2013 wrs30 water damage

[ratracer101]

Has anyone had trouble with water getting into the outside fridge vents? seems like there is no seal at the bottom of mine. Water just walked in from the 3 lower channels and into the osb wood. My whole wall is rotted. I attached some photos. If they show up someone please let me know if yours has a seal between the vent and the wall. I have contacted James Norman at forest river. Hope they can help. Unit is only 1 year 11 months old!

[Scott Colegrove]

If you have talked with James Norman and or Chaz Hood they are outstanding. Mine is not fixed yet, I am waiting my turn. Seems to be an issue with the refridgerator vents. I also have noted that all the sealant around windows etc needs to be redone fairly soon after purchase.

[ratracer101]

Thanks for the reply Scott! please give me the details on your problem! Same as mine? It's really a shame as the factory didn't seal it with a $5.00 can of seal. was your just out of warrantee as mine? I'm sure my camper started to leak the first rain out of the factory! I actually bought from the dealer a $600.00 top of the line cover. Too bad I guess it was just a overpriced uv cover... My wife and I are really upset as we only took 3 trips with this unit. We really were told these units were built like tanks... very upset. everywhere we go people really love the camper.. heck we still love it. just hope that forest river will do what is right. put in a few happy time pics

[ratracer101]

hopefully they can get it right.. otherwise its a very nice camper.

[Scott Colegrove]

just found the damage on mine a couple of weeks ago. Mine is a 2014. I talked with James and he was extremely nice and helpful. I have talked with Chaz Hood several times. I had questons on the suspension and he got me some info and frame people to talk to. I would say on mine it was just poor sealing. Where the grills fit on mine the holes were cut pretty large and not all of the screws were holding. I am waiting to see the fix and I am sure I will find some way for this not to happen again. I have had 3 work and plays and they have been great. This on just has a problem and once we get that taken care of things should be fine. I do know that I am very mindful of all the seals on mine and in the future I will check them even more often. I love the trailer, just had a hickup

[ratracer101]

I hope they can fix mine. I have been in touch with James and we will see where it goes. I have looked at other campers and they have a built up seal at the base so water can't walk in.. This would seem to have been overlooked at the factory. I did notice when I took my unit home the lower vent panel was bowed out. Guessing the water damage already happened at the lot and tweaked the vent frame. I did call the dealer then about that. They sent a whole new vent assembly and told me to just swap out the door. It did the same. I should have looked further, but brushed it off as just a cosmetic problem. Being I cover my unit after each trip it was hard to see anything wrong. I would once a week go inside and check all the ceilings and corners. bone dry inside. once I uncovered it this last time I noticed a lot of staining from the lower vent cover. and how the gel coat on the outer wall is very waved at that area. That's when I really started looking further. Is yours as bad as mine? I'm sure without any seal even if it's level a bit of wind and rain and there is no stopping it soaking in. I'll let you know if I hear anything. One last thing where are they going to repair yours?

[1l243]

My 30WR is a 2011. Mine has a black sealant like silicon that prevents water from getting to the wood.

When I first got my unit I removed the lower fridge grill and found that the drain from the fridge was inside the compartment and not venting outside the grill like it should. If I had not discovered it all that water would have been inside the compartment. Glad I caught it..

[Crockett]

this yet another tragic occurance that need not be. before these plastic vents were aluminum frames and doors that, though not perfect, at least had a lip on the inside edge to prevent water intrusion. fast forward to the present and both norcold and dometic make similar frames with no interior lip to prevent water on the perimeter from entering the compartment. now a manufacturer must seal area somehow to prevent water damage. I just build a big ledge to divert water back out. its a bad design by both dometic and norcold IMO and virtually every coach made for years is suseptible...

[ratracer101]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. It's beyond me how this could be overlooked. without any seal or built up lip to deter the water back out of the 3 small channels at the bottom of the vent cover, It's just a recipe for disaster.

[ratracer101]

Now that the damage is found, I'm at the mercy of the ethics of forest river. I'm almost at a loss as the extent of the damage on a unit I refinanced my farm to get. Put it on a level ground used it only 3 times and always covered it. I would once a week go inside and look for anything unusual.

[ratracer101]

I really tried to take the very best care of it. I am certain it started leaking the first rain out of the factory. The lower vent was bowed out from day one. The dealer got me a new door and frame and told me just swap out doors. the new one did the same. the whole wall is now really warped.

