Not happy with Forest River!

[dlturner00]

I purchased a Silverback 35qb4 in 2012. My bedroom slide already has water damage and naturally Forest River says it is a maintenance issue. I have found no signs of voids or loose caulking that would cause this problem. I inspect this every year at least once and have seen nothing until the slide floor swelled up to the point of moving the lower t molding down 1/4". There were several other issues I had with shoddy construction and poor design which I repaired myself. Disgusting to spend that kind of money on something and get this kind of customer support. I'm done with Forest River.

[jdiffend]

I picked up a used 2005 Cedar Creek Daydreamer a couple years ago and whoever had it never took it back to the dealer to have issues fixed under warranty.

The entertainment slide was so poorly aligned that there was a gap on the right side and I know it came from the factory that way. When I had it fixed the service person had to trim a cabinet knob to shorten it enough so the slide could be moved over enough to seal.

I've found other issues that were clearly from the factory so I can't say I'm thrilled with the construction.

One issue I'm not sure about is who installed a 2nd converter charger instead of an inverter to run the residential fridge. I don't know if it was the factory or the dealer but the breaker box definitely had someone label it as an inverter.

[rmalik1]

sadiesassy wrote:
IN the first two years of owning my Forest River 5th wheel. It was in repair for 320 of 500 days of ownership/. Roof replaced twice. Front Cap replaced - design error.
Forest River responses were to deny any warranty until you threatened to sue.
They were quoting things not covered - even thought the warranty said they were covered.

Favorite response from Forest River VP: " You need to understand we sell trailers to dealers who sell to the public. Your issue is with the dealer ( thinking we have a lemon)"

So my impression is - Forrest River Management team lacks honor and integrity. Based on 40 people I met at a Camper World Jamboree - It sounds like they have simialr experience.

UNfortunately the Sunset Business fights every attempt to push improvements like in the auto industry.

Sorry can't believe you, as my experience sounds nothing like that! Hack job? Others here also have posted how wonderful CC has been. Try Henry Sears East Coast Warranty Administrator. Remember they help me and was a couple yrs out of warranty!

[rmalik1]

Just cashed a check from CC for $885.00 - been out of warranty for a couple yrs. Just like that a check for components not made by CC.

Frog Rally; they do that type of work for free!

[FlatBroke]

I was the warranty writer for a high volume ag dealer. Warranty starts with a good dealer. I could get warranty on a yoyo string if it's presented properly. Got a guy who absolutely abused his baler. Whining and complaining about everything. He would not grease something and belly ache when it failed. Got tired of his kraap. Sent warranty in failure because of lack of grease. Warranty denied! He paid. I could have BSed the manufacture and got it approved. Finally stopped his garbage claims when he had to start paying for his abuse. Dealer is generally in control.

[sadiesassy]

IN the first two years of owning my Forest River 5th wheel. It was in repair for 320 of 500 days of ownership/. Roof replaced twice. Front Cap replaced - design error.
Forest River responses were to deny any warranty until you threatened to sue.
They were quoting things not covered - even thought the warranty said they were covered.

Favorite response from Forest River VP: " You need to understand we sell trailers to dealers who sell to the public. Your issue is with the dealer ( thinking we have a lemon)"

So my impression is - Forrest River Management team lacks honor and integrity. Based on 40 people I met at a Camper World Jamboree - It sounds like they have simialr experience.

UNfortunately the Sunset Business fights every attempt to push improvements like in the auto industry.

[dlturner00]

laknox wrote:
When doing a PDI, you always have to remember that there's an awful lot you simply can't see, that's behind walls or panels or underneath. I don't think there's one person here who would demand a dealer pull the coroplast off the entire bottom for a PDI. Think of the guy who recently posted about his 4 month old FW catching fire and burning in Quartzite due to chafed wiring and hydraulic hoses. How do you catch this? Sawdust gets left in the attic space and will filter down through vents, speakers and light fixtures. I know =all= my light fixtures had sawdust in them after the first year; no way to catch that unless we removed them all to check. Same with AC ducts; how many simply aren't attached or are crushed? I read on here several years ago about a guy who had to do some work on his FW and, after removing a panel, saw that the plumbing and wiring had been run through a wall by simply bashing a hole in the wall with a hammer. How do you find stuff like this in a PDI? Would you accept it if you did? I am in NO WAY defending the RV industry; it's truly shameful the way they send these things out, expecting the dealers to finish the job that should be done at the factory. Just stating a truth, is all...

