Our camper just hit it's five year anniversay and I thought people might want to know how they hold up in the full timing lifestyle. I wrote a post that compares then and now with pictures and comments about the repairs etc that needed to be done. Hope it is helpful.
Just curious, what indicators led you to suspect frame damage? I have always had an air ride hitch (Hensley Trailer Saver), but I was getting too much flex in the pin box upper deck area, IMO. Lippert chassis engineers told me that 1/4” flex was OK. I made an appointment with KZ and Lippert to have this inspection done. It requires the removal of the front cap and all the skin below the pinbox. They measured the flex which was 3/8”. I was told it was “only” 1/8” over the 1/4” MAXIMUM. I told them that 1/8” was 50% more than the MAXIMUM allowed flex. After some grown up discussion we “decided” to strengthen the area. The Lippert welders got busy and 400 lbs of added steel bracing later, the flex was reduced to 1/8”. I was prompted to keep an eye on this area due to Howard’s experience, the air ride hitch was advice from several of the highly experienced RVers on this forum (mostly Jack Mayer and less directly Bill Napier). Hope you have a successful outcome. My repair was handled by KZ and Lippert warranty because my rig was still less than 2 years old. Like you, we got the morRyde IS and disc brakes which we got when the rig was about 6 months old. So far so good.
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 4th of April 2019 02:56:43 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 4th of April 2019 02:58:30 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 8th of April 2019 03:37:41 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 8th of April 2019 03:38:21 PM
vannchan said
03:50 PM Apr 4, 2019
RonC wrote:
... I was told it was “only” 1/8” over the 1/4” MAXIMUM. I told them that 1/8” was 50% more than the MAXIMUM allowed ...
Did you happen to ask them what they thought the word "MAXIMUM" meant? I am glad they took care of it.
RonC said
03:39 PM Apr 8, 2019
Ha ... I'm sure something like that came out of my mouth during the adult conversation ...
RonC said
02:48 PM Apr 23, 2019
Tracy ... how is your frame issue resolving itself??
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 12th of May 2019 09:40:49 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 13th of June 2019 04:24:45 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 21st of June 2019 02:05:52 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 21st of June 2019 02:07:00 PM
Ckerr said
12:15 PM Jun 25, 2019
Thanks Tracy and Lee. Very interesting read. Especially now as we're finally getting ready to buy something!
LarryW21 said
01:59 PM Jun 27, 2019
I get so tired of reviews of brand new models of every type of RV sometimes without even one overnight. I really find this review after five years interesting.
AbdRahim said
06:47 PM Feb 18, 2020
Fascinating topic. I hope more will add to it.
I have a Forester 2801QS. Great floor plan. Initially it had issues. Rear passenger side plastic piece cracked multiple times, baggage compartment separated from the body, in several compartments, then the multiple roof leaks. Al was fixed by Forest River, at no expense to me. I am elated. Fifth anniversary in 60 days. Everything works fine. I could not be happier. I got rid of the torture seat (jackknife couch) and replaced it with theater seating. What a difference.
Most rigs will have some challenges in the beginning. This one , after five years is a joy and still looks brand new.
Camper Chronicles said
09:16 AM Feb 20, 2020
WE knew we had a frame issues because there was separation in the front cap seam and we could see in to where the frame was cracked. Usually that is not the case of course. It is fine now. They took the side panel off and reinforced that spot.
Our camper just hit it's five year anniversay and I thought people might want to know how they hold up in the full timing lifestyle. I wrote a post that compares then and now with pictures and comments about the repairs etc that needed to be done. Hope it is helpful.
https://camperchronicles.com/2019/03/29/five-year-camper-anniversary-how-it-has-held-up/
Tracy
Just curious, what indicators led you to suspect frame damage? I have always had an air ride hitch (Hensley Trailer Saver), but I was getting too much flex in the pin box upper deck area, IMO. Lippert chassis engineers told me that 1/4” flex was OK. I made an appointment with KZ and Lippert to have this inspection done. It requires the removal of the front cap and all the skin below the pinbox. They measured the flex which was 3/8”. I was told it was “only” 1/8” over the 1/4” MAXIMUM. I told them that 1/8” was 50% more than the MAXIMUM allowed flex. After some grown up discussion we “decided” to strengthen the area. The Lippert welders got busy and 400 lbs of added steel bracing later, the flex was reduced to 1/8”. I was prompted to keep an eye on this area due to Howard’s experience, the air ride hitch was advice from several of the highly experienced RVers on this forum (mostly Jack Mayer and less directly Bill Napier). Hope you have a successful outcome. My repair was handled by KZ and Lippert warranty because my rig was still less than 2 years old. Like you, we got the morRyde IS and disc brakes which we got when the rig was about 6 months old. So far so good.
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 4th of April 2019 02:56:43 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 4th of April 2019 02:58:30 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 8th of April 2019 03:37:41 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 8th of April 2019 03:38:21 PM
Did you happen to ask them what they thought the word "MAXIMUM" meant? I am glad they took care of it.
Tracy ... how is your frame issue resolving itself??
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 12th of May 2019 09:40:49 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 13th of June 2019 04:24:45 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 21st of June 2019 02:05:52 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 21st of June 2019 02:07:00 PM
I have a Forester 2801QS. Great floor plan. Initially it had issues. Rear passenger side plastic piece cracked multiple times, baggage compartment separated from the body, in several compartments, then the multiple roof leaks. Al was fixed by Forest River, at no expense to me. I am elated. Fifth anniversary in 60 days. Everything works fine. I could not be happier. I got rid of the torture seat (jackknife couch) and replaced it with theater seating. What a difference.
Most rigs will have some challenges in the beginning. This one , after five years is a joy and still looks brand new.