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Warranty Issues: Wall coverings

Printed From: r-pod Nation
Category: Forest River r-pod
Forum Name: r-pod Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Description: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpodNation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3554
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 6:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.0 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Warranty Issues: Wall coverings
Posted By: tturbo
Subject: Warranty Issues: Wall coverings
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2012 at 9:29pm
We've had our R-Pod for three seasons now and although we don't have a lot of time off this past year we spent every long weekend out at our favourite camp spot. We even thought about getting a newer model but ultimately decided it wasn't worth it until we need to replace our tow vehicle. 

Anyway, the last time we had it out we noticed some bubbling in the middle of the wall at the back about five inches away from the window and in a area about three to four inches in diameter. Our dealer checked for water or tearing or anything and found nothing. So they contacted FR to ask for their advice and if it would be covered by warranty. Apparently it is but they want our unit sent back to their factory for repair. Has anyone had to do this with any of their trailers? 

You can bet we have some reservations about doing this like: 
  • What assurances do I need to protect my investment if something happens to the trailer?
  • No one sends a car back to the plant, why are trailers different?
  • How long will it take? 
  • What if they need to dismantle the unit, will they guarantee their work?
I will ask these and other questions later but for now I just want to know if this is normal. And if anyone has dealt with the people at FR.

Thanks

Tess



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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6



Replies:
Posted By: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2012 at 11:50pm
I haven't myself, but when I was at my RV place, I spoke to another pod owner and he told me that he has had his pod sent back to the plant for repair work on the floor. Apparently something about the floor being rotted out because of water ( don't ask me why.) Anyway this guy didn't seem to mind sending his pod back (a second time.) My RV place was giving him (free) another pod to use during the summer while his pod was sent back to the factory. I thought that was really nice.

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Ron & Shirley W
2007 FJ Cruiser
2012 177.. "EHHH" R Pod" its a canadian thing..


Posted By: Tink
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2012 at 11:29pm
Forest River is wonderful. Sign up for the FROG Rally in Goshen as soon as it gets posted sometime this fall and see.

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Tink'rPod 174 Knoxville,TN,


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2012 at 2:17pm
UPDATE:
We were contacted directly by Susan Thornberg at Forest River and we have had all of our questions answered. 

We've now emptied out our trailer for the shipping company for the trailer's trip south. Unfortunately it's winter here now so we will have challenges storing it when it comes back but that's another issue.

(Weird extra characters getting added to this post.???)
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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2012 at 5:37pm
tturbo, just what were the replies to the questions you wanted answered in your first post? Also did you take your pod to your sales place and from there have it loaded and shipped to the plant?

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Ron & Shirley W
2007 FJ Cruiser
2012 177.. "EHHH" R Pod" its a canadian thing..


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2012 at 9:45pm
Hi Ron, FR will cover the costs to repair and transport the rPod. They have to fix this in the factory due to the laminated wall structure. If something were to happen FR files the value with the shipper as the original value of the RV when it was sold to our RV company. FR said they will have it for approx. 30 days which includes shipping time.  

Any other questions I had didn't seem to matter once I got some assurances from FR. Funny we usually have into storage no later then the 15th of October so it's going to be a tad later, I just hope we don't have 5 feet of snow or something crazy!
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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2012 at 9:51pm
Originally posted by Tink Tink wrote:

Forest River is wonderful. Sign up for the FROG Rally in Goshen as soon as it gets posted sometime this fall and see.
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Hey Tink, I get the idea they are a good organization as well, really happy with them so far. When I talk to my dealer they say they also like dealing with FR. I would love to go to Goshen, IN but my hubby just started a new job so it might be tight for holidays. If it doesn't cost too much to register I might do it just in case Clap


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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2013 at 11:57am
I thought I'd post an update to this issue. It took FR awhile to get back to us on what was covered and once we were satisfied the RPod left around the end of November. It was supposed to take 30 days. Period. 

Well our dealer has been left in the dark for most of this time and eventually learned late last week (yup nada nothing not even a "We'll get back to you. " since November) that FR said it took a lot longer to fix the issue (yah think - replacing a wall!!) I'm assuming they had to take the trailer apart and rebuild everything attached to it.  So last week our dealer was finally told they were just waiting for the decals to be put on and it would be on its way. Our dealer is like a dog with a bone on this, they are staking their reputation on these little rPods and I'm sure they don't want a bad rep when they have/sell so many of them.

Now I'm concerned about a whole lot of stuff. First of all, we took the drawers out cause they were full. So did they remove our cabinets or reinstall new ones? Secondly, will our dome still fit? Then how about the roof seals and the tent portion?  Oy vey so many things!

We question though how low their manufacturing costs are that it was cheaper to do all of this when IMHO it may have been cheaper just to give us a credit on a new one and call it day...but who knows.  The warranty is up this summer I think.

Now when it, eventually, gets here Arkaan is going to go through it from one end to the other as I'm quite certain they don't want to see it back for any issues either, likewise we want to be certain that whatever FR did is all okay before we sign off on the work.

Any ideas what we should look for in possible hidden damage or questions we should ask once we finally see it again?


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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2013 at 10:10pm
tturbo, keep us informed as to how things work out for you as to what was done. If it was me I think I'd go over the trailer with your rv place and another very experienced trailer owner also. 3 or more heads are better than one when looking for potential problems. Good luck to you.

-------------
Ron & Shirley W
2007 FJ Cruiser
2012 177.. "EHHH" R Pod" its a canadian thing..


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2013 at 10:46pm
Thanks, Ron. Sometimes I wonder whether it would have been better just to say "no" and hope for the best, but time will tell. We just have to get the darned thing back!< id="_clearly_component__" ="text/">#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }


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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2013 at 5:55pm
Well our unit is back and it's all good, they just forgot the hooks and track for our dome but the dealer ordered it special from FR since the dome has changed now. Apparently this is a flaw in the design of the trailer the seal leaks near a dip between the body and the part that opens for the tent, all we can do is check the seals fall and spring and after any major storms, just to be sure. Problem solved. Now on to the mods!!!


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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 26 May 2013 at 10:43am
Update: So the hooks and tracks for our dome were removed at FR and no one can find the old wall to get back the track. Bad because they changed the dome attachment systems since we bought our dome so new tracks don't work. 

I don't know how vigorously our dealer has been working on this with FR but we've given them till tomorrow to figure it out as we are leaving for Cypress Hills on June 6th and Brad only has Thursday left to drop the Rpod off. Found the track? Got an old one from something? Give us a new one? Whatever it is it needs to get installed toute de suite!!!

Not a happy camper just yet, although the good thing so far: new walls, new seals, and better drawers that pull all the way out. That's it.


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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: tturbo
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2013 at 12:20am
Resolved: Okay, they couriered up the correct track and we went on our holiday with the dome (thank goodness as the weather was crappy and the extra room was necessary - also my new "fairy" lights looked very nice on it)< id="_clearly_component__" ="text/">#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }

So far we have had excellent service from FR but in an odd way. I truly recommend people contact FR directly rather than go through their dealer. Although a dealer will try very hard to keep you happy as a customer they want to minimize their staff time on it as well. 

We got new drawers that come out all the way now. We have new inside wall coverings, not that the old ones were bad or anything. Other than that everything is back to normal.

 - END -


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Tess&Brad
R-Pod 173T
'07 Hyundai Sante Fe V6


Posted By: Little Sweet Pea Pod
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2013 at 12:28am
I too cannot say enough great things about the Forest River RPod team. Great service and they truly CARE about their RPod customers.  

Happy Podding. 



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