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Topic ClosedAbandoned by FR and dealer - Event Date: 16 Mar 2017
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Abandoned by FR and dealer
    Posted: 19 Mar 2017 at 6:02pm
Originally posted by mcarter

...Have you considered posting your comments to the Forest River Forum, under RPods? It is a different group than this one, but has some common members. This group is by far the most positive, constructive and helpful, so I'm not saying you should look for support from other forums, but if I wanted to vent I would take a jab at a site that has a Forest River name attached to it. ...

Note that the Forest River Forum is not run by FR and there is no association between them.  The people that run it are very strict about what you post - unless you are one of them.  Post about any other forum or brand and be ready to be threatened with banning.  See one of the mods have a camper for sale in their signature so you do it, too, and be threatened with banning.  I visited for about a month before I gave up.  Just sayin'.

FR visits this forum regularly and sees posts like this, I know for a fact.  
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Mar 2017 at 10:12pm
Bill

Thank you for sharing the frustration. The 182g we have was the first rv for me and the wife. Lots of sawdust, spare fittings, parts , little things that shouldn't be. I did not know any better and thought that it was normal, although unacceptable. Water leaks, dead batteries, and several surprises as well. After many mods and a few trips, I am really happy with the pod and wouldn't want to ever get rid of it. I drove about 180 miles to get mine becuse I couldn't find one closer. So, I never even considered warranty , being naive, I just started dealing with what I didn't like and knew could be better. Bottom line is, the factory could do better on quality control, however the pod is better than the shortcomings that detract from the overall product. I hope that you find some peace in this and enjoy the trips that await you. I wish quality was what it used to be that you experienced.
TexMan 2015 182g
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Bill-J View Drop Down
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Posts: 36 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Mar 2017 at 4:53pm
Thanks for the comments John.

You are right. PoulsboRV totally washed their hands of me the minute I drove the Rpod off the lot.

My answer is to forget Forest River and PoulsboRV and do it myself or take it to an independent RV repair shop in the area.  I'll forget the rest of my warranty as it is totally irrelevant anyway.

To bad they do not have a Lemon law for trailers.
When in doubt, don't.
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Mar 2017 at 3:36pm
 I can totally commiserate with your experience of quality and service, I also had some bumps before being satisfied with my Pod. 

Sawdust.. Yeah, mine had sawdust in every hidden crevice, and especially the light fixtures before and after each trip, I would dump some out. I used a shop vac to suck it out of the wire exit holes wherever I could. It eventually stopped.

EVERY single RV on the planet will kill a battery in a few weeks. The propane detector is hardwired. It cannot be turned off. All owners end up either removing the battery between trips (a pain) or installing a disconnect switch. You will still have to charge them occasionally or they will self discharge anyhow.

 The water leak in your shower was totally unacceptable. I know it's impossible to test every single system when picking up, but water from the drain. Wow, the shower floor trampoline sounds like someone at the factory forgot to add the floor buffers during construction.

 The radio issue is another that should be considered unacceptable. You should be able to use the appliances when plugged into shore power (but the furnace might not work on shore power alone, found this out myself, required having a battery installed).

Your dealer sounds like they didn't have any interest in going to bat for you, they were not in your corner. I hope you can get through all the crap, and find a better dealer in your area. You already know that fixing it yourself is the most timely way, and will be done to your satisfaction, but at 80, I wouldn't want to put up with that stuff.
2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Mar 2017 at 7:17am
I agree with Furpod, many are dealer issues, we had a couple of the same issues when we bought our 179, went back to the dealer and they fixed all issue and most of them immediately. Our dealer cares that you are a happy Customer and will keep coming back!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
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Posts: 89 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Mar 2017 at 6:24am
I bought a 2017.5 180 back in November.  Worst issue so far is after a couple of trips the shower started leaking horribly (water pouring out on ground bad) and so did the kitchen sink a little.  Problem was FR did not fully seal the drains, so a little plumbers putty fixed those right up.  However, yes, I was pretty amazed (appalled really) that the shower supports the occupant with just a thin sheet of plywood and a 2x4 in each corner.   Would not be a bad idea to beef this up.  Sad to hear FR and dealership left you in the cold.
Bama Pod
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Mar 2017 at 5:14pm
Bill-J,

Very eye opening post on issues with warranty, dealers and manufacturers. Have you considered posting your comments to the Forest River Forum, under RPods? It is a different group than this one, but has some common members. This group is by far the most positive, constructive and helpful, so I'm not saying you should look for support from other forums, but if I wanted to vent I would take a jab at a site that has a Forest River name attached to it. I spend a little time on the other site and there's others that are not happy with dealers and manufacturer not solely based on Pods. I know my 178 that is NOT under warranty has issues, I have fixed the problems I wanted to, and ignored or worked around the issues I didn't want to. I hope it all works out for you and Thank You for you for your post.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posts: 471 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Mar 2017 at 5:03pm
+1
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Mar 2017 at 4:30pm
Thinking about my comment, understand, I am not in anyway trying to run you off or poopoo your issues.. but, at 80, I would rather see you happy, then unhappy.. I hope, if I should last that long.. I am happy.. Wink

That said, in reality, a couple of your issues are pretty minor, still issues, but they shouldn't, or were not hard to address. Take the battery to Autozone or Batteries +, they will test it for free.

Most of our owners don't have to many issues, and usually don't have a lot of problems getting them addressed. Some.. well, a lot of this, sounds to be a dealer issue. Unfortunately.

Hope you can get in some podding soon..
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Bill-J View Drop Down
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Posts: 36 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Mar 2017 at 3:21pm
Thanks for the comment.  The reason I went quiet as you said was I still had faith in the dealer and FR and wanted to give them a chance to make things right.  But when my wife and I just finally understood that we were not getting any help from FR or the dealer and just wrote them off it was a very calming moment.  Most of the anxiety was dealing with them the arguments with them and the frustration.  

Since I am a "handy man" it is OK.  FYI I built (from a hull) a 52' 38Ton 3 masted all aluminum Chinese junk.  Took 12 years and I lived on the boat for 25 years (wife 18 yrs) so there is not much I cannot do. Also been a "ham" for 63 years and a EE mostly in design and maintenance.

Again just the frustration for paying top dollar for junk.
When in doubt, don't.
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