What is J-Wrap?

My thoughts exactly Doug,

The pictures taken by the driver who delivered Coach - no problem.
A professional Inspector, Salesmen and I went over Coach - no problem.
Six (6) days after the above inspection, serious J-Wrap damage on both sides - Big Problem!

No one seems to know what happened (manufacturer will have Coach by end of week) but everyone knows something has! Are there serious safety concerns? Has something happened that will change its resale value?

This is a coach I’ve spent 7 hours in and around during professional PDI and it has never left the dealer. Maybe I’m most concerned because NO ONE has any idea? It scars the heck out of me that I spent good money for something that may have a serious problem. I can only hope I’m told the truth???

Mondooker wrote:
Yes sir Doug, I think you got that exactly right! BTW Forest River picked up my coach this morning. Yippee!!! I hope they will tell me what happened with the J-Wrap? And I’ve already told them I’m concerned from the safety aspect. Somehow enough stress was put on the coach to have caused that problem. That’s one reason I want to know the cause because that will speak to other problems.

They will not tell you what happened as they do not know. The Dealer damaged it and FR is stepping up and fixing the problem. There is NOTHING in the frame or design that would damage a J wrap. The units are driven in excess of 1500 miles to the dealer and if there was ANYTHING about stress, it would come up in that transport. Doug

Yes sir Doug, I think you got that exactly right! BTW Forest River picked up my coach this morning. Yippee!!! I hope they will tell me what happened with the J-Wrap? And I’ve already told them I’m concerned from the safety aspect. Somehow enough stress was put on the coach to have caused that problem. That’s one reason I want to know the cause because that will speak to other problems.

Mondooker wrote:
The J-Wrap is under the basement doors and Columbus told me the J-Wrap runs front to back without a seam. Maybe I misunderstood them!

But my question is “How does J-Wrap go from good to bad in 6 days? Seems to me it somehow had to be stressed but am unsure what that would be?

NOBODY makes and installs a seamless Lower Wrap. Cannot be done. there is no way you could take a 35 foot or longer 1 piece J wrap and NOT kink it trying to install. Remember, the people you talk to at the RV maker have NO CLUE how they are put together. They stay in the office and usually have not been in the Production line. From the pic from the brochure, SOMEBODY at the dealership damaged the J wrap. The type exterior doors on your unit could NOT damage the lower J wrap. When a Dealer requests warranty, they have to take numerous pics of the area of damage. They then must submit a request. Odds are from what you have stated, FR declined warranty coverage as FR found there is no way that damage happened from a fault in construction. When a RV is delivered to the Dealer, there is a check in sheet where all discrepancies and exterior damage is listed. IF what you have now was not listed, the RV maker will not fix under warranty. You state it was NOT like that when you originally looked at the unit. So, it is obvious(to FR also) that the dealer damaged the unit. So, if FR has agreed to fix the unit as long as it is returned to FR, I would go with that fix. I would NOT trust the dealer at this point. Now, WHY would you think anything this dealer tells you is truthful? IF I could back out of the deal, I would, and go elsewhere to another Columbus dealer and purchase. Doug

The J-Wrap is under the basement doors and Columbus told me the J-Wrap runs front to back without a seam. Maybe I misunderstood them!

But my question is “How does J-Wrap go from good to bad in 6 days? Seems to me it somehow had to be stressed but am unsure what that would be?

Mondooker wrote:
Hi guys and thanks for your response. Doug, do you have any idea of what the dealer could have done to cause this problem on both sides of the Coach. The J-Wrap was fine when I was there for the PDI. Five days later the J-Wrap was so bad that the dealer service tech said he could see it all the way across the service center.

I was told the J-Wrap on both sides runs the entire length of the Coach. That’s isn’t true?There are certainly no seams shown!.

I can guarantee the PASS side is seamed. How do I know? Well I have replaced this type metal for 40 years as an RV tech. Also, I went to the FR website showing your RV. It shows that splice in front of the entry door. Doug

The J wrap will move with the slides, so pieced there for sure, can't just run the length.

Jerry

Hi guys and thanks for your response. Doug, do you have any idea of what the dealer could have done to cause this problem on both sides of the Coach. The J-Wrap was fine when I was there for the PDI. Five days later the J-Wrap was so bad that the dealer service tech said he could see it all the way across the service center.

I was told the J-Wrap on both sides runs the entire length of the Coach. That’s isn’t true?There are certainly no seams shown!.

I assume you have the River Ranch model. I looked at the J wrap. The J wrap is 2 piece on the Pass side. Junction in front of the entry door about 8 inches. No pics available on the Drivers side. But, there will be NO 1 piece on a J wrap and depending on the slides 4 or 5, J wraps. They come painted. So, I would fault the dealer for this problem. They are incompetent, parts and service. So, YES, let Forest River take it back to Elkhart and fix it, which they will also probably fix all your other issues. I would highly advise you to make arrangements to drive to Elkhart and pick up the unit when it is completed. Just because the Factory will be doing the repairs does NOT mean they will do ALL repairs needed and will do the repairs to your satisfaction. BEING there and going over the repair list will prevent headaches if the unit comes back with problems not addressed. If you cannot get the time to drive to pick it up then you will have to trust FR to get all items repaired. I always advise customers that have transported Factory repairs to get a actual person at the Factory Service Center, for their Name and number. I also tell the customer to make their OWN list with pics and send direct to the Factory Service Ceneter, so there are no misunderstandings of what needs to be repaired. Doug

Mondooker wrote:
I’m happy to say the manufacturer is taking the Coach back for them to fix. I told them I had no confidence in the dealer after all this time. Now I think I’ll get things done!

Well, That does sound like a good conclusion to an issue.... hopefully you can get it picked up, delivered to the factory, fixed and returned to you in a timely manner..


Joe