Needing some advice on a situation with our 5er

[Nicholsfamily05]

Good morning, have a question for the group, looking for some direction.
We purchased this 2017 Sierra 377FLIK (front living room) last year. It just hit a year mark with us.
Since the time we purchased it the 5er has been at the shop more than our possession because of problems.
I will make a list of them shortly.
But after reading the list do you think we have any standing on asking them to take the trailer back and get something comparable to it. As now that it is out of warranty these problems become mine and I already absolutely hate the rig. Floor plan was wife’s idea also the manufacturer was to as I despise Forest River, but her money her choice. But towing it back and forth to the shop is my truck and miles. Over a hundred round trip.
So here is the list
Hydraulics won’t hold level front end keeps lowering
Hydraulics shut off when putting out landing gear or retracting it. Have to shut it off and then wait and try again.
Hydraulics to put the slides in and out shut off and have to wait 30 seconds and they will work again.
(Shop says they can’t duplicate it)
Rain leaked past the rear ac unit several times.
While slide was in and while slide was out. Soaking bed, floor, closets in the master bedroom.
The counter top cracked on first trip(fixed)
The toilet cracked on first trip. When they repaired it something broke underneath causing the under belly to fill up with yeah that stuff.
Shower is leaking into under belly
Shower skylight cracked.
Main entry door locks not functioning upon arrival
Main door screen holder ripped out
Surround sound crapped out.
The brain for the leveling system does not remember level even after being set several times.
Nor does it remember hook up height and disconnect setting.
Awning came undone from trailer.
Fixed it but now it doesn’t roll up correctly.
Redid it again and yet again awning broke and won’t roll up correctly.
And a few other minor things.
Most of these have been fixed but as it is it is at the shop right now.
Hydraulics are bing checked out to figure out what’s wrong.

We received an email response from forest river but it hasn’t been helpful.
They only have record of our trailer being in the shop last November for the broken counter top.
It is coming up on three weeks and have not had a reply or phone call back from the Forest River Rep.

We have talked to the bank and are calling back on Monday to see what avenues they can afford us.

We are also contacting a rep for the lemon laws to see what else we can do.
The law here in Connecticut just simply says.
Reasonable number or repair chances or a reasonable amount of time to complete the repair during warranty.
They have had our trailer for months on end so I’m thinking we have something there.

The dealer says well the things that have gone wrong are noted so just keep bringing it back each time it’s broken and we will keep fixing.
Nope not happening.
They have had it since the first week of November and are still currently working on it. Wife checked on it the other day and brought up that we have talked to forest river. The owner studarded some and replied with well most of the repairs our at our cost not the manufacturer.

Needless to say we are beyond mad right now.

Any insight or helpful ideas would be nice.

[Hammerboy]

We Had our Wildcat replaced by the factory last year. I know it sounds bad that they had to replace it but Forest River has been good to deal with and our dealer was even better in getting it resolved. It pays to buy from a good dealer.

Problem is 90% of them are built like ****, it's not just a Forest River problem. If you bought one before and had very few problems consider yourself fortunate. If you buy an RV you should have some handy man skills if not you will learn 😉

Dan

[Nicholsfamily05]

So we talked to the bank today and they agreed that it has had a lot of issues and we should get a different trailer.
They said it happens all the time and they have a center for these types of situations.

We go to the dealer tell them the bank has agreed that the trailer is a lemon and then they contact the bank with a number they gave us.
We all then agree on a different trailer that’s equal or great value and give the bank the info and they change it over.
They say no lose to dealer as it counts as another sale for them for the books.

But they didn’t explain what happens to the trailer and so forth. But going to dealer this afternoon to see if they have heard of this.

They said they do it this way to avoid the attorney fees and other things associated with that type of proceeding.

[ACZL]

Could always contact Trailer Life RV Action line as well. Folks seem to come to a resolve 99% of the time.

