Re: FOREST RIVER INC. ISSUES
When we first got our rig, it needed two slides adjusted, one requiring it to go back to Indiana. FR reimbursed us for our payments during that time it was gone and extended the warranty. Had problems with the DVD player from the start. The first concertone they replaced had the same problems as the original one, but then FR replaced both with upgrade (LCD TV - newer model concertone and wired it for satellite). Had problems with Day/Night shades, those were corrected by dealer immediately and they gave us a water filter system. Decals were coming loose in spots, those were ordered quickly by our dealer, for the whole rig. Now we have delamination issues related to the manufacturing process. We noticed this about a week before our extended warranty (that was extended even further because of the time it went back to IN) was due to expire. At that time we were getting nervous about the delamination and were thinking of selling it, but we really didn't want to. We looked briefly at other manufacturers, but didn't see anything that would come close to the layout of our Cardinal that we truly love. The interiors, cabinetry, and furniture in the new ones we looked out seemed really cheap and flimsy compared to our Cardinal. For the delamination, FR will come get our rig after our camping season is over to completely replace the sides, and bring it back to our house, even though the warranty was up 5/9/7. They said they will make that right to us somehow, like tires or W/D or something. We will opt for tires when the time comes this fall. All of this was done with minimal effort on our part. We have not had the nightmare scenarios that alot of others have had getting it repaired. I can't even imagine what that would be like. We have a great dealer, and FR has been great to us. We love our Cardinal and want to keep it. In our opinion, for what we can afford, it is a quality rig. We never asked them to replace it with a new one, we just wanted ours fixed the way it should have been in the first place. We are happy with the outcome, and we are extremely happy that FR will make it all right for us. I do not believe that our Cardinal is "low quality" in itself. But we think they really need to slow down a bit and pay attention more when they are building them. That, and the quality control was lacking when it was inspected before it went out of the factory to the dealer. Those are problems that are industry-wide whether you are buying a $100,000 rig, or a $20,000 rig. If we thought that the Cardinal was something that others should stay away from, we would surely let everyone know, but we just don't feel that way at all.
