Forest River Campers Customer Service

Company background and what that means for service

Forest River, Inc. was founded in 1996 by Peter Liegl and became part of the Berkshire Hathaway family in 2005. The company’s headquarters is in Elkhart, Indiana (55470 County Road 1, Elkhart, IN 46514), and it operates dozens of manufacturing facilities across the Midwest. As of 2024 Forest River employs over 10,000 people and produces tens of thousands of RVs, trailers, buses and marine products each year; that scale directly affects parts availability, warranty throughput and service staffing levels.

Because Forest River is vertically large and multi-branded, customer service is split between local authorized dealers (first line), factory service/warranty departments (second line) and corporate resources for escalations. For owners this means most repairs, diagnostics and warranty work should start at your selling or nearest authorized dealer — they enter warranty claims into Forest River’s warranty system. Critical factors that will affect response are model year (older models often have discontinued parts), the specific brand within Forest River’s portfolio, and whether the unit is under the factory warranty window (see Warranty section below).

Customer service channels and expected timelines

Primary customer-service channels are: your selling dealer, an authorized service center, and the manufacturer’s owner services pages. Forest River publishes owner resources and dealer locators on its website (see “Official resources” below). Initial dealer acknowledgement of a service request is commonly within 24–72 hours for scheduling; actual repair timelines vary widely — routine warranty authorization can be processed in 7–30 business days, while parts-heavy repairs or structural claims can take several weeks to months because of lead times. Expect longer waits for discontinued components or appliances.

When you contact service, be ready with VIN, model name, model year and photos — these shorten diagnostic time. For non-urgent warranty claims, dealers typically submit an electronic claim packet; Forest River’s warranty department reviews and either authorizes parts/labor, requests further diagnostics, or denies the claim with a written reason. If a claim is denied, documented appeals (with additional photos, tech reports, and repair invoices) are the accepted path to escalation.

Warranty, recalls, and technical bulletins

Forest River’s standard limited warranties for many RV lines are typically 12 months from delivery for workmanship and materials; some component manufacturers carry separate warranties (appliances, HVAC, chassis). Structural coverage and extended warranties vary by product and model year — always review the written warranty certificate you received at purchase. Extended service contracts (third‑party or dealer-offered) are commonly available at time of sale and often recommended for owners who plan extensive travel or higher mileage usage.

Recalls are processed under NHTSA rules; Forest River issues owner notifications when a safety recall affects a particular VIN range. Owners should check the federal recall database at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls with their VIN, and also monitor Forest River owner pages for manufacturer bulletins. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and field service updates are distributed to authorized dealers; if your dealer is unfamiliar with a persistent issue, ask them to check their TSB library and open a field case with the factory support engineer.

How to file a warranty claim and practical documentation checklist

Start every problem at the selling dealer: they complete diagnostics and submit a warranty repair order to Forest River. If the dealer refuses to submit a claim, insist on a written service estimate and diagnosis — dealers are contractors and must document warranty requests. Typical factory review steps are: claim submission (dealer), factory authorization or request for more evidence (warranty dept), parts order or denial, and then repair scheduling. Keep copies of all dealer reports and approvals.

• Documentation checklist to speed claims: VIN, model/year, serial numbers, original purchase invoice (date, dealer name), current odometer/engine hours, high-resolution photos of defects (close-up and wide), video of operational issues (if applicable), dealer diagnostic reports, prior repair invoices, appliance model numbers, and contact phone/email for the owner.
• Additional evidence that helps appeals: timestamped photos, independent inspection reports (if you used a third-party tech), cost estimates for non-warranty work, and a brief timeline of failure events (dates first noticed, service visits, and outcomes).

Owner support resources and escalation strategy

If your dealer cannot resolve an issue, escalate to Forest River’s factory warranty group via the owner portal or the manufacturer contact channels listed on the company website. Escalation steps in practice: 1) documented dealer attempts, 2) formal factory case opened by dealer, 3) request factory regional service manager review, 4) submit formal appeal packet (see checklist). Keep communications professional, chronological, and limited to documented facts — this materially improves resolution rates.

• Official resources: Manufacturer home pages — https://www.forestriverinc.com and https://www.forest-river.com (owner information and dealer locators); Federal recall lookup — https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls; Industry standards and guidance — https://www.rvia.org.
• When you call: use your VIN and dealer repair order numbers; if you require a written decision for insurance or arbitration, request a written case disposition from the manufacturer and retain all emails and repair orders.

Final practical notes: plan for parts lead times (often 2–12 weeks depending on the component), register your RV immediately after purchase to activate warranty notifications, and photograph any transport damage at delivery. For costs: new Forest River travel trailers commonly range from roughly $15,000 to $60,000 depending on size and options, fifth-wheels from $30,000–$120,000, and Class A motorhomes substantially higher; repair and parts pricing will reflect the part type and whether factory authorization applies. Following the documented procedures above gives the highest probability of fast, favorable outcomes when you need Forest River camper customer service.