FR is a huge company and not all divisions of FR are of the same caliber when it comes to customer service. Had a '06 Cedar Creek Silverback and from day 1 had great customer service. May have gotten a little lax before we sold it, but CC always took care of any issue I had.

[klr650goldwing]

So sorry to hear about your problems with the RV. I'd say a year of patience is way more than enough. Trailer life, the magazine, might be able to help. It seems that RV manufacturers respond most quickly when they are embarrassed publicly. So, my strategy, if I were in your shoes, would be to make this story as public as possible and let the manufacturer know each time your story shows up in some publication. I would try to expose them in every way possible, newspapers, magazines and online. Maybe even a billboard near the factory with the lemon picture mentioned above on it. Good luck. RVing is fun, but not with that rig.

[TXiceman]

Sorry for the problems, but this is getting to be the norm for so many RVs. I would be sending the manufacture a demand letter demanding that the RV be replaced in total at no cost to you.

Ken

[EgorKC]

Can only help with one issue, the slides stopping before all the way out. We have an FR 5th wheel bought new in 2012. 2 or 3rd trip out we had slides stopping while extending or retracting. After waiting about 30 seconds could continue. Researched online and discovered a Service Bulletin by Lippert Frames. Many of these have a 40 amp "auto reset" inline breaker on the slides. Amp draw on some slide units can exceed 40 amps and it trips. The recommended fix was a 50 amp auto reset breaker. After 2 local parts dealers told me 40 amp was highest made I checked Amazon. 2 manufacturers make 50 amp. I bought one and installed (bout 5 minutes). 5 years later and no problems.
Greg

[phillyg]

I went thru similar with a new 2014 Wildcat. The factory agreed to bring it back to the factory for repairs. We traded it in instead. You gotta stay on top of them. I have to say I found FR more customer friendly than Keystone.

[jjj]

I had a 95 chevy astro van that the dealer could never fix the problem that I had with it. After 5 visits I decided to post lemon all over the van and drove for an hour around the dealer. They called the police on me and when they showed up and explained my delema they went and told the dealer that I was in my rights and nothing they could do as long as I was not on their property. About 10 minutes later the manager can out to talk to me and they took it into the service bays and gave me a loaner. Next day they found the problem and all was well. Sometimes the noisy wheels gets the grease. This may help you if not trade it in and take the lose and be done with it. I know it is hard to do but it maybe necessary. Good luck

[PopBeavers]

From time to time I have thought about the legal liability of badging something in a negative manner an parking it in front of a dealer. It made me nervous.

What I liked better was the idea of a sing saying "Ask me what I think of ..." and then sit there and answer questions from anyone that stops by.

[Nicholsfamily05]

toedtoes wrote:
I'd talk to an attorney about what you can do at this point.

You have had advice to get rid of it and to put lemon decals all over it. Just remember, the decals aren't going to help you unload it... 😉

Yes we called yesterday but they weren’t open. So Monday starts the process and hopefully we can get this ball rolling.

[toedtoes]

I'd talk to an attorney about what you can do at this point.

You have had advice to get rid of it and to put lemon decals all over it. Just remember, the decals aren't going to help you unload it... 😉

[Nicholsfamily05]

We are looking into the CT lemon laws but as the top post says it’s very vague.

It actually leaks through the ac unit. Not the slides.

[azrving]

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:
Tow it to the Hershey RV Show with the LEMON signs all over it!

These RV manufactures need to stop mass producing this junk!

Also, a lot of the problem is people want 5 slides, sleep 10 people, have all these extra things put into them. Outside shower, TV, speakers, fireplace, the list is long. Then wonder why they leak with all the holes put in them.

This contributes to producing the junk while trying to keep costs down. Can't have it all.

Go back to less is more and keep it simple.

I have looked at 3 or 4 slide models and it made me think Swiss cheese. Does a box get more or less rigid with more holes in it.

I deal with one large slide then think about 3 or 4 times as many.

[gbopp]

Does the Connecticut Lemon Law cover 5th wheels?