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Old 09-02-2022, 08:03 PM   #1
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Return to Factory for Repairs…thoughts?

I have a 2022 Rockwood fifth wheel. Recently discovered the wardrobe slide has cracked fiberglass on the forward facing side wall of the slide box. It’s been getting worse and is now cracking in 2 spots. Keeping the slide in eliminates the risk of water intrusion, for now. I’ve taken it back to the dealer but they are unsure what to do, it’s a significant repair that they are not equipped to handle. Will require removing the slide and disassembling the box to remove and replace the wall section. Current discussions are that it may have to go back to the factory. Yikes. That’s a 3100+ mile round trip from where I’m at…that’s a lot of wear and tear, road rash, etc. I bought brand new for a reason.

Not sure why this happened to this small sidewall. Nothing seems wrong and the slide doesn’t bind - it extends and retracts properly. It’s clearly a manufacturing defect in the sidewall. I’ve had my share of issues and problems to be honest, mostly all related to build quality and workmanship. It was built on a Friday, legit!

Has anyone had a fiberglass repair or wall section replaced at a dealer? Or had their unit returned to the factory for repair…form a lengthy distance away?
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Old 09-02-2022, 10:03 PM   #2
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Everyone that I've seen, that has sent their rig to the factory for repairs, has been very happy. And most get extra free upgrades or improvements.
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Old 09-02-2022, 10:18 PM   #3
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This is what I’ve heard, and they’ve even repaired units a couple years old. I have zero issues with a factory repair…as I know it would be done right. The journey there and back however, is huge…there has to be a more efficient way to get this done. Maybe the dealer could rent one of those sky lift scissor jack units…use it as a working platform to pull the slide out and down. Sounds like I have more of plan than they do! Lol
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Old 09-03-2022, 12:52 AM   #4
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This is what I’ve heard, and they’ve even repaired units a couple years old. I have zero issues with a factory repair…as I know it would be done right. The journey there and back however, is huge…there has to be a more efficient way to get this done. Maybe the dealer could rent one of those sky lift scissor jack units…use it as a working platform to pull the slide out and down. Sounds like I have more of plan than they do! Lol
What do you have that RV for? Plan a fun trip if you have the time. We took our RV to Orvan in Shipshewana for factory repair. We made it an adventure We live in Central Florida so it was a long journey.

Now if you don’t have time for that arrange with FR to have your RV picked up when they drop an RV at your dealership. They can do that but you will be without your rig for quite a while unless you have a good dealer. Winter might be the best time to get it done.
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Old 09-03-2022, 01:31 AM   #5
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The journey there and back however, is huge…there has to be a more efficient way to get this done.
You're way closer to the factory than those of us on the West Coast.
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Old 09-03-2022, 05:28 AM   #6
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As much as I’d love to do a trip like that, I don’t have the time with my job. As for a winter trip….I intentionally ordered my unit so that it would be built and delivered in the summer months. Other new units I had looked at, some were rusted so bad from the trip up here…definitely was a walk away situation with those.. I also have the privilege of parking my rig inside completely out of the elements, really extends the life. Maybe Rockwood can just send a new slide in a crate via freight? It’s not that big. What happens when an rv needs a new nose cap? Surely it doesn’t go all the way back to the factory? They must have a means of sending one out to a dealer…
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Old 09-03-2022, 05:01 PM   #7
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C'mon...

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What do you have that RV for? Plan a fun trip if you have the time. We took our RV to Orvan in Shipshewana for factory repair. We made it an adventure We live in Central Florida so it was a long journey.

