Forrest River Build Quality

Just wanted to get everyone's opinion on the quality of their Wildcat. This is my second RV. I had a 2007 Spree 290RLS travel trailer made by KZ for 2yrs before purchasing my 2009 Wildcat 32QBBS. The spree never seemed to have the problems of this Wildcat. Since January when I purchased the 5th wheel new it has been in the shop twice. The converter has failed, the wooden door panel has fallen off the fridge, the carpet is coming up near the entertainment system, and the passenger side pass through compartment door seems to be out of square and doesn't close properly. I love the layout of my Cat but am having serious doubts about its longevity due to these type problems showing up in less than six months of ownership. Just a little rant but I am having doubts about the quality of this RV.

I've always been told - "You get what you paid for." We looked at several brands of 5th wheels before we decided on our Cat. Those brands covered different price ranges. We also looked at class B+ motorhomes. We kept coming back to the Wildcat 29rlbs because it was affordable and the floor plan was just exactly what we wanted.

We had a few minor problems that were fixed promptly at the dealership. We had a big problem with cracked wheels - we had flats when we were sitting overnight in campgrounds, and we had a couple blowouts. We might have been able to get Forest River to replace the wheels, but we decided to get something better than what they'd give us.

Other than that, we've been pretty lucky.... and happy.

I read other forums, and notice that people have problems with even the higher end brands. It's the same way with cars - some come off the assembly line great and some are lemons.

Hopefully, you won't have any more troubles and will be able to enjoy your Cat.

Tater

Yeah I know that regardless of the brand none are trouble free. heck my uncle has a Prevost and even that ridiculously expensive coach has problems. I just wasn't expecting this many small problems from the get go with a brand new trailer. I just seem to always be fixing this one as opposed to my KZ I traded in. I guess I am just used to boats (I sold my center console when we got into camping). Marine products seem to be held to higher standards. My wife thinks I am crazy but I think next time around I will start with a goose neck trailer and fabricate my own RV.

I to was very disappointed with the quality after I got mine. But I did not have anything to compare it with. Seems like I did a lot of fixing up after I got it. I think they are all basically the same quality. I did meet a lady at Tunica, MS in a very nice new pricey Motor Home, and she said it was a piece of junk. I also saw a two year old expensive Motor Home (Fleetwood) with a big sign on it saying, (nothing but problems in two years). At least we didn't pay 2 hundred thousand + for the 5th wheel. It is a learning process. Buyer beware as the old motto says.

Everyone wanted lots of living space, tons of storage with all the appliances and comforts of home. Of course, all of this must be the weight of a feather pillow.

Be careful what you ask for as you might get it. I'm pretty certain, we as RV consumers, did just that.

MountainMan wrote:Everyone wanted lots of living space, tons of storage with all the appliances and comforts of home. Of course, all of this must be the weight of a feather pillow.

Be careful what you ask for as you might get it. I'm pretty certain, we as RV consumers, did just that.

I agree. I would certainly sacrifice some electronic gizmos for some more residential type hardware even if it meant the trailer weight would increase by 500-1k lbs.

I am feeling pretty comfortable with my T28RK cat, but I do think Forest River has an issue with the plumbing of their trailers. I hate the idea of them using cables to open/close the traps even though I understand they have to do it because of the underbelly! Still cables will bind and break which I hate.

I think Wildcat is a victim of their own success. They get so many orders that I think they rush the units through production and expect the dealers to fix any problems. Our 2004 RK was almost trouble free, including the Concertone. Our 2008 has been one problem after another ranging from minor to major problems of water and hydraulic leaks. Our next fifth wheel won’t be a Forest River product.

I really don’t think Forest River cares one iota about their customers. We wrote a letter to the company a couple of years ago and didn’t even get a response. Also if you go to the website of Keystone RV, Heartland RV, or KZ you will find a “Contact Us” button. Try finding that on the Forest River website.

