Manufacturer mistake led to plumbing leak

So this is what I received.
"After further review this is not something that we would cover. As you are a second owner and we cannot deem this as a manufacturing issue because it is noted in our owner’s manual (page 53) that this must be checked on a monthly basis by customer"

I'm speechless... I can see denying me because I'm the second owner but saying I should've inspected it? They stapled into a water line hidden behind trim. So a friendly PSA to all fellow r-Pod owners to inspect all your water lines to see if they stapled into them. You should be doing this monthly.

I like the comparison to the auto industry. It's so frustrating the manufacturers can get away with it. In our case, we paid a little over 12k for our lightly used r-Pod. I understand it's not a lot to pay for a trailer but nonetheless, it's still a significant outlay of cash.

In my opinion, it's inexcusable that Forest River is having workers staple trim to the wall right above pex without having anything to protect the line. One slight misfire and now I'm in this situation. And the leak was slow, but has clearly been going on for a long time. If I hadn't forgotten my pressure regulator, who knows how long it would be before I found the leak and how much damage would be done.

As you said about the trim, I expect to have to work on things like that. It doesn't even really bother me. I understand compromises must be made to hit weight and cost targets. The one thing I was really petrified of dealing with is water damage, and here I am.

On a lighter note, I'm glad the r-Pod has an active forum. I've definitely learned a lot / gotta great ideas from all the fellow pod owners!

Originally posted by GlueGuy So you've outlined one problem. Your parent's Airstream didn't have one problem in 20 years? I know lots of people, OK a few people, that have owned Airstreams, and let me assure you, they have problems. I'm not diminishing the problem you've had, and it sure sounds like a doozy. We have been very happy with our RP-179. It's not perfect, but We did save close to $40,000 over an equivalent-function Airstream.

My parents Airstream has of course had things go wrong but it's generally been due to the wear and tear of several cross country trips. They've never had any leaks or other serious problems. Maybe they've been lucky but I brought it up because it's my point of reference. My r-Pod was barely used by the original owner and has only been used for a few short trips by me. Every time we use the trailer the moulding on the top of the slide pops off. Glued on trim pieces have started to come off. There's a small leak in the slide out below the kitchen sink. Last trip, we were delayed because the line connected to the propane tank began to leak. I didn't mention these problems in my original post because to be honest, none of them are a big deal to quickly fix. I was happy with my r-Pod because the structure seemed sound and I love the features / floor plan. Now I'm faced with a wet and moldy subfloor, and based on what I've seen elsewhere on the forums, potential structural issues if the wood rots. This on a trailer not even 3 years old that has yet to leave New England. For a trailer that retails new over 20K, I definitely expect better. We'll see, if Forest River does the right thing and helps me out I'll have the opportunity to be happy with mine as well.

So you've outlined one problem. Your parent's Airstream didn't have one problem in 20 years? I know lots of people, OK a few people, that have owned Airstreams, and let me assure you, they have problems. I'm not diminishing the problem you've had, and it sure sounds like a doozy. We have been very happy with our RP-179. It's not perfect, but We did save close to $40,000 over an equivalent-function Airstream.

Thanks for your reply! I wasn't expecting Airstream build quality due to the cost differential but as you said, this is an extreme example of negligence. Trim falling off is one thing but a leak that could potentially destroy my trailer is a whole other matter.

I've kept all the parts and the problem is obvious from the single rusty staple in the trim as well as the corresponding rusty hole on the pex line. I'm going to take more pictures today. I'm definitely taking your advice and will reach out to Forest River. I'll start with customer service and use social media channels if need be to try and get someone's attention.

I'm also going to buy the moisture sensor so I can see what I'm dealing with. It's just so frustrating because I'm sure this pipe has been leaking since the day the trailer left the factory. I thoroughly looked over the trailer before purchasing it but would not have seen the leak without lifting up the floor.

Thanks again