NHTSA Complaint #10822453 — 2015 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE

ONE WEEK AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF FOREST RIVER TRAVEL TRAILER, I TOWED THE TRAVEL TRAILER TO A LAKE THAT WAS 90 MILES FROM HOME. FORTY FIVE MILES INTO THE DRIVE, AT A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY MN-47 THAT HAD A HUMP IN THE ROAD, THE TOW VEHICLE AND TRAILER UNDULATED CAUSING THE TRAILER TO BECOME UNHOOKED FROM THE TOW HITCH. THE TRAILER CONTINUED TO BE TOWED UNTIL I COULD GET TO A SAFE SPOT TO PULL OVER WITH THE TRAILER TO BE RE-HITCHED. I BROUGHT THE TRAILER TO THE DEALER AND LEFT THE TOW HITCH FOR THEIR ASSESSMENT. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE CLINCH BOLT ON THE TRAILER TONGUE WAS NOT TIGHTENED ADEQUATELY FROM THE MANUFACTURER, ALLOWING THE TONGUE TO BECOME UNHITCHED FROM THE BALL HITCH. THE TRAILER TONGUE FRAME IS NOW GROUND DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. FOREST RIVER WILL NOT REPAIR THIS INCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE DISBELIEF. ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS THAT THE FRAME IS SAID TO BE GALVANIZED BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS SURFACE RUST LOCATIONS BUILDING UP WHERE SALT IS KICKED UP NEAR THE WHEEL WELLS. I HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO COMPLAIN SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THE FISHING SEASON AT THE TIME. IT IS NOW FISHING SEASON AGAIN AND HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF MY ISSUES.