Exposed end of wall panel inside wheel well

JCONNELL · 08-08-2018, 06:22 PM

Hi all, New to this forum with new purchase of 2019 rockwood mini lite 2306. Was inspecting my new trailer and discovered that the end of the walls are totally exposed along the entire length of the wheel well. I dropped it off to the dealer and looked at some other mini lites and found 3 of the ones I looked at that had the black fender cover at wheel cutout were the same. The mini lites that had the beige fender trim were ok and had the wheel well liner covering the whole area where on mine it ended too soon exposing the wall end. not sure the manufactuer years on the ones I looked at but I know the black fender on the 2306 goes back at least to 2016. Was hoping to get an idea if this is the norm for these ones, If you own a minilite with the black fender trim, I would appreciate getting some feed back what you’ve found on yours. I’m flabergasted that anyone one would let those walls be exposed like that especially in the wheel well, they are setting a person up for some serious delamination down the road. Could only figure out sending one pict, the stickered panel is the inside of the wheel fender you can see the wheel liner ending short exposing the end of wall. Any feedback on what you’ve found would be helpfull with discussing this with the dealer.I told them that putting sealent over it would in my opinion be just a temporary fix, not an area I feel I should be having to check sealant condition every 6 months. thanks

John

JCONNELL · 08-08-2018, 06:49 PM

Sorry , guess I didn’t send any picture. Hopefully this will work,not sure why outside trailer view went upside down.

john

HappyCamper1962 · 08-13-2018, 03:01 PM

Mine are tan but I checked anyway - no gap. Interesting to see the Inspection Sticker right under that area. I guess that would be saying that fender is OK, but hello, what about that wall!?

**Bama Rambler** · 08-13-2018, 05:37 PM

If it were me I'd dry that out and clean it up, and then coat it with automotive bed liner spray. That would last the longest and provide the best protection of anything you could put on it.

JCONNELL · 08-17-2018, 09:23 AM

Well the dealer removed the wheel cut out fender panels and sealed the area with proflex black sealant, same stuff as the wheel liner is sealed with. He told me this should be a recall on these units as the other ones on their lot are the same. I told him I consider this a temporary fix and wanted to know how Forest River responds to this problem. I strongly suggest if you have a rockwood mini lite with the black fender panels (like the picture) to have a look at the wall edge behind it as I can almost guarantee you will find the wall end exposed. Hopefully if they get a bigger response, they will correct this flaw.

John

rockfordroo · 08-17-2018, 11:08 PM

Same issue with my 2503S. Sealed mine with silicone caulk.

JCONNELL · 08-18-2018, 10:30 AM

Rockfordroo, looks like they been doing this for awhile, did you buy new? If used what condition was the area? Can any one tell me whats the differance between the beige fender and skirt trim and the black fender. Are certain ones signature series?

rockfordroo · 08-18-2018, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCONNELL

Rockfordroo, looks like they been doing this for awhile, did you buy new? If used what condition was the area? Can any one tell me whats the differance between the beige fender and skirt trim and the black fender. Are certain ones signature series?

Yeah, I bought new. Also had an opening under my slide I could see light through. Caulked that up, too.

jking46 · 08-19-2018, 05:54 AM

I remember a couple years ago a member named Mr Havercamp brought this to our attention. He had all sorts of problems with a new unit, this being one of them.
I haven't seen him on the forum for a long time so I don't know if he is an active member any more. You could try a search of his posts to see his solution.

JCONNELL · 08-19-2018, 03:06 PM

Thanks, tried searching , no success. Based on Rockfordroo's reply though and what I''ve seen on their lot I would almost guarantee that they are all from 2016 on exposed in that area.

MDH · 08-19-2018, 03:52 PM

Just bought a rockwood 2018 2306ks and after read your post i checked mine and have the same problem

JCONNELL · 08-21-2018, 01:33 AM

Hope you get your dealer to fix it. Walk them to the other mini lite units and check them. I believe these dealers and forest river are aware of this defects on all these units but won't fix the problem and knowingly sell them setting the owner up with future problems in this area . I hope more owners will look at their units soon and get them sealed and protect their investment and that the dealers have the decency to get forest river to correct this exposed area properly . My service department told me they've seen this problem before. My answer to that was what have you done to fix the problem, every one if your units I looked at on your lot has the same issue. Are you going to keep selling them as is to the consumer?
JC

Gerogesin · 08-21-2018, 08:27 AM

Wow. Now I'm not sure if I want to pull the trigger on a 2509s anymore. Might look into apex 208bhs with azdel.

JCONNELL · 08-21-2018, 12:27 PM

Hopefully, this forum can get the word out to those who have these mini lites to seal this area before its too late and to those buying to have the dealer seal the area well, before it leaves the lot!

WNK2304 · 08-28-2018, 09:40 PM

My 2018 2304 is the same. And on the right side the wheel wheel was not attached along the top. Was hanging down 2 inches or so in the middle, could see inside the trailer and heater flex duct sitting on top . Looks as though the wheel well was only attached at the factory with silicone, not a screw one. Repair started tonight, will finish tomorrow night and Thursday afternoon we hit the road.

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