Cheezy or Not Cheezy
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Reviews and General Information
Forum Discription: Find r-pod reviews and new product announcements here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5427
Printed Date: 18 Jun 2025 at 5:49am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Cheezy or Not Cheezy
Posted By: Podster
Subject: Cheezy or Not Cheezy
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 7:25am
By no means do I want to depict this post as FR bashing. Over the last two weeks I have crawled over every square inch of my 178 and generally I am very happy with the quality. But I did find one thing that kinda made me go, Hmmm. Am I splitting hairs here? I kinda thought the fit and finish of the A/C Shroud mashed up against the junction box plate was a little cheesy. It creates a gap. It just doesn't seem right or look good, I wouldn't have done it this way. I'm sure it won't affect the performance, however, FR still gets a fit and finish demarit in my book. What do you think? Splitting hairs here...get a life...etc..? ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Replies:
Posted By: Blue's Pod
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 9:04am
|
That looks like lack of coordination or communication between design or engineering and the actual people that do installing. Sometimes things look good on paper or now days on screen. But in the field it is different. We don't have a visible A/C junction box in the ceiling on the 2015 r-171. ------------- |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 9:05am
|
I'd say that you've found the same thing as the rest of us. Overall, quality is pretty good, but there are a few oddities here and there. I'd also say that this approach is similar across the industry for trailers in this price range. For the most part, I think that the manufacturers' philosophy is to do a decent job and then leave any fit-n-finish issues for the dealerships to address through warranty. And, with issues like the sloppy work you've pointed out, maybe 3 out of 10 people would find it and would expend the effort to get it fixed. That's 7 out of 10 who wouldn't bother - and that's a good chunk of change left in Forest River's pocket. But, that's just me being pragmatic. If you do take it back to your dealer to be fixed, ask them how they'll do it first. If its anything less than replacing that ceiling tile (or whatever its called) and relocating the box, I'd suggest pushing it all the way up to Forest River if necessary for an appropriate fix. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 9:15am
I'm guessing it's under the shroud where it belongs.  ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 9:28am
The reality of what you are suggesting to have it fixed properly is helping me get over it, quickly. If it starts to gnaw at me I'll probably just trim the plate and protect whats exposed with something flat under the shroud in that one small corner.
 ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 9:54am
|
Interesting- my 179 has no such junction box cover plate, all connections are under the A/C cover- I've owned many campers and never have I seen such a situation- connections have always been made under the A/C cover. I'm thinking someone at the factory screwed up and that is their "cover up". Be interesting to pull that plate off and see if there are even any connections in there..... ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: JStrube
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 10:58am
|
That is the kind of thing that drives me crazy. Could you imagine Honda doing that? Would you accept it from Honda? ------------- 2012 181G |
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 11:44am
|
I'm with JStrube: It's the kind of sloppiness that can drive most of us nuts! You're probably now in a quandary: Do you take the time, trouble & hassle to take it to an FR dealer? Or do you trim the cover plate to get rid of the gap? Neither is particularly satisfactory since it could/should have been right in the first place. If it were me: I'd take it to the dealer & get it done right. After all, it's brand spanking new! If I were to trim the plate then, every time I looked up to change a vent, I'd get ticked off. Then I'd have to go have a Jack Daniels to get calmed down. Then I'd need an Alka Seltzer to get my stomach settled down. And then ... But .. YMMV. Good luck whichever way you go. And "get a life"? Hell no .. Like I said, the dang thing is brand new! (See? I'm getting worked up, and it's your trailer! I think I need anger management counseling.) ------------- John & Teri Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 2:12pm
Here is my pet peeve, and I have seen a lot worse in other pods.
   ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 2:17pm
Now that's an interesting backband and jack-miter! Do your best and caulk the rest?  fred
------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 4:05pm
I fixed it in my pod, but it still bothers me when I see it in another pod.
 ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 4:42pm
|
Not to go off topic, marwayne's pic reminded me - I need to figure out a step or ladder for my Salem. Since it has a triple-bunk the top bunk is really high, too high even with a 2-step stool on the floor. Same configuration as show above so I've considered putting a ladder or steps on the bathroom wall. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
|
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2014 at 6:27pm
|
In my little sis's class C, they made a simple pvc ladder for the bunk above the cab. Easy and light. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 9:01am
|
Something to consider, tanks for the info. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 10:50am
I count this as four serial screw-ups: The first guy cut the hole in the wrong place, the scond guy covered it up with an outlet box plate, the third guy installed the AC shroud without raising the goof flag, and the fourth final QA guy closed his eyes. Does that last guy even exist?? Inexcusable. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: NormanHill
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 at 11:37pm
|
I've shared my frustration with FR quality here before, with others defending them and saying the dealer should fix it. I suggest calling FR on the AC box issue and see what they say. It would be an expensive thing to fix. FR has the quality problem and the dealers just don't push back on them for owners. It's ridiculous to call poor assembly a warranty issue. Oh, and don't blame the engineers, I am one :) |