Loud Bang near door when driving

JTrana · 01-23-2021, 10:13 PM

I have a 2021 FR3, from time to time there is a loud bang near the door when I start driving. It sounds like something is hitting the door. It is very loud! I have asked Ford and my Forest River Dealer with no answer. Sometimes it happens when driving slowly other times I will be going 40 mph. But it is not every time I take off and its only 1 bang!

RVwino · 01-24-2021, 06:50 PM

Noise sources are hard to pinpoint when you are driving. Does your passenger also think it’s coming from the door area?

Does it usually happen soon after you leave a particular location like your home or storage yard? Sometimes, a rock can pop out of a tire tread and hit the undercarriage.

Keystoner · 01-24-2021, 07:22 PM

Perhaps it could be a leveler not fully retracted - until it hits something and goes up.

I once caught notice of a unit running up the highway because there were sparks at every bump. The driver was a little miffed when I pulled him over until I showed him the front levelers were only a few inches above the ground. He had been hearing and feeling thumps but didn't bother to check.

kenandterry · 01-24-2021, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTrana

I have a 2021 FR3, from time to time there is a loud bang near the door when I start driving. It sounds like something is hitting the door. It is very loud! I have asked Ford and my Forest River Dealer with no answer. Sometimes it happens when driving slowly other times I will be going 40 mph. But it is not every time I take off and its only 1 bang!

I’m hoping I’m wrong, but I’m attaching this link to a problem reported in the Georgetown forum which I had with our 2010 Georgetown. The FR3 platform is very similar to the smaller Georgetown line. Like I said, I hope I’m wrong, but take the time to read through this thread as long as it may be.
My initial exposure to the problem was a loud bang, just like you describe.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...e-77309-9.html

JTrana · 01-24-2021, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVwino

Noise sources are hard to pinpoint when you are driving. Does your passenger also think it’s coming from the door area?

Does it usually happen soon after you leave a particular location like your home or storage yard? Sometimes, a rock can pop out of a tire tread and hit the undercarriage.

It sounds like someone is kicking the door. It is much louder then a rock. It happens in random locations. The only thing I can think of is maybe a Jack has come down and is retracting.

JTrana · 01-24-2021, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenandterry

I’m hoping I’m wrong, but I’m attaching this link to a problem reported in the Georgetown forum which I had with our 2010 Georgetown. The FR3 platform is very similar to the smaller Georgetown line. Like I said, I hope I’m wrong, but take the time to read through this thread as long as it may be.
My initial exposure to the problem was a loud bang, just like you describe.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...e-77309-9.html

Did your noise sound like someone was kicking the door? The sound always comes from the same place. I hope it is not the wall problem that you had.

kenandterry · 01-24-2021, 10:16 PM

Our noise came from near the front.....ultimately along the floor beside the co-pilot seat. The sound was loud, sharp and sounded like a hammer hitting the metal chassis. I can’t describe it any differently. Eventually my co-pilot could see daylight down at the floor beside her foot along the wall. The separation was the bolts snapping between the front cap and the entry door.

RVwino · 01-24-2021, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTrana

It sounds like someone is kicking the door. It is much louder then a rock. It happens in random locations. The only thing I can think of is maybe a Jack has come down and is retracting.

My wife reminded me we’ve heard that sound once while driving. We’ve only had the RV on several drives, so there’s no pattern, yet.

I seriously hope it’s not the screw shearing problem described above. Please keep us all updated on what you discover.

NXR · 01-24-2021, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTrana

It sounds like someone is kicking the door. It is much louder then a rock. It happens in random locations. The only thing I can think of is maybe a Jack has come down and is retracting.

Check your tires for embedded rocks in the tread before leaving. When I have one come loose it sounds like a gunshot. Haven't heard it since I started prying the rocks out, unless we are driving on gravel.

If a Lippert jack goes into auto-retract because the pressure dropped you will hear a loud alarm from the panel.

