2015 SHASTA AIRFLYTE Unknown Or Other Problems

THERE IS UNSAFE ASSEMBLY OF THE SHASTA AIRFLYTE 2015 SUPPORT FRAME AS THE WELDS ARE IN ADEQUATE AND SOMETIMES ONLY WELDING TACKS HOLDING THE FRONT BRACE. THERE IS QUESTION WHETHER THE FRAME IS EVEN ATTACHED TO THE CHASSIS CORRECTLY. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE MIGHT BE THAT THE FRONT LATERAL STRING ON THE FRAME IS NOTCHED TO LAY DOWN ACROSS THE TONGUE CHANNEL SO THERE IS NO LOAD BALANCING CAPABILITY. THE THREE SECTIONS UNDERNEATH THAT ARE NOT WELDED TO THE TONGUE CHANNEL. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF SEPARATION FROM THE FRAME BECAUSE THERE IS A TECHNICAL ISSUE WITH THE SELF--TAPPING SCREWS USED TO ATTACH THE BODY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THOSE THAT ARE CAMPER RESTORATION EXPERTS THAT THIS IS UNSAFE AND POSSES A RISK TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF. OURS EVEN HAS EXPOSED WOOD THAT IS ROTTING BECAUSE OF SUCH EXPOSURE TO WATER BECAUSE THE BODY IS COMING APART FROM THE FRAME. PLEASE HELP US MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A VIABLE FIX OR REPLACEMENT FOR THIS PROBLEM. CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS THIS REQUEST. UPDATED 10/5/18*JB

Mileage: 1,200

THE FRAME AND WELDING ON MY TRAILER IS FAULTY. THE TONGUE AND FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS SEPARATED, CAUSING THE BODY TO FAIL. IT CAUSED THE FRONT BODY/WALL TO SEPARATE FROM THE BENCH SEATS BY OVER AN INCH WITH EXPOSED SCREWS AND STAPLES. THE SKIN ON THE OUTSIDE IS BUCKLING ON THE FRONT, RUBBING ON THE PROPANE BOTTLE AREA, AND HAS A CLEAR FOLD AT THE BOTTOM NEAR WHERE THE FRAME GOES UNDER THE SKIN. IN ONE SIDE WHERE THE SKIN HAS BUCKLED, IT IS BENT SO MUCH THE SKIN HAS FOLDED AND HAS A STRESS FRACTURE. THE SIDE SKINS ARE ALSO STARTING TO BUCKLE A BIT SINCE THE FRONT IS DIPPING SO BAD AND DUE TO THIS, THE MAIN DOOR IS STARTING TO STICK AND GIVE US TROUBLE OPENING AND EGRESSING. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON OCTOBER 6, 2017. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SHASTA SINCE OCTOBER 23, 2017, WHEN THEY GLOSSED OVER THIS PROBLEM, TELLING ME "WE NEED TO GET SOME BACKER INSTALLED INTO THE FRONT WALL. THIS IS A PRETTY SIMPLE TASK. I WILL TRY TO LOCATE A DEALER NEAR YOU, TO DO THIS. PLEASE SEND ME YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS." I SENT MY ADDRESS TWO DAYS LATER AND NEVER HEARD BACK.

Mileage: 3,000

MY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH THE REAR WINDOW OF MY SHASTA. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT AND GOT IT HOME I NOTICED THERE WAS A LEAK. SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE REAR WINDOWS. MY WINDOW WAS REPLACED AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. IT IS COMING FROM THE FRAME WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE TRAILER BECAUSE THE WINDOW FRAME IS NOT SCREWED INTO ANYTHING ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE AND THERE IS A BIG GAP. WATER IS LEAKING DOWN AND CAUSING DAMAGE AND MOLD TO THE REAR WALL AND REAR SEAT.

OUR SHASTA AIRFLYTE HAS A CHRONIC WATER LEAK AND HAS SINCE WE TOOK POSSESSION OF IT IN DECEMBER OF 2014. THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK IS UNKNOWN, BUT THE WATER EXITS FROM INSIDE THE REAR EGRESS WINDOW FRAME. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO MAKE SURE THE INSIDE OF THE TRAILER ISN'T DAMAGED BY WATER. OUR MAIN CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS INSIDE THE TRAILER STRUCTURE, SPECIFICALLY THE WOODEN FRAMING WHICH IS BEING EXPOSED TO WATER WHENEVER IT RAINS. THE WORRY IS MOLD WILL DEVELOP UNSEEN AND PROVE A HEALTH HAZARD TO OUR FAMILY. THIS WATER LEAK IS COMMON TO THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS.

Mileage: 5,000

THE WINDOWS LEAK. THEY HAVE BEEN RESEALED TWICE BUT STEAL LEAK. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER DOING WARRANTY WORK THAT THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY HELP,FROM SHASTA. THEY HAVE ORDERED NEW WINDOWS BUT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ANYONE TO EVEN FOLLOW UP ON THAT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE NIGHT I FIRST PICKED UP MY TRAILER. SET UP IN A CAMPGROUND THAT NIGHT, AND DURNING A RAIN STORM THE BACK WINDOW AND KITCHEN WINDOW LEAKED. MY TRAILER NOW SMELLS LIKE MOLD.

