FR quality

[Mizterusa]

Does anyone know if FR has a QC inspection or dept within? Thought I'd share a scary pic of sawdust and wood shavings around the furnace!!!! After finally being able to go thru the camper with a fine tooth comb I was shocked to find all the staples used to hold just about everything together and 2" screws or lag bolts expected to hold anything together going thru 1/8" flimsy wood panel!!!! I would suggest to everyone to pull off every available panel and vacuum out all the crap production leaves within. I probably took off 2,3lbs of leftovers to lighten up the trailer a bit. If I woulda been able to do that prior to purchase we woulda looked elsewhere. Makes me wonder about other more critical components like gas, electric and the sketchy looking suspension.

[lswartz]

Perhaps you can address these concerns to the person that did your PDI. My TT wasn’t hand crafted either but the fixes were pretty easy. I totally agree that it is unsettling when you find these issues. I hope your TT or MH gets you out camping soon.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Mizterusa

If I woulda been able to do that prior to purchase we woulda looked elsewhere.

Unfortunately. it seems to be in other brands/models as well.


Just a few searches from other brands forums, where you can see it's common.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f546...ml#post2258890

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...tml#post652551


Thor Forums - View Single Post - Jerry's Hurricane mods


New member - Winnebago Owners Online Community


Saw dust mystery - Dutchmen Owners


Wood Chips - CrossRoads RV Family Forum

[GL1800Rider]

Just like wmtire stated, it's that way with almost every brand. I follow a facebook group for Tiffin which is supposed to be one of the better Class A motorhomes. Seems there quality has suffered over the last 2 or 3 model years and there are horror stories of botched up paint jobs, units going back to the factory for repairs and rigs being sold that were so bad they should have never left the factory.

I read a report a few months back the the turnover rate for employees is nearly 100% in a year at some plants. That and the lack of work ethic with the younger generation, inferior parts provided to the manufacturer and a rush to push the units out the door are all contributing to the problem.

[kennyairport]

it is amazing to me that the work ethic is a problem, my grandfather said the same thing in the late 60s' and early 70s' about my generation.

[Mizterusa]

Yes it is very unsettling to see stuff like that anywhere near a major heat source. The dealership we got this from has had nothing but negative reviews about thier service dept but the things being found are of no fault of the dealership and I'd hope they'd have the same concerns if they took the time to investigate instead of rush, rush a buyer so's to make the next sale. Our dealership took 2 weeks to "prep" our TT and fix all the issues and addons we asked for and the day of the walk through and orientation it looked like they jus washed it and made the tires all shiny!!!! The mechanic rushed to get things done while we finished paperwork and jus as we were about to leave I noticed none of the bolts on my EQ Hitch were tight!?!?!!!! I'd like to say never again from them but we have limited other options and they probably all the same anyways.... ��

[HONDAMAN174]

Don’t forget to get all the sawdust out of your roof ac vents!

[NXR]

Unscrew the access panel at the bottom of the shower and clean out the trash there.

Lift the panel under the mattress and gasp.

Ray

[TheWolfPaq82]

In todays market it's not "Quality"....it's "QUANTITY."

[okie dokie]

Safety issue such as your furnace can be reported. Takes less than 5 minutes. Perhaps if more people would report Saftey Issues on new purchases the industry may be scrutinized closer.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

[pgandw]

Originally Posted by Mizterusa

Yes it is very unsettling to see stuff like that anywhere near a major heat source. The dealership we got this from has had nothing but negative reviews about thier service dept but the things being found are of no fault of the dealership and I'd hope they'd have the same concerns if they took the time to investigate instead of rush, rush a buyer so's to make the next sale. Our dealership took 2 weeks to "prep" our TT and fix all the issues and addons we asked for and the day of the walk through and orientation it looked like they jus washed it and made the tires all shiny!!!! The mechanic rushed to get things done while we finished paperwork and jus as we were about to leave I noticed none of the bolts on my EQ Hitch were tight!?!?!!!! I'd like to say never again from them but we have limited other options and they probably all the same anyways.... ��

I have to ask why you bought from that dealership if the service dept had such negative reviews? The things found are as much the fault of the dealer as FR. FR pays the dealer a prep fee. The dealer could have rejected the RV as it came from FR. The dealer always has final responsibility for the delivered RV. And you take over that responsibility when you accept it.

