Forest River quality

[Mark2224]

Originally Posted by Mark2224

Coachman quality is not good. Latches are subpar outlets not even screwed into anything behind them, slideout ripping into flooring, slideout cut through wiring, overall poor craftsmanship.

Ford E450 great 👍

Additionally:

Just found out the 12v wiring is causing the tv to stop working and the propane alarm to keep coming on due to low power. Brand new batteries. Not enough amps it seems. Used a different connector to a different marine battery and tv works fine. I will have to call a marine electrician to fix the problem and get rid of this RV. Next rv, if I get one, will have no slides and will have all wiring available to look at easily.

[Charlene4788]

No the quality is not there. But it doesn't matter what manufacturer you go with. We have a friend who bought a Grand Design, spent thousands more dollars than our Sandpiper. He has the same problems we had. Jacks, slides, electrical. But the secret is having a good rv repair shop. Look around. Take your business to a repair shop that does quality repair.

Yes, I agree with you on the lemon law. All the owners would have to push this law.

Good luck, happy RVing.

[hjohn555]

Firstly, my main problem now is that my trailers front cap is turning white from brown (bought new 2015 Surveyor in 2015) Dealer claims it is a cosmetic issue and not an issue to do with safety nor hazard to ones health and therefore is not covered by any warranties (We purchased a 6 year extended warranty from the dealer) only to find out that it does not cover any outside painting etc. I have not even gone into all the issues we've had with the interior including screws scewed into nothing, moldings coming off, bathroom door not closing properly, all piping etc underneath did not have the holes filled thus a problem with mice and the list goes on and on. I would never recomment any product from FR and I encourage all future buyers to really research the product they intend to buy. Yes I do have a sour taste in my mouth from the way I have be treated, by both the dealer and FR; and NO I would never buy nor recomment one of their products in the future. I pissed away $30,000. for a piece of ****! My goal is to now make sure others are not caught in the same predicament as me.

[Mark2224]

Big bummer. Dealer and FR suck. Big waste on a 75k MH.

But I’ll move on. ��

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by hjohn555

Firstly, my main problem now is that my trailers front cap is turning white from brown (bought new 2015 Surveyor in 2015) Dealer claims it is a cosmetic issue and not an issue to do with safety nor hazard to ones health and therefore is not covered by any warranties (We purchased a 6 year extended warranty from the dealer) only to find out that it does not cover any outside painting etc. I have not even gone into all the issues we've had with the interior including screws scewed into nothing, moldings coming off, bathroom door not closing properly, all piping etc underneath did not have the holes filled thus a problem with mice and the list goes on and on. I would never recomment any product from FR and I encourage all future buyers to really research the product they intend to buy. Yes I do have a sour taste in my mouth from the way I have be treated, by both the dealer and FR; and NO I would never buy nor recomment one of their products in the future. I pissed away $30,000. for a piece of ****! My goal is to now make sure others are not caught in the same predicament as me.

I can see your frustration but it is not just FR. What you describe I have seen in the Thor and Fleetwood I owned. My old Rockwood was the worst camper I ever owned.



But I came back to FR with a Puma and I have been over it and they have good craftsmanship and so far I am happy. Time will tell but it is a good base to start with. Puma is an independent ran brand of FR which may help.


Blanketing FR really is not fair.

[Danwilly]

I was having a problem with my dealer who told me it would take a month to fix my minor problems. So I posted a negative google review on the website. Within 48 hours they had it fixed and said I could pick it up.

[bikendan]

I wish some of our members would go to other brand forums or RV.net to read the complaints.
EVERY brand and RV manufacturer has poor quality and fit/finish issues and poor dealer support complaints.
Every the sacred Airstream, Winnebago and Grand Design.
We have a friend who spent around $80k on a huge Grand Design toyhauler to fulltime in. He became a certified RV tech for work.
They've been on the road for only 2 years and are now selling it because it has so many issues.
It's the WHOLE RV Industry that's the problem, not just one or two brands.

