Been a while since I was on this site so thought I'd give an update.

As you know, if you have read all my blogs, I have completely written off Forest River and PaulsboRV as being worthless for warranty and other problems.

I found a local RV repair company that does excellent work, they actually set a date and you take the RV in and the next day you get a call to pick it up AND they actually guarantee their work.  What a novel approach - say what you are going to do, then do it.

Things they have done:

They added a automatic cover over the slide out for $405 parts and labor.

They took the shower out and replaced the undersized plywood base with 3/4" plywood, put down a grid of 2X4 under the base and properly installed shower (no sealer had been used).  Fine now. $432  (They just thought nothing would really be satisfactory until the shower had a stable support so I told them just fix it and fix it right..... you know the way it should have been built that way.)

They added a door in the side (used the same door as the outside shower) so I can get access to the water pump for service and winterizing without having to move the mattress off of the bed to access it.  Cost $138.

They added an electric jack installed on the hitch for $254 including wiring.  Really helps installing and removing the distribution springs, plus really helps an old 80 year old back.  (PaulsboRV wanted $360 for EXACTLY the same thing - this was my "special" price as a new buyer)

Now future plans.  We plan on leaving here on Sept 20 and drift over to Idaho then S to Corpus Christi, TX then drift through NM, AZ, UT, OR, and back to WA.  We plan on taking maybe 3 months to do this with no plans at all.  We just have some places we want to see so we will get up and ask, "Which way do we want to go today?" then do it.  We'll decide where we want to stay as the day goes on.... I suspect there might be more than a few Camp Walmart stays as they are in every city while RV parks are not as plentiful.

This will be the test of the Rpod.  I'll let you know how it goes.

The only thing left is to jack up the trailer and adjust the trailer brakes and it should be in perfect condition.

I see what you are saying that it is more satisfying to fix things yourself and avoid the headaches and anger dealing with some of these dealerships. They will usually charge you for the repairs and send you to the manufacturer for compensation that will probably not happen.

David and Alice

Lafayette Louisiana

or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Thanks Derek, I read it!

Thank you to everyone!!! I am sure there is no way to make sure the Pod is 100% before we leave, but I'll be real happy with 90%.  Sure hope our dealer is all they say they are... They're already mad at us. I used our own bank for the financing, told the finance dude at the dealership I was going to, and he was quite disappointed when he called a week ago thrilled he'd found us financing at the same interest rate OUR credit union gave us. I stuck with our credit union, and he was kind of miffed.

We love ours.  Our dealer is 900 miles away because the one here in Denver, um , well, doesn't understand what selling is.  In fact, I met 3 people who all went to Omaha to get theirs like I did.  Yes stuff is missing or not screwed in, but I couldn't be happier.   If I could get in front of a FR executive however, the questions I have about how they produce these things, maybe he just doesn't know.

Your dealer should have stood by you and I am sorry they did not.  The RPOD is still the nicest, biggest, lightest, TT you can get for the money.  But I gladly would have paid a $500 fee to have a QA done before I picked it up knowing what I know.  It would have just been easier.   My neighbor bought a $60K 5th wheel, not Forest River, but his trim falls off too.

Derek

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9923&PID=92963&title=newbie-items-needed-before-pod-pickup#92963

Derek

If Forest River wants to ban me I don't give a D..n.  I am through with them for everything.  I'll take care of my rig myself as FR has no customer service...

Bill-J - The battery absolutely should have been replaced, by the dealer.  That voltage means it sat for months on the dealer's shelf without being charged (as a ham you likely know this already but I'm pointing it out for future readers).  Batteries are added at delivery and not by FR.

All campers do have some constant loads such as the radio memory, and the biggest is the LP detector.  It has to run a small heater to function which is why it must be operated from the FLA battery and not small alkalines.  For liability reasons (I believe) FR and dealers don't install battery cutoffs since it disables the LP detector but they are must-haves for long-term storage.  Or just keep it plugged into your house 24/7.  It will last about 2 weeks before the battery gets too low, if you use nothing else.  You mentioned adding a 2nd battery, make sure it isn't FLA if it is in an interior compartment.

Many people, including me with my 2010 model, have found loose PVC under the shower and sink.  It is just hand-tightened at the factory and I don't know why it isn't cemented.  Keep checking it.  That yours was broken isn't surprising.

Simple tests by the dealer should have been free for a unit purchased from them.  Battery and temperature checks cost them nothing and you are their recent customer.  My own dealer ended up being just as awful and technically inept.  I don't know how their service dept stays in business (don't get me started on what I went through).  If you hadn't already I would say in capital letters, get a new dealer.

Keep up the observations and questions!