FR Cedar Creek review and quality

[CUMMINZ]

My wife and I purchased a new Forest River Cedar Creek Champagne in January 2017 from Tom Johnson, Camping World. From the first outing in February 2017 we noticed major failures in the level-up system and slides. To make a long story short and even after a personal visit to the factory in Topeka we have come to the conclusion that we will never purchase another FR product. After months of personal visits to Charlotte and calls and emails to the upper folks at FR our conclusion is they don't care. FR or Lippert refused warranty work to be done on the level-up system until I finally convinced them the coach had frame issues. A customer should never have to go through this. Several months ago I was an active member and poster on the "Forest River Forum". After posting info about FR and many other members contacting me privately and also making public posts the ADMIN team finally banned me from the site. Which they had the right to do. I brought attention to the real issues pertaining to FR and the ADMINs did not like it. I violated their policies. ANYWAY, I am attaching several photos of repairs that were finally made at Amish Family RV Repairs in Topeka. By the way I had to tow my coach 800 miles (both ways) to get it repaired and they did a great job. CW, Charlotte had refused to make the repairs. I am sure there are many of you with FR products and are satisfied with your coaches and that is great. Your time is coming. Look closely at the repairs sheet and see if you think these issues should exit on a brand new unit.
Also notice last photo of underside of rear fenders. They added an aluminum braces to reinforce the floppy fenders.

 

[DavidC]

Well that's a real shame. It sure looked purdy when you bought it tho.
Dave

 

[jgillott]

First of all, I'm sorry to hear of your issues. Unfortunately, it seems to be a common theme across the RV industry currently and not isolated to your FR product.

 

[Killgore]

Ouch! I'm not a Forest River customer but I thought after Warren Buffet bought them that a real effort was being made to improve quality issues and attention to detail. The RV industry as a whole deserves the black eye that they seem to wear with pride. All of them have room for improvement, but unfortunately with record sales of nearly 500,000 units this year all they appear to want to do is push them through production. And of course, they dump them on the dealers who have little incentive to work on warranty issues when they're covered up with better paying service work.

Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, Trailer Life Magazine, and Good Sam who likes to run his mouth about Trump and has never owned a RV, currently has 1,950 issues on pissedconsumer.com with only 12 being resolved. Talk about a crappo attitude!

Unfortunately, until potential buyers start doing their homework and quit falling for the glitz and glamor, the industry won't change. I had hopes FR would somehow make a difference but I guess it's still "buyer beware". I hate to hear of your problems.

- Ed

 

[RVTRKN]

Anyone who asks me if I think the used Boat they were thinking of buying is worth what the price their asking for is worth it? Or should they buy new? I always relay to them my experience about my new boat purchase, that it was in the shop longer than it was in the water. And all the while they (Shop) never listened to me as to my theory to what was wrong. They did eat crow in the end, and afterward all the repairs were done. It has given me 21 years of enjoyment, 22 years if the first year wasn’t so horrible, except for normal maintenance and a new motor, it has been great. BTW, insurance covered the motor and was not due to a manufacture issue, but my mistake taking a shortcut on maintenance. Hope your RV is trouble free from now on.

 

[Killgore]

I believe the only consumer advocate in the RV industry that continually hammers the manufacturers is Chuck Woodbury with RVtravel.com. This is a website where articles of interest to RVers are published weekly and subscriptions are voluntary donations, not funds derived from advertisers. The RVIA is dominated by the RV industry and a long list of greedy suppliers and vendors who successfully squelch any industry regulations, appeals for a lemon law, and other attempts to demand responsibility. Check Chuck out!

 

[wyosteve]

I'm not intending to sound critical, but why would you buy a Forest River product when all the reports/reviews for years have been that they are one step above junk?

 

[CUMMINZ]

I'm not intending to sound critical, but why would you buy a Forest River product when all the reports/reviews for years have been that they are one step above junk?

We owned a CC DayDreamer for 10 years. We liked the floorplan greatly and also had issues with it. FR finally stepped up to the plate even after the warranty ran out and made it right. When the Champagne came out we fell in love with it. And even with these issues we still like it.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Well that's a real shame. It sure looked purdy when you bought it tho.
Dave

We still think it is a beautiful coach. I would just hope all folks that purchase new coaches would spend more time at the date of delivery spend more time with the tech and open every door and close every door twice.

 

[Killgore]

All major manufacturers have problems. Thor Industries is by far the largest which includes Jayco, DRV, Keystone, AirStream, and a host of others. In fact, Thor made a major financial contribution to Camping World in 2009. Forest River was a ray of sunshine on the horizon after Warren Buffet's acquisition and Jayco had a pretty good reputation as a family owned business until they sold out. Yep, even DRV after selling out is now reported as having some QC issues.

If you buy any camper you better be a pretty good handyman with a decent toolbox. Used units with most of the bugs worked out or high-dollar investments are about the only sensible choices, and yet they can be time consuming and expensive to maintain.

 

[DavidC]

I watch these RV shows once in a while and most people look at the bling and not the mechanical's. Not once have I seen anyone crawling around cabinets or underneath checking things.

Dave

 

[Killgore]

Dave, they're being cautious. Pull a drawer and it's liable to fall apart since it probably has the structural integrity of a cardboard box. You will typically find better tires, suspension and brakes on good utility trailers. LOL!

- Ed

 

[Jim W]

I'm not intending to sound critical, but why would you buy a Forest River product when all the reports/reviews for years have been that they are one step above junk?

