2018 Forest River Cherokee Problems

On June 12, 2022 my husband and I were towing our 5th wheel on 99W in Salem/KeizerOregon about 4pm when a car on our left waved us down saying that we had a wobbly tire on the passenger side of the 5th wheel. We got off onto Cherry Lane and pulled over to inspect and could not readily determine the problem. We went to our final destination for the night Keizer Elks which was a mile down the road. It appeared the core of the rim had separated from the rest of the rim. We had Les Schwab a local tire service come over to our 5th wheel the next morning and the repair tech had never seen this before. Tire was replaced and put on a new rim. The original rim is not welded all the way around. Just spot welded. If this had broke when we were traveling at normal highway speed this would of been far more dangerous than a blowout. This needs be reported.

TWO TIRE TRAILERS BLEW UP GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE FROM A CAMPING TRIP. FIRST TIRE BLEW APART AFTER LEAVING THE CAMP SITE AROUND 15 MINS DOWN THE ROAD. 2ND TIRE BLEW WHEN WE WERE STANDING STILL REPLACING THE OTHER TIRE. THIS IS A SINGLE AXLE TRAILER WITH TWO TIRES. 205-75-R14 CASTLE ROCK WITH 65PSI AND LESS THAN 2,000 MILES. TIRES WERE ON TRAILER FOR JUST OVER 2 YEARS.

Castle Rock ST Radial ST 226 - Tire Size 205/75R14 - Load Range C - This tire had never been used and was stored with a cover over it - on the back of our camper. The tire blew - see attached pictures - when it was not in use. Concern - someone could have been hurt - and we have 4 more of these tires on our camper. Am concerned after reading all the reviews - this will happen to the other 4 tires while we are in transit.

The contact owns a 2018 Forest River Cherokee equipped with Castle Rock tires, the Tire Line was unavailable , ST205/75R15, DOT Number was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger tire exploded. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The tires were original tires. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

RV BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE HVAC UNIT. PER VIDEO RECORDING FIRE FELL FROM THE CEILING IGNITING THE MATTRESS. THE ENTIRE RV FILLED WITH SMOKE WITHIN MINUTES, AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF RV WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT BURNT THE ENTIRE RV, HOME AND CARS BESIDE. IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW JUNE 2018. FIRE OCCURRED JULY 1, 2019. FOREST RIVER WAS NOTIFIED JULY 2019. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO BE IN THE RV WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.. HAD WE BEEN WE WOULD HAVE NOT SURVIVED. THE HEAT INDEX WAS 98 DEGREES THAT DAY. THE RV HAD A FRONT AND REAR AC. SMOKE EXITED THE FRONT MASTER BEDROOM AC FIRST, PRIOR TO WINDOWS AND DOORS. PLEASE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS, AND SAVE THEIR LIVES.*DT*DT*JB*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE 325 PACK 13. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAMPER, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COASTAL RV, 21373 BREWERS NECK BLVD, CARROLLTON, VA 23314) WHERE IT WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. *TT UPDATED 7/27/18*JB

After purchasing the travel trailer near Chicago, and returning to Kentucky, I noticed that the tires were rubbing the wheel well above them, on one side. The tires had worn through the cover, and had made burn marks on the wood frame. A local dealer replaced the leaf springs on that side under warranty in the summer of , and replaced the covering material above the tires. Recently, I noticed that all four tires are rubbing above the wheel well, and have worn through the cover and insulation, exposing the floor. There is only 1" to 1-1/2" of clearance between the tires and the wheel well. The trailer weighs 5799 lbs dry, has approx. 1,900 lbs payload, and approx 7,800 GVWR. It has two 3500 lb axles, and it looks to me like they are not strong enough for the weight. The leaf springs are somewhat flattened, and one is nearly straight. I contacted Forest River, and was told to take it back to the dealer where the repair was done, for an estimate of repairs, because it was out of warranty. I'm thinking that the problem was not diagnosed and taken care of correctly on my original warranty claim, and they should still stand behind it. I contacted Forest River, but they refused to help me, only suggesting that I have a dealer examine it and make repairs as necessary. It seems that the installed axles are insufficient for the trailer, and replacement is the best alternative. Longer shackles, etc., are a possible approach, but I'm not sure it is the best one.

BOUGHT THIS UNIT IN NOVEMBER 2017. BY FEBRUARY IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE, FISHTAILING AND SWAYING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SAID EVERYTHING (INCLUDING AXLE) WAS FINE. DROVE TO WYOMING IN APRIL, SWAYED A LOT. MOVED AS MUCH WEIGHT FORWARD AS POSSIBLE. PARKED IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. DROVE AGAIN IN JULY AND NEARLY FLIPPED ON I90. DROPPED IT AT AN ALIGNMENT SHOP IN MT WHERE THEY TOLD US THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY BENT, MESSED UP AND THE AXLE WAS WAY TOO SMALL FOR THE RIG. ENDED UP ALSO HAVING A FLAT LEAF SPRING AND A BROKEN SUPPORT MEMBER. FOREST RIVER AND LIPPERT HAVE SPENT THE LAST 8 WEEKS PASSING BLAME AND STALLING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON THE STICKER, THE DRY WEIGHT SHOULD BE 9614 POUNDS (WE WEIGHED IT, IT IS 11,000 NEARLY EMPTY), THE GROSS WEIGHT IS 11,680, THE AXLES ARE RATED FOR A TOTAL OF 10,160 AND THE WHEELS FOR A TOTAL OF 10,000. WE ARE TOLD BY FR THAT THE HITCH IS SUPPOSE TO BEAR 10% OF THE WEIGHT. IF THAT IS TRUE AND WE LOOK AT THE MAX WEIGHT MINUS 10% WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT 10,528 POUNDS ON THE AXLES AND WHEELS NOT RATED FOR THAT MUCH WEIGHT. FR REFUSES TO UPGRADE OUR AXLES AND TIRES AND HAS ONLY AUTHORIZED LIPPERT TO REPAIR THE BROKEN MEMBER AND FLAT LEAF SPRING, ALSO LEAVING US WITH A WARPED FRAME AND DOORS THAT WON'T LATCH. *DT *DT *DT CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS THIS REQUEST. *JB CONSUMER HAS STATED UNIT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.*JB