Any Happy Forest River Owners Out there?

[Dennis and Julie]

Yup happy with our 2012 Flagstaff 30WFKSS. A few repairs but easily fixed.

[Kayakerfl]

I purchased a 2016 FR 254RLXL, been camping three times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Goes in for service for a few minor issues, but I know now to expect a few minor problems. After all, I'm pulling my second home on wheel over rough and smooth roads, things will happen. I wish they did not, but they do and will. If you want an issue free travel trailer, don't move it, leave it static. I enjoy my Forest River and feel sure the service on my TT will be just as smooth.


Military Retired
Proud American

[Ontario Sam]

Purchased a Coachman TT 5 years ago and have never had anything go wrong. PDI by RV Warehouse was excellent. Travelled over 55,000 KM (30K miles) and only had to replace tires. Have purchased another FR product this time a 5th wheel Crusader and hopefully will have the same experience.

[KatanaPilot]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Buy local! I have no problems having my dealer service my Rv.
There's weekly threads about driving half way across the country to save a couple grand.
Was it worth it? Sounds like it bit you in the butt.

2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

I've been trying to stay happy...
But it's hard.
My fifth went to the dealer in September for a list of repairs from the pdi. I bought the trailer new, a couple weeks before.

I had about a page of repairs to do.

I have been in contact over the winter, and they always said, waiting on parts.

I picked it up today. 3 things were completed, and that's just because no parts were needed for those repairs.

I start the dewinterizing.
Running water into sinks and such.
Go to the outdoor kitchen, run the taps for a bit, then I see water, dripping from the bottom of the trailer.
Start opening hatches and what do I see.

Attachment 107435
Bunk is flooded. I reattach.
Run the slide in.. It pops off.
Reattach. Run the slide out. It pops off. Yay.
I'm camping this weekend, then back to the dealer!

Check out the sweet cuts the factory made!! Attachment 107436

I think my 4 year old could cut better.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

Guess that local dealer service is superb!

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Ontario Sam

Purchased a Coachman TT 5 years ago and have never had anything go wrong. PDI by RV Warehouse was excellent. Travelled over 55,000 KM (30K miles) and only had to replace tires. Have purchased another FR product this time a 5th wheel Crusader and hopefully will have the same experience.

I also hope you do and pre Congrats on the new unit....

[djeirlessr]

DW and have a FW Crusader and love it so far. We have only had it for 11 months so far and camped 4.5 of those so far. Only had minor problems so far. The cushions on the couch tear due to flaw in bed frame. We put a towel at the top of the frame to resolve that problem. We also replaced the so called mattress for the hide-a-bed with a 4.5 inch foam mattress. The mattress has 2.5 firm foam and 2 inch memory foam.

Our kitchen slide wore small hole on the linoleum from the roller close to exit door. The dealer gave us a hard plastic piece for the roller to go over to prevent anymore damage.

We have it to the dealer now because the screwed up the repair of the linoleum and we noticed that the floor seems to be soft near heat register near the kitchen island. We are thinking there may not enough support there where the register is. They a going to check and hopefully resolve.


Duane & Jan
2016 Crusader 295RST FW
2011 Toyota Tundra iForce 5.7 Limited Double Cab 6 speed automatic 4.10 gears

[Ontario Sam]

Originally Posted by djeirlessr

DW and have a FW Crusader and love it so far. We have only had it for 11 months so far and camped 4.5 of those so far. Only had minor problems so far. The cushions on the couch tear due to flaw in bed frame. We put a towel at the top of the frame to resolve that problem. We also replaced the so called mattress for the hide-a-bed with a 4.5 inch foam mattress. The mattress has 2.5 firm foam and 2 inch memory foam.

Our kitchen slide wore small hole on the linoleum from the roller close to exit door. The dealer gave us a hard plastic piece for the roller to go over to prevent anymore damage.

We have it to the dealer now because the screwed up the repair of the linoleum and we noticed that the floor seems to be soft near heat register near the kitchen island. We are thinking there may not enough support there where the register is. They a going to check and hopefully resolve.


Duane & Jan
2016 Crusader 295RST FW
2011 Toyota Tundra iForce 5.7 Limited Double Cab 6 speed automatic 4.10 gears

We have also purchased a Crusader 295 which we pick up in a couple of weeks. On your Toyota do you have the short box (5.5ft). If so what did you get as a hitch. I have a 2016 Sierra with 5'8" box and thinking of getting a Reese Sidewinder and a manual slider hitch.

[spock123]

We have had two Cedar Creek campers that we love, the Creek we have now has to go back to the factory for cap replacement. Other than that they have been great, minor problems. The Wildcat Sterling (POLECAT) that I ordered from the factory must have been built on a Monday by a bunch of drunks that then had a party and got really drunk. The dealer kept it more than me, I took camper back to dealer five times, round trip 640 miles. Never did get camper fixed, finally traded it.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[djeirlessr]

My Toyota has 6.5 box and I have a Curtis hitch with a slider. I have not used the slider but one time I should have. One campground I went I was escorted to my site. The person was helping me back into the site. I was watching him more than the coach. I looked at my camper and I thought it was going to climb into my back seat. It did touch part of my truck and put a little crease in it. I really wouldn't have needed it then if I would have backed in without his help. I did more than a 90 degree turn.

Normally you will not make that kind of turn. When I ordered my hitch I was asked if I needed a slider and I told them I did not. Then I was told the hitch was same price with or without the slider and opted to get the slider. I still think I don't need it. I just need to not rely on the person helping me back into a site.



