NHTSA Complaint #10442611 — 2008 CEDAR CREEK FIFTH WHEEL

AFTER A 1800 MILE TRIP FROM MINNESOTA TO CASA GRANDE ARIZONA ON NOV 19 2011,WE WERE SETTLED IN AND I THEN ATTEMPTED TO PLACE OUR WHEEL COVERS OVER THE WHEELS. WHEN THEY WOULD NOT SLIP OVER THE TIRE I CRAWLED UNDER THE TRAILER TO SEE THAT THE SHOCKS ARE RUBBING INTO THE TIRES AND ARE RIGHT UP TIGHT CAUSING A DEEP GROVE ON EACH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE CORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION I CONTACTED FOREST RIVER ON MONDAY NOV 22. THEY SEEM TO UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION AND ADMITTED TO RECEIVING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME THING.. THEY SENT ME 4 NEW TIRES AND RIMS AND EXPLAINED THE SHOCKS AND BRACKETS SHOULD BE REMOVED AS THEY ARE JUST IN THE WAY. LIPPERT CORP, WHO MAKE THE FRAMES FOR THE 5TH WHEEL SITS ON IS TO BLAME. I HAVE HAD MY SLIDE OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RUB A GROVE ON THE OUTSIDE WALL WHEN IN THE CLOSED POSITION. WITH THIS HAPPENING I BELIEVE THE FRAME IS TWISTED AND THE EYE BEAM IS BOWING. AFTER GETTING ON THE ROOF ,THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING AND THE SEAMS ON THE CURVE ARE COMING APART. THIS BEING THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY ON THE HIGHWAY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. THIS UNIT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE HIGHWAYS AND PUT IN THE JUNK YARD. IF I HAD NOT TRIED TO PLACE THE WHEEL COVERS ON THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT AND PEOPLE KILLED. THE OWNERS OF THESE UNDER GAUGED FRAMES SHOULD BE WARNED. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT FIND OUT BY READING ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. *TR UPDATED 04/25/12 *BF