It really pays to find a good dealer and pay him a reasonable profit to serve you.

This isn't meant to be as harsh as it sounds but the time for corrective action is before delivery.

Just my thoughts
Fred W

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by Mizterusa

Does anyone know if FR has a QC inspection or dept within? Thought I'd share a scary pic of sawdust and wood shavings around the furnace!!!! After finally being able to go thru the camper with a fine tooth comb I was shocked to find all the staples used to hold just about everything together and 2" screws or lag bolts expected to hold anything together going thru 1/8" flimsy wood panel!!!! I would suggest to everyone to pull off every available panel and vacuum out all the crap production leaves within. I probably took off 2,3lbs of leftovers to lighten up the trailer a bit. If I woulda been able to do that prior to purchase we woulda looked elsewhere. Makes me wonder about other more critical components like gas, electric and the sketchy looking suspension.

This is an industry wide issue not just Forest River.

[NMWildcat]

Trash, sawdust, and fasteners laying in a dead space doesn't bother me, but I guess I just expect it.
When we get a new RV, I explore every nook and cranny to learn where everything is and fix things I don't like. So I just clean all that stuff up at the same time.
Have you ever opened up walls, dead spaces, crawl spaces in your stick house for remodeling or equipment installation?
You will find the same thing. I've found tools, drink cans, cigarette butts, food wrappers, boxes of new fasteners, lumber waste, sawdust, and on and on.
It's actually kind of interesting to see what you will find. I found one of the first Coors beer cans in my brother's house walls. It's sitting in my garage now
As far as RV manufacturer's QC lacking, absolutely! But it's always been that way and doesn't seem to have changed much. So that's why I go through it myself and fix and adjust. Should I have to? No. But that's just the way it is and I don't see it changing with the current demand for RVs.

[chriscowles]

QA may be inversely proportional to consumer demands for a trailer with all possible accessories at the cheapest possible price.

[Mizterusa]

Originally Posted by okie dokie

Safety issue such as your furnace can be reported. Takes less than 5 minutes. Perhaps if more people would report Saftey Issues on new purchases the industry may be scrutinized closer.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

I think it has to be a motored vehicle, VIN number isn't working.

[Mizterusa]

Originally Posted by pgandw

I have to ask why you bought from that dealership if the service dept had such negative reviews? The things found are as much the fault of the dealer as FR. FR pays the dealer a prep fee. The dealer could have rejected the RV as it came from FR. The dealer always has final responsibility for the delivered RV. And you take over that responsibility when you accept it.

It really pays to find a good dealer and pay him a reasonable profit to serve you.

This isn't meant to be as harsh as it sounds but the time for corrective action is before delivery.

Just my thoughts
Fred W

Well unfortunately I live in an area where RV dealerships aren't at every corner like Walgreens. The next closest is Camping world and well.....nuf said there. Ultimately it comes down to FR since they control the "warranty" part too and after picking up my camper yesterday for things the Dealer were suppose to fix prior to signing official papers. I would hope FR would like to know about thier bandaid fix to my cracked gray tank plumbing!!

[okie dokie]

Originally Posted by Mizterusa

I think it has to be a motored vehicle, VIN number isn't working.

Choose Non Vehicle.
While your there check out the listing of the recalls, investigations, complaints and manufacturers response. The information is found on the search your vehicle safety tab.

[Blank]

We do a thorough clean up when we get a new one home, and then also re-do it after the first 2 or 3 drives. Seems stuff shakes out of every nook and cranny then is fine after that.

[BehindBars]

Wood waste, trim pieces, and loose hardware left in all the hollow spaces seems to be the norm in the RV industry, not just Forest River. I go through and pull off all access panels and remove all drawers to clean out the waste. As a bonus I get spare hardware and trim scraps that I might need in the future. I even found 3 or 4 loose screws up on the roof had made it the first 350 miles of travel.

As already mentioned, houses are often built the same way, with beer cans in your attic, nails and bricks in your yard, wood chips in your air ducts, etc.

People working in these industries don’t seem to care, or they just figure it’s not their job to clean it up.