Now if you don’t have time for that arrange with FR to have your RV picked up when they drop an RV at your dealership. They can do that but you will be without your rig for quite a while unless you have a good dealer. Winter might be the best time to get it done.
C'mon, Dalford, you know better than that. Orvan only works on Cedar Creeks. The OP has a Rockwood.
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Old 09-03-2022, 05:32 PM   #8
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This is what I’ve heard, and they’ve even repaired units a couple years old. I have zero issues with a factory repair…as I know it would be done right. The journey there and back however, is huge…there has to be a more efficient way to get this done. Maybe the dealer could rent one of those sky lift scissor jack units…use it as a working platform to pull the slide out and down. Sounds like I have more of plan than they do! Lol
It may be done right at the rockwood division . but not all divisions . for me it's been a nightmare that will be shared once all is said and done ... but if you can get it to the factory or they may offer to pick up and drop back off when done your better off then any dealer i know .
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Old 09-03-2022, 05:45 PM   #9
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C'mon, Dalford, you know better than that. Orvan only works on Cedar Creeks. The OP has a Rockwood.
Where did I tell him to go to Orvan? I’m assuming the Rockwood factory is in that neck of the woods. Was just using a trip to Orvan as an example of a long trip turned into an adventure.
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Old 09-03-2022, 06:43 PM   #10
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It may be done right at the rockwood division . but not all divisions . for me it's been a nightmare that will be shared once all is said and done ... but if you can get it to the factory or they may offer to pick up and drop back off when done your better off then any dealer i know .
Oh boy, I’m interested to here your story. Those who’ve had units returned to Rockwood are positive in the end. But this is different…I’m in Canada. My unit had battle scars just from the long journey up here. A trip there and back behind a hot shot driver….yikes. Any way you slice it…the rv won’t be the same after and I’ll take an extra hit it resale value in the end. But a person has to have faith. If i was Rockwood I’d be sending a slide out box up here via freight. If the dealer can’t remove a bedroom slideout on a fifth wheel…then they truly don’t offer service…just routine maintenance (if you can even call it that).
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Old 09-03-2022, 10:46 PM   #11
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Agreed. But there is a reason it is cracked. I believe the fiberglass skin is riveted to the slideout frame/box, and not laminated like the main walls and roof. It might be possible to repair that slide box using flat materials that are easy to ship. Do you have an rv collision repair center near you? They might be able to handle such a task, and FR might even authorize taking it there. At a minimum, I would get a second opinion on the cause of the damage.
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Old 09-03-2022, 11:01 PM   #12
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Agreed. But there is a reason it is cracked. I believe the fiberglass skin is riveted to the slideout frame/box, and not laminated like the main walls and roof. It might be possible to repair that slide box using flat materials that are easy to ship. Do you have an rv collision repair center near you? They might be able to handle such a task, and FR might even authorize taking it there. At a minimum, I would get a second opinion on the cause of the damage.
This is a great point….the tech (25+ years experienced) that looked at it was certain it wasn’t vacuum bonded. He said it may be easier to repair if it’s “hung”. But it’s confusing because in videos Anthony Yoder bangs on the slide walls and proclaims “we have true 6 sided vacuum laminated walls…even the slide walls!” lol. But yes, there’s a reason it’s cracking, and the last time I moved the slide out and in (at the dealer) I could hear cracking sounds. So something has to be done. And to be honest, for how quickly they slap these things together…this can’t be that difficult to repair. I mean, really.
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Old 09-04-2022, 06:35 AM   #13
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Get a second opinion .... call a mobile RV repair company
My mobile repair guy has the tools and equipment to pull slides


They then need to determine how to repair existing

OR have a new slide shipped and swap over the furniture



can't see this being rocket science
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Old 09-07-2022, 09:32 PM   #14
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Dealer says they’re going to fix it, install new wall panel in the slide. I’m happy but nervous at the same time. Oh well, gotta give them a chance.
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Old 09-07-2022, 11:15 PM   #15
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Well, that's a good first step, considering the distance and time involved with taking to the factory. If it were me, I would still get a second opinion on what is actually wrong, even at my own out of pocket expense. Should only be an hour's time, plus a service call if you were to use a mobile guy. You could even take it to a non-RW dealer for this, as there isn't much propietary to a slide box. Just make sure whoever it is has a good reputation. Hopefully both opinions match.
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Old 09-23-2022, 11:15 PM   #16
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Well, got it back from the dealer today…let me know what ya think!
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Old 09-23-2022, 11:17 PM   #17
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More pics…
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Old 09-23-2022, 11:20 PM   #18
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And more pictures. Also had the recall done on the wifi ranger…they didn’t replace the cracked base power, only the shroud. The base now has a crack at every fastener
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Old 09-25-2022, 08:20 PM   #19
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That's a schwintek in-wall slide mechanism. Two of the main reasons my Solitude is going back to the factory. And a significant factor that my Rockwood doesn't use them in our purchase. There are supposed to be wall mounted heavy rollers attached to the wall under the floor of the slide to support the weight. Make sure those are actually touching your slide bottom and bearing weight. Might need mirrors and lights to see behind and below slide from inside. If those aren't right, your likely cause of cracking. I hope they got it right for you.
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Old 09-25-2022, 08:36 PM   #20
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Well, got it back from the dealer today…let me know what ya think!
I think I'd forward those pictures to Forest River Warranty.
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