I too own a Cedar Creek 34RL, which is built by Forest River. I have had some issue with mine and Forest River has step up to the plate and resolved them to my satisfaction. Even after the warranty period ran out. I will definitely purchase another CC if and when we are in the market for one.

Now this is my third 5er that I have own so, I think I can state that I have some experience in buying and deciding on a quality unit in the mid range price points.

My last trailer before the Cedar Creek was a Keystone product. The unit was very good at first but by the third and fourth year of ownership I was ready to get rid of that trailer. I contacted Keystone several times with no help at all from the unit manufacture. I was not asking for free warranty after the initial time period, I was asking to buy the material and parts that I needed. They would not sell anything not even to the dealer who would than resell to me.

 

[Killgore]

Jim, you can see the situation is only getting worse:

By Russ and Tiña De Maris, Contributors to RVtravel.com

"In a move that might be viewed as a “don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” National RV Supply Company, a major wholesale RV parts and supply distributor, has shut down sales to the public. Evidently “the public” includes RV dealers who’ve come to depend on the outfit for getting parts for their customers.
Looking a little deeper at the situation makes for some disturbing possibilities. First, National RV Supply is a “sister company” of Camping World, the Marcus Lemonis-directed behemoth that’s been gobbling up RV dealers across the country. Back in 2016 Camping World made big fanfare of its magnanimous offer to sell wholesale to independent RV dealers and parts retailers."

 

[CUMMINZ]

Jim, you can see the situation is only getting worse:

By Russ and Tiña De Maris, Contributors to RVtravel.com

"In a move that might be viewed as a “don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” National RV Supply Company, a major wholesale RV parts and supply distributor, has shut down sales to the public. Evidently “the public” includes RV dealers who’ve come to depend on the outfit for getting parts for their customers.
Looking a little deeper at the situation makes for some disturbing possibilities. First, National RV Supply is a “sister company” of Camping World, the Marcus Lemonis-directed behemoth that’s been gobbling up RV dealers across the country. Back in 2016 Camping World made big fanfare of its magnanimous offer to sell wholesale to independent RV dealers and parts retailers."

I would agree with you totally and for the Forest River Forum: they are a bunch of (????) can't find the words. They are a couple guys on that forum that are "do no wrong" in their defense of the forum and FR. I was told in no uncertain words I was to state my issue one time and shut up. Even when concerned folks would respond with a question about the subject you could not further explain.

 

[Killgore]

Before someone accuses me of attempting to organize a lynch mob, I should attempt to clarify my position. I have owned campers for fifteen years; four in total, including Coachman, Fleetwood, a Cougar High Country by Keystone, and my wife and I currently full-time in an Augusta Ambition. Without a doubt the older campers that we bought second-hand were better built with heavy frames, hardwood cabinets, and with greater care and attention.

The Cougar should have come with a case of Loctite and a staple gun. The Lippert frame was a pitiful foundation, flexing and bending, and causing delamination concerns. Attempts to get service work done usually resulted in visits to Camping World that required the unit to sit on their yard for upwards of two months. Etc., etc, and etc!

Yes, I finally got disgusted and bought the Ambition which has proven to be a quality unit although the Dometic appliances/components have given us some problems. And yes, I do believe in the RV industry, but only because I know they can do a lot better.

- Ed

 

[KenHwy61]

I would agree with you totally and for the Forest River Forum: they are a bunch of (????) can't find the words. They are a couple guys on that forum that are "do no wrong" in their defense of the forum and FR. I was told in no uncertain words I was to state my issue one time and shut up. Even when concerned folks would respond with a question about the subject you could not further explain.

I am also on Forest River Forums and while there are good people, I would have to agree that there are some who will defend FR no matter what and gang up on those who vent legitimate frustrations with poor build quality. I rarely post anymore.

As far as my own trailer goes, After my PDI I left the dealer a list of things I wanted fixed before taking delivery. But after seeing the slipshod work done by the dealer try to fix the slipshod work done by Forest River I never bothered bringing mine back for anything. In fact, I couldn't wait to get it home to make it right myself. I spent many hours and plenty of money improving. I am now very happy with my Aviator and plan on keeping it indefinitely.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wow. Definetly learning here. So sorry to hear of this journey, Cumminz. Shocked to know that Marcus Lemonis, who is the "turn around guy" on TV is caught in this situation!

 

[CUMMINZ]

Wow. Definetly learning here. So sorry to hear of this journey, Cumminz. Shocked to know that Marcus Lemonis, who is the "turn around guy" on TV is caught in this situation!

Wayne, Just a note about your signature. My parents in 1968 bought me a like new Dodge Dart GT 1964 with a push button auto with 273 V8. After a year I built a brand new 340 with ported and polished heads that I purchased from Sox and Martin in Burlington, NC. Had the transmission rebuilt and used the stock exhaust I had modified to duals. Ended up putting fenderwell headers on it and that was a 100% boost in power. Ended up twisting the auto transmission in half at Mooreville, NC dragstrip. Found a hemi belvedere 4 speed and purchased the hoghead from Dodge. That was one sweet car.

 

[RVTRKN]

Wife had the Chrysler version with the push button shift until 94 when we sold it. It ended up with a complete restoration. Wife came home in tears, after she saw it restored in a shopping ctr, blaming me as the reason for selling it. Her mother purchased it brand new, and went to several dealerships to get the 273. Sorry OP to get off topic.