We had a 2006 Wildcat Bunk house and had some problems when we got it home small problems, All got fixed. We then sold it and Got a Montana a much nicer looking unit over the wildcat, We have not had any problems with the New unit knock on wood, I believe that all units are the same. It takes most Company's to build a House on wheels in 5 days that is way to quick to get every think right I think. All you can do is hope that the workers are not drunk or in a hurry to get out. I went to Keystones Factory before I bought our unit, They start work at 4:00am and work until they meet there numbers normaly around 2:00pm long days and the workers look wore out when they leave for the day. Good luck to all of you and have a great season camping.

Gotta chime in here.

Our 2006 29RLBS has been relatively trouble free since we brought it home in April of 2006. We live in this unit for approximately 9 months of each year and have put about 40K miles on it going from here to there and back. So, the Cat is well used.

The only problems that we've had are the fit and finish kind that I could correct myself. As with alot of other Cat owners, I've made a number of mods to make the Cat more liveable for our "most timer" lifestyle.

Other than that, I'm well satisfied with our home on wheels.

Outta' here .....

Mines an 07'. been cross country and numerous other trips. Only problems I've seen were minor maintenance stuff or like my heater some sort of dirt / trash or bug got in there and stopped it up a good shake and it was good to go. Still has three of the original tires that came on it which I'm about to change out one of those next week.



I have a friend at work that bought a new couchman motorhome and it stayed in the shop the first year with one headache after the other. So like any other production unit, you get a bad one down the line along with the good one's.

We love our 2006, 28RKS! Floor plan and size is just right for the two of us although we've even "comfortably" entertained up to ten for the superbowl. It's purely mathmatical. Beer into friends = friends into 28RKS. Everybody won, but I digress? Other than the stainless steel rusted heater problem and the spring hanger issue we enjoy our annual Odysseys, usually through several states and 5000 miles of not so friendly territory. Yes maintenance is required. After all, try dragging you own home over these roads and see if everything stays tight. We looked at several different manufacturers and opted for the Wildcat. Floor plan and quality of unit for the cost fit our needs and budget. Camp on CATS!

If your just looking for build quality then FR products are not for you. They're built about the same as every other RV in that price range ~ no better and no worse imo. What FR does give you is value. There are lots of little extras in the WC that other brands either charge extra for or dont offer at all. Even things as simple as a toe-kick under the kitchen sink cabinet or windows in the side of slideouts arent in simular trailers.

I am in agreement with ScottandGrace and Earl. We are very happy with our unit and have had very few problems. We consider that Cat a good value for what we paid. We take a week or two vacation with the unit and use it about eight to ten weekends a season. It doesn't make sense to buy a high end unit for the amount of time that we use it. We have friends with a $70k Keystone Everest and they have had many problems and had their unit tied up at the dealers weeks at a time. I believe you're going to find quality issues to some extent in most units. You just gotta hope you have one with the fewest problems.
KH

I'm also in agreement with the top three. I believe every unit has issues. I don't know one person that hasn't taken their new RV back to the dealer for warranty work. The Keystone Cougar brand is very popular around my area and I'd say at least 50% of teh units I see on the road here are those. Friends of mine just received their new Cougar and I told them not to get discouraged that they would find problems as every unit has some issues to some degree. Sure enough, theirs is in for repair, lol. WILDCAT is a very nice looking unit, both inside and out. One of the better looking ones on the road IMO. I have a 2010 and I love it. Yes, I've had a few problems, mainly with the drawers opening while driving and needing repair afterwards, but I took the trailer back to the factory on a trip last fall and they fixed things up very well, even installed a skylight at no charge for me. The drawers they didn't put extra locking tabs on, I still have problems with mind you. One big thing that bugged me when I purchased my unit was the differences between my model built in Oregon and the others built in Indiana. The only thing the brochure mentioned about a difference was that the central trash system was not available on the west coast built trailers... well to my surprise, that wasn't the only difference. Overall, at this price price point, I am very happy with my purchase!

We have an 06 unit. Bought it used last year. Like it alot. Ya we have issues that come up. Wildcat is a mid level product and has many the same problems all the others have. A lot of the componants like Converter and door panels are a general vendor that many brands may use. Tires, frame parts, etc. etc.
If we do buy a new unit, no matter which brand, I will do mods to it before we even use it to correct some of the things I feel are a bad idea or won't work long.
Still will have some issues. Our bath faucet two weeks ago just started dumping water under it when turned on. Not sure what that is. Just went to Menards and picked up a new one. Just like a boat, if these were auto's, they would all be lemon law candidates.
We usually are able to fix most things ourself. If not, I could see issues being an expensive added expense.
Hope you have better luck in the future.

azandy700 wrote:Our bath faucet two weeks ago just started dumping water under it when turned on.

Is it leaking into the vanity? I found that our faucet and sink had no caulking under them. I removed both and lined the underside with plumbers putty and now no more leaks.

I think ALL RVs have quality control issues, especially depending on the time of year they're built. I've heard the best time to have one made is in the late fall for early spring delivery. Orders are low and the crews can take more time for detail work.

Mine was made in April of 2006 and I have found a bunch of poor finish jobs. But...I can look the other way since they are all small and becaue FR offers alot of "stuff" standard that more expensive manufacturers charge you up the wazoo to add on. IMO, it all comes out in the wash.

I'm STILL thrilled that we bought our Cat despite the the less than spectacular QC. And, I'd do it again, cuz there's noone out there who's willing to to do what FR does and still charge what FR does.

Besides, Warren Buffet owns 'em, and he lives just right up the street from me.
If I had a complaint, I'd just go knock on his door and tell it to his butler.

TC

I think the team at wildcat that build these units save all the sawdust
to put in any orifice that will cause the owner a problem. But I still
love my Cat..
I was dismayed just after I had purchased my 30LSBS to find that when they fitted the one of the rear light fittings they drilled through into the sofa bed and just put mastic in the hole that was left in the wall. But even worse was the cable from the power cable input comes through the wall and then though the side of the corner seating and back through the floor. I have not had time to rectify this yet, but it is on the long list of things to do that keeps getting longer. The person that buys this off me if and when I do sell should get a well sorted unit

Being able to work on your own camper is priceless. Most of the time what you think is a huge problem is really pretty simple to fix.
It just takes some sweat "116" degree heat index the last couple of days I've been working on my Blow Out repairs under the camper and fixing a couple of water hose leaks it caused. Good grief you talking about ringing wet with sweat. But if you can jump in and do the work you can save yourself a lot of wasted trips to the dealer.
Or if you've got the extra money to pay someone to do it, Like I was wishing for the last couple days, that would be priceless to.
But once your done , your mighty proud of it.

I second that. I have more time than money. I also have the skills too. If you don't, you may need more money.

oldelmer1 wrote:

azandy700 wrote:Our bath faucet two weeks ago just started dumping water under it when turned on.

Is it leaking into the vanity? I found that our faucet and sink had no caulking under them. I removed both and lined the underside with plumbers putty and now no more leaks.

No it actually poured into the vanity. Our Kitchen sink leaked when doing dishes as it wasn't caulked good. I fixed that easy enough.
The faucet sprayed out under. I have never seen anything like it. I was in a hurry so I didn't take it apart. I just replaced it. An upgrade I was meaning to do anyway. Just wanted to do it at home, not on the road.
I kept the old one and when I get a chance, I'll take it apart. I'm guessing something might be cracked. How else would it leak that much. I'll let all know the result. it was the white stock plastic faucet.

My experience has showed me that marine and RV's are constructed with a quality of product just good enough to make it past the dealer in working order. After using them one time usually something will break with little use and or abuse. Repair it with a product that is appropriate and you probably will not have a problem with it again. When there are problems with the design I have an issue. We live in a desert climate and didn't take a trip, driving in rain for 2 years after getting our cat new. After a driving rain in Louisiana my carpet was soaked! I then found a mod on this forum to fix it. OMG if we bought a car and it got the carpet saturated after driving in a rain storm we would burn the car in front of the factory's door! This was a common problem and not addressed by FR (that I was able to find). I didn't take it back to the dealer since my warranty was expired. I did the fix and dry now. I'm angry that my exterior decals are completely shot after a couple years and FR doesn't care. I live in a harsh UV environment but I don't see other brands around me that suffered the same fate. I have done many customization projects but those have been projects the personalize our unit.

I am not happy with the decals either, but keep on trimming....