We had a small fire on our rig today - RV-Dreams Community Forum

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had a small fire on our rig today

Fergizmo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glad you are ok. It sure could have been worse.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

So glad you guys are okay. Saw your pic on Facebook, Dale was wondering if it was the light strip that caused the problem so you've answered that question. He thought the light strip was a good idea but now he's happy we don't have the same lighting issue. So glad you and the "fur kids" are safe. So sorry this happened, but glad all of you are safe.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Whew. Glad it was just that and we're not reading a sad story of disaster. I agree with you on the recall, and the Mfr should fix you up for free.

Brian

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Serious for sure....they should have taken care of that, "no problem by that time"....what a crazy thing to say on there part....glad you are OK, I would be pretty angry with them, I would also notify every safety agency out there and start an Internet campaign ...next time someone might not be as lucky....sleeping, pets left alone inside, inexcusable .....

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow, that's really scary!! I'm glad it wasn't any worse.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm with you Gene! The other stuff we've had problems with are annoyances, minor issues, irritations but this one? I'm angry because fire is serious and we want the word out before someone gets seriously hurt. Waiting to hear back from the factory about what action they are taking to protect their other customers but if they're not issuing a recall.......

Defiant is here at the Rally with their exact same model and I'm sorry to say we scared the bejesus out of them but they are informed.

Forest River is sending a truck to tow us to a nearby Knoxville, TN dealer/fiberglass fabricator on Monday and will repair. We can't tow it because our truck is in the shop and won't be out until likely Wednesday.

I feel like Linus! 😁

Sherry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

hopefully they will take a strong notice of this!!!..............Im glad to hear it was caught up with and no one was hurt.

LibertyLinda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry,
You sure did scare the bejesus out of us! I told Defiant to put a tape across that light switch until things are cleared up. I do not know if our 2014 would have the same issue - but we are playing it safe!

You and Jesse are the best! We loved meeting you :)

bigboomer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow, so glad you are OK and that there were no further issues....Thank GOD it was not worse, but Gene is spot on.....I would make sure they know you are posting this so all can see so they will maybe take this a little more serious.

Thoughts and prayers to keep you safe!

Les

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow that strange for such low amperage/low voltage LED's to short and catch fire like that. Glad it didn't end up worse than that.

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

You would think that the Led lights would have a low amperage in-line fuse, with a small load would blow, just like Christmas tree lights have on the plug on the string of lights a small fuse.
Trailers fires are never good.
Sherry, do you have any smoke smell in the trailer, if not that's very good no smoke got inside.
We are so glad that you are all right.

Lonney

manycats · RV-Dreams Family Member

I could call it criminal negligence of the manufacturer. Are they going to wait until someone dies? Greed infuriates me.

Very glad that you weren't hurt or had major damage.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry, thanks for the info. Ours is a 14 but was built in 13, may I think. I'm not too worried about fire, primarily because I don't know how to turn ours on. Where is the switch?

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS, thanks for making me laugh about this! LibertyLinda is asking the same thing. 😄
The switch is one of 3 in your 'control panel' right inside the door below your slide & awning rocker switches. (We took a label maker and labeled a lot of switches because it confused mostly me.)
BTW, if your outside security lights come on and you can't turn them off, use your remote. Ask me how I know!

Now, let me tell you about these wonderful RV-Dreamers at the Rally that are like so many not here but supporting all the same. We have had so MUCH support, so MANY offers of help, "you can borrow our truck to pull your Trilogy to the dealer" and so on. This is such a joyous, loving group of all abilities, both physical and experience sharing their enthusiasm, knowledge, laughter and encouragement of others.

We are going to be sad when it's over!

Sherry

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were towed this morning to Buddy Gregg's RV Dealership in The western edge of Knoxville to get our rig fixed. They are a large dealer with their own fiberglass & paint shop and per the Forest River Customer Service Manager we've been given top priority to get repaired. Per the techs, they can just patch the front fiberglass and repaint the whole front panel and bake it and we'll be on our way by Thursday. I'm nervous about that looking like new but they insist it can be done.

We're parked in their customer overnight parking lot which is decent enough and we can stay in our own rig each night. They're pretty accommodating with even a laundry for their service customers.

