2020 Forest River Rockwood Owner Complaints

We were traveling with our Rockwood Mini Lite and stopped at a traffic light. Someone from another vehicle ran over and told us there appeared to be an issue with one of our tires on the trailer and it looked dangerous. When we stopped to look, the passenger side tire on the front axle was bent in toward the center of the trailer. It is now at a repair shop and they have reported that the axle is broken. We don’t recall hitting anything, but filed an insurance claim for the replacement of the axle. Repair shop reports that they are still awaiting a response from the manufacturer, Dexter Axles, on when a replacement will become available. This morning, while perusing a Facebook page for Rockwood Mini Lite owners, I ran across a post from someone dealing with the exact same issue. Following, were numerous comments from others with the same issue. While this seems very odd, I cannot locate any recalls on the Dexter Axles. I feel as though this could have been disastrous for us if someone had not told us about the issue as well as these others who posted the same issue on Facebook. This is something that should possibly be brought to light.

NHTSA ID

11513970

Incident

Mar 7, 2023

2020 Forest River Rockwood 8326BH Travel Trailer purchased March 2, 2020. Castle Rock ST tires included on trailer at time of purchase as standard equipment. Feb 26, 2022, the drivers side front tire had a tread separation incident. The tread came off causing damage to the fender area. This occurred while at moderate speed approx. 50 mph, tire inflation was at recommended PSI of 80 at beginning of trip. Upon stopping to assess tires, it was noted that tread came completely off. The steel belts were exposed, checked the tire Pressure, it was 70 PSI. The two drivers side tires were replaced with a manufactures tires. After traveling another 5 or 6 miles the front passenger side tire had the same type failure. Causing damage to the area around wheels. Insurance adjuster inspected the trailer on 2-28-22. This occurred without warning or visible signs. From social media information and research found that tire failure issues are not uncommon with the Castle Rock tires supplied on Forest River travel trailers.

NHTSA ID

11510275

Incident

Feb 26, 2022

We heard a loud pop yesterday and found that one of our tires on our camper had exploded! Thankfully, the camper was sitting at our house. I researched the Forest River forums and there have been numerous reports of these tires exploding on and off the road. We are now concerned with the integrity of the other tires and fear of trailering on our next camping trip. The tires have less that 2,000 miles and are barely 2 years old. ST 205/75R14. It is my understanding these tires have been reported and are dangerous. We are lucky we were not driving. We always maintain proper tire pressure and use tire covers so this is a defective from the Castle Rock manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11498004

Incident

Dec 18, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Rockwood. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, an abnormal snapping sound was coming from the RV, followed by a dragging sound. Upon inspection of the RV, the contact discovered that the battery had fallen out of the vehicle due to faulty metal straps. The contact was able to temporarily fix to the RV until reaching his destination. The contact was able to replace the battery and the straps to prevent the failure from returning. The contact linked the failure to a manufacturing defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered to assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,500.

NHTSA ID

11482994

Incident

Jan 31, 2022

Mileage

2,500 mi

This trailer has twelve bolts and nuts that retain the body of the trailer to the trailer frame. I had three of the nuts completely fall off while the remaining nine were only finger tight. Additionally there are two brackets that retain the LP gas line that connect to an outlet on the side of the trailer. These brackets are held in place by self threading screws. Both screws on my trailer have fallen off.

NHTSA ID

11464811

Incident

May 11, 2022

I bought this trailer last year at Albany RV ONE in Latham NY I saw several posts online about the bolts not being secured to the frame from the body. Upon inspection I found ours were not only loose, but some were not installed at all. This should have been caught at the factory or at the dealership when inspected for sale They did give us a current State inspection sticker on the trailer. We then expected that it was inspected at the dealer. I paid over 400.00 to the dealer for the needed repairs (installing bolts) This should have been found during inspection at the factory or during the NYS inspection when sold to us. RV ONE takes no reasonability for either and claims it's not under warranty so we have to pay which I did to get my camper back. Could you please look into this for us? Cheers [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11455146

Incident

Mar 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Rockwood trailered to a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 64 MPH, the tire pressure monitor alarm alerted him that the tire on the driver’s side front side of the trailer had zero air pressure. The contact pulled over, inspected the vehicle, and saw that the tire was flat. The contact called for roadside assistance and had a spare tire placed on the trailer. The next day the contact took the tire to an independent mechanic where they inspected the tire and discovered that the internal tire pressure monitor sensor clamp loosened and had fractured into pieces which caused the tire to run flat. The contact had the tire replaced; however, a new tire pressure monitor sensor was not installed on the rim. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 2,500.

NHTSA ID

11431035

Incident

Aug 23, 2021

Mileage

2,500 mi

The Rockwood 2608BS I was towing with my 3/4 ton pickup began to sway and I was unable to recover from the sway. In a matter of 4-5 seconds, the trailer lay on its side and i was at a complete stop on the highway. No one was hurt, and there were no other vehicles involved in this incident. Earlier in the day I filled the 60 gallon fresh water tank on this trailer, which is the first time I have filled this tank prior to a road trip. The tank is located at the rear of the trailer and the weight of the full tank along with a side gust of wind we experienced, in my opinion, were major contributors to the sway, I want to emphasize that the location of the fresh water tank poses a weight distribution problem when the tank is full. I purchased this RV in September 2019 and this trailer has always been prone to sway. I've had the proper safety equipment on it such as a weight distribution hitch and anti-sway bar. I submitted an on-line report to the NHTSA in early 2020 citing the problem with sway and reported I felt the axles were a bit too far forward on this unit. After our accident, I searched online and began reading the "Rockwood 2608BS Forum," searched for "Sway" and learned others who have towed this make and model of RV have experienced problems with sway and submitted their review to the forum. Sway and loss of control of this make and model of RV due to design is a safety hazard to the operator and passengers of the tow vehicle, and to occupants of nearby traffic.