Duane
2011 Toyota Tundra V8 iForce 5.7 381HP 4.10 gears 6 speed automatic

2016 Crusader 295RST FW

[aceinspp]

No problems here. Great camper. Later RJD

[yetavon]

We are now at over a year, dozen and a half trips or so.
Still happy and would buy again.

[szabla]

I have been looking at the other models and their price and see that The 5er Surveyor, has a lot of the features others have and like 90% of the camper. As of the 10% I am capable of doing my own modifications to make the trailer what I want.
Over all I like the camper for what it is.

[rvb]

Originally Posted by tothebeach

I would really appreciate hearing from some of you that have been relatively pleased with your units. I hope there are some of you out there.

we finally had our first trip in our new FR Wildwood 195bh. just 1 night. may have trip #2 this weekend if weather forecast eases up on the storm prediction...

over-all, "relatively pleased" is a perfect description.

I've found two minor issues (not caught in PDI since it was still winterized and too cold to add water when we purchased).


First was a kinked hot water line going to the shower, completely blocking flow. I just took off the faucet and adjusted things so the line needed less of a bend, heated it to get rid of the kink, and reinstalled/caulked everything. easier/faster than towing to the dealer and worrying about warrantee work.


2nd is the fresh water tank gauge isn't working. I can see the tank is full but gauge always shows empty. I'm going to take a look at it and see if it's something easy to fix. Otherwise, I'll wait till winter to worry about a warrantee claim (can make sure no other issues pop up this summer as well). Forgot to check black/grey gauges after they got some water in them.


other than that I've had to tighten some screws, align some trim. no big deal.

frame/axles seem solid / aligned well. fresh water tank didn't fall out when towed full, appliances worked, no leaks either from outside or plumbing.

-rvb

[jasanto]

Very Happy just purchased a 2017 Flagstaff 27RLWS. Used it a few times already and everything is working flawlessly. Safe Camping👍🏻

[rmac04401]

I love my 26rr Grey wolf toy hauler. Yes I have done a few repairs myself. But I would have on any trailer.

[breezyhillfarm]

Camping right now and reminded how much we enjoy out XLR 27 HFS.


2014 XLR 27 HFS
2006 Ford F450 Dually Diesel
2015 Harley Freewheeler
2004 Harley Road King Custom

[jimmyt11664]

I really don't have a issue with FR or Primetime, I have a HUGE issue with the Dealership network with I could care less attitude and I am not getting paid for my troubles attitude. I am realistic about repairs and the knowledge of how things work and repairs. But being a automotive technician for over 36 years and treating customers the way this industry does, we all would be in Horse and buggy still. Very sad.

[KatanaPilot]

Originally Posted by jimmyt11664

I really don't have a issue with FR or Primetime, I have a HUGE issue with the Dealership network with I could care less attitude and I am not getting paid for my troubles attitude. I am realistic about repairs and the knowledge of how things work and repairs. But being a automotive technician for over 36 years and treating customers the way this industry does, we all would be in Horse and buggy still. Very sad.

If the manufacturers followed the automotive model - which is to say the dealers live and die by the results of satisfaction surveys conducted by the manufacturers - these problems would cease to exist. The "bad" dealers would be out of business and the "good" dealers would thrive.

So I don't think we can pin this all on the dealers. We, as purchasers, are also somewhat to blame as we continue to buy anyway - despite the lousy build quality, the poor engineering, the dealers who won't do warranty service and the lack of support from the manufacturers.

[Stovebolt]

Originally Posted by jimmyt11664

I really don't have a issue with FR or Primetime, I have a HUGE issue with the Dealership network with I could care less attitude and I am not getting paid for my troubles attitude. I am realistic about repairs and the knowledge of how things work and repairs. But being a automotive technician for over 36 years and treating customers the way this industry does, we all would be in Horse and buggy still. Very sad.

I hear what you are saying. I spent 37 years in the building trades and if I treated my customers bad I wouldn't have had a job.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by KatanaPilot

If the manufacturers followed the automotive model - which is to say the dealers live and die by the results of satisfaction surveys conducted by the manufacturers - these problems would cease to exist. The "bad" dealers would be out of business and the "good" dealers would thrive.

So I don't think we can pin this all on the dealers. We, as purchasers, are also somewhat to blame as we continue to buy anyway - despite the lousy build quality, the poor engineering, the dealers who won't do warranty service and the lack of support from the manufacturers.

I'm NOT trying to be argumentative, but it seems that there are indeed many really bad auto dealers! They are so numerous, it's a standing joke.

And there are many good ones. I've found three that are good. And I've found and heard of many good, and many bad, RV dealers. So the models seem pretty similar to me. Maybe I'm missing something.

I agree that the quality for these units could improve. They'd need to slow down, and not build a unit in less than a week. They'd need to learn better how all the part fit together. They need better design engineers. Mostly they need fewer brands and models. GMC eliminated Olds and Pontiac for a reason. They need to partner with better suppliers. And they mostly need to learn to listen to their customers and give them what they want.

But I also believe that they are probably building these things for about half of what I'd charge!!!! If they cut too many corners, and add too many high quality items, and spend more time on labor intensive processes, the costs are going to be above what we'll pay. Then we'll be griping "We can't afford these things anymore".

I have very little experience. But so far, I'm very pleased with the quality that I've seen to this point, for the price I paid.