The conclusions of the warranty work to correct thedeflecting flooring in the kitchen area of a 2019 R-Pod 179.  I dropped off my 179 at All Seasons RV SuperCenter in Muskegon, Michigan, the dealer that I had purchased the trailer from,with the knowledge that they were not going to get right on the repair becausetheir schedule was very booked up at the time. The warranty work was a rather small repair job everything consideredand the dealership thought that they could “work it in between” some otherlarger jobs.  The beginning the timeestimate was about 2 weeks which turned out to be 5 weeks.  This time delay was just a minor inconvenience.  I had no plans on using the trailer the restof the year.  My only project left toaccomplish was to check the trailer’s brakes and repack the wheel bearings beforeputting the trailer into storage.

I was able to forward to the service manager the link toJohn Marucci’s YouTube video on Forest River’s repair of his “deflectingflooring”.  The service manager found thevideo to be very helpful along with the service tech, who completed the work.

The work consisted of installing a piece of ¾” plywood fullywrapped in “black weather protector” cut to fit between the frame railsapproximately 58” by 48”, that had been notched out to allow the electric andgas lines access to the cabinet area below the stove.  The front of the plywood butted up to thesteel rail supporting the gray water and continued back just short of the endof the trailer.  This plywood was screwedaround it’s parameter with screws that did not penetrate the inside floor surface.  There were screws installed from inside thetrailer on the inside of the cabinets so there are no screws visible from theinside of the trailer.

Once the plywood support had been screwed into place 2support cross members were installed between the frame rails.  These supporting cross members (runningbetween the frame rails) are 1” tubular steel painted black and a piece of flatstock welded to each end to facilitate screwing into the frame rails. There wasa slight camber introduced into each support cross member.  The camber is to allow more support in themiddle of the span between the frame rails.

I had installed a BAL Hide-a-Spare tire carrier which had tobe removed and adapted to fit after the installation of the flooringimprovements.  Because of theHide-a-Spare the first support cross member was located 4” behind the rearmetal support for the gray water tank. The second support cross member was located 15” further back from the firstsupport cross member.  This allowed theplywood to extended another 28” to near the rear of the trailer.

I just picked up our 179 from the dealer on December 11^thand there is no deflection in the floor anywhere in the trailer.  I am very pleased with the manner in whichthis problem has been resolved.

My dealer, All Season RV Super Center of Muskegon, Michiganand the manufacture Forest River have certainly stood behind their product andproperly resolved the issue that I feel was not caused by me abusing thetrailer.  The warranty work was handledby Forest River and All Seasons on a “customer good will” basis.  Forest River does make it clear that allclaims are handled on an individual basis. All claims have different circumstances and are process with those inmind.

The only issue left to be resolved is the financial responsibilityof the removal, modifications and the re-installation of the Hide-a-Spare whichis an aftermarket addition installed by myself and “StephenH”.

Things that were important to the success of this repair wasfirst John Marucci’s (who is a forum member) sharing his experience with theforum in his You Tube video which allowed me, the service manager, and the techto fully understand Forest River’s plans in resolving this issue.  Secondly, and very importantly, dealing witha reputable RV dealer representing your interests with the manufacture.   Withouta reputable dealer in your corner it would be at best very difficult dealingwith any manufacture.  Thirdly, dealingwith Forest River that took the responsibility for the issue and stood behindtheir product which demonstrates they are obviously interested in maintainingits customer’s “good will” with its present and future customers.  

I have an RPod 179 model year 2019 that we purchased new from a dealerin Muskegon, MI.  For the 2 years we haveowned it we have been able to get in quite bit of camping with thetrailer.  Both years my wife and I have spentmore than 110 nights camping and traveling 10,500 miles the first year and7,800 miles this year.  Not bragging justestablishing the trailer has been used. We have made some modification to the trailer to fit our needs which isnot pertinent to this post. 

We have also needed some warranty work performed by ourdealer and approved by Forest River.  Wedid encounter some issues getting this work accomplished but in the end it didget done correctly the first time.  The warrantywork was replacing the forward wall in the slide out because the outer skin wasdelaminating due to a manufacturing flaw, getting a replacement fender so that theywould match (be the same size), and having the seal in the rear windowinstalled correctly to stop the window leaking during rain storms.

After we had the trailer for over 2 years and becoming familiarwith the problem John Marucci had experienced and had documented on the forumand his YouTube channel about the “kitchen” floor deflecting when you werewalking on it, I was thinking our trailer was experiencing the same thing.  With my history of warranty work I was veryapprehensive about a requesting warranty claim outside of the 2 year factory warrantyperiod of an RPod.  I did not have anextended warranty as John Marucci had invested in.

I did contact my dealer and told them my whole story alongwith a summary of John Marucci’s story. My dealer was not deterred about the trailer being out of the warrantyperiod.  My dealer requested severalpictures showing the deflection in the floor, which I provided.  There was also an important concern of possibleprior water intrusion, which would have compromised the floor and voided anyclaim.  There has been no water damage tothe trailer.  After my dealer had workedon my claim with Forest River for the better part of a month and half, thedealer asked me to call Forest River direct, to supply any additionalinformation they might need in making their decision.  I did contact Forest River Warranty Departmentand I was informed later that day that Forest River had approved my claim forthe dealer to make the needed repairs to the flooring (underside) in thekitchen area.

The trailer will be going in this Friday for the neededrepairs.  I am impressed at the customerservice that I have received thus far on this claim from my dealer All SeasonsRV Supercenter in Muskegon, Michigan and Forest River. Most importantly the guidance that John Marucci’s provides on thisproblem in his tread on this forum and on his You Tube channel has proven invaluablein receiving approval of my claim.  Thankyou very much John.

Forest River does make it clear that all claims are handledon an individual basis.  All claims havedifferent circumstances and are process with those in mind.

I will post the conclusions of this repair work when it is completed.