5 Things to Know Before Buying a Forest River FR3

 Yesterday, my son, Adam, asked me if we had any surprises or disappointments with our purchase of the Forest River FR3 32D. My initial response was, "No, it was pretty much what we expected." But, as I thought about it, Mark and I have had some "surprises," especially since we bought our 2019 with 5700 miles on it from a private seller and we didn't get the orientation that is often provided by a dealership. We watched Youtube videos, downloaded the owner's manual, and looked through spec sheets, in addition to touring and driving multiple models. But these are the things that we didn't know or completely understand before our first Class A purchase.

Forest River FR3

1. Entry-level Quality:

We knew that the quality and workmanship on an entry-level model would be lower than a pricier unit, but we did not anticipate the number of small fixes that we would do in the first month of ownership. Here are just a few. 

• The trim comes off randomly around the interior. We have corner trim that has been resecured twice in the bathroom and the trim came loose around the stove, too. The problem occurs because all trim is attached with small tack-like nails without sufficient head size to keep them from pulling through the wood.
• The edge of the "fake" countertop is coming loose in several places and needed to be reglued or caulked.
• The thin plywood cover under the king bed drawers has detached and could impact the retraction of the rear slide. A few nails were needed.
• The plastic pipes under the bathroom sink leaked briefly and needed to be turned and tightened.
• The edge of the dinette table had rough edges that had to be sanded and sealed.
• One of the flexible heat ducts has came apart from the vent so that the warm air filled the compartment under the couch instead of exiting from the vent near the steps.
• None of the exterior door locks could be key locked. Every one of them had to be removed and realigned so the baggage doors were secured. Some of these locks were put on upside down, so Mark turned them so they were all vertical when locked.
• The deadbolt on the door did not engage properly and needed to be adjusted.
• The driver's window latch fell off the first time the window was opened and had to be resecured.
• The latch on the bathroom shower door fell off and was replaced.
• The bolts holding the exterior refrigerator vent cover broke off and had to be replaced.
• The slide hoses are encased with a flexible, plastic loom that retracts into the space under the kitchen sink. Ours already had 4 pieces that had become unlinked and were wedged under the sink along with a couple of long screws and several pieces of an industrial-strength zip tie. (Perhaps that was part of the problem.) The loom makes a flexible covering that guides and protects your gas and electrical lines as the slide is moving. Be careful! Even after fixing the links in the loom, removing the debris, and ensuring that the loom worked properly, another "link" became kinked yesterday while retracting the slide.  We need to look for more trouble-shooting answers such as lubricating the track under the sink to reduce friction. In the meantime, watch carefully so you don't damage your slide or lines.
• The mattresses are cheap and uncomfortable. After the first night, we bought a 3-inch memory foam topper. Huge improvement!!!! Plan on replacing this if you want to get any sleep.

Under the sink cabinet

Straightening the link

2. Missing Comfort Features:

Until we purchased this model, we assumed (I know that is never a good thing to do...) that all models had a converter and an inverter. We were wrong. This model lacks an inverter. So, for us, that means that we have no power to electrical outlets while we are unhooked from shore power or traveling. We have had to be extra vigilante to charge computers and our hotspot before longer trips so that Grace can do her school assignments. So, by the passenger chair, I have two three-pronged outlets, but neither will work while we are traveling unless we run the generator. The manual for this unit says, "If there is an inverter..." I recommend adding an inverter if this is an optional upgrade. Without one, the only outlets that work during travel are the USB plugs. We have no power to the microwave, TVs, 12-volt outlets, or power outlets while driving. At least we can power the GPS or our phones.

We also dislike that this model has no fan in either of the roof vents. We are finding out how important that is for reducing the humidity after showers and minimizing sewer tank odor. A Max Air Vent, like the one in this link, will be in our future. It would be nice to have that ventilation.

3. Lower Maneuverability:

We opted for a shorter model, overall length 34 feet so that it would easily fit in our driveway, national parks, and parking lots, especially since we opted not to tow an additional vehicle. I have been surprised, though, at the number of obstacles we have had to avoid even after only a month. Our unit is 13' 6" and we have had multiple low-hanging branches that hit the roof or sides of the motorhome. City streets are the worst! Without a toad, we have been able to access our desired destinations so far, but this motorhome does not "feel" small when traveling. We park at the back of Walmart for groceries and look for areas in the far reaches of restaurant lots. Plan to get your steps in!

