Community Forums

nookaroos · 08-01-2017, 04:46 PM

We have a 2017 Forest River Forester GTS 2431S; 25 feet 9" with a full wall slide on a Ford E450 Chassis.

Our coach is not yet a year old and we're nearing the end of our 1 year warranty. It had an L-shaped tear 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches on two sides of a triangle in the flooring at purchase. The flooring was repaired and we were told it would be as good as new. Unfortunately there is significant discoloring at the repair site and it is already starting to peel up.

Recently we discovered a new small tear in the flooring. This is flooring that is supposed to be very durable and the two of us are pretty easy on things -- neither of us can remember what we might have done to create the second tear. We called the flooring manufacturer and discovered that the flooring is supposed to be laid with "adhesive" (whatever the sticky stuff is called) under the entire flooring. This is not how the floor was installed as we can feel air pockets under the floor. And more significantly, where the floor was curled up with our original tear there was no evidence of "adhesive" on the subfloor or the flooring.

We're very pleased overall with our coach -- usual issues with poor workmanship -- but everything inside functions well. We're now faced with the dilemma of requesting the entire flooring to be pulled up and replaced with a proper job done or to have them repair the current tears. We fear that repairing will not address the underlying issue and we will continue to have random tears in our flooring with no recourse for repair (out of warranty). The flip side is that we are afraid that it will be very difficult to replace the flooring and that it will cause other issues such as affected the function of our slide our and/or re-installation of the cabinets can't be done well or they don't remove the cabinets and then we have issues where the flooring and cabinets meet, misalignment gaps, etc.

We'd love suggestions on how we should approach this. Has anyone had their entire flooring replaced? Can the average RV repair shop do this kind of work or should we request a flooring specialist?

Thank you,
The Nookaroos
: )

BFlinn181 · 08-01-2017, 11:02 PM

You didn't steal the RV, did you? If the floor wasn't repaired or installed properly I see no reason to hesitate to get it replaced under warranty. You could perhaps upgrade to a vinyl plank floor if that suits your taste, they pay to install, you pay for the materials or the difference from the flooring you had that hasn't held up.

Easyrider · 08-02-2017, 06:46 PM

Yep, replace it while still under warranty. And make sure the replacement is installed correctly.

ralphie · 08-02-2017, 07:36 PM

If the manufacturer requires adhesive and it wasn't installed with any by the RV mfgr., it certainly is a warranty claim that I wouldn't hesitate to make if it were me. The problem(s) associated with reinstalling the flooring correctly is the dealer and RV mfgr.'s problem, not yours. OTOH, I would not consider an RV dealership qualified to completely replace the flooring. It should be done by a flooring specialist, and I would try to get the flooring mfgr. to recommend someone qualified to do it.

vsheetz · 08-02-2017, 08:03 PM

Get it fixed by warranty. Imho.

mcdade54 · 08-02-2017, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nookaroos

We have a 2017 Forest River Forester GTS 2431S; 25 feet 9" with a full wall slide on a Ford E450 Chassis.

Our coach is not yet a year old and we're nearing the end of our 1 year warranty. It had an L-shaped tear 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches on two sides of a triangle in the flooring at purchase. The flooring was repaired and we were told it would be as good as new. Unfortunately there is significant discoloring at the repair site and it is already starting to peel up.

Recently we discovered a new small tear in the flooring. This is flooring that is supposed to be very durable and the two of us are pretty easy on things -- neither of us can remember what we might have done to create the second tear. We called the flooring manufacturer and discovered that the flooring is supposed to be laid with "adhesive" (whatever the sticky stuff is called) under the entire flooring. This is not how the floor was installed as we can feel air pockets under the floor. And more significantly, where the floor was curled up with our original tear there was no evidence of "adhesive" on the subfloor or the flooring.

We're very pleased overall with our coach -- usual issues with poor workmanship -- but everything inside functions well. We're now faced with the dilemma of requesting the entire flooring to be pulled up and replaced with a proper job done or to have them repair the current tears. We fear that repairing will not address the underlying issue and we will continue to have random tears in our flooring with no recourse for repair (out of warranty). The flip side is that we are afraid that it will be very difficult to replace the flooring and that it will cause other issues such as affected the function of our slide our and/or re-installation of the cabinets can't be done well or they don't remove the cabinets and then we have issues where the flooring and cabinets meet, misalignment gaps, etc.

We'd love suggestions on how we should approach this. Has anyone had their entire flooring replaced? Can the average RV repair shop do this kind of work or should we request a flooring specialist?

