Yesterday we went through the PDI for the new 23WS and all mostly went well. I brought the unit home and today decided to check everything out again. I pulled all the access panels and removed all the thin flimsy baffles they use to section of the spaces. I was feeling pretty good about it. Then it just went downhill.
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I noticed the caulking is split in the caulk joint where the kitchen counter butts into the wall behind the sink. No big deal. It gets a little movement when the main slide is extended and retracted. I didnt see it during the PDI as you can see a split with the slide retracted but not with it extended. Upon getting into it I found the only thing holding the top and cabinet to the wall of the slide is a 3/4" X 3/4" pine ledger stapled to the wall with two screws through it up into the underside of the counter top. Its already pulling loose from the wall. I can fix that easily if I can get myself up in there.
While I was looking at this issue, and had my head up inside the access door below the window behind the sink, I felt something against my leg. The entire bottom seal of the main slide was now laying in the gravel. Add weather strip adhesive to the list..................nice. It just fell off
Then I noticed this. I figure I was about 20 miles and one good pothole from disaster. The tech was going to drain the water tank after the PDI which was about 3/4 full but I told him not to bother. I wanted to see how it towed with water in the tank. The forward support angle actually now has a kink it the vertical leg and is close to total failure. If the tank would of been full it most likely would not have made it the 85 miles from the dealer. Some deflection is to be expected but I am not going to trust it. I understand weight savings but a 2" angle as opposed to the 1 1/2" used would of probably made the difference.
Excuse me for not praising Forest River, Rockwood, or how nice this 23WS is because it is fairly nice, and this particular unit is much better than the last one they sent us. Many thanks to people who commented positivly or offered advice in my past threads about the first unit they sent us. Special thanks to asquared and Herk7769 for the off forum advice. Herk your suggestion about that off line inspection was golden and it seems to have made a huge difference.
Yes its an LCI component supplied by a supplier (LCI), but Rockwood chose to use it, and I think there could be other new ones that are a good bump away from dragging a tank down the road or worse. This tank is ahead of the axles so if it comes loose no telling what its going to tear up. Since I was going to add another tank anyway I now have to build two sets of hangers and I know the ones I fab up will hold the tank. No sense in returning it under warranty only to have the bent one replaced with a new LCI tank support assembly, which is too light for the job. I guess I was not figuring on needing steel and welders less than 24 hours after I backed it into my driveway.
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On a side note I was a little surprised to see that Rockwood quit using the junk LCI power jacks and now provides an even cheaper FIC one. Its my own fault for ordering one with the unit anyway...........It chaps my rear end extra special though to know I paid $137.75 for a power jack, or so says the Roo option sheet, for a jack I can buy for $99. :roflblack:
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I noticed the caulking is split in the caulk joint where the kitchen counter butts into the wall behind the sink. No big deal. It gets a little movement when the main slide is extended and retracted. I didnt see it during the PDI as you can see a split with the slide retracted but not with it extended. Upon getting into it I found the only thing holding the top and cabinet to the wall of the slide is a 3/4" X 3/4" pine ledger stapled to the wall with two screws through it up into the underside of the counter top. Its already pulling loose from the wall. I can fix that easily if I can get myself up in there.
While I was looking at this issue, and had my head up inside the access door below the window behind the sink, I felt something against my leg. The entire bottom seal of the main slide was now laying in the gravel. Add weather strip adhesive to the list..................nice. It just fell off
Then I noticed this. I figure I was about 20 miles and one good pothole from disaster. The tech was going to drain the water tank after the PDI which was about 3/4 full but I told him not to bother. I wanted to see how it towed with water in the tank. The forward support angle actually now has a kink it the vertical leg and is close to total failure. If the tank would of been full it most likely would not have made it the 85 miles from the dealer. Some deflection is to be expected but I am not going to trust it. I understand weight savings but a 2" angle as opposed to the 1 1/2" used would of probably made the difference.
Excuse me for not praising Forest River, Rockwood, or how nice this 23WS is because it is fairly nice, and this particular unit is much better than the last one they sent us. Many thanks to people who commented positivly or offered advice in my past threads about the first unit they sent us. Special thanks to asquared and Herk7769 for the off forum advice. Herk your suggestion about that off line inspection was golden and it seems to have made a huge difference.
Yes its an LCI component supplied by a supplier (LCI), but Rockwood chose to use it, and I think there could be other new ones that are a good bump away from dragging a tank down the road or worse. This tank is ahead of the axles so if it comes loose no telling what its going to tear up. Since I was going to add another tank anyway I now have to build two sets of hangers and I know the ones I fab up will hold the tank. No sense in returning it under warranty only to have the bent one replaced with a new LCI tank support assembly, which is too light for the job. I guess I was not figuring on needing steel and welders less than 24 hours after I backed it into my driveway.
On a side note I was a little surprised to see that Rockwood quit using the junk LCI power jacks and now provides an even cheaper FIC one. Its my own fault for ordering one with the unit anyway...........It chaps my rear end extra special though to know I paid $137.75 for a power jack, or so says the Roo option sheet, for a jack I can buy for $99. :roflblack:
