bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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Scouter55 wrote:Has anyone tried a simple fix such as attaching a tarp over the bunk doors while traveling? I imagine keeping the tarp secured would be a difficulty, but I am searching for something that will keep this problem from ruining my HTT when I get it.
Also, is this a problem with just Forest River or is this a problem with all HTTs?
since i have a FR hybrid that never leaked in the front bunk, IMHO, i believe it's a factory issue with all brands.
the level of quality construction in hybrids is lower level than many of the more expensive RV's. remember, hybrids don't cost much more than popups, in price.
i have seen front bunk issues in all brands. i think that it's a minority of units that have leakage and it probably can be attributed to poor quality control at the factories.
there are many reports of drug use on the assembly lines and manufacturers willing to look the other way, if it helps raise production numbers.
a bunk door could be slightly warped, a seal could be glued slightly off, caulking could have been applied sloppily and so on.
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
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Camptrotters
US
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bikendan wrote:Scouter55 wrote:Has anyone tried a simple fix such as attaching a tarp over the bunk doors while traveling? I imagine keeping the tarp secured would be a difficulty, but I am searching for something that will keep this problem from ruining my HTT when I get it.
Also, is this a problem with just Forest River or is this a problem with all HTTs?
probably can be attributed to poor quality control at the factories.
there are many reports of drug use on the assembly lines and manufacturers willing to look the other way,
I have read many reports on leaking HTT’s but this is the first where druggies are blamed.
Makes sense though. Their eyes are so squinted they can not see the giant gaps.
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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Camptrotters wrote:bikendan wrote:Scouter55 wrote:Has anyone tried a simple fix such as attaching a tarp over the bunk doors while traveling? I imagine keeping the tarp secured would be a difficulty, but I am searching for something that will keep this problem from ruining my HTT when I get it.
Also, is this a problem with just Forest River or is this a problem with all HTTs?
probably can be attributed to poor quality control at the factories.
there are many reports of drug use on the assembly lines and manufacturers willing to look the other way,
I have read many reports on leaking HTT’s but this is the first where druggies are blamed.
Makes sense though. Their eyes are so squinted they can not see the giant gaps.
there have been many discussions, on RV forums, about poor factory quality control on all types of RV's and there has been numerous news stories about drug busts at RV factories.
many discussions have talked about this and the managers pushing for higher production numbers, being a possible cause for such poor quality control and sloppy manufacturing.
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Camptrotters
US
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bikendan wrote:Camptrotters wrote:bikendan wrote:Scouter55 wrote:Has anyone tried a simple fix such as attaching a tarp over the bunk doors while traveling? I imagine keeping the tarp secured would be a difficulty, but I am searching for something that will keep this problem from ruining my HTT when I get it.
Also, is this a problem with just Forest River or is this a problem with all HTTs?
probably can be attributed to poor quality control at the factories.
there are many reports of drug use on the assembly lines and manufacturers willing to look the other way,
I have read many reports on leaking HTT’s but this is the first where druggies are blamed.
Makes sense though. Their eyes are so squinted they can not see the giant gaps.
there have been many discussions, on RV forums, about poor factory quality control on all types of RV's and there has been numerous news stories about drug busts at RV factories.
many discussions have talked about this and the managers pushing for higher production numbers, being a possible cause for such poor quality control and sloppy manufacturing.
Guess I missed all those articles.
NEW FLASH: MANAGERS PUSH FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION NUMBERS.
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S.K.
Brecksville, OH
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Scouter55 wrote:Has anyone tried a simple fix such as attaching a tarp over the bunk doors while traveling? I imagine keeping the tarp secured would be a difficulty, but I am searching for something that will keep this problem from ruining my HTT when I get it.
Also, is this a problem with just Forest River or is this a problem with all HTTs?
I recall reading some time ago that simply putting your everyday duct tape over the hinges when you have to pull your HTT in the rain could be an effective, temporary fix. Several people reported good results.
I don't remember, however, whether there was any issue with the tapes leaving any undesirable residuals on the hinges or bunk end walls though. I suggest you do a search on this forum, I am sure you could find some additional details on this.
The answer to your second question is that this is not a Forest River only problem. Other brands, for example, Jayco, also encounter the similar issues.
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jocobe
Maryland
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I had the front bunk replaced the beginning of this year, the substrate swelled. Here's what it looked like:
They also installed new weatherstrip, front and back. The hinge looks the same as it always has.....I just see the barrel of the hinge when the door is closed.