Thank you,
The Nookaroos
: )

My delivery was delayed about a month to replace the vinyl flooring. It is an Itasca (Winnebago) and had a single sheet of flooring stem to stern. The dealership did the replacement with a piece of stock sent by Winnebago. based on what I have observed living in the unit since October it is not an easy task. Furniture removal I suspect is just the start. Recommend a professional either RV tech or floor covering tech. Get it under warranty if possible.

JohnNye · 08-02-2017, 09:59 PM

For the amount of money these things cost, seems like a lot of poor workmanship where you can't see.... The Ford part doesn't have these problems. Good luck on your floor

nookaroos · 08-03-2017, 02:02 AM

This may be one of my first posts but I've been reading this forum for quite a while and it's not that often that you get a unanimous agreement with replies. Thank you to all of you.

We'll get a recommendation for a specialist which should alleviate our fears of making the problem worse and we'll have it replaced.

Somebody probably wanted to go home on time and didn't want to walk to the storeroom for another pail of adhesive. : )

onebrit · 08-03-2017, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nookaroos

This may be one of my first posts but I've been reading this forum for quite a while and it's not that often that you get a unanimous agreement with replies. Thank you to all of you.

We'll get a recommendation for a specialist which should alleviate our fears of making the problem worse and we'll have it replaced.

Somebody probably wanted to go home on time and didn't want to walk to the storeroom for another pail of adhesive. : )

Having dealt with the RV industry with trying to get them to fix anything my suggestion is take digital pictures record all actions and non actions and be prepared to take them to small claims court. Its sad we have to do these things but they have no scruples once the coach is off there property your in for a fight. I sincerely hope this isn't the case but it seems this is more the norm than the exception good luck don't give up get them to fix it the way the flooring MFG recommends.

nookaroos · 08-08-2017, 10:05 PM

I talked with the Manufacturer today and he said that we would probably be very unhappy if we forced them to replace the entire floor -- that we would end up having additional different issues as it's difficult to find someone to do a proper job on a re-install.

He also said that although they recommend full adhesive under the floor with a proper cure time that most RV manufacturers don't have this time so it's usually stapled at the edges and it's not generally a problem.

He said we should request a flooring repair specialist to make the repairs and then it should be trouble free afterwards.

Thank you again to all of you who replied. We probably won't know the end of this story for many years -- hopefully no more tears.

Nookaroos
: )

trx430ex · 08-09-2017, 07:30 AM

I've worked in the trades for 30 years and have seen some pretty impressive work done. A dealership I don't think is equipped to pull off this task. Who is tho is large established flooring dealers, they have the guys with the special tools and years of experience to pull off such a task. Yea got to hunt for them, pull into the back of the shops and talk to the install guys, not the sales guys in the front. Offer cash, just pay and get it done and move on. Like the manufacture said, if they pull the whole floor, there is a chance to damage other things. I don't think I would take that chance for $500 fix.

BFlinn181 · 08-09-2017, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nookaroos

talked with the Manufacturer today and he said that we would probably be very unhappy if we forced them to replace the entire floor -- that we would end up having additional different issues as it's difficult to find someone to do a proper job on a re-install.

You are unhappy now. There are many skilled flooring installers that could replace the floor without removing the cabinets and fixtures mounted over the flooring.

Quote:

]He also said that although they recommend full adhesive under the floor with a proper cure time that most RV manufacturers don't have this time so it's usually stapled at the edges and it's not generally a problem.

I visited many RV and mobile home manufacturers in the '70's when a college student on a summer job. Waiting for adhesive to dry wasn't done then. I remember seeing vinyl flooring rolled out, then cabinets and furniture fastened down before the side walls and interior walls were put in. Just because it usually doesn't cause a problem, in your case it has. THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

Quote:

]He said we should request a flooring repair specialist to make the repairs and then it should be trouble free afterwards.

Thank you again to all of you who replied. We probably won't know the end of this story for many years -- hopefully no more tears.

Nookaroos
: )

It's time you made THEM unhappy and pay to fix the RV to the condition you paid for in the beginning. Good luck and happy travels.

TJFogelberg · 08-09-2017, 04:04 PM

Document everything and send a written letter (certified w receipt) to the CEO of FR. Sorry to hear about your trouble.

powercat_ras · 08-09-2017, 07:46 PM

> Replace it ...

The original floor was rolled as a single rectangular piece before any walls went up. So it is pretty much impossible to "remove and replace". You should talk to who ever you take it to for the warranty work as to what they are going to do and how. Ask how they are going to do floor replacement under the slideouts ( Are they going to remove them ? If not how are they going to do a new floor right under the slideouts? )If the original flooring was not glued anywhere just stapled hopefully they can remove it and start over on the original floor plywood. But where the new flooring meets walls may not be the same as before, there will have to be some sort of moulding to hide the edge of the new flooring.

I am warning you that you could be worse off than you are now if the floor replacement is not done correctly.