Ray

rickemo · 01-25-2021, 01:13 PM

We recently had the same noise issue with our 2020 FR3 30DS. Took us many miles to find the noise. Turned out to be the TV about the sink wasn’t latched tight and was vibrating and banging. Hope yours turns out to be that simple.

rickemo · 01-25-2021, 01:29 PM

We recently had the same noise issue with our 2020 FR3 30DS. Took us many miles to find the noise. Turned out to be the TV above the sink wasn’t latched tight and was vibrating and banging. Hope yours turns out to be that simple.

davidsr · 01-25-2021, 02:23 PM

I get a similar bang in my company van. Sometimes with the air conditioner/defroster on and the compressor kicks on there is a pretty noticeable BANG! Like you said, you think someone is kicking the door or you feel like you hit something.

CJnDD · 01-25-2021, 03:31 PM

JTrana, we had noticed banging near entry door too. I finally sat by door, while going down road, what we were hearing turned out to be then counter top extension banging against cabinet.

cariboo camper · 01-25-2021, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTrana

I have a 2021 FR3, from time to time there is a loud bang near the door when I start driving. It sounds like something is hitting the door. It is very loud! I have asked Ford and my Forest River Dealer with no answer. Sometimes it happens when driving slowly other times I will be going 40 mph. But it is not every time I take off and its only 1 bang!

I had a similar or the same problem possibly, almost impossible to pinpoint even with wife listening in passenger seat. Turns out my noise was from the sway bar links. No rhyme or reason to the frequency it just seemed to happen randomly. I ended up tightening up both bushing bolts on the one side and the noise went away.

There is a bolt that goes through the sway bar link bushing, inside the bushing is a metal tube that the bolt goes through, I think the tube was binding up on the shackle that the link attaches to causing the noise. I may have over torqued the bolt which may cause premature wear, i don't know but the noise is gone. I have been monitoring the link bushings for some time now and no problem so far.

JTrana · 01-25-2021, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJnDD

JTrana, we had noticed banging near entry door too. I finally sat by door, while going down road, what we were hearing turned out to be then counter top extension banging against cabinet.

Thanks, I will check that out.

dmctlc · 01-25-2021, 07:04 PM

So not being familiar with you particular MH, though I use to have a GT 31L5, I think checking the undercarriage is a start like the sway bar, shock mounts, even your lug nuts, motor mounts, etc. . But also make sure your batteries are secure in the side compartment. Look at your slides make sure they are retracted fully and watch for any movement. You said you "asked" your FR and Ford dealer to no avail but have you made an appt. Or brought it down there so they might here it? Its under warranty so push them. Perhaps use your phone to record and see if you can catch the noise.

NXR · 01-25-2021, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmctlc

Look at your slides make sure they are retracted fully and watch for any movement.

Good point. Multiple people have reported that they hear the SlimRack rack slapping against the side of the slide as they drive because the slide is shifting a bit. Some have even put a pool noodle around the rack while driving.

Ray

campers302 · 01-26-2021, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTrana

I have a 2021 FR3, from time to time there is a loud bang near the door when I start driving. It sounds like something is hitting the door. It is very loud! I have asked Ford and my Forest River Dealer with no answer. Sometimes it happens when driving slowly other times I will be going 40 mph. But it is not every time I take off and its only 1 bang!

Please be sure the wife is always in the MH before taking off and I am sure the banging will stop.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

JTrana · 01-26-2021, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campers302

Please be sure the wife is always in the MH before taking off and I am sure the banging will stop.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Ha Ha!! Good point!!

zipmart · 01-27-2021, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cariboo camper

I had a similar or the same problem possibly, almost impossible to pinpoint even with wife listening in passenger seat. Turns out my noise was from the sway bar links. No rhyme or reason to the frequency it just seemed to happen randomly. I ended up tightening up both bushing bolts on the one side and the noise went away.

There is a bolt that goes through the sway bar link bushing, inside the bushing is a metal tube that the bolt goes through, I think the tube was binding up on the shackle that the link attaches to causing the noise. I may have over torqued the bolt which may cause premature wear, i don't know but the noise is gone. I have been monitoring the link bushings for some time now and no problem so far.

I also had the same problem for awhile. Tightened the bolts - noise gone.

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