Forest River Report Card
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7488
Printed Date: 21 May 2024 at 10:14am
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Topic: Forest River Report Card
Posted By: Camper Bob
Subject: Forest River Report Card
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 8:16am
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For all the naysayers here are the most statistical numbers on Forest River.
Although, we have had concerns about the quality of the builds of our Rpods, here is the ranking of Forest River products compared to the rest of the industry. There is certainly room for improvement, however, the general RV buying public seems to believe that they deliver a better product than the rest of the industry. Based on the most recent U.S. RV retail sales report from Statistical Surveys, Inc., and additional sources, Forest River through November ranks: #1 in Motorhomes - Class A's & Class C's Combined #1 in Towables - Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels & Camping Trailers Combined #1 in Buses - Transit and Shuttle #1 in Cargo Trailers Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 8:52am
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We are on our second r-pod and have been very happy. We found a couple small issues with our second and we spoke to our dealer,they spoke to Forrest River and all was fixed to our satisfaction. So far, I think they are doing a good job. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 10:27am
Forward that report to Gavin, or better yet, give him a call.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 10:40am
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I can all ready see this thread is going to be nothing but pitchers of Kool-Aid..
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 10:49am
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------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 11:10am
I thirst for their tears................  ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 11:24am
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Nowhere did I see #1 in quality, but then, FR wrote the report. Jayco has a similar report out.........................
------------- 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: David and Danette
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 11:31am
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I wouldn't give them a good grade when they built our V-cross Vibe, when we owned our r-pod yes I would give them a good grade as far as the RV industry goes. Now that I have rebuilt our Vibe's interior it is a very good camper and we are happy with it. Was the the #1 ranking for Forest River in sales or quality or overall? Forest River is a very big company I can see where they would be number one in sales. ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 11:50am
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Charliem
If you had read my post a little more carefully, the report was not written by FR but by Statistical Surveys, Inc. Easy enough to miss it, but there it is. Nowhere does it address quality, which I think we can all agree, leaves something to be desired. That being said, the entire RV industry has a problem with quality. As has been mentioned on this forum in the past, if only the RV industry was held to the same standards as the auto industry is now. The Japanese have shown us up in the past in that respect. Now, I believe, the US auto manufacturers have finally gotten the message. I had also posted a message about our friends who purchased an upmarket 40' diesel pusher for over $250K and have had a number of problems with it. He finally wrote the President of the company. The company arranged to pick up his RV and repaired over 90 discrepancies that needed to be addressed. No matter the cost, the RV industry has a loose idea of quality control. Price is all important. Overall I give FR good marks for addressing problems. Never will they or any other RV manufacturers be perfect. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 12:28pm
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Bob, I read your post carefully and did note the Statistical Surveys, Inc. citation. My reply was a bit facetious, but not completely. There is usually a tight coupling between these ranking/reporting companies and the manufacturers they report on. I always take these reports with a HUGH block of salt. I don't think you will ever see them publish survey results on customer complaints or customer satisfaction. That said, I agree completely with the rest of your post. Unfortunately the RV industry has not gotten the word from the auto guys and I don't expect it. As big as the RV market is, it's nowhere near the auto market. I had only one major problem with my Pod; they installed the totally wrong size waste tanks!. They eventually paid to have them replaced by a "local" dealer, but the wait was months and the dealer has now refused to do work for me and, maybe, FR. Apparently the RV industry bean counters have decided a certain complaint and warranty level is acceptable vs the cost of better initial quality. All businesses make similar trades, but the RV industry levels are pretty high. We consumers unfortunately get caught in the middle. Camp on. ------------- 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: David and Danette
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 1:32pm
Thank you, Camper Bob and CharlieM your last two posts make more sense. I agree the auto industry is way ahead of the RV industry when it comes to quality. There is a RV manufacture rating somewhere I had looked at before on the internet and think it may of been more in truth with customer satisfaction. That was when I was interested in Outdoor RV and that company had a good rating along with some others but I don't remember Forest River being near the top. Not putting Forest River down they have some good campers compared to several other manufactures. We very happy with the quality of our R-pod.  I found the site I mentioned for RV manufacture ratings rv-coach.com------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: NormanHill
