2015 FOREST RIVER BLUE RIDGE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

ON JUNE 29, 2016 WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM A CAMPING TRIP TO MADISON, FL. PULLING OUR FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES, WE GOT OFF I-10 ONTO US HWY 27 AND AFTER ABOUT 3 BLOCKS, A TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRAILER BLEW OUT. MY HUSBAND CHANGED TO THE SPARE TIRE AND WE CONTINUED ON OUR JOURNEY HOME. ABOUT 300 MILES LATER AND ABOUT 45 MINUTES FROM HOME ANOTHER TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS ONE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAMPER. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT I-65 AND PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT OF FLYING J ON DANIEL PAYNE DRIVE IN BIRMINGHAM, AL TO CALL FOR HELP. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES ARE FAULTY BECAUSE EVEN ANOTHER ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 4 TIRES THAT CAME ON OUR CAMPER LOOKS LIKE THE STEEL BELTS HAVE SEPARATED AND IT IS ABOUT TO BLOW OUT. THESE TIRES ARE ON A 2015 MODEL CAMPER AND HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INFLATED AND STORED IN A CLOSED BUILDING OR COVERED WITH TIRE COVERS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAMPER IN MAY 2014. WHEN EACH TIRE BLEW, IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAMPER SO THAT WE ARE NOW FACED WITH NOT ONLY PURCHASING NEW TIRES BUT MUST HAVE REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAMPERS AUTO LEVELING SYSTEM AND THE FENDERS MUST BE REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER BLUE RIDGE CAMPER BEING HAULED BY A 2015 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION WAS NOT PROPERLY SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE RATINGS DID NOT MATCH THE CAMPER FOR THE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION. IN ADDITION, BY ADDING THE CARGO TO THE MAXIMUM, IT CAUSED THE WEIGHT TO BE OVER CAPACITY AND COULD CAUSE A FRACTURE TO THE CAMPER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

ON OCT 22 WE WERE EAST BOUND ON TEXAS 287 ABOUT 10 WEST OF QUANAH, TX WHEN THE RT REAR GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRE ST235/80 R 16 CATASTROPHICALLY BLEW OUT CAUSING $2783.00 OF DAMAGE TO THE BODY PANELS AND SLIDE MOLDING OF OUR BLUE RIDGE 3125 5TH WHEEL. THE DAY WAS COOL AND SOMEWHAT RAINY AND THE BLACKTOP WAS QUITE SMOOTH WITH NO CHUCKHOLES PRIOR TO BLOWOUT. I'D HEARD STORIES ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR E RATED GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES, SO I CHECKED TIRE PRESSURES THAT MORNING AND THIS TIRE WAS LOWER THAN THE 80 PSI COLD I MEASURED IN THE OTHER 3 TIRES ON OUR 5TH WHEEL. WE SPENT THE NITE IN DALHART AND I PRESSURED UP THAT TIRE IN DALHART TO 80 PSI COLD AS THE OTHER 3 WERE OK. I LOOK FOR TIRE BULGES AND UNUSUAL LOOKING TREAD AND SAW NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE TREAD/STEEL BELT SEPARATION LEADING TO THE SUDDEN BLOWOUT. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND SPARE WITH A MICHELIN 235/85 R16 TIRE THAT MY DEALER RECOMMENDED I SWITCH TO. DISCOUNT TIRE PUT THEM ON FOR ME WITH THEIR LIFETIME WARRANTY INCLUDED IN THE PURCHASE. I'M GOING TO PURSUE THIS AS FAR AS I CAN. IF THAT TIRE HAD BLOWN UP IN MY FACE WHILE PRESSURING IT UP.... WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN SOMEONE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN STEEL BELTS SUDDENLY EXPLODE WITH THAT PERSON RIGHT BESIDE THE TIRE!!