We took some time and saw several 2104 & 2015 Trilogy's on their sales lot. ALL have different LED light strips on the front so it's obvious they know there was a problem with prior light strips. Linda & Scott and MarkS, be sure to get yours changed if the original strips. MarkS guessing yours are newer. If you want a close up of old and new just PM me your email.

So we'll be able to make our Mor/Ryde appointment just fine on the 12th.

Sherry

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

YEAH!!!!!!!! I agree they probably knew of the issue.....but it sounds like they are trying to do the right thing and you guys were fortunate enough to get a good dealer! We'll pray no more issues and you have smooth sailing here on in. Take care and be safe! If they give you any problem....you sick Sadie girl on them!!! biggrin

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry, I PMed you my email. Mine are wrinkled so I am somewhat concerned about them. However, every time we think we are going to get an opportunity to use it something comes up. We are going to have a ten year old trailer that is brand new at this rate. That's ok. I'll live vicariously through you all.

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with manycats it is almost criminal negligence especially when the owner took the time to call customer service before something happen. Knowing the cost of a rig they should have done something before, if this type of situation ever happen to me wich I d'ont hope you can be assured that they would received proper documentation regarding a civil suit. By chance nobody was injured. This is the type of story that major company wish not to have in newspaper for bad publicity.

Good luck with your reparation hope there won't be a difference after the paint job.

Jean

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just to touch on this briefly, every RV manufacturer has the possibility of problems with their rigs, and it isn't necessarily the fault of the manufacturer in each case. For example, in the past, there were problems with fires caused by the refrigerators. It could also be a problem with regards to brakes and bearings on the wheels. When one is considering an RV, one should always consider that there are possibilities of problems, and blaming just the RV manufacturer isn't always the best means of resolving the problems.

Back when I used to sell cars, one of the sayings was that even Rolls Royce had service departments, meaning that every brand can have problems.

Terry

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry even if the problem is the led bar itself it is the manufacturer responsabilitie to serve the rv owner if I'm not mistaking they bought the fifth wheel from a dealership that was coming from the RV manufacturer not from the company that supply the led bar. If you have read carefully what the owner said I quote;

(Since we were having warranty work done, we called the customer service manager to ask if we should replace ours. At the time our 5er was about 7 months old. We were told since we had no problem by that time, we were not to worry).

To my own opinion the manufacturer knew there was a problem but instead of taking care of it right away they prefered to take the chance that nothing would happen. If an issue had been notified by several owners of tghe same type I think the manufacturer should have done something a while ago.

I'm not talking about blaming the manufacturer I'm talking about taking the responsability, no matter wich appliance is going wrong during the normal warranty period the manufacturer is the first to back is product. Here we are not talking about a 10 years old fifth wheel. I hope Terry you realize that because the manufacturer did not act even if they knew the issue, it is the customer owner that is stuck with the problem. I don't think you would have the same way of thinking if somebody would have been hurt.

LibertyLinda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry & Jesse,
Defiant is dictating this to me: He has inspected and can see the copper strip (MARK S - ours is a 2014 built in 2013 as well) like you have on yours and it is starting to protrude a little bit. He very much would like to see the newer LED lights - let us know how Forest River deals with you as well.
Now to find that switch to put a tape over it so I don't accidently turn it on.........LOL.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jean,

You agreed with manycats, who did refer to "criminal liability." My comments were based on that concept. I agree that the manufacturer should not have treated the issue in the way that they did, but it could very well be one person at the factory that may not have even had that much authority, but acted wrongly.

I merely stated what I did because I am very aware of what the term "criminal liability" means. On occasion, going that far may be excessive. So, I request that we all be careful of the words we choose.

Terry

manycats · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had no intention of starting a firestorm (pun intended) when I used the term "criminal negligence", that's the old lawyer in me still rearing up her head. There are as many definitions of legal responsibility as there are states, provinces and countries. Obviously, no product is perfect, we wouldn't have repair shops if they were. My personal opinion, however, was based on long experience in the courts - if a manufacturer has knowledge of a defect or condition that could cause loss of life or property it is the manufacturer's responsibility to repair or replace it. The key word is "knowledge", our friends had heard about this and asked if the lights should be replaced, therefore, the company had been advised of this concern prior to the incident.

My comment, I admit, was an emotional response to the fear that they could have lost their rig or even their lives. I've seen too many cases where a small or cheap fix would have prevented a major loss. I'm very glad their damage was minor and can be repaired. I'm very, very glad they're all right.