4. Noise:

After driving several models, we knew that we would hear rattling and engine noise in any entry model gas Class A. With the engine under our feet, it was expected, but we are anxious to minimize that noise. The sound is annoying on bumpy roads, and Alabama interstate highways were some of the worst! One of our first upgrades will be sound deading mats, for under the "doghouse" to reduce engine noise. We are opting for the 80mil Kilmat over the 50 mil version, if that gives you any idea of the noise problem! I also investigated random squeaks and rattles as Mark was driving and added foam adhesive dots to rattly areas like the plastic shield on the entry door, the window shades, around the screen door, behind the TVs, and even around some of the cabinet doors. We have yet to figure out how to get rid of the whistling around the entry door, but we are hoping that between conditioning the door seals and adding some weather stripping, we will solve this problem as well.

5. Living with Slides Retracted:

After our first night boondocking in a Pilot station where we could not extend our slides, we met the challenge of sleeping without a walk-around bed. This was not a surprise, but still a challenge. The doorway to the bedroom is narrow for my 6-foot husband and he had to crawl over the foot of the bed to get to the bathroom. We survived. Also, I am still struggling with organizing so that everything we need is accessible with the slides retracted. Remember, the cabinet under the sink and all of the drawers in the bedroom, including the ones under the bed, are inaccessible. That means that you cannot access the trash can under the sink from its typical location. I have discovered that I can reach under the upper sink cabinets to retrieve boxes of cereal, but it is difficult. We need more planning if we are going to boondock often.

Summary:

Before buying our motorhome, we heard from many owners that you have to be capable of making repairs or willing to learn. With the backlog at many repair centers, I am thankful for my mechanical husband. Our FR3 still needs some upgrades, tweaks, and minor repairs, but we are exploring and learning as we go. I am so thankful that we found our motorhome, but at some point, we may choose to upgrade. Only time will tell. In the meantime, let's get out and explore!

5 Steps to Prepare for Our First RV Trip

 We found our RV, but now what? Here are the first 5 steps to take before your first trip.

1. Cleaning

This is a no-brainer even for an RV that has been detailed by a dealership. But, the main reason to thoroughly clean is to find every nook, cranny, and hidden storage space in your RV. In our 2019 FR3 32DS, we learned so much from the cleaning process such as, finding 2 storage areas under the bed, realizing that the cabinet doors appear to be put on upside down, locating the fuse box, and finding a place to store the extra table cushion behind the jackknife slide sofa. 

2. Measuring

As you clean each area, carry a notebook and tape measure to accurately measure the size of each compartment and the opening dimensions. Planning how to use each of the deep spaces in advance will give each section a purpose and keep the small spaces organized. I watched several organizational videos including this one by Lyfe Untethered that were very helpful, and I lined all of the storage areas with shelf paper to reduce noise and vibrations.

Shelf liner for sound reduction in our pantry.

3. Functionality

How you plan to use your RV will determine the purpose of each space. Since we plan to boondock frequently, we need all necessities to be accessible without extending our motorhome slides. This creates 2 considerable problems in our model. First, none of the bedroom drawers will be accessible since the king bed butts up against the drawer fronts when slides are retracted. Everything below the kitchen sink is inaccessible, too, which will make the usual under-the-sink location for the trashcan hidden when we are traveling and boondocking. To solve these problems, our daughter needs to have space to store some clothes at the end of her bunk and we need a separate small trashcan for boondocking. We also need somewhere for laundry, cooking spices, and guest bedding. Outside we need storage for sewer hoses, chairs, fishing gear, grilling equipment, and a screen house. Our outside storage compartments are not water tight, so purchasing plastic containers will be necessary. 

