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Forest River “Warranty” stone walling?

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Grumpy-Chief View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Grumpy-Chief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Forest River “Warranty” stone walling?
    Posted: 22 Apr 2023 at 8:58pm


I purchased my 2022 RPOD new (unregistered) February 22 this year in Michigan from General RV.

Everything worked when I bought it. I drove back to Florida. Upon arrival I put the trailer in my drive way to load my cookware, dishes, linens, etc. and  I discovered the awning had ceased to open. I called the Dover, Florida General RV dealer on February 25. I had already searched for an in-line fuse behind the awning switch panel, behind the powered center, and on the 12volt battery. I didn’t find such a fuse. Having spoken to the both the Brownstown and Dover service folks,  neither could identify the location of the fuse. I was given an appointment on April 26 at the Dover service department. (That would be over two months after my purchase date) When I rinsed off the shower floor to remove the dust and wood shavings that had fallen during my drive to FloridaI was almost scalded when I learned the shower’s hot and cold valves were reversed!

When I was tracing the water lines I found a hose crimped to a connector that is dripping water near the hot water heater. I use a restrictor on my hose connection, soI know I did not have too much pressure.

I loaded my trailer and I prepared to make a trip to Texas and view some sights on the way, leaving March 20, 2023.

When I got to my first stop in the Florida panhandle I found a broken string on one of the shades. The shade was then hanging too low and the two seat back cushions would not remain attached to the wall.

Before I left Michigan, after everything was demonstrated a functioned (the demonstrator had the shower water already running when I stepped in the trailer). The grill had a coating on it, the burner did have a flame and the grill fit the burner correctly. I was told the service department had swapped the coated grill with a clean grill, the Brownstown General RV dealer put everything in the trailer and the trailer was winterized, and I departed for Florida. Because of cold weather I didn’t camp on the way home. I didn’t use the grill until late in march. I then discovered the new grill didn’t fit the burner. I contacted the dealer on March 25, I twice sent photographs, it is now April 21 and Forest River warranty has not been able to verify whatever to enable me get the problem corrected.

The air conditioner runs continuously, it does not cease running when the temperature setting is achieved.

I am exceedingly dissatisfied with the Forrest River lack of customer service!

I deeply regret the purchase of this trailer.

As soon as I get everything functioning I am going to sell it.

I could not, in all honesty, recommend this organization to a friend or family member.


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StephenH View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2023 at 10:15pm
Unfortunately, I can't help fix most of your problems. The air conditioner is one area where there may be some hope. Check your thermostat fan mode. I may have options for high, low, and auto. It sounds like it is set for high or low if it is running constantly. Set it to auto and the fan should cut off when the temperature is reached.

We recently purchased a different Forest River product, a Cherokee Grey Wolf. It is at the dealer having warranty work done to correct the problems we found when we got it home, to include a water pump that wouldn't pump water. It was supposed to be ready to pick up Friday, but the dealer had only received one piece of the siding instead of the two needed, so it is still there until the repairs are complete.

One thing Forest River does say is to purchase local. The dealers are independent. They are not owned or operated by Forest River. If the Florida dealer is assisting you, that is great. I hope you can get your issues resolved. Just don't expect higher quality in a product unless you are willing to spend many thousands more for it. Even then, the more expensive ones are not immune to problems.
StephenH
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Post Options Post Options   Quote mjlrpod Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2023 at 9:53am
My a/c fan will continue to run when it reaches temp. I heard that it's the thermostats fault. I guess furrion runs that way.  If you change thermostats, you might find that no longer happens. Your mileage may vary (stolen from GG)

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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2023 at 4:53pm
Hi G.Chief,
If I were in your shoes I would be greatly disappointed as well and would likely do the same as you by selling.  As StephenH already said it is great that your FL dealership is helping in trying to resolve all your issues.  Who knows, they may get them all resolved and you may end up changing your mind by keeping your R-Pod, and also become a loyal customer to that dealership in FL.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Grumpy-Chief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2023 at 6:06pm
Thank You for the encouragement.
I had purchased a new Prime Time from General RV in 2014 at the Orange Park store. 
The quality was much better. My only dissatisfaction was the lame Dometic fridge. Later I added two internal 12 VDC fridge fans and that provided a modest improvement.
This RPOD’s quality, and attentiveness to detail, is sadly lacking.
GrumpyChief
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Grumpy-Chief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2023 at 6:18pm
Thank You for the encouragement Jato!
I had purchased a new Prime Time from General RV in 2014 at the Orange Park store. 
The quality was much better. My only dissatisfaction was the lame Dometic fridge. Later I added two internal 12 VDC fridge fans I found on eBay and that provided a modest improvement.
This RPOD’s quality, and attentiveness to detail, is sadly lacking.
Grumpy Chief
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Guard services provided by Kate, my Rescued Chihuahua mix attack girl
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Grumpy-Chief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2023 at 6:41pm
Stephen H,
Thanks for your response.
There isn’t an auto setting on the thermostat.
I suspect the AC isn’t wired properly to the thermostat.
General RV advertises they are the largest family owned RV chain in the country.
Being from Michigan (where General began) many years ago, I preferred to support them over the other Mega dealers in Florida.
Apparently, the warranty folks of Forest River are not responding to General RV. This  is in comprehensive to me! The VIN is registered to me, what is the issue? Forest River needed a picture of the burner manufacturers name plate showing the model number and serial number AND a photo showing the grill doesn’t fit the burner assembly. This infers to me that there is not a solid configuration management system in existence at Forest River and possibly with their suppliers. I mean, good grief, in almost one month they can’t provide me a replacement! They couldn’t provide me an entire new complete assembly as a replacement?
That to me is a DILLIGAF customer service entity.