NHTSA ID

11424792

Incident

Jun 30, 2021

I had tread separation issues with two of the four Castle Rock ST tires size 205/75/R14 on my 2020 travel trailer with less than 10,000 miles of use. One tire blew across the tire from side to side with complete separation of the tread. The second tire had a bulge lengthwise that completely wore the tread off an 8 inch section of the tire which was likely due to tread separation.

NHTSA ID

11424758

Incident

Jun 4, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD MINI LITE EQUIPPED WITH LIONS HEAD TIRES, TIRE LINE: CASTLE ROCK ST, TIRE SIZE: 205/75/R14, DOT NUMBER 30-19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE FORMED A BUBBLE WHERE THE WIRES SEPARATED FROM THE THREAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS SHREDDED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 2,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE FOR THE RV AND TIRES WERE 5,500. *LN CONSUMER STATED RV HAD LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON NEW TIRES BEFORE BOTH OF THEM BLEW. *JB

NHTSA ID

11366661

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE HOT WATER HEATER WAS IN USE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR ALARMED INDICATING CARBON MONOXIDE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH WIND BLOWING TO THE REAR OF THE TRAILER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. SUN CITY RV LOCATED AT 6310 E PLATTE AVE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80915 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

NHTSA ID

11342530

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

250 mi

I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM OF FISHTAILING WITH MY FOREST RIVER 2020 ROCKWOOD ULTRA LITE, MODEL 2608BS TRAILER, WHEN TOWING ON THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THE AXLES ARE MOUNTED TOO FAR FORWARD CAUSING A SWAY PROBLEM WHEN WEIGHT IS PLACED AT THE BACK END OF THIS MODEL. SAFETY AND ENGINEERED DESIGN OF THIS MODEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FRESH WATER TANK HOLDS 60 GALLONS AND IS DEFINITELY AT THE REAR BEHIND THE AXLES. I DO FILL THE 60 GALLON FRESH WATER TANK @ 8.345 LBS. PER GALLON WHICH MEANS I CARRY A MINIMUM OF 500 LBS. OF FLUID. THE BLACK WATER TANK HOLDS 45 GALLONS AND ONE OF THE GRAY WATER TANKS (WHICH I ESTIMATE) HOLDS 45 GALLONS ARE BOTH BEHIND THE AXLES. SO, THESE TWO TANKS COMBINED WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE FRESH WATER TANK MEANS AT LEAST 150 GALLONS COULD BE HELD NEAR THE REAR WHICH EQUATE TO 1250 LBS. OF WEIGHT IF ALL WERE FULL. THE LARGEST STORAGE AREA IS AT THE REAR OF THIS TRAILER AND ACCESSED THROUGH AN EXTERIOR COMPARTMENT DOOR. HEAVY TOOLS, COOKING GRILLS, ELECTRIC CORDS, WATER HOSES, ETC CAN BE CARRIED IN THIS COMPARTMENT. THE BEDROOM IS AT THE BACK OF THIS TRAILER; PERSONAL ITEMS, CLOTHING, ETC ADD WEIGHT BEHIND THE AXLES. A HITCH-MOUNTED CARGO CARRIER AT THE REAR LOADED WITH EQUIPMENT COULD CAUSE MORE SWAY. MY VEHICLE HAS SUFFICIENT TOWING CAPACITY AND IS PROPERLY SET UP INCLUDING AN ANTI-SWAY BAR YET THERE IS TOO MUCH SWAY. I AM AWARE OF VARIABLES THAT CAN CAUSE SWAY WHEN TOWING, I.E. WIND GUSTS, TRACTOR TRAILERS PASSING; THESE ARE TO BE EXPECTED. I ATTRIBUTE MUCH OF THE SWAY TO THE AXLES BEING TOO FAR FORWARD WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING WHEN I TOW THE TRAILER WHICH BEGAN OCTOBER 18, 2019. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THIS FOREST RIVER 2020 ROCKWOOD ULTRA LITE TRAVEL TRAILER, MODEL 2608BS. IT WAS NEWLY DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED FOR THE 2020 MODEL YEAR. I PURCHASED IT IN SEPTEMBER 2019 FROM ALOHA RV NORTH IN BERNALILLO NM.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11340926

Incident

Oct 18, 2019

BOLTS SECURING THE BODY OF OUR GEOPRO 19BH TO THE FRAME WERE PLACED IN A MANNER THAT BENT THE FRAME, DID NOT HAVE NUTS PLACED ON THE END OF THE BOLT, AND DO NOT SECURE THE BODY TO THE FRAME.

NHTSA ID

11315490

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

50 mi