NHTSA Complaint #10433994 — 2010 COACHMEN FREELANDER

THE HIGH PRESSURE PROPANE GAS LINE FROM THE PROPANE TANK TO THE STOVE HAS CRACKED. I JUST DISCOVERED THIS YESTERDAY NOV 1, 2011 WHILE LOOKING FOR THE REASON THE GAS TO THE STOVE WAS SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE SLIDE WAS RETRACTED. WHAT I FOUND WAS THE GAS LINE PINCHED AT A 180 DEGREE ANGLE, FOLDED BACK ON ITSELF. WHEN THE SLIDE-OUT IS EXTENDED THE GAS LINE STRAIGHTENS ENOUGH TO ALLOW GAS TO FLOW. WHEN THE SLIDE-OUT IS DRAWN BACK IN TO MOVE THE MOTORHOME, THE GAS LINE IS FOLDED AND PINCHED CLOSED. I INSPECTED THE GAS LINE AT THE FOLD/PINCH POINT AND DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE RUBBER TUBING. THE SLIDE-OUT HAS BEEN MOVED, IN AND OUT, APPROXIMATELY 100 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2002. THE SMALLEST HOLE IN THIS LINE WOULD PRODUCE A MAJOR LEAK RESULTING IN POSSIBLE EXPLOSION WITH SEVERE BODILY BURNS OR DEATH. I CONTACTED RON ROFF IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT AT THE FORREST RIVER FACTORY AND HE SEEMED LESS THAN CONCERNED, TELLING ME NOT TO WORRY, THE GAS ALARM WOULD SOUND IF A LEAK SHOULD DEVELOP AT THE CRACKED AREA. AND HIS POSITION, ACTING IN BEHALF OF THE COMPANY, IS TO SEND ME A NEW HOSE, CASE CLOSED. THIS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT NEEDS SPECIAL TOOLS, QUALIFIED UNDERSTANDING OF CONNECTING GAS LINES AND HOW THE GAS LINE SHOULD BE PLACED BENEATH THE SLIDE-OUT FLOOR SO THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO, THE SLIDE-OUT HAS TO BE LIFTED TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE SLIDE-OUT. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH FREELAND SLIDE-OUT MODELS. I SURE HOPE THESE DEFECTS ARE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS BLOWN UP AND DIES. I TURNED MY GAS TANK OFF AND AM TAKING IT TO A RV DEALER. I WISH I COULD MAKE THE REPAIRS MYSELF BUT IT IS BEYOND MY CAPABILITY. THANK YOU UPDATED 11/10/11 *BF *TR UPDATED IVOQ 03/12/12 UPDATED IVOQ 06/05/12