Lyle

This! Really, the manufacturer should send out **** so the dealer has to make repairs before the customer can take delivery? I don't know how a company can stay in business operating in this manner. I know I would be unemployed if our products reached the customer in this condition.

[ependydad]

allimax wrote:
Jeez, this sounds like a Keystone thread.........

Name your maker- they all have lemons and they all have "perfect" units.

Buying a RV is a freaking ****shoot. It sucks.

[MPI_Mallard]

X2, CC refinished my 07' Daydreamer two years ago as the clear-coat started flaking, I'll never own another brand!!

[klassic]

I had slide leaky problems on my 2009 Silverback after 2.5 years. I talked nicely to CC and they did $6000 worth of repairs for free. Also fixed things that I broke, and that just broke on their own.
I can't say one bad thing about CC.

[ken_burke]

jrs1871 wrote:
Ken, are you parked in the infield of the race track. We are over by the south end of the We stage with the CCRVOC group. I will take a walk through tomorrow and try to find you.
But what a better place to be. We had a couple of relatively minor things on our service list and our refrigerator shot ****s on the way here. Right now it has bags of ice in it trying to keep what we have in it from spoiling.

Bummer . . . . . I hope they can fix/replace your refig. We have a water leak in the pass-thru. Failed water pump.
Yes . . . . please come by. As you are coming into the grandstand area, we are in the long line of Cedar Creek on the left. We are on the third CC from the end. A white 5th wheel, Ford F350 white. Truck's license ytz 0086. I think. We well be in the service area at 08:30, or so on Sunday.

ken and sue

[allimax]

Jeez, this sounds like a Keystone thread.........

[jrs1871]

Ken, are you parked in the infield of the race track. We are over by the south end of the stage with the CCRVOC group. I will take a walk through tomorrow and try to find you.
But what a better place to be. We had a couple of relatively minor things on our service list and our refrigerator shot ****s on the way here. Right now it has bags of ice in it trying to keep what we have in it from spoiling.

[ken_burke]

jrs1871 wrote:
I don't know if you dealt with directly with the factory or went through your dealer. I do know that Cedar Creek has fixed problems after the warranty period has expired. It is sometimes a case of getting a hold of the right person to present your issue. My suggestion is to take pictures of the affected areas, inside and outside, and submit that with a detailed explanation of the issues. Don't get belligerent or demanding, just present the facts. At the moment I don't know the person for you to contact. But we are headed to the FROG rally tomorrow and I'll bet someone there can tell me.
It is too late for this year, but Forest River makes many repairs to their products each year at the FROG rally. And not all of the repairs they perform are the result of the manufacturing process. Some are operator error, but they will take care of you.
FWIW, we are on our fourth fifth wheel and the second Cedar Creek and we have never had the customer service on the other brands like this. We didn't have major problems, but FR still took care of us even out of warranty.

. . .
I agree with above. Cedar Creek is a well designed trailer and well made. Forest River is very easy to work with.
RIGHT NOW we are at the FROG rally (8/8/15) in Goshen IN. We have a lot of repaires that Forest River will work on this week. Most of the problems are self inflected.

ken and sue

[WrightOn]

Sorry for your trouble. We have the same Silverback model ('08) and haven't had one issue with it. So, as much as CC and Forest River took a hit in the OP, I will give them a thumbs up. Neither the OP or my post should sway one's opinion. It is just two experiences.....just on different parts of the spectrum.
BTW, we love our 35L4QB!