THE ROOF THAT WAS ADVERTISED AS A ONE PIECE BUT TURNED OUT TO BE A THREE PIECE HAS LEAKED IN TWO PLACES. THE DEALER THAT IS DOING WARRANT WORK SEALED UP THE SEAMS BUT NOT BEFORE THE WATER GOT IN THE WALL AND NOW CAUSED A MOLD SMELL IN THE TRAILER. I CANNOT CAMP IN THIS TRAILER WITH MOLD AS IT MAKES ME FEEL SICK. THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE.

WATER LEAKING FROM BEHIND SHOWER, WATER DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE BLACK MOLD ISSUE ON REAR WALL OF THE CAMPER FROM UNKOWN SOURCE. WE WERE TOLD THERE WOULD BE A GUARANTEE OF NO LEAKS FOR 50 YEARS! I WENT TO MAKE MY SON'S BED UP FOR THE NIGHT AND FOUND THE WATER DAMAGE AND BLACK MOLD. TRIED USING THE SHOWER FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WATER CAME POURING OUT OF THE CABINET BELOW THE REFRIGERATOR. WE PUT OUR HAND IN THERE AND FELT IT LEAKING FROM THE WALL.

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK JAULOSIE WINDOW FALLING OFF. SO I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND THEY REPLACED IT AND SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED THE OTHER WINDOWS. I JUST TOOK IT ON MY FIRST CAMPING TRIP AND ON THE WAY HOME THE FRONT JAULOSIE WINDOW FELL DOWN. NOT ON THE ROAD THANK GOODNESS, BUT IT WAS HANGING OFF WHEN I GOT HOME.

REAR, EMERGENCY WINDOW FELL OUT. RECALL WAS ISSUED AND CAMPER WAS RETURNED FOR REPAIRS. CAMPING WORLD REPAIRED WINDOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECALL. TOOK CAMPER ON A ONE-NIGHT TRIP. STORED CAMPER AND FOUND REAR EMERGENCY WINDOW ON THE GROUND TWO DAYS LATER. CAMPER WAS STATIONARY. THIS IS AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY OWNERS AND IS UNACCEPTABLE. RETURNED TO CAMPING WORLD FOR REPAIRS; THEY INFORMED US THEY WOULD NEED TO ORDER PARTS.

NONE OF THE WEIGHT RATINGS ON THE REISSUE SHASTA AIRFLYTE'S ARE CORRECT. THE AXEL HAS A LABEL ON IT PLACED THERE BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT SAYS GAWR 3500 LBS. THE SAME AXEL IS ON THE 16' AND THE 19'. SO NO RATING CAN EXCEED 3500 LBS. YET MINE SAYS GVWR IS 3635.

Mileage: 500

WINDOW GLASS FELL OUT AND WAS JUST BEING HELD BY THE CRANK ATTACHMENT.

Mileage: 300

AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM PICKING UP THE TRAILER I HAD NOTICED THE INNER DRIVER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAVING RUB MARKS. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION, THE TIRE SIDEWALL CLEARANCE TO THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL HAS ONLY 1/4" TO 5/16" OF CLEARANCE. THE TIRE CLEARANCE ON TOP IS ALSO ONLY 1" CAUSING RUB MARKS ON THE WHEEL WELL. I CALLED A FOREST RIVER DEALER TO HAVE MY TRAILER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS, AND UNANSWERED EMAILS MY DEALER TOLD ME THEY APPROVED LONGER SHACKLES. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SPRINGS ARE SO FLAT THAT THE LONGER SHACKLES HAVE ONLY MAYBE AT BEST INCREASED THE CLEARANCE 1/2". IN REGARDS TO THE SIDEWALL RUBBING, THE DEALER FINALLY GOT APPROVAL TO "POUND IT OUT". THIS WAS WHAT SHASTA'S WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR TOLD MY DEALER. MY DEALER SAID THAT WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE FIX. AFTER ANOTHER 1 MONTH OF UNANSWERED CALLS AND EMAILS, MY DEALER SAID THEY HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO REMOVE THE AFFECTED WHEEL WELL, BUT DO NOTHING ELSE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. ANY RUBBING ON A WHEEL WELL IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHERS SHARING THE ROAD. I HAVE PICKED UP MY TRAILER ON JULY 9, 2015 AFTER IT SITTING AT THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY WORK SINCE THE MIDDLE OF MAY. ONLY TO HAVE NOTHING FIXED PROPERLY. SHASTA/ FOREST RIVER IS CLEARLY NOT WANTING TO STAND BY THEIR TRAILERS. ALL I AM LOOKING FOR IS A TRAILER IN WHICH MYSELF AND MY FAMILY CAN TOW SAFELY AND NOT BE CONCERNED IF OR WHEN A TIRE WILL BLOWOUT. I BOUGHT A NEW TRAILER SO I WOULDN'T NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER TIRES P225/75R15 WHICH CAME FROM THE FACTORY ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE AXLE RATING AND ARE TOO LARGE FOR THE WHEEL WELL. LIPPERT AXLE RATING STATS 3500 LB BOTH TIRES 3408 AFTER DIVIDING BY 1.10

