FYI Columbus 5th wheel owners

[RhoZeta]

Stopped at my dealer today to check on the status of my HG 5th wheel warranty work and while waiting to talk to my service rep I was chatting with a guy who just brought in his columbus 5th with a letter from Forest River about bringing in to dealer to get brakes checked if experiencing reduced braking. Apparently they are having a grease seal issue problem? He was dropping it off for an inspection of the brakes. Sorry if this has already been posted, I looked but did not find, seemed important.

[William Agnew]

I, too, have a 2014 Columbus 295RL 5th wheel. When I had the wheel bearings checked the next day after picking up the camper, it was discovered that one of the wheel bearing seal caps was missing and spun grease all through the brake area and contaminated the brake shoes and drum. That was on June 6, 2014, and to this date, Palamino has not reimbursed me for the repair. Quality control ??? It is non-existent, in my opinion.

Bill

[goduc]

I would think it's the axle supplier that's at fault. Those axles made by either Lippert or Dexter are already assembled and shipped to who ever is building the frame. FR or Palomino has nothing to do with the axle assembly as it's already installed on the frame prior to building the unit.
Looking on the Columbus internet brochure they don't list who makes the axels.

[William Agnew]

Lippert is the manufacturer of the axles. and your suggestion makes sense. I will try to contact them...Does anyone have a phone number or e-mail for Lippert?
Thanks, Bill

[goduc]

Axles & Suspension Selections

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by goduc

I would think it's the axle supplier that's at fault. Those axles made by either Lippert or Dexter are already assembled and shipped to who ever is building the frame. FR or Palomino has nothing to do with the axle assembly as it's already installed on the frame prior to building the unit.
Looking on the Columbus internet brochure they don't list who makes the axels.

Correct these axles are supplied with the frame from lippert.

So quality control bashing should be at the forefront of lippert not forest river.

Turbs

[William Agnew]

I found the phone number and e-mail address for Lippert Components, Inc. Warranty Division. Phone: 574-535-1125, and e-mail is warranty@lci1.com

[VenturaBill]

This is an ongoing problem. Ours is a 2013 Columbus 295RL and we had bad seals on our Lippert Axles last year. Itv was a challenge for us to get reimbursed but we finally did. Lippert and Forest River are botha ware of the problem but Lippert is not very responsive, and they should be.
There's are complaints on file with the NHTSA about this issue and you should report this to the NHTSA as soon as possible so they document it and hopefully force a recall.
You can file a complaint here: Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

I'm also attaching a 3-page PDF of the letter that we received from Lippert one year after we had to replace our seals and brakes.

[goduc]

Forest River is dragging their feet too.

Date Investigation Opened: SEP 30, 2014
Date Investigation Closed: Open
NHTSA Action Number: AQ14002
Component(s): UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A review of NHTSA's early warning reports (EWR) database shows that Forest River has not provided NHTSA with any information regarding claims related to deaths and injuries involving the company's vehicles or any information regarding property damage claims, warranty claims, consumer complaints and field reports as required by regulation. It also appears from a search of NHTSA's databases that Forest River may have failed to submit to NHTSA quarterly reports on the company's progress completing safety recalls. Forest River may have also failed to comply with other recall-related requirements, including by failing to include required language in its recall notices to dealers and by failing to submit other recall-related communications to NHTSA. NHTSA is also investigating other potential violations of the Safety Act.

[MacDR]

Found out today that my 2014 Columbus 340RK has grease on its brake pads .. We had gotten the service bulletin in the mail from Lippert and asked our dealer to check while winterizing.. New assembly's will be arriving in a couple of weeks... Glad Lippert sent out the service bulletin..


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[bobfa]

I never received any service bulletin for my 2014 Columbus 340rk. The dealer called and they found all 4 brake hub assemblies contaminated with grease. The rig sat at the factory last winter for other repair waranty work, even got new tires slapped on it, but the apparently there was no concern that my axle assemblies were one of the bad lots.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by goduc

Forest River is dragging their feet too.

Date Investigation Opened: SEP 30, 2014
Date Investigation Closed: Open
NHTSA Action Number: AQ14002
Component(s): UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A review of NHTSA's early warning reports (EWR) database shows that Forest River has not provided NHTSA with any information regarding claims related to deaths and injuries involving the company's vehicles or any information regarding property damage claims, warranty claims, consumer complaints and field reports as required by regulation. It also appears from a search of NHTSA's databases that Forest River may have failed to submit to NHTSA quarterly reports on the company's progress completing safety recalls. Forest River may have also failed to comply with other recall-related requirements, including by failing to include required language in its recall notices to dealers and by failing to submit other recall-related communications to NHTSA. NHTSA is also investigating other potential violations of the Safety Act.

Maybe FR has nothing to submit being what you have said, The people that should report that would be Lippert.

[racerx]

This has been going on for a long time now. I thought Lippert got this corrected. Apparently not. If they replace the seals, hopefully they replaced them with an upgraded bearing and seal. Replacing with the original parts will not prevent this from happening again.

[MacDR]

I'm still waiting for my dealer to finish the repairs.. I'm going to call on Monday to make sure the new seals are correct.. Can't believe your unit sat at factory and they didn't check when they replaced the tires.


Columbus 340RK
43 days Camping 2014 'Winterized'

[Paul M]

For the record: While was on the factory tour this past Aug, They DO assemble the axles to the frames at the Columbus factory. This still does not negate Lippert from fault. I have heard that Lippert was trying to blame the transport drivers, claiming they were adding grease prior to going on a delivery. I changed all four of my seals. The originals are single lip, and the grease had the consistency of hot chocolate. Now has double lip with quality grease.
Just my observations.

[Swift 2]

Do you know the part number on the double lip seals. I'm getting ready to do mine and would like to use those instead of the originals.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Swift 2

Do you know the part number on the double lip seals. I'm getting ready to do mine and would like to use those instead of the originals.

Here is what I used. Obtained from a local truck / trailer fab shop.

[Slympicins]

Are the newer models retrofitted with better seals now? We are looking at a new 320rs and don't even want to think about bad brakes to start us off.

[jonwisconsin]

You just need to ask the dealer to check them before signing the papers. I bought mine a year ago, my dealer does good job. They contacted FR and got them replaced for mine at no charge. I think the dealer makes a huge difference. MHO

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Paul M

For the record: While was on the factory tour this past Aug, They DO assemble the axles to the frames at the Columbus factory. This still does not negate Lippert from fault. I have heard that Lippert was trying to blame the transport drivers, claiming they were adding grease prior to going on a delivery. I changed all four of my seals. The originals are single lip, and the grease had the consistency of hot chocolate. Now has double lip with quality grease.
Just my observations.

Don't the hubs and axles come put together already from Lippert. FR might install the axle but they do not install the breaks and bearings and seals.