Underbelly fell while traveling

[ddschuman]

Well, this is certainly a first for us. We stopped to get fuel and noticed the underbelly on curb side was falling exposing insulation and wires. We were able to get put back in place and hoping it doesn't happen again. We are just glad we caught it before it fell down anymore. It was down on one side about 1/2 the length of trailer and hanging close to the ground. We've been on the road 4 hours and have no idea how long it's been down. It wasn't that way when we left home. Hoping this is not a sign to what to expect this trip.

[ddschuman]

campinghut wrote:
The panels on your Cedar Creek are held up by, first being above the frame rails and second by screws into wood usually along the joints of the panels.

someone messed up at factory, I believe. One area is screwed below the frame and all other above frame. I'm pretty sure this is why it failed. I call dealer yesterday and they told me if we were able to secure it, it should be fine for trip and to bring in when we get back. It hasn't fallen again and we are checking it often. No damage appeared to be done and we are just thankful it was noticed before it fell all the way out.

[buc1980]

I use (to prevented that) aluminum 1 1/2 angle across the belly .Use small screws to bolt it down you will never have problem.

[campinghut]

The panels on your Cedar Creek are held up by, first being above the frame rails and second by screws into wood usually along the joints of the panels.

[3oaks]

Forest River products must surely have improved. I think half of their workforce left and spread out to the rest of the RV manufacturers if the lack of quality control throughout the whole industry today is any indication.

[old_guy]

sorry to say but I hated working on forest river products. it was like they are built by a crew with left brain problems. I had a forest river as a TT and they put two different sized tires on it. things fell apart faster than I could keep them fixed. couldn't wait to get rid of it. again sorry about you problem, but I would take it to a dealer and have it gone through with a fine toothed comb

[ddschuman]

Dano1955 wrote:
As a new RVer and soon to be Full Timer I sure hope nothing like that happens to me at least until I get some on the road and minor repair experience.

I'd freak and starve by the side of the road 😄

This was certainly something we had never thought about happening but it did. Most other stuff that has ever happened to us is really minor and easily fixed yourself.

[Dano1955]

As a new RVer and soon to be Full Timer I sure hope nothing like that happens to me at least until I get some on the road and minor repair experience.

I'd freak and starve by the side of the road 😄

[Halmfamily]

I would check your fresh water tank. Ours fell out last summer, 2/3 full, while pulling out of our driveway. This is on a 2015 FR Sierra. We heard a loud bang, stopped and half the tank was hanging out from under the front. We dropped the belly and dumped the tank, cut all hoses and wires and pulled the tank out. Resecured the coroplast and continued our trip to the lake.

A FR rep came to the dealership with a new tank, bracing and coroplast and repaired the damage. He said the welding on the tank bracket failed and took everything back for closer inspection.

Good luck and have fun.

[2oldman]

ddschuman wrote:
I wish it was on a weekday and I'd call Cedar Creek and ask.

IF they have a contact form on their website, use that. Sometimes those are monitored 24/7.

[TakingThe5th]

If you have some tie-down straps and a good place to hook them you might consider a temp repair that at least keeps all the parts safe and on the rig. Just saying ...

[ddschuman]

downtheroad wrote:
Not good...but good catch.
2016 new trailer?
Wondering if they forgot to completely secure it at the factory??

Were any of your holding tanks full like the fresh water tank? Maybe it came loose, shifted down and pushed the underbelly down? I'd check that also.

( I'm never amazed anymore with the general lack of quality in the RV industry).

I'm thinking they didn't secure at factory but we are traveling with 2/3 full fresh water tank. We will be sure and check that out also. Never thought about that. Thanks!

[ddschuman]

not sure there is a forest river dealer in our path today. We are kind of in the middle of no mans land right now. It didn't appear anything was damaged...at least we hope not. We will check it out better in a few hours when we get to our stopover place and then try to find a dealer nearby if it appears to have problems. The way it looked was that it just pops in under lip. There are no screw holes anywhere so not sure what is supposed to secure it. I wish it was on a weekday and I'd call Cedar Creek and ask. Oh, we just stopped at rest area to make a sandwich and pendant light was hanging by the wires. We fixed it. The roads were pretty rough a little while ago. I imagine it rattled the light loose. No biggie, we are on vacation. Fixed it and rolling on 🙂

[newman_fulltime]

This is very odd seeing cedar creek uses a pre molded belly that slides in between the frame rails and should be screwed the width at each joint to a 2 by 2

[korbe]

First thing I would do is find out how it failed. Mine would either rip or screws come out. Then figure out why it happened. And go from there.