GrumpyChief
2021 Jeep Willys Gladiator eco diesel
2022 RPOD 153


Guard services provided by Kate, my Rescued Chihuahua mix attack girl
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2023 at 7:43pm
I had not looked at the 153. It is tiny compared to the 179. Interesting layout though. It looks to be the right size for your TV. I hope you get all the issues resolved.
StephenH
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Grumpy-Chief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr 2023 at 11:06am
I took my RPOD to the Dover General RV dealer yesterday. Chis is my service contact. He said the compressor would cease to function when the temortature was achieved and the fan would continue to run to remove any accumulated water or condensation in the unit.

Meanwhile, my battle to get my outdoor grill part continues. 
Below is the last response from forest River. The description of the problem is summarized at the bottom of the post.
 

Ms. Martin,
I originated my contact with the dealer!
THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT DONE A DAMN THING TO REPLCE MY GRILL! 
I have been waiting for a resolution to this event since March 25, 2023!
The dealer is apparently useless!
Forest river RPOD part expert is apparently useless!
Forest River warranty department is useless!
Why am I, the customer supposed to give direction to an Unresponsive dealer? What leads you to to believe they would listen to me?
When in the Hell will I get a damn burner and grill for my trailer!
Why don’t you contact the dealer and tell them what to do?
I can’t believe the largest family owned RV dealer in the United States and forest river  cannot resolve this simple screw up caused by a service department giving me the wrong part!
I didn’t ask for the replacement!
The dealers service department initiated this!
Forest river and general Rv are are incapable of replacing my grill in over a month?
This is a pitiful customer response!
I have been patient, I have been polite, I been respectful! I AM FED UP WITH THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY!
It is time that some one is this half-ass disorganized heaping pile of steaming feces got off their ass and replaced my grill, TODAY! NOW!

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Thursday, April 27, 2023, 10:52 AM, Amanda Barton <abarton@forestriverinc.com> wrote:

Good morning, 

 

It seems that the vendor we use for the griddle is saying that the griddle plate is not theirs.  We cannot cover this under warranty at this time.  Please contact your dealer to see if they replaced this previously. 

 

Vicki Martin

R Pod Warranty Admin

 

 

 

From: Thomas <cpotomg1@verizon.net
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 12:58 PM
To: OwnerRelations <OwnerRelations@forestriverinc.com>
Subject: My RPOD 153 Grill

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of Forest River. Please do not follow any instructions, click any links, or open any attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified it was from them and know the content is safe.

 

I first identified my problem to the Brownstown General RV dealer on March 25, 2023, where I had purchased my trailer on February 22, 2023, as a new unregistered item. The VIN is 4X4TRP518NB030401.

I submitted several photographs of the burner, the manufacturers ID plate with serial number, and several images showing that the grill does not fit the burner.

I described how during the familiarization/demonstration the grill was fully functional. I identified that the grill had some type of sticky “coating” on it.

I stated that following the satisfactory demonstration I left the service area, and I went in the building to sign for the trailer.

When I was ready to leave, I was told my trailer had been winterized and the service department had replaced the grill with a part that did not have the sticky coating.

I then departed to spend the night at a nearby hotel. As I left an ice storm commenced.

The next morning, I left Michigan to return home to Florida.

I did not camp in the trailer for several weeks. On my first trip to Texas, I discovered my grill did fit.

It has been one month now, and I still do not have a grill I can use.

The last I heard is that Forest River warranty folks were holding up the process.

What is the problem and when will I receive my replacement grill?

Thomas Griffiths

813-618-1857



This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for use by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete the email and any files transmitted with it from your system. If you have received this email in error, disclosing, copying, distributing, or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this email is strictly prohibited.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote seafans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2023 at 10:09pm
Unfortunately you are not the only one that purchased an R-Pod and received little or no service from the dealer,even the same day of purchased.  My 192 after leaving the lot the brakes did not work, I took it back and they sent some sort of technician to check the brakes and he had no clue on what to do. After spending $700 on a per-delivery inspection.    I removed the hubs and cleaned the grease off the shoes and drums myself.  I'm very happy that I did not purchase their extended warranty for an extra $3000.  Also critiquing the Forest River Warranty very carefully, they only want to be responsible for the body of the trailer that was constructed in the factory.  All the articles that are installed  or attached to the body is an individual item warranty.  Forest river will not warranty a scratched piece of plywood they installed during the manufacture of the trailer.  If it complies with "fit","form" and "function" who cares what it looks like.
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