman lantern, never was cold.

[Craigban157]

Originally Posted by DAF44

Have you solved the CD playing issue?

If not, I would remove the unit, and check if the factory transport screw was removed by the FR installer. This screw is in the rear of the unit and has a tag attached to it telling the installer to remove it. If it is still there, that's the problem and a very easy fix.

I have not fixed the CD player yet, thanks for the tip. I will check that next.

[andreatk]

We had some issues with our FR when we bought it as well. We discovered that all dealers are not created equal. Even tho they are a FR dealer, they will put your rig in the back of the line when it comes to doing warranty work. We live 200 miles from where we bought ours, we had our warranty work done at the closest Camping World, it was 100 miles closer than the dealer (who is now out of business). We had issues there, but when we left, we had all of the kinks worked out

[azwiz]

All junk, if they were properly inspected before they left the factory, none would be shipped

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by azwiz

All junk, if they were properly inspected before they left the factory, none would be shipped

How does this help the op?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "9 nights"

[SuicideSaints]

Originally Posted by azwiz

All junk, if they were properly inspected before they left the factory, none would be shipped

This can be said about a lot of manufacturing plants all over the place, QA measures are set to what is acceptable standards, those standards are set by the company, industry standards as well as any ISO requirements and certifications the company seeks.

In the end how does your comment help or enrich this conversation?

[5 hole]

Originally Posted by MOODMAN

I have worked in manufacturing and can tell you that based on the number of complaints on this board about FR products that the quality control (QC) of FR is poor, even by industry standards.

If cars had this many factory issues, they would go out of business. But buyers of RVs tolerate poor quality, and so the manufacturers don't make much effort to improve existing ways of doing things. For example, mounting the ACs on the roof the way it is done on almost all RVs is a very poor design. But it is easy to duct throughout the coach, so they continue to do it that way. But it is noisy and drips water. If customers complained, they would change this design.

Another example....Dometic almost has the entire RV appliance market sewn up. So no matter who you buy your coach from, you will likely have Dometic in it. But in many ways the Dometic line is a poor quality product, intended for only occasional use. People don't use their RVs all the time, so it is many years after purchase before problems show up. Manufacturers know this, and as long as they can last until warranties expire, they will be making money.

Here's another example: Most 5th wheel RVs that aren't self-leveling use a front landing gear and scissor jacks for stability. That design has remained constant through the years. Not because it is a particularly good design, but because there is no incentive for change.

So the companies who do this find that their profit is high, they don't have to have particularly skilled craftsmen on the assembly line, and if problems are noticed, they just have to give you a hard time knowing that the more they delay the better it is on the bottom line.

Now, to be gracious, there are many dedicated customer support people at FR who will try to help you. But that doesn't change the fact that these companies are making huge profits by keeping things the same every year. Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate who see FR as just another money source, and whenever they can cut corners, they will (as a corporate policy). If that were not true, you would not have all these issues about lines not being connected, trash left in tanks, poor workmanship, gaps in compartments, poor fit and finish, etc. Manufacturers know HOW to do better, but they just don't have the incentives.Until that changes, it will be business as usual, and occasionally someone like our friends who started this post will get the short straw. Sometimes we get a unit that was put together right, but sometimes not.

My attitude would be to demand satisfaction until you get it. Its a big hassle, but you are fighting a fight that needs to be fought for RV owners everywhere. If enough complaints are raised, upper management will notice because sales will fall. Once that happens, changes will happen on the factory floor.

It's just business 101...

Moodman, I think you need to view more sites. go to a Dutchman site etc. being anal about research I can tell you that ALL of them have issues, it is how dealt with that is difference and I have found that Jayco and FR ( some divisions) are better than most..

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Has to have a pilot no?
Never seen a oven without a pilot on a 5th wheel or tt.


TURBS

I have to light my oven each time I use it

[SuicideSaints]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

I have to light my oven each time I use it

On a 2015? What is the model number of the oven, I have never seen nor heard of that either.......

[Mountndream]

will check when i get home... my pilot light is in the oven and i light each time i use it... Which is usually in the morning to make tater tots or Biscuits for breakfast

[SuicideSaints]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

will check when i get home... my pilot light is in the oven and i light each time i use it... Which is usually in the morning to make tater tots or Biscuits for breakfast

So it does have a pilot light? Do you light the pilot light each time by choice or does it not stay lit?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

will check when i get home... my pilot light is in the oven and i light each time i use it... Which is usually in the morning to make tater tots or Biscuits for breakfast

Just don't turn oven valve all the way off.
Leave it on pilot then it will stay lit.
Just remember to shut off before breaking camp.
It's on our "checklist"

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "9 nights"