NHTSA Complaint #10552044 — 2013 FOREST RIVER SIERRA

I PURCHASED A 2013 FOREST RIVER 356 SAQ IN AUGUST OF 2012. I USED IT DURING THE REST OF THAT SEASON. COME TO FIND OUT FOREST RIVER ONLY PUT 6 THOUSAND POUND AXLES UNDER A 40+ FOOT CAMPER. IN THE SPRING I PULLED IT TO A CAT SCALE AND WEIGHED THE UNIT. MY VERY UNLOADED CAMPER REAR AXLE WEIGHT WAS 11,500 LBS. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO OVER LOAD AND NOT EVEN KNOW. IF I WERE TO FILL MY FRESH WATER TANK THIS WOULD SURELY PUT ME VERY CLOSE TO THE AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND OVER ONCE I LOAD MY UNIT WITH ALL THE THINGS WE NEED FOR A FAMILY OF 4 TO GO CAMPING. IN THE LATER 2013 MODELS FOREST RIVER CAME OUT WITH THE OPTION OF 7 THOUSAND POUND AXLES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FOREST RIVER SIERRA DIVISION VIA E-MAIL ANY THEY SAID IF I WOULD TOW MY UNIT FROM MAINE TO INDIANA (ON MARGINAL AT BEST AXLES) AND THEY WOULD DO THE WORK FOR $2500. *TR