Now I notice the same type of delamination on the rear door, but in a much smaller area. I didn't notice it before the weather-strip was installed.
My 2 year warranty runs out in December, so I plan on contacting FR at the end of this year camping season. Hopefully I'll get a new rear door.
But what about next year? I'm not real confidant these design changes are effective. I don't quite understand why they use a substrate for the bunk doors that swells when in contact with water.
Anyway, I think it's up to us to try and figure out a way to prevent water damage at the bunk ends.
John
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icepickjazz
Westfield, IN
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bikendan wrote:i'm getting my Roo 23SS back next week. i also had the retrofit kit and new bunk door installed.
but i haven't had any leaks nor was the bunk door bad. FR just decided to send a new bunk door also, just in case something was found.
i decided to have the retrofit done, while still under warranty. but i'm a little leery that i may now have leaks since the fix was done.
I had the retrofit done in late Feb 2010 while still under warranty. I have had the unit in more than 4 times for leaks. Thought the retrofit would be a good call. Guess what, leaked worse than before.
Front bunk door is severely delaminating. FR is going to replace front bunk and decals even though it is out of warranty. Dealer tells me there is an even newer front seal kit. It's still at the dealer so I don't know what before & after looks like.
Makes me wish I would have left it alone. Also wondering about the rear. No leaks, but still worried. Take a look at the delamination...
'08 Rockwood Roo 23SS -- '04 Ford Explorer V8
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mwebber78
New England
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Wow that looks terrible
Michael
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padave
Richland PA
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my 2006 233 had leaks in the front and back. Bottom 6 inches of the interior luan plwood became soft. Slight delamination occurred on the back bunkend. Took my dremel out and cut out the soft luan. Kept bunk open and dried everything with a hair dryer. Waited for the plywood backing of the fiberglass dried out and then drill small holes in the delaminated areas. Squirted marine graded epoxy into the holes and pushed with a cushioned board on the delaminated bubbles. It appears to have worked and reattached the filon to the plyood.
I just did my retrofit of the seal kit that does not have you attach the hinge on the outside. Greg Rollins actually sent it to me last year. I haver been taping and covering until I had someone to help me replace the seals. Looking at it closely, I can see why it will still leak. first their is a gap under the LP691 bulb seal that runs along each side of the interior bunk frame. I am going to buy a small piece of that seal and install on both sides. Second, the hinge itself will leak. I am going to try to find a thin flat piece of rubber to put between the sides of the hinge to try to seal it. The hinge will continue to leak. If this does not work, I am going to buy a piece of white rubber (like the piece that comes with the "supposed fix" and glue it to the bottom u-channel and let it hang over the hinge and the two corner gaps.
My leaking problems started about two years, two months of ownership. Greg Rollins has been good. He is just dealing with an inferior design. It is not the factory workers mistake, it is poor engineering and design.
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mister_d
Southeast, MI - hardly qualified to be a
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Joined: 09/17/2006
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Andy F wrote:When I brought mine in for the service at my local dealer, they were very busy and backlogged. They had it done sooner than promised and they told me our hinge looked fine and they didn't replace it even though FR had sent a new hinge as part of the service (Mike at FR actually shipped the parts directly to me at home). I looked at my hinge on my front bunk last night and it matches the old hinge that mister_D posted earlier.
My question to you all, especially mister_D, is this: Do you think my local dealer only completed half the repair by not replacing the hinge? I'm thinking it would have taken them more time and they didn't do it because of their backlog. I've never had water inside the camper (that I know of) but the area around my hinge is usually wet and I've got corrosion at the bottom of the front bunk on both corners, one side more than the other.
I've still got the new hinge from FR and I'm debating getting in contact again with Mike at FR.
Our HTT is a 2007 made in early 06 and purchased in August of 06. Since then, we've had ours in for repair numerous times; each time something done a bit differently. I think FR has been trying all sorts of different fixes and so at the time your service department could have actually done the most recent "fix." However if you found out for sure they were slacking I wouldn't be surprised one bit.
Unless water is actually making it into the camper I wouldn't change anything. It's a pain, but on a day it's actually raining hook up and drive down the expressway for 20-30 minutes and then check inside.
Ours had leaked much more on the awning side of the HTT. Under the hinge is a gutter of sorts and water passes through there regularly when we travel in the rain - even now. The key is to make sure that water doesn't come up and into the cabin.
An email or call to Mike can't hurt anything. Maybe the guys down there will get sick and tired of getting calls and emails and eventually the design team will think of something better in the future. I like the idea of Hybrid TTs evolving over time(;
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