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Old 07-20-2017, 04:53 PM   #1
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Check your bunk ends!!

We bought our 2016 233s and brought it home last March. Since then we have used it about a dozen times and towed it about 6500 miles, and have had more than our share of problems, big and small. Through all of these problems our dealer, Terrytown in Grand Rapids Michigan has been outstanding, and our indirect dealings with Forest River have been good as well.

Last month, while cleaning up the camper after returning from a trip I noticed a horizontal bulge in the side bunk. I contacted the dealer and they worked with me by allowing me to drop it off one morning (dealer is 150 miles away) and getting the pertinent information for FR to determine that there is a manufacturer defect and that FR will warranty the bunk end even though we were a few months out of warranty, in just a few hours. What more could you ask out of the dealer and manufacturer at this point?

We returned from a trip just a few days ago and I discovered a similar bulge in the front bunk door which was not there when we left!! It rained on and off the first few days we were there but not while towing, which is a crucial piece of information. Pictures were sent and the service manager was contacted and the process is underway.

In checking out the bunk ends I think I have discovered where the water is getting into the bunk end. There is a seam at the hinge side of the bunk end where the metal frame meets (actually on all 4 corners, but my problems are on the hinge side). In the two damaged bunk ends there is a gap where the frame corners meet (I will try to post pictures). When the bunk end is down I believe water is entering the bunk end there when it rains. This is the problem corner on the front bunk end. Notice the area that isn't black: Click image for larger version

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This is the problem corner on the side bunk that showed the problem first: Click image for larger version

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This post is not meant to bash FR or our dealer, both of which have been outstanding so far. What the heck can you say, but that stuff happens. As long as the dealer and manufacturer are working with us to resolve the problems then we are satisfied, and so far they have. To all you Roo owners who love your Roo like we do, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR BUNK FRAME SEAMS!!
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Old 07-22-2017, 04:21 PM   #2
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Great post. I inspected mine today and caulked each corner. Haven't noticed a problem but there was defiantly a lil gap on two of the corners. Thanks for the heads up!
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Old 07-22-2017, 04:54 PM   #3
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Great post. I inspected mine today and caulked each corner. Haven't noticed a problem but there was defiantly a lil gap on two of the corners. Thanks for the heads up!
Sure thing! Glad to help. I hope that others catch any potential problems as a result of this post.

My rear bunk has nice, tight corners and we haven't seen a problem with it yet. I actually saw water running out of the front bunk when I was folding it up from our last trip. I thought it was just water sitting in the hinge area at first. Then I saw the bulge in it and put it all together after looking at the bunk ends thoroughly.
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Old 07-22-2017, 05:39 PM   #4
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Ugg...that would stink seeing the bulge and then the water coming out. ;(...
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Old 07-22-2017, 05:43 PM   #5
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What about the corners where the tent end is? I have never caulked that it came like that from factory but should I be watching that as well and recaulking that too I wonder?
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Old 07-22-2017, 06:12 PM   #6
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Attachment 145733
What about the corners where the tent end is? I have never caulked that it came like that from factory but should I be watching that as well and recaulking that too I wonder?
I did add caulk where the tent end is. Don't know if it was necessary but it seems like a good idea.

Actually I saw the water run out, and noticed the bulge a couple of days later.
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Old 07-25-2017, 05:51 PM   #7
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I had to do pretty much the same thing on our 2017 183. We had some water getting in and found that the upper corners of the bunk end were not fully siliconed. So we went around and got all corners on the canvas and bunk door. No issues as of yet and it's been 2 months and several rains.
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Old 07-25-2017, 08:21 PM   #8
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So mopwr4me2003... your saying you did the corners where the canvass is caulked, because water was entering? Where would the water enter in to?
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:04 PM   #9
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MiCamper6,

Is this the area where you say should be sealed to prevent water intrusion? Circle should include all of that seam...

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Old 07-25-2017, 09:06 PM   #10
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MiCamper6,



Is this the area where you say should be sealed to prevent water intrusion?





Yes. I believe that is the area where water entered my bunk ends while they were down.
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:06 PM   #11
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Yes that's one spot for sure you need to make sure is sealed up. I'm trying to figure out just how important the caulk is by the tenting.
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:08 PM   #12
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Yes that's one spot for sure you need to make sure is sealed up. I'm trying to figure out just how important the caulk is by the tenting.


I am not sure if the tent ends is a real potential problem area. I further caulked mine just because I was already there with caulk and figured it couldn't hurt.
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:17 PM   #13
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So mopwr4me2003... your saying you did the corners where the canvass is caulked, because water was entering? Where would the water enter in to?


Ok it's hard to explain but I will take some pictures of it tomorrow when it light out.

But I'll do my best to explain it. yes I did have to caulk with silicone the upper corners of the canvas where it meets inside the bunk end opening from the outside. We had heavy rain one night and noticed the water under the mattresses inside just under where the mattresses fold. Took it home and with the hose we sprayed everything we could think of. My wife inside and me spraying. We found the water would enter at the right angle and would come through the upper corner and travel down the black metal piece that holds the canvas in place on the inside. So with finding that I siliconed just about anything and everything I could think of being a possible water entry point on the bunk ends outside including where you have mentioned. I hope this made some sense but I will post some pic like I said tomorrow.

Tim
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:19 PM   #14
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Yes that's one spot for sure you need to make sure is sealed up. I'm trying to figure out just how important the caulk is by the tenting.


In regards to this from what I delt with so far in the short time I have owned it I would say it is very important. The amount of silicone or caulk they used was minimal at best.

Tim
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Old 07-25-2017, 09:29 PM   #15
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Thanks mop, look forward to the pics when you get time. Also couldn't agree more about the lack of caulk.
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Old 07-26-2017, 04:55 AM   #16
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What type of silicon/caulk did you use?
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Old 07-26-2017, 05:09 AM   #17
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Don't know what the 'best' caulk would have been, but I went to West Marine and bought some clear silicone marine caulk. Unfortunately I didn't realize until I got it home that it was the removable, less robust stuff.
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Old 07-26-2017, 05:11 AM   #18
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This is what I used. I'm sure there are other products to use but I read about this stuff and it seemed to be a really good product so I gave it a try. You can find it at most camping world stores, amazon and I have seen it at hardware stores also. Just to let you know ordering from amazon took about 2-3 weeks (which is where I bought from) CW usually has it in stock and about $13 so I'll buy it from CW from now on if it works good.

Tim

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Old 07-26-2017, 04:20 PM   #19
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Here are the pictures of where I had to put silicone on. Hope this helps.

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Old 07-26-2017, 04:42 PM   #20
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Thanks for the pics! Did you notice water coming in on the bottom corners? If so where would it go..just under the mattress?
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