Forest River XLR Faulty Tires Safety hazard Elkhart IN Nationwide
I picked up a 2014 Forest River XLR Toy hauler in Sept of 2014. Took it on a couple of trips and had good luck to start out. hauling around a couple of harleys riding around the country. in the first year we put on about 12K miles on the camper and enjoyed it alot.
This past Sept ( 1 yr 9 Mon ) we had a trip planned to New York from Wisconsin but unlike the other trips we weren't going to bring the toys in the camper just going lite. ( no weight in the camper other then basics ) We left about 9 Pm and had a good trip going until we were about 6 hours in.
Boom there goes a tire and with that the fender skirting and other trim items on the front driver's side front axle. OK i goes s**t happens, changed to the spare and pressed on until morning where I could pick up a new tire. Then the SECOND tire blew on the passager side rear axle again the same issues the ENTIRE side skirts ripped off and Lights ripped off due to the tire shreading. Ok now Im done with no options but to un hook and go to a tire shop.
Thats when it gets fun!!! The tire shop informed me I had 2 different load range tire, 1 load range E ( 10 ply ) and then 3 load range D tires ( 8 Ply ) then the cause was then pointed out. The valve stems were LOW PRESSURE stems instead of the correct HIGH PRESSURE stems. This is what was believed to have caused the failure. Which then damaged my camper. After $600.00 of new tires and 6 hours we were back on our way. with a camper that looked like a JALOPY.
The manufactor and dealer were both contacted and each of them passed the buck to the other and no one wants to handle the problem. I'm guessing I have about $2500. in damage and then the tires and my time. This is over looking that if I would have been loaded heavy I could have lost the Camper , Harely, and my 70K truck.
Im starting to get to the point I'm needing an attorney. Please if anyone has a camper check your tires and stems to make sure you have the correct ones installed. Again a business that is only concerned in taking your money... No Service or Pride in workmanship!!!