Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Coachmen Independence Trail, 2020-2024 Viking, and 2021-2024 Clipper travel trailers. The freshwater tank could detach from the vehicle when full or overfilled. A detached tank can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash, injury or worse. As many as 2,204 travel trailers may be included in the recall.
Remedy
Dealers will install additional attachment straps to the tank, free of charge. Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners June 24, 2024. Owners may also contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-825-6319. The company’s number for this recall is 121-1777.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Background of interest
On October 2, 2023, Forest River’s Office of Corporate Compliance (“OCC) retrieved a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (“VOQ”) as part of their weekly review. An owner complained their fresh water tank detached and fell from the vehicle.
Forest River then reached out to the customer. Within days the company learned the customer was going to visit a dealer for repair. In mid-December, NHTSA contacted Forest River regarding this same complaint with questions. The NHTSA followed up two more times, both in January.
On January 18, 2024, Forest River responded to NHTSA’s inquiry telling the agency that to Forest River’s knowledge, there had been only one other single tank detachment on the model in question. On January 30, 2024, NHTSA responded with further questions regarding loose bolts leading to tank detachment on the Viking and Clipper. On February 22, 2024, Forest River responded to NHTSA’s inquiry with the data requested.
On April 11, 2024, NHTSA had more questions about the matter, and Forest River began further research. On May 8, 2024, the company’s Office of Corporate Compliance met with manufacturing leadership and discussed the concern.
On May 9, 2024, NHTSA and OCC had a conference call to discuss the status of the data review. The next day, May 10, 2024, Forest River’s Corporate Recall Committee voted to recall.
Can you tell us more?
Do you have one of the RVs being recalled in this action? If you do, and if you’ve had trouble with the freshwater tank, please let us know. Email russ at rvtravel dot com.
##RVT1158b
Another one for F.R., thanks for the warning! I’ll keep my eyes wide open to make sure I’m not following any of their trailers. Good thing it’s not the black water tank that might fall off 😱
not yet anyway…
“The freshwater tank may detach from the vehicle when full or overfilled.”
What’s an overfilled tank vs full? And, how much added weight can the “overfilled” tank add over a full tank?
Gobbldigook language to make it sound like “overfilling,” the fault of the user, is the problem when it’s really just that their cheap tank straps cannot handle a full tank!
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Well, another week, another recall. 🤔 Thanks again and safe travels!:-)
If you add a channel strut and u bolts (2 for larger tanks) underneath the tank you’ll ensure that never happens regardless. Cheap and easy fix especially useful for boondocking.
Our 09 FR fifth tanks were held in place with angle iron with self tapping screws that started shearing where attached to the frame. Stupid. Self tapping screws have low shear strength.
I added or replaced them with grade 8 bolts. Since we travel often with a full tank I also added a cross member under the fresh water tank, below the belly sheeting.
Does this recall include the “Clipper Cadet” ultra-light trailers, or the Clipper specifically? My wife and I are considering buying a new or new-ish Clipper Cadet to replace our 23 year old popup camper.
Hi, Rich. Here is a list of the Clippers involved in this recall:
2021 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT182DBU 130
2021 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT272RLS 19
2022 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT162RBU 123
2022 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT182DBU 338
2022 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT272RLS 16
2023 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT182DBU 16
2023 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT272RLS 11
2024 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT182DBU 6
2024 CLIPPER TOWABLE CWT272RLS 4
I hope that helps, and I hope the one you’re considering buying isn’t included. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com