Forest River review: Limited warranty coverage period of 3 months for a 2021 Puma travel trailer purchased in March of 2023

September 20, 2023

Our family has owned three Forrest River travel trailers across the years. A 2011 Puma 18DB, a 2016 Vibe 315BHK, and a 2011 North Trail 28BRS.

My wife and I purchased a 2021 Palomino Puma 28DBFQ travel trailer on March 27th of this year from Goos Campers in Hartford, South Dakota. Goos had told us that this was a showroom model, but we found it stored outdoors due to reconstruction of the Goos showroom/office spaces. I also was told that since this was not a current year model sale, that the warranty was reduced from the standard one year to three months.

My wife and I camped three times in the three month period and found several items that needed fixing; I had to haul the camper back to Goos on more than one occasion to get the work done. In the past we had purchased a used Puma from Goos and were well satisfied with it.

The 2021 camper had a rain gutter that was pieced together, probably in an effort to maximize material utilization; unfortunately it leaked down the middle of the side of the camper. Goos tried a dab of caulk but it did not hold so now I am left to fix it correctly. Also, the plastic diverter valve at the top of the toilet bowl had a crack in it, which I think did not allow it to hold position and direct water perfectly horizontally when flushing. Goos tried to caulk this, which initially fixed the problem but by the time of our second camping outing it failed. I had to fix this properly.

The most glaring problem which surfaced immediately, as we were taking friends from out of state on a camping trip, was a leak from the fresh water tank. Upon installation a screw which was used to secure the tank was actually fastened puncturing the tank. One of the trips back to Goos; he did correct this problem.

Three camping trips ago we noticed a small puddle of water at the base of the face frame below the refrigerator. Since our daughter and son-in-law were camping with us that trip, and they had brought their dog, we thought the water might have come from a dog dish. Two camping trips ago the water again appeared, no dog bowl this time. My wife helped me remove the refrigerator to inspect the condensate tray for cracks, but found none. I then removed the small refrigerator and Silverstone grill to see if I could locate the source of the water but was unsuccessful.

I am generally unsatisfied with Goos, I called Lee Goos five times between August 18th and September 11th to ask a technical question wanting his opinion as to where the water was coming from, but he does not respond to my messages for a call back. Therefore I took my Puma to another dealer in Sioux Falls, Schaaps Traveland, Inc, a dealer/service center in business since 1967. I found them to be courteous and professional. They did the diagnostic on the refrigerator, also looked to be sure no condensate was migrating through the camper from the rooftop air conditioning unit, and did find the source of the water problem.

There was a faulty swivel elbow that goes to the outside water disconnect by the Silverstone grill compartment, where the supplied hose and sprayer connect. It was allowing a fine mist to spray, which took a day or two to accumulate enough water to seep into the living compartment under the refrigerator face frame. The face frame is slightly swollen, but not readily noticeable,

Forrest River changed the policy for warranty coverage for units sold after their model year, reducing the coverage period from one year to three months, on brand new units. I feel that this is too short of a time period for discovery of any defects in materials or workmanship.

I am including a copy of the bill for the diagnosis and replacement of the faulty elbow, and would appreciate a refund.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

Thank you,

Douglas H DeJarnette

5145 S Manchester Court

Sioux Falls, SD 57108

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