Mileage: 700

THE TIRES ON THIS TRAILER ARE P225/75R15 WITH A WEIGHT RATING OF 1874 @35 PSI. AFTER DERATING THESE TIRES BY DIVIDING 1.10, THE SINGLE ADJUSTED RATING IS NOW 1704 FOR A COMBINED RATING OF 3408. THE AXLE TAG CLEARLY DISPLAYS 3500 LB. THESE TIRES FROM THE FACTORY DO NOT MEET OR EXCEED THE AXLE RATING. IN ADDITION, THE GVWR LABEL ON THE TRAILER DISPLAYS 3635 LBS. THIS RATING IS HIGHER THAN THE AXLE RATING. THE DRY WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER DISPLAYS 2146 WITH AN ALLOWABLE INCREASE OF CARGO TO NOT EXCEED 1472. THIS ADDS UP TO 3618 GVWR. AGAIN, THIS NUMBER IS HIGHER THAN THE GAWR OF 3500 LBS WITH TIRES CAPABLE OF 3408. THIS IS NOT CORRECT BY ANY MEANS. I HAVE READ THE CURRENT RECALL ON JULY, 8TH 2015 BY FOREST RIVER ABOUT LABEL HAVING WRONG INFORMATION; HOWEVER, MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE AXLE OR LOAD RATING AND THE FACTORY IS MERELY CHANGING THE WEIGHT RATINGS TO ACCOMODATE FOR THE TIRES. AGAIN, SHASTA/FOREST RIVER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND NOT MERELY CHANGE THE NUMBERS ON A LABEL TO REFLECT A POOR TIRE CHOICE FOR THIS TRAILER. I HAVE SUPPORTING PHOTOS IF NECESSARY. MY TRAILER IS THE 16 FOOT MODEL.

Mileage: 710

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF SEVERAL FEATURES OF MY BRAND NEW 2015 SHASTA AIRFLYTE TRAVEL TRAILER (BY FOREST RIVER). BASED ON INITIAL INSPECTION OF INTERIOR FIXTURES ALONE, IT'S APPARENT THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF FORESIGHT WHEN DESIGNING THESE, AND QUALITY CONTROL WAS SERIOUSLY LACKING. CORNERS WERE SEEMINGLY CUT TO SAVE TIME OR MONEY ON INTERIOR FIXTURES (I.E. A/C, WOOD TRIM, SEALING OF WINDOWS AND OTHER SEAMS, + MORE). AS A RESULT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT LIES BENEATH THE PRETTY SURFACE OF THE TRAILER IN ITS GUTS (FRAME, WHEEL WHEELS, SPRINGS, ETC) AND HOW THEY WILL HOLD UP OVER TIME. UPON STUDY OF THESE COMPONENTS, MY CONCERNS RING TRUE, AND I AM BRINGING THEM TO NHTSA ATTENTION TO HOPEFULLY AVOID ANYONE BEING KILLED OR INJURED AS A RESULT. *OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS WHEEL CLEARANCE. EVEN WITH MY SMALL HANDS, I CAN BARELY FIT TWO FINGERS IN BETWEEN MY TIRES AND WHEEL WELLS. IT HAS PASSENGER TIRES, NOT TRAILER TIRES. EVERYTHING I'VE READ ABOUT TIRE SAFETY AND RV TOWING INDICATES THIS IS NOT A BEST PRACTICE. THE TIRES (P225/75R15, 35PSI) ARE RATED 1843LBS EACH. AS THIS IS A SINGLE AXLE TRAILER, 1850X2 = 3700 LBS. THAT'S TOWING IT EMPTY, WITHOUT ANY FURNISHINGS ADDED, WHICH IS UNREALISTIC AS THESE ARE SUPPOSEDLY MEANT FOR CAMPING, NOT FOR SHOW IN A MUSEUM. ADDITIONALLY, THE GVWR AS STATED BY SHASTA IS 3790 LBS. IF YOU DO THE MATH FOR GAWR OF 3375LBS + 260LBS TONGUE/HITCH WEIGHT, THE TOTAL IS 3635LBS WHICH IS INADEQUATE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TIRES AND WHEELS SHOULD BE RATED AT LEAST 20% HIGHER THAN GVWR OF THE VEHICLE. MY F150 TOW VEHICLE IS MORE THAN EQUIPPED TO TOW MY TRAILER, HOWEVER THE AMOUNT OF BOUNCE I SEE IN MY REARVIEW IS ALARMING, AND I'VE ONLY TOWED IT MOSTLY-EMPTY SO FAR, NOT WITH ANY WATER ADDED TO THE TANKS, AND LESS THAN 100 LBS OF FURNISHINGS. I WINCE WHEN GOING OVER EVERY BUMP. BOTTOMLINE: I DO NOT FEEL SAFE USING MY TRAILER AS IT WAS BUILT.

Mileage: 85