Trailer is abysmal

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 12:33 PM

We purchased an XLR Nitro 5th wheel TH this summer, and the trailer feels like a 20 year old camper. I have a list a mile long of some pretty significant issues including all the slide out seals and rubber are ripped, or cracking, aluminum skirt is warping in between the screws attaching it, the sink is corroding, the slide outs were wired backwards (fixed), the black/gray tank drains were hooked up backwards (fixed with a label maker), I suspect an issue with the gray 2 tank and gray 1 tank but have not narrowed it down. These are the few major issues and do not include a lot of other minor issues that are adding up.

I bought the camper from a dealership 4 hours away so going back every other weekend is not ideal and the local dealer 1.5 hrs away is incompetent to put it nicely (they took 2 months with the camper and have fixed nothing). I’ve called and emailed several people at Forest River and not received any help, and I’m wondering what options I have at this stage? Does anybody have experience with this? Where can I look for lemon law information? The camper has been in the shop more months than I’ve owned it and I’m obviously concerned that the minute the warranty expires the wheels are going to fall off! Any advice?

Billy in Amarillo TX

oxcamper · 12-20-2020, 01:18 PM

WOW! Sorry to hear about your troubles.

In Ohio, the lemon law(s) will only apply after the responsible party/seller has been given several or multiple opportunities to fix the problems.

You don't say if you bought it new or it's a used unit.

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oxcamper

WOW! Sorry to hear about your troubles.

In Ohio, the lemon law(s) will only apply after the responsible party/seller has been given several or multiple opportunities to fix the problems.

You don't say if you bought it new or it's a used unit.

Sorry, brand new.

**Mr. Dan** · 12-20-2020, 01:26 PM

I'm sorry to read all this. You wrote "I’ve called and emailed several people at Forest River and not received any help". FR is the parent company. Have you contacted XLR, the division who built your unit?

Chuck_S · 12-20-2020, 01:26 PM

I assume this is just venting.

Trailers are rarely covered by so-called "lemon laws." Ohio excludes them. Texas may cover them.

https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2.../chapter-2301/

-- Chuck

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

I'm sorry to read all this. You wrote "I’ve called and emailed several people at Forest River and not received any help". FR is the parent company. Have you contacted XLR, the division who built your unit?

The people I contacted were titled as “XLR model reps”, but I don’t know specifically.

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

I assume this is just venting.

Trailers are rarely covered by so-called "lemon laws." Ohio excludes them. Texas may cover them.

https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2.../chapter-2301/

-- Chuck

I’m just wondering what my options are, or if I have to eat this.

**bikendan** · 12-20-2020, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARS93

I’m just wondering what my options are, or if I have to eat this.

Did you know that you can use an independent RV shop or mobile RV tech? You just have to get pre-approval from FR and be willing to be reimbursed.

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

Did you know that you can use an independent RV shop or mobile RV tech? You just have to get pre-approval from FR and be willing to be reimbursed.

I’ve done it on a previous camper, but at this point I’m not trusting to get reimbursed. The dealer who had it for 2 months claims they’re waiting for “Forest River to get back to us”.

Skip12 · 12-20-2020, 03:16 PM

A couple more options:
It takes a long time to get parts so your local dealer may not be incompetent. When still under wattantee, my dealer would order parts and then call me to bring in trailer when parts arrive. If still at local dealer, then at this point, you have free winter storage.

Or you can fix many things yourself. Just let this group know each project you have questions about and you'll get a ton of good advice. That's my experience and first choice.

Chuck_S · 12-20-2020, 04:59 PM

Waiting for someone to get back to you is the easiest excuse in the world for those who make no attempts to follow up. The "drippy faucet method" often works wonders.

Start calling your dealer at 9:00 AM every morning...

-- Chuck

**Mr. Dan** · 12-20-2020, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

Waiting for someone to get back to you is the easiest excuse in the world for those who make no attempts to follow up. The "drippy faucet method" often works wonders.

Start calling your dealer at 9:00 AM every morning...

-- Chuck

Right... we have many stories here on the forum where a member has been told by the dealership that they are awaiting some reply from Forest River only to contact Forest River and learn that the dealership had never contacted Forest River. I posted a personal story the other day about my dealership Service Manager calling Wildcat Warranty Dept. and having to leave a message. He gave as a call-back number a phone in an area that was seldom manned!

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

Waiting for someone to get back to you is the easiest excuse in the world for those who make no attempts to follow up. The "drippy faucet method" often works wonders.

Start calling your dealer at 9:00 AM every morning...

-- Chuck

This is good advice thank you, I will begin Monday morning.

merrykalia · 12-20-2020, 06:07 PM

Be pro-active! No one cares about your camper....except you! Remember this and make sure they know who you are and what you need to happen.

If your camper has to spend the next 6 months in the shop, so be it! It's cold and you have lots of money invested.

I would investigate having an independent RV tech do as much work as you can have done unless you have a great dealership.

Hclarkx · 12-20-2020, 06:49 PM

Sorry about your experience. Mine was similar. Over 40 significant issues. The 5er was delivered with dead batteries, empty propane tanks, a gas line almost dragging on the ground, a non-working space heater, etc. I never went back. I fixed enough problems to make the unit usable, and fixed the rest over the first year. I had hundreds of hours invested before having all the issues corrected. Thankfully I was retired and had the time and hand the tools and mechanical skills.

TitanMike · 12-20-2020, 06:59 PM

I can't say what all the circumstances are but do consider what the country is going through right now. Between workplace restrictions, people working from home, supply chain disruptions, and reduced production capacity, there might be a good reason for all the delays.

Even communication is difficult because there aren't as many people in offices right not to handle calls or coordinate efforts by different departments.

I've noticed this with just about every company I've had to contact for a variety of reasons. You often don't get to talk with a person but asked to leave a message, go to website, or leave a voice mail. This is even the case with our local utilities and County Government. Can't even go to their local offices to pay a bill or transact normal business.

It's a mess everywhere and I'm sure that FR and it's divisions are no different. If the factory is hamstrung, imagine how dealers are affected.

kheard · 12-20-2020, 07:44 PM

Texas does have lemon laws for RVs. That was explained to me two days ago when I bought my TT in Austin, TX.

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrykalia

Be pro-active! No one cares about your camper....except you! Remember this and make sure they know who you are and what you need to happen.

If your camper has to spend the next 6 months in the shop, so be it! It's cold and you have lots of money invested.

I would investigate having an independent RV tech do as much work as you can have done unless you have a great dealership.

What do you mean independent RV tech? I once found an rv tech that came to our spot when we had an electrical issue, is this what you mean or are there rv shops that are not tied to dealerships?

MARS93 · 12-20-2020, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kheard

Texas does have lemon laws for RVs. That was explained to me two days ago when I bought my TT in Austin, TX.

I’ll have to look into them, thank you!

**bikendan** · 12-20-2020, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARS93

What do you mean independent RV tech? I once found an rv tech that came to our spot when we had an electrical issue, is this what you mean or are there rv shops that are not tied to dealerships?

A mobile RV technician is independent. But there are many independent RV shops all over the country. Have you ever looked for one? I live on a tiny island and we have two independent RV shops. And we don't even have a town.

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