Stress Crack?

[FarmerTex]

Appreciate your thoughts on this!

This photo is of a crack that has developed recently on the bottom right side of my bedroom slide out. (The photo is actually upside down). Is this from stress?

Still under warranty, just need to find time to take it in to see what the dealer says about it. I suspect they will fill it some sort of body filler and call it good unless I know something different.

2022 Forester 2551

[Trobec]

I have the same crack on my 2015 sandstorm. Let us know what they say about it. I drilled a little hole at the end of the crack then put some silicone over it and put a piece of eternabond over that.

[FarmerTex]

Well, I finally took the unit into the dealer to have the crack looked at. It had grown another inch.

This is what I was told: "We have seen this crack in the same area on several class C motorhomes over the past few years. It is caused by the way that particular slide out mechanism puts stress on the wall in that corner. Adding structure to the wall would take major surgery so the way that we repair this is to grind out the crack and add layers of fiberglass mat and resin to strengthen the sidewall material."

Furthermore, I am told there is a chance the crack will return. Estimated cost to repair is about $2,800.

I am pi$$ed. Any suggestions on who to contact at FR? This is a 2022 Forester, not some 20 year old MH.

[tomkatb]

Clueless, however. I sort of wonder.

In the process of touching up our fifth wheel. Or mechanic adjusted all slides. The factory had adjusted the too tightly causing strain in this type of areas. All three slides now stick out a half or 3/4” farther. Might be something.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by tomkatb

Clueless, however. I sort of wonder.

In the process of touching up our fifth wheel. Or mechanic adjusted all slides. The factory had adjusted the too tightly causing strain in this type of areas. All three slides now stick out a half or 3/4” farther. Might be something.

Well...if you look at a slide from the side, and consider it in the view of Physics 101, where they teach "Mechanics," the cantilevered mass of the slideout hanging out wants to rotate downward along an axis corresponding to the lower edge of the frame. That creates a horizontal force inward on the lower edge, and possibly an outward force on the upper frame edge. If you looked carefully at the bevel on the crack radiating from the lower right corner, you would see that the part under the slideout was pushed IN, not out. And this suggests that it is due to insufficient bracing in the framing behind the sheathing.

An alternative explanation is that the slideout comes out too far, and the inside trim has forced the wall out. This would be detectable by the opposite bevel on the crack.

Wondering if the OP would press on each side of the crack separately and let us know whether the part under the slide was forced in or out.

[NXR]

If it's still under warranty contact your FR rep. Even if it's not. Include your VIN and pics.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/contact-us/Forester-LE

Those cracks are almost always caused because the factory cut a square corner in the wall instead of making it a slightly rounded corner to spread the stresses out. I recall one post by an FR person who said they caught an employee cutting the corners square instead of using a router.

Winnebago had a big issue for the same reason.

If they're doing a repair without correcting the corners it probably will come back.

There's a reason why really high-end DPs like a Newell that have flush slides have rounded corners and it's not just because it looks better.

Ray

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the Tech and Repair section to the Forester and Sunseeker sub-forum for better help from other Forester owners and possible factory support.

[FarmerTex]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Wondering if the OP would press on each side of the crack separately and let us know whether the part under the slide was forced in or out.

Larry-NC: The unit is at the dealer which is about 150 miles away. Wish I could test it like you mentioned.

I've got a message into the service rep to ask this question. Hopefully, he'll let me know. I do appreciate your "teaching point". I didn't listen well in class to realize and/or think about your points. Besides, that was 60 years ago and wouldn't remember now anyway!

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by FarmerTex

I've got a message into the service rep to ask this question. Hopefully, he'll let me know. I do appreciate your "teaching point". I didn't listen well in class to realize and/or think about your points. Besides, that was 60 years ago and wouldn't remember now anyway!

Different professions. We're probably about the same age (78 for me), but I spent 45 years doing engineering--thinking about how things work--while you were making green life sprout from the earth--also an honorable profession.

[FarmerTex]

After we complain about something, it's only proper to come back and tell the rest of the story -- particularly when someone does something good. After talking with several folks at FR, they are covering the repair of the stress crack under "goodwill" warranty.

I did have photos of the crack in it's initial stages that I shared with them that were within the time frame of the manufacture's warranty, but not sure they realized that as I didn't make it an issue. Regardless, they did step up.

One lesson I learned is that I should have been more alarmed when I first saw the crack. I only became concerned as it began to grow. To my way of thinking, the beating that RV's take on the road is that we're lucky they hold together the way they do. Gosh, we have cracks that develop in our home's sheetrock over time, only makes sense for RV's to do the same!! I'll certainly know better if there is a next time!!!

[NXR]

Great news and thanks for the update.

Ray

[JWallet]

I’m seeing some of that on our 2020 Sunseeker 2010 DS bedroom slide on the outside of the unit. Troubling but so far just monitoring it. It’s been in winter storage since November so in April we will see if it progresses.