We Purchased a new Forest River Wildcat 26ft TT in July of 2013. This July I dropped the belly pan to install some 12V power outlets. When I did I found that most of the electrical wires were not protected from chaffing on the frame as well as the water lines, but my biggest surprise was when I got near the axle and found that a frame cross member was bent. I believe that Forest River should buy this back. Where was their quality control? Please let me know your thoughts. If any one would like to see a picture of the cross member let me know.

You bought it this past July and did work the same month but you are addressing 2 months later? Could have been damaged at factory, during transportation from factory to dealer, at the dealers lot or while you owned it. There is going to be a bunch of finger pointing. The burden of proof is on you. You might find just replacing the part easier than fighting.Good luck.

I had a car that went through 3 set of front bushings in 3 months..(under warranty of course) But was concerned it was happening at all. Upon putting it up on a rack my attorneys mechanic determined it was going down the road at an angle. The camber toe couldn't be adjusted within specs. Factory issue. After a year of going back to the shop etc etc.. I found a solution, same dealer was more than happy to take it off my hands, if I purchased another vehicle. As mentioned it might be easier to just replace the bent cross member if doable an practical.

Pictures are nice - there are numerous pieces of angle iron and cross bracing under an RV - is it holding up a water tank? Is it the strip to screw the corrugated underbelly plastic to? Is it just a floor support? Is it the lateral support for stiffening the frame at the axle hangers? Lots of questions here. BTW, I've never seen a grommet used on a RV in the underbelly on typical mass produced brands...

There are several cross members from front to rear that help support the main frame rails. One being bent not that big of a deal unless it has caused other issue such as floor buckle or tires wearing unevenly. What issues does the bent cross member causing ??

mwebber78 wrote:Pictures are nice - there are numerous pieces of angle iron and cross bracing under an RV - is it holding up a water tank? Is it the strip to screw the corrugated underbelly plastic to? Is it just a floor support? Is it the lateral support for stiffening the frame at the axle hangers? Lots of questions here. BTW, I've never seen a grommet used on a RV in the underbelly on typical mass produced brands...Please post a picture(s)-you may get a little more useful comments about possible cause and whether it is a critical issue.

Bent frame on new Forest River Wildcat TT | Good Sam Community

Shavano
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
And now that legal action has been mentioned, the thread is closed.
subdbf572
Explorer
Sep 09, 2013
The dealer advised me to file a complaint with the Oregon department of Justice under Oregon's lemon law. Some wiring is protected and some is not, same with the water lines. Forest River says the wiring and water lines should have been protected.
ReferDog
Explorer
Sep 09, 2013
Not unusual for Forest River. Good luck. Had a Wildcat BENT frame they said it was Liperts fault, so it goes back and forth. Mine was visual you could see the difference from left to right about 6 inches, no they didn't fix it.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Sep 09, 2013
Agree with the other posters you are asking nearly 2 months later ?????......Need pictures...... sounds like it it could be typical of any RV esp. the wiring.
Depends on what cross member & what its use, probably not a bent frame but it is possible. Need Pics....... Also would not make too many mods to the wiring etc. til the warranty is out as you could have voided some of it.
69_Avion
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
We really need some good pictures in order to better assess the situation. If it is a structural cross member that is bent, then I would say that would qualify as a "bent frame". Without some decent pictures we are all guessing.
Bucky_Badger
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
so the frame isn't actually bent
thomasmnile
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
subdbf572 wrote:
I believe that Forest River should buy this back. Where was their quality control?

What you describe for better or worse with the water lines and wiring sounds like a typical RV build for many manufacturers. The cross member issue..... like others wrote, depends on it its function.

You believe FR should buy the unit back. Hold that thought; you have a much better chance of winning Powerball............or getting struck by lightning!
RamTX
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
mwebber78 wrote:
Pictures are nice - there are numerous pieces of angle iron and cross bracing under an RV - is it holding up a water tank? Is it the strip to screw the corrugated underbelly plastic to? Is it just a floor support? Is it the lateral support for stiffening the frame at the axle hangers? Lots of questions here. BTW, I've never seen a grommet used on a RV in the underbelly on typical mass produced brands...

Please post a picture(s)-you may get a little more useful comments about possible cause and whether it is a critical issue.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Sep 08, 2013
There are several cross members from front to rear that help support the main frame rails. One being bent not that big of a deal unless it has caused other issue such as floor buckle or tires wearing unevenly.

What issues does the bent cross member causing ??
mwebber78
Explorer
Sep 08, 2013
Pictures are nice - there are numerous pieces of angle iron and cross bracing under an RV - is it holding up a water tank? Is it the strip to screw the corrugated underbelly plastic to? Is it just a floor support? Is it the lateral support for stiffening the frame at the axle hangers? Lots of questions here. BTW, I've never seen a grommet used on a RV in the underbelly on typical mass produced brands...