Leaving on Wednesday for a five day trip, filled fresh water tank half full per tank indicator so we can start preparing and boom the water tanks holding brackets bent and the tank fell out. Wow that was a loud noise, shook the fiver and my son heard it from inside the house.Pulled back the coroplast and both the fore and aft L brackets were bent downwards. I drained the tank and put a ratchet strap under it to keep it in place. Forest River will get a call first thing in the morning to see what they can do, still under warranty. if push comes to shove I'll remove the aft bracket and remove tank so we can still take our trip.I'm just glad this didn't happen while pulling it down the interstate. Sorry,, just had to vent. I'd post pictures but only have a tablet. Happy Fourth everyone.

Sorry to hear that. This******pisses me off. Things like that should not fail. There is no electronics or motors involved. Its piss poor engineering that should of been done right the first time.

Sounds like their intention was to put as little steel under the tank as possible, and hope that it fails after the warranty expired. Good for the repair business - I guess?I would want a flat bar strap between both of the 'L' brackets that seem to be all that is holding it now. . .. This way the L bracket will not pull away from the tank, and anything under the tank is better then nothing under the tank.You can buy 1" wide and 2" wide aluminum flat stock from Home Depot. If there is space to put a bolt into the L bracket without it touching the tank, it will work, and then have the strap under the tank, fore to aft. Perhaps even two straps? I probably would be buying 1/8" thick 2" wide straps. Good luck,Fred.

Sorry to hear that. I can only imagine what a mess it would have been going down the highway with it grinding along!But it sucks that it happened right before a trip. Good luck and let us know how they handle it.Scott

Good ole Forest River product.........not the first one that has fallen out.Sorry to hear about this especially on a new RV.Better now in driveway vs on Interstate.

Wow. You've got every reason to vent with that one. Hope you get your trip in okay.Safe travels.

Boom goes my fresh water tank.... | Good Sam Community

Tacswa3
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Sorry to hear that. This******pisses me off. Things like that should not fail. There is no electronics or motors involved. Its piss poor engineering that should of been done right the first time.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Sounds like their intention was to put as little steel under the tank as possible, and hope that it fails after the warranty expired. Good for the repair business - I guess?

I would want a flat bar strap between both of the 'L' brackets that seem to be all that is holding it now. . .. This way the L bracket will not pull away from the tank, and anything under the tank is better then nothing under the tank.

You can buy 1" wide and 2" wide aluminum flat stock from Home Depot. If there is space to put a bolt into the L bracket without it touching the tank, it will work, and then have the strap under the tank, fore to aft. Perhaps even two straps? I probably would be buying 1/8" thick 2" wide straps.

Good luck,

Fred.
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 03, 2015
Sorry to hear that. I can only imagine what a mess it would have been going down the highway with it grinding along!
But it sucks that it happened right before a trip.
Good luck and let us know how they handle it.

Scott
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 03, 2015
Good ole Forest River product.........not the first one that has fallen out.

Sorry to hear about this especially on a new RV.

Better now in driveway vs on Interstate.
TomHaycraft
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Wow. You've got every reason to vent with that one. Hope you get your trip in okay.

Safe travels.
MFL
Nomad II
Jul 03, 2015
Sorry to hear this happened!!

I do not know what is holding mine up, but I often travel 1-2 hundred miles, with my 60 gal fresh tank full.

I may cut a view hole, just to see how it is held, as I have worried about this happening to me, going down the road. I have to think many others travel with their fresh tank full.

Jerry
Halmfamily
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Golden_HVAC wrote:
Sounds like their intention was to put as little steel under the tank as possible, and hope that it fails after the warranty expired. Good for the repair business - I guess?

I would want a flat bar strap between both of the 'L' brackets that seem to be all that is holding it now. . .. This way the L bracket will not pull away from the tank, and anything under the tank is better then nothing under the tank.

You can buy 1" wide and 2" wide aluminum flat stock from Home Depot. If there is space to put a bolt into the L bracket without it touching the tank, it will work, and then have the strap under the tank, fore to aft. Perhaps even two straps? I probably would be buying 1/8" thick 2" wide straps.

Good luck,

Fred.

Fred.....what really pisses me off is that there is three flat cross members. They are welded to the aft L bracket but just lay on the front L, bracket. Why they didn't screw them in is beyond expanation. The screws would have prevent this from happening. Someones idea of great engineering.
GrumpyandGrandm
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Halmfamily wrote:
....what really pisses me off is that there is three flat cross members. They are welded to the aft L bracket but just lay on the front L, bracket. Why they didn't screw them in is beyond expanation. The screws would have prevent this from happening. Someones idea of great engineering.

Or somebody forgot to install the screws.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
And now you know why i always run with empty tanks, fill at the campground, and drain before hitting the road. I was bashed not too long ago for recommending driving with empty tanks. After hearing yet another horror story about the fresh water tank falling, I'll continue to run empty, thank-you!

OP, you've got a great attitude. Enjoy your camping and hope the dealer can get you fixed up.
FrankShore
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Forest River has like 79 different makes of trailers and within that probably 7-10 layouts per line. See where their quality control goes with so much junk to keep track of lol