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.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

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.

[azrving]

X2 midnight
After this much time and possibly little documentation, if you are not able to fix the stuff yourself I'd take the hit and dump it. The next problem is what do you buy next.

When you start talking about black tank leakage I wouldn't be surprised that the tanks are ready to fall out. I have the ability to fix everything so I'd go over it from one end to the other starting with the tanks and support structure that needs to be repaired or added. Along with that I'd check out the frame for any cracking or potential weak areas and add/weld in reinforcement. Sometimes the frame shackle areas crack and twist.

I spent every day for a month going over the last used FW that my son bought before it was road ready.

He or I are not going anywhere in something that is unpredictable or one thing after another. It all has to be dealt with one way or the other so I like my beatings to be all at one time.

I also love the banner idea. Even if I had to do all of it myself I'd probably come up with a large decal for the rear that would say much.

[Nicholsfamily05]

We have contacted the manufacturer with all the issue. But that is in the original post.

To the gentleman who said stuck with the floor plan. Yes I get that. It wasn’t my choice just a statement I made. I let the wife pick out what she wanted since she was paying for it.

No sorry not Brooklyn New York.

I really liked the idea of parking it out front with lemons on it. Hahaha. I’d do it as a joke but to far for me to drive.

The shop hasn’t really been an issue. They have been pretty good to us working with us and having it ready for our trips. Not much they can do to keep it from breaking.

This is our third camper. Our first camper was a forest river windjammer which we bought new and got rid of 8 months later as it was also riddled with problems. The wife did not listen when I said please don’t buy another forest eiver.
Our second trailer was a cross roads cruiser 40’ bunk house which only had one problem in the 4 years we owned it. The emergency pull for the breaks melted. No one knows why. But the kids out grew the bunks so it didn’t work.
Now this is our third camper and well as you can see riddled with problems again. Forest river garbage.

[azdryheat]

Sadly, your story is pretty common on these forums. The way these trailers are made it's really a crapshoot as to how well it's built. The line workers are paid by the piece to build them quickly and send them out the door with little, if any, regard to quality. In the first 6 months that we had our Voltage we wanted to get rid of it. Now that the bugs are worked out it's been reliable. Note that I did most of the repair work myself as I didn't want it sitting for months at Camping World. One option for you is finding another shop to do the work if you're not satisfied with the current shop.

[midnightsadie]

I hate headaches, always some thing broke ,no support from dealer ,trade it off ,your just going to fight this for years and still won,t have rv sorry thats how I see it. its been a year now and your getting no where.

[blackeyed1]

Place huge banners on it "NO help from Forest River", tape lemons all over it and park it near a main road. Then send pics to manufacturer!

[Road_Phantom]

Is that Brooklyn, as in, NYC Brooklyn? We lived in Park Slope and Bayridge. I started camping with 5th wheels since 1985 with a Holiday Rambler. Since then I've had six 5th wheels of different makes over the years.
The RV industry in not a quality controlled one like the auto industry with its robotics and checks and balances. Some of these manufacturers only care about pumping them out the door with little regard for the finished product. That being said, over the years I have had some that were better than others. The good; 1997 Designer by Jayco, 2002 Artic Fox, 2006 Holiday Rambler and my latest a 2011 Keystone cougar. None of the others I've had were ever as bad as the one you mention. I will say I looked at a Forest Hill 5th wheel on a lot once. It was brand new and the inside roof panels were hanging down. Lots of luck and do pursue that lemon law.

[donn0128]

Sorry for your problems. They almost all sound like Lippert component issues. How have you contacted FR? I would start with a letter stating in detail everything that has happened, exactly how many days and how many trips to the dealer. Pictures if you have them. Ask them if it is not finally time to take it back to the factory to make it right. Dont get nasty of threatening, just the facts. We have owned a Cedar Creek for 12 years and it has been fantastic. I habe also read stories about people having their trailers shipped back to the factory and after getting it back have been very pleased. That of course wont help your your poor choice of floor plans. That mistake is on you.