8301WS Outdoor Kitchen Slide Out

[Ka5zci]

On a recent short trip I noticed the wall panel above the slide on the Interior of the BunkHouse was protruding in about an inch or so. I pushed on it to put it back in place but found it was solid and could see aluminum and daylight!

Went outside to inspect and found the outer skin had cracked from the upper left corner of the slide all the way to the roof line. At this point we pulled in the bunkhouse slide in fear it would fall out.

I will add that the wife and I camp alone, and the Bunkhouse though it has never been slept in (Grown Kids have little interest) the outdoor kitchen/refrigerator do get used and often. Fact is we were thinking of trading to a non-bunkhouse trailer to get something with a floor plan that suits the 2 of us better.

Contacted Forest River (Mark) for advice and assistance and was politely but flatly told that the camper was "Out of Warranty" and I could take it to any Camper Repair center as the expense would be totally mine. Trailer is a 2017 8301WS, I am the original owner.

I subsequently provided pictures taken from the interior of the trailer that clearly show failed welds (poor or no penetration) of the aluminum framing in the immediate area of the failure. These were provide also to the Trailer Repair company I chose to fix my trailer. They encouraged me to re-contact Forest River based on the additional pictures showing the failed welds....I cc'd the pics and the email exchange to Mark at Forest River and "sound of crickets"...

Not expecting any miracles, but I wanted to VENT somewhere and will post my pics asap...