4. System Checks

Against recommendations, we purchased our 2019 RV without an inspection.  In the winter Illinois temperatures, we have no idea whether the AC or water works properly in this winterized vehicle, and we already know that one of the slides has caused a gouge in the flooring. With less than 6000 miles on the unit, we anticipate that there may still be some manufacturer issues to fix. So, Mark called Forest River and Barry Hughes from the FR3 division provided us with a Vin Recall Search link, Interactive Owner's manuals, Helpful How-To Videos, Manual Slide Out Operation pdf, Forest River virtual plant tour., and contact phone numbers for support! He was amazing! We also located the Forest River site through Google Search here. We have now tested the jacks, furnace, cameras, slides, microwave, generator, refrigerator, manual overhead bunk, awning, and every door, lever, and drawer. Now if the ice will just melt off the roads we will head south so we can flush out all of the water lines and test the water heater, showers, faucets, etc.

Our floor gouge from the slide!

5. Electronics

And finally, since Grace is remote schooling, we needed to upgrade and test our electronics. We bought a Verizon Jetpack and upgraded our phones to an unlimited data plan, reset all of the TV channels, tested the satellite antennae, and tried out the GPS, backup and side cameras. 

Our Forest River FR3 32DS

 We finally found our motorhome! And yes, it has 90% of what we were looking for. Only time will tell whether the other 10% should have been more important.

So, here are 5 things we love about our motorhome and 4 things we aren't crazy about.

What we love about our FR3 32DS:

1. The Floorplan:

Roomy 2 slide model

We liked the roominess of this 34 foot floorplan when the slides were out and kept us under our maximum length of 36 feet. We should be able to maneuver in National Parks and have plenty of space for guests to join us. We also got a pantry, overhead bunk, and several roomy kitchen storage spaces.

2. The Mileage:

We loved that this 2019 model had less than 6000 miles on the engine. We had very few maintenance records to view since it has had little service except one oil change, new batteries, and a replacement air conditioner.

3. Seatbelts:

I never dreamed that RV manufacturers would create bunkhouse models that would sleep 8 and include only 4 seatbelts, but we found that in several models including the Tiffin 34 QBA. Although we will usually have only the 3 on our travels, having 8 seatbelts for keeping the grandchildren safe is a nice bonus. 

4. King bed:

We determined that this was negotiable, but having a King bed will be a nice extra luxury. We may need a mattress upgrade, but a walk around King is uncommon in this short model.

5. Price:

Finding a motorhome under $90,000 in this great condition sealed the deal!

What we dislike about this model: 

1. Small Walkway:

The area between the kitchen counter and pantry is narrow.

2. Hidden Storage:

When the bunk/bedroom slide is retracted, all of the storage drawers are inaccessible and you cannot walk around the bed. That means Mark will be crawling over me to get to the bathroom. The slide also covers up the kitchen sink area cabinets, so these cabinets will be inaccessible when we boondock.

3. Paint Scheme:

We really like full body paint motorhome exteriors that make units look unique, so the basic standard entry-level tan color scheme is not a plus.

4. Build Flaws:

The upper cabinets in both the bedroom and above the couch open incorrectly. The doors pull down and the doors hang open toward you making it difficult to access the storage spaces. There is also a missing piece of trim around the bunks that keeps the bedroom door from being flush against the wall when closed. All are fixable, but will probably remain as-is for awhile. 

5. Flooring Gouge:

The slide roller near the dinette left a floor gouge from a screw or object getting wedged between the roller and linoleum. We checked on Amazon for a repair kit that should help us to fix the space. The area will probably be covered with a rug most of the time, though.

All in all, we have seen so many similar models with more mileage in much worse shape. And this model was stored inside a heated garage making the exterior look almost new.

Excitement Ensues

 One down and one to go! Retirement, that is. I retired in May from teaching 5th grade, but continued as a long-term sub during this first remote semester of Covid-19. Now, I retired the second time and have launched headlong into cleaning closets and planning for our trip. My husband, Mark, is contemplating his last day of work, too, so that we can launch out on our much anticipated US excursion. As the more adventurous one, I am ready to leave home behind and live in the motorhome for a year or more with only a few stops home to check on the house. Mark, however, wants to try out a few months and then see how he feels about the rest of the year. Could it be that he is worried about being in a small space with two women?

The next few months will be filled with decisions: Which motorhome do we want? Will we pay cash and get an older model or go with something newer? Class A or Class C? Diesel or Gas? How will budgeting work on an extended vacation? Where will Grace register for online classes? How will we handle our mail, appointments, boondocking, and camping reservations? Follow us here as we share our decision-making process and send us your insights to help us make the best choices.