[North to Alaska]

I asked my Forest River sales guy about how many things they find wrong with their RV's. He said they average 250 things wrong on each when they get one in. However, he said the Shamrocks have very few things wrong. He made some inquiries into why. Answer was the the Shamrock (and Roo) plant is populated with 3rd generation employees.
Of course we were looking at a 233s Shamrock so he could be filling me with BS.

Lance is a good brand. Yes they have some issues, but I have gleaned from their forum that the issues are not many and the employees who build them are serious about the qualty.

[retire057]

Originally Posted by Taranwanderer

It sounds like you need to build a relationship with a dealer that’s closer to you. As mentioned earlier in this thread, the money you save on purchase by driving some distance away isn’t worth the future headaches you have by not having a nearby dealership that you can establish a close relationship with.

Go in, talk to the service manager or owner, and see what they can do.

This is so true. We live in Louisiana and travelled to Ohio to pick up our 2016 Forest River Hemisphere 282k. Saved a bunch of money, but I had no idea that no local dealer would do warranty work. My only option was a camping world 1 hour away. Next time, I’ll buy local.

[deciccocpa]

Forest River provided me with great warranty coverage even after the warranty expired.

My RV came with a one year warranty. Forest River covered my sofa under warranty 4 years after I purchased my unit.

They replaced my Diamond Shield cover on the front after 7 years.

Every RV will have it's issues, as one service shop explained, driving your RV down the road is like driving it through a hurricane during an earthquake.

This is my second Forest River motorhome, I bought it based on the quality of service after the purchase.

Take your unit to another shop if they're not fixing it properly or contact the factory directly.

[PuppyDogMom]

Have a Flagstaff Micro Lite and have had no problems with it. It's a couple of years old and has only been in to the dealer for problems I created. Quality is good, at least on our unit. The issue of service is another one altogether.

[Charlene4788]

Its not just FR, its most manufacturers. For you to go to another company, is your choice, but what if the new manufacturer produces a unit with the same or worse nightmare problems you are now encountering. Realistically the quality is not there. Even if you spend $150000 for a fifth wheel. Older models are built better, look into that. Also, never, never buy a warranty from the Dealer. Your choice, pay hundreds of dollars more. And extended warranties are a pain, cover some items and not others. Bank the $4000 - $5000 and take to dependable and quality rv repair shop. With Fifth wheels and travel travels, its hit and miss on quality, sorry to say, but just being realistic.

[Hclarkx]

I have mixed emotions when reading this thread because DW and I do enjoy our travels .... in spite of many hours of maintenance in the off-season (and some while on the road). I'd guess most of us would do it again given a choice. But, I hope we are not discouraging newbies to the camping life. On the other hand, they should know what they are getting into.

Has anybody had more problems than I have? Knowing that would give me some peace of mind. My list ........ (2015 Rockwood 8280WS Ultralite).

