NHTSA Complaint #10621828 — 2008 FOREST RIVER SANDSTORM

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, WE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND, AND PULLED OVER. THE STEEL GASOLINE TANK, WHICH IS PART OF THE TOYHAULER'S BUILT-IN FUELING STATION AND IS LOCATED BEHIND THE AXLES UNDERNEATH THE TOYHAULER, HAD BROKEN ITS FRONT TANK MOUNTS, AND THE BOTTOM/FRONT OF THE GASOLINE TANK WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE TOYHAULER. AFTER BEING STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE RUBBER HOSES (NOW STRETCHING TO REACH THE HANGING TANK) BROKE AND GASOLINE BEGAN SPILLING OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 15 GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN IT (APPROXIMATELY 25 GALLON TANK). IF THE FUEL HAD SPILLED OUT IMMEDIATELY, OR WE HADN'T HEARD IT DRAGGING AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, A MAJOR FIRE AND EXPLOSION COULD HAVE OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THE MOUNTS TO BE MADE OF VERY THIN STEEL, WITH SHODDY WELDS AND WORKMANSHIP. THE MOUNTS WERE NOT RUSTED OR CORRODED. I CALLED FOREST RIVER AND LEFT A MESSAGE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. GOOGLING REVEALED OTHER OWNERS WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE. *TR