[ratracer101]

Well we went away last week for a little get away. I really wasn't very enthusiastic about even going, with the problem. I did load up and while checking everything I noticed the left rear window was only partial sealed from the factory! (see pictures) Well we did go camping to burning rock WV. The tow there was good. It was a easy setup. The weather was around 53 so we put the heat on. We hit the trails and got back at dark. We showered and then I disconnected the water line as it was going to get to 29 overnight. We went to sleep and the trailer was set at 70, when I woke up the trailer was cold and the heat was still at 70 no blower or anything I kicked it up to 75 nothing. I shut the heat off and reset it after a few minutes. It fired up and worked perfect for next 2 nights? Every morning I did notice extreme sweating from the walls. mostly in the garage area. I also see what looks like mold growing on the wheel well seam. I know for a fact the rotted area behind the vents is loaded with mold. I still have no definite answer from forest river if they are going to stand behind this and make it right.

[1l243]

You sure are having some aggravating infuriating problems. I guess my rig was built on a Wednesday and yours was built on a Friday before a big weekend. I have only had one problem with mine a leak in the shower that was fixed under warranty. Part of the repair includied replacing the bathroom vanity as well, the water wicked up from the leaking shower and damaged it. They did a good job, could even tell they replaced it..

Hope Forest River comes through for you there reputation is at stake...

[ratracer101]

I would hate to really express how I feel about the way this has left the factory! This is not the only issue I have with this unit! Our first trip we found our power cord was faulty and we would loose 110 power for no reason. I checked the terminals and added electric grease. Wiggled it and would work for a few hours then had to fool with it again. Also when we left we had the fridge on propane and it was working. When we set up no power to the fridge! Thank God I had a cooler. The back ramp door sits crooked and pulls the lens off ever time I lower the door. I did notice this last camping trip I can see daylight from inside with the door closed! And here's the biggest oh crap... I was cooking with the center burner and all of a sudden voosh! Huge flare up! Wife and daughter went running and screaming out of the camper. I got the fire out. put my face hair out. Upon figuring out what the heck just happened I noticed the burner was not seated properly and the black plastic center grommet melted, yes let gas leak all to the bottom till it ignited! I found the thermal fuse and sensor was bad with the fridge, took the burner with me and power cord to my dealer along with the broken lens. The service manager Josh at 007 r.v. outlet was at a loss of words at all this at once. He gladly gave me all the parts but I had to leave the power cord. About a week later he called to tell me they have to repair the cord because it would take 3 months to get a new one from forest river. Before I left I did a quick walk around the camper and found the lower fridge vent bowed out and no battery power in the camper. I opened the battery box to find a old autozone battery in it! I called and he said it's should be a new interstate battery! So I took the battery and a picture of the vent cover. They fixed the cord gave me a new battery and ordered the vent cover. About a month later I got a new lens and vent cover. The new cover fits bowed out just like the old one. I guess from the water damage I just picked up on. Well with the vent bowed out we cant use the fridge while moving as the propane blows out. My wife and I are not going to use the camper till we can get this water leak/wood rotting fixed as we are not going to take a risk on health problems. It's been 3 weeks and I have no definite answer from forest river. I guess I got a $30,000.00 lemon.

[vinmaker]

There was someone else on here who had some water problems also. They were going to contact the insurance company and put in a claim. That is something you could consider also.

[ratracer101]

I believe that would only work in storm damage. Or something like that. This is just misbuilt problem

[1l243]

I would be calling Forset River Everyday til I got a answer. Have you talked to a human? What's his name?

I think the insurance thing is a good Idea as well. I don't think it has to be a act of god just water damage. If insurance company takes the claim you can have it fixed wherever you want..

[ratracer101]

I have talked to James Norman and have been back with him with e-mails. the last 2 emails were (Yes please we will get this handled for you thank you) a week later (today) it's (I need to get this situation talked over with my general manager and get this taken care of.....) sounds like all lip service step up and do what's right in my book. I will call my insurance company tomorrow and also send another e-mail to James to see what kind of time frame for a definitive answer. better yet I will call. bottom line They know they are at fault and are dragging there feet to let time slip by.

[1l243]

When talking to Forest River be firm but fair and do not mention the "L" word..... I end my conversations with "and when will I be hearing back from you'? If I don't I call....

[ratracer101]

Yes absolutely. . I am going to call and demand a date for an answer. I do believe if I have to go a legal route I have enough legitimate problems to clean there clocks. I would rather though. Just be happy to see this fixed so I can sell it with good ethics. ..