ROCKWOOD ISSUES:
Excess wheel bearing grease migrated to shoes - brakes stopped working at 12K miles
Axles not seated on frame perch and some axle bolts not tight.
Numerous unsealed gaps where pipes and wires penetrated the floor (in basement/utility area and under refrigerator) = mouse problem.
Some gaps not foamed in battery compartment (spiders had free access)
Kitchen ceiling vent cover fell apart in two years (non-UV-protected plastic)
Many screws over-tightened, stripped, and falling out.
Rubber propane gas line crossing under belly to bbq hanging down more than 6"
Slide-out electrical outlet not accessible behind hide-a-bed sofa.
TV had power but no antenna or HDMI interconnects from Genesis 3.0.
Very long deep scratches in Corian counter top.
Screen door would not latch to main door; had to re-install.
Shower faucet assembly installed upside down; let shower water run through the wall and into the utility area.
Shower head hose too short and fastened to wall so hose not usable.
Water pump not reachable for adjustment or service; have to remove caulked-in outside shower unit to reach it
Scrap of 1/8" plywood in front of gas space heater air inlet caused gas space heater to overheat.
Forced air heater plenum access panel (end panel 18"x18") fell off (screws were missing) caused basement overheating
One forced air flex duct under floor not working, other barely working (kinked or torn under floor).
Shortest forced air flex conduit to nearby bathroom had no damper so bathroom got 70% of hot air.
Bathroom-bedroom door trim improperly installed, came off in months others quickly followed.
Water pump not adjusted properly, allowed bypass from city water into fresh tank even at 40PSI city water.
Anti-freeze / normal valve barely reachable (have to remove fireplace to get to it with my long arm extended), not labeled or discussed in manual.
Loose sawed plastic panel scrap with cerrated edge in front of one wheel caused severe cut when placing wheel cover.
Skylight had multiple screws missing, started leaking in 3rd year.
Shower door hinged on wrong side (very awkward)
Slide-out seals began failing at less than two years.
Kitchen backsplash (plastic stick-on) started loosening in 2nd year
Shower door installed incorrectly, sheared off lower silicon rubber seal in months.
Wallpaper peeling off bedroom wall (around headboard)
Finger prints (glue) on chair rail around slide-out
Many holes in floor in utility area not sealed (draft and mice came in)
Gas range not level (nearly 1/4" lower on left side)
Decorative header over slid-out came loose after one year
All LED Puck lights failed (Rockwood sent replacements)
Water pipe behind shower wall not fastened, rattles against plastic shower wall from pump pulsations (very loud)
Clearance above wheels just 1-3/4 inch; Dexter specification is 3 inches. I added 3" spacers.
Made-in-China aux propane tank pressure reducer failed at 24 months, emptied tank
Structure supporting drawer under gas range collapsed completely on the first pothole we hit.

DEALER ISSUES:
Battery box with wrong and unusable cover (dealer installed)
Battery jumper too large and short so battery cover could not be used even if it was the right one.
Propane tanks not fastened (strap bolts missing).
Delivered with empty propane tanks and dead batteries.
Delivered (and stored) with water heater on (gas mode).
Delivered with Reese Revolution hitch rusted/frozen and squalking loudly.
Delivered with rubber gas line (bbq) across belly cover hanging down 6 inches.
Some obvious issues not observed and fixed (among list below)

[Chief T]

Only issues we've had was a loose stabilizer and I just had to replace one of the vinyl inserts. Sure a valance and a light cover came off on a very bumpy road at NRA Whittington Center. Our front cap looks like crap, but we live in the desert southwest with over 300 days of sunshine; nature of the best. Other than that, she's holding up very nicely.

Safe and happy travels.

[gbaldwin]

Mine in 3 years has not been back to dealer once. Did have a leaf spring hanger that was broken .... weld from frame.... actually once discovered (6 months after purchase and about 1200 miles) found an old pic of my dealer WDH install and it was obviously broken at the inspection and as first timer, didnt notice. Had local welder handle it and FR reimbursed.

No other issues other than me learning how stuff works.

[North to Alaska]

Originally Posted by Hclarkx

I have mixed emotions when reading this thread because DW and I do enjoy our travels .... in spite of many hours of maintenance in the off-season (and some while on the road). I'd guess most of us would do it again given a choice. But, I hope we are not discouraging newbies to the camping life. On the other hand, they should know what they are getting into.

Has anybody had more problems than I have? Knowing that would give me some peace of mind. My list ........ (2015 Rockwood 8280WS Ultralite).