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2016 at 11:52pm
| If FR is number 1 in travel trailers I would not want to pull around or camp in the others |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 8:32am
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"There are lies, damn lies, and statistics" Anyone can make the numbers look to be in their favor if they try. I do know that FR isn't "the best" in some categories that matter to me. But they are good enough, so to speak. We have no complaints about our Pod, and have nothing but good experience in our dealings with FR. I really never understand Pod bashing.. people buy the least expensive, fully featured, TT in it's class/size, then moan when it turns out they didn't get an Airstream for 1/3 to 1/4 the money. ------------- |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 9:11am
Furpod, sounds like some need a hobby................................maybe fishing ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 10:06am
Funny thing for me.. I can go sit in the woods, back to a tree for days, love hunting, may not see a deer or turkey or whatever.. still happy to hunt. Fishing?? 37 seconds and I am done. Fish could be leaping in the boat.. not interested. And it's huge here. All my family fish. Last year, all my adult nephews and my dad and my brothers all went deep sea fishing for a week.. they didn't even bother to call and ask me. They know the answer. I have tried everything from trolling, to deep sea, to fly fishing in the high mountains for trout.. just don't like it. Even ice fishing with my brother in MN.. Liked visiting with him, and listening to tunes and drinking a couple cold ones.. didn't even wet a line. But yeah, there are some people with to few outlets for their pent up energy.. Camping is supposed to help with that... ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 10:47am
I don't need the hobby of fishing, I need the hobby of catching. I've tried the former, but it didn't lead to the latter. Amazing how smart fish can be. Guy on my left is catching; guy on my right is catching; me - not so much.  Camp on. ------------- 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: Pod People
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 11:01am
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My dad was a very serious fisherman-even more so after he retired. He always said" never get fishing and catching confused. If you want to have fun, go fishing. If you want to eat fish go to the fish market" I did not inherit his skill Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 11:05am
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 11:10am
As a matter of fact I do not mind fish/seafood.. In fact, it was what was for dinner last night. I fished as a kid. My parents live in the central valley of Cali, lots of fishing in an hour or two drive.. We had a slough not far from the house, maybe a mile, many a catfish came out of there to our grill. We were close enough to the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers that salmon could be caught, thrown in a creel or cooler, and still be pissed off when you got back to the house. My dad knows about a zillion ways to cook salmon and trout. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 6:49pm
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Furpod, I'm just like you. Tried it many times as a kid, even did a deep sea day trip in my 20's. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2016 at 6:56pm
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My idea of fishing is to go to the local supermarket, head to the fish counter, and point and say, "that one." I also have a problem watching baseball. It, like fishing, to me is like watching paint dry. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2016 at 7:29pm
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On a 2016 Rpod 178, the tank level inductors do not work, after 5 days of camping, in grey water tank was still in empty. Several showers and kitchen sink clean up. On the night of the fifth day, the indicators went from empty to 75percent full. Dealer in Myrtle Beach looked at the problem twice and said all as OK. Help! ------------- Ron Rowland |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2016 at 9:15pm
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Every camper I've owned it works for the fresh water tank, usually ok for the gray water tank, not at all for the black. Fairly useless for the battery indicator even though it "works". ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2016 at 9:24pm
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The indicators are only relative. Empty can indicate empty, but it can also indicate less than 1/3 full. I have found that the indicator stays on empty for quite some time, jumps to 1/3, sometimes skipping to 2/3. Full is also only relative. When the full indicator lights, there is usually more capacity remaining. If you look under the R-Pod at the relative positions of the sensors (check to see if they are all there and the connections are tight), you will see that they are really clustered toward the middle of the tank. The linear distance between them is large, but the vertical distance between them is small. That vertical distance is the range in which the sensors work. It isn't much. There is also the problem that any build-up in the tank (black or gray) can coat the sensors. If they are coated, they will not be able to detect the liquid level. It is common to add chemicals to the black water tank. I have seen additives for the gray water tank also. They are supposed to help keep the tank clean. I have not used them so far, but if I start having similar problems, I will probably try them. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |