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U.S. Rpod Owners 2009-2010 models: PLEASE READ |
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TerryM 
Admin Group - pHp 
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
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 Topic: U.S. Rpod Owners 2009-2010 models: PLEASE READPosted: 01 Oct 2011 at 4:05am |
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I think there were only 34 comments made. Now we just have to wait for the decision I guess. If it goes against Forest River I hope we can get the recall work done at any Forest River dealer. I really don't want to drive back to Ohio for the work to be done.
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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gmandual
Senior Member 
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 246 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 1:20pm |
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So here is where it stands on the "what if o-meter" based on what I have found out through experts and legal council over the last year while working the issue with NHTSA/DOT etc:
"If" Forest River does get a waiver from NHTSA and no recall is issued: - It doesn't necessarily make trailer legal to drive/license in your state. State laws and requirements take precedent over what NHTSA says. - It doesn't necessarily exempt the dealer who sold you the trailer or FR from legal liability in your state. (in some states it illegal for a dealer to sell you a non-compliant trailer, even if they didn't know it wasn't compliant at the time) - It doesn't clear FR from being on the losing end of a class action lawsuit regardless of waiver - Individuals are also free to take FR or their dealer to civil court over misrepresentation of product, loss of use of trailer, as well as loss of trailer value due to "defect" - Your trailer might not be legal for sale in your state, depending on state laws. If a dealer buys your trailer used, THEY will have to fix it before they could resell it. Which could mean no trade in value on R-Pod's with out lights. Should you try to retrofit the trailer youself: - I was advised by legal council to not attempt it. Why? Right now if you are in an accident and insufficient illumination is to blame, then ultimately FR and even your RV dealer would end up with financial responsibility. If you attempt a retrofit yourself (due to difficulty in getting things right) you may not get it done correclty and then could assume legal liability if illumination is found to be fault of an accident. - 3 top lights must have illumination parallel to the ground, which is extremely difficult to do without building a custom piece. Which is going to be beyond most everyones technical expertise to get it right and attached to the trailer. Considering how little feedback I think FR "thought" they would get on their waiver petition, I bet they are not happy with what has been submitted. Personally I think FR legal department has a screw loose, as they have to know that retrofiting the trailers would cost them significant less than fighting individual civil cases, class action cases, as well as other legal costs associated with their actions. But then again, it could be like everything else.....they could be blissfully ignorant of the facts and ignorant of fact that the NHTSA case isn't just one "crazy" (me) owner who filled a formal complaint.
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 11:47am |
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Here is a tail/brake light bar that is 18" (17.88") long. Use some black paint to make it appear to be 3 lights. Then you would have a center clearance light/brake light: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&category=TRUCK&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2Fblb-r9.htm Mount this on the AC unit.
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 11:19am |
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Here is a nice fender light: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&category=TRUCK&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2Frfl-ra24.htm#photos
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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sfish
Senior Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Location: Bloomington Mn. Online Status: Offline Posts: 134 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 10:34am |
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I dont like towing at night so thats not the issue for me but if the light bar worked as a brake light I think that would dramatically improve the overall safety of towing.
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sjf
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 9:29am |
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Not a bad idea there Doug! Besides up on the AC housing would be a better location than what FR is doing.
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 9:23am |
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If their request is granted and I have to make this change myself, I'll find generic orange LED-based marker lights and glue them in place. There are several directions I could go with the wire, but ultimately its going to have to run behind the soft molding that runs along both sides of the trailer (which is removeable), to the front of the pod where I can then tap into the wires coming from the Bargman connector. I'm camping this weekend so I'll take a minute to eyeball the situation. Heck, I might even cheat and add the lights to the rear of the A/C housing. Then I won't have wires (or wire channels) visible anywhere!
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sfish
Senior Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Location: Bloomington Mn. Online Status: Offline Posts: 134 |
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Posted: 30 Sep 2011 at 12:09am |
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I posted tonight.
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sjf
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gmandual
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 246 |
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Posted: 29 Sep 2011 at 11:24pm |
According to the engineer I talked to with DOT they don't need outer lights on spoiler on R-Pod. Requirement is indicator lights to front and rear need to be at widest/highest point of trailer. Widest points on R-POD is the fenders. Which is why the retrofit kit puts yellow/orange lights facing forward on the fender and red lights facing backward's on the fenders. In DOT view is is important for the outer lights to be on widest points, and 3 indicator lights to be up as high as practical.
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Tidalwave4455
Groupie 
Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Location: minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 57 |
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Posted: 29 Sep 2011 at 11:08pm |
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My neighbor's trailers (not R-Pods) have the required triple lights in the center but also two other lights at the rear far left and right. From the photos displayed by several forum members of their newly installed rear spoilers, it appears that the spoiler does not have the outer lights. Are the outer lights also required by NHTSA regs?
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