ROCKWOOD ISSUES:
Excess wheel bearing grease migrated to shoes - brakes stopped working at 12K miles
Axles not seated on frame perch and some axle bolts not tight.
Numerous unsealed gaps where pipes and wires penetrated the floor (in basement/utility area and under refrigerator) = mouse problem.
Some gaps not foamed in battery compartment (spiders had free access)
Kitchen ceiling vent cover fell apart in two years (non-UV-protected plastic)
Many screws over-tightened, stripped, and falling out.
Rubber propane gas line crossing under belly to bbq hanging down more than 6"
Slide-out electrical outlet not accessible behind hide-a-bed sofa.
TV had power but no antenna or HDMI interconnects from Genesis 3.0.
Very long deep scratches in Corian counter top.
Screen door would not latch to main door; had to re-install.
Shower faucet assembly installed upside down; let shower water run through the wall and into the utility area.
Shower head hose too short and fastened to wall so hose not usable.
Water pump not reachable for adjustment or service; have to remove caulked-in outside shower unit to reach it
Scrap of 1/8" plywood in front of gas space heater air inlet caused gas space heater to overheat.
Forced air heater plenum access panel (end panel 18"x18") fell off (screws were missing) caused basement overheating
One forced air flex duct under floor not working, other barely working (kinked or torn under floor).
Shortest forced air flex conduit to nearby bathroom had no damper so bathroom got 70% of hot air.
Bathroom-bedroom door trim improperly installed, came off in months others quickly followed.
Water pump not adjusted properly, allowed bypass from city water into fresh tank even at 40PSI city water.
Anti-freeze / normal valve barely reachable (have to remove fireplace to get to it with my long arm extended), not labeled or discussed in manual.
Loose sawed plastic panel scrap with cerrated edge in front of one wheel caused severe cut when placing wheel cover.
Skylight had multiple screws missing, started leaking in 3rd year.
Shower door hinged on wrong side (very awkward)
Slide-out seals began failing at less than two years.
Kitchen backsplash (plastic stick-on) started loosening in 2nd year
Shower door installed incorrectly, sheared off lower silicon rubber seal in months.
Wallpaper peeling off bedroom wall (around headboard)
Finger prints (glue) on chair rail around slide-out
Many holes in floor in utility area not sealed (draft and mice came in)
Gas range not level (nearly 1/4" lower on left side)
Decorative header over slid-out came loose after one year
All LED Puck lights failed (Rockwood sent replacements)
Water pipe behind shower wall not fastened, rattles against plastic shower wall from pump pulsations (very loud)
Clearance above wheels just 1-3/4 inch; Dexter specification is 3 inches. I added 3" spacers.
Made-in-China aux propane tank pressure reducer failed at 24 months, emptied tank
Structure supporting drawer under gas range collapsed completely on the first pothole we hit.

DEALER ISSUES:
Battery box with wrong and unusable cover (dealer installed)
Battery jumper too large and short so battery cover could not be used even if it was the right one.
Propane tanks not fastened (strap bolts missing).
Delivered with empty propane tanks and dead batteries.
Delivered (and stored) with water heater on (gas mode).
Delivered with Reese Revolution hitch rusted/frozen and squalking loudly.
Delivered with rubber gas line (bbq) across belly cover hanging down 6 inches.
Some obvious issues not observed and fixed (among list below)

Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, plus the Three Stooges got together to build yours.....wow

[KCKC]

Our Puma was bought new and has had a few issues with moisture getting in around the roof components. We had to re-seal them. The awning has been replaced because it developed small holes. The kitchen faucet handle broke off in my hand so we replaced the faucet. We also have a few areas where the fake wood tape is peeling off the bottom of a door frame and the slide out frame. Other than that, our TT has been great and we enjoy our time in it.
We are planning to upgrade in a few years and are considering other FR product (Georgetown XL). I have read bad things about every other RV manufacturer and I don't know if I could really say that one is better than the other.

[Daycruiser]

Originally Posted by mike lucas

Heck when I took my new Cedar Creek to the dealer for a. tire wear issue I was told I turn to many corners and they would not do anything.

This is great!! Too many corners, I love it

[ds41crane]

Originally Posted by MR.M

Sounds like a dealer problem and also things should never have left factory that way like trim being to short . it's all starts with the factory letting units out that are clearly not up to snuff and then to dealers that can't /won't address problems the way they should .

I'll certainly 2nd Mr. M's comment, quality has to start at the build in the factory.

[sherman12]

HclarkX, holy crap! and you have only mixed emotions! I think North to Alaska hit it right on the head on who built your rig. (Very good NTA)