experience with 2006 Forest River Suveryor

[Jankees]

I am looking at a used Forest River Surveryor travel trailer in the 2004-2007 range. I like the fact that it is light weight and is half ton towable. I also like the aluminum frame, bonded insulation and fiberglass exterior. Does anyone have any experience with this brand and type of travel trailer? Are there particular things to look for? Is it susceptible to water damage, rust or rot? Thanks in advance for your help.

J.K.

 

[Jankees]

No one knows this type of trailer? Can't be any good then..

J.K.

 

[Tom]

I'm not familiar with the Surveyor. Our daughter previously had a Forest River trailer (can't recall the model), which we used when we visited. I was quite impressed with the quality of materials and manufacture.

 

[glen54737]

I have a Rockwood it's a little lower on their food chain but still has the aluminum frame and bonded sidewalls. It's a 2004 that we bought last March. This is my second product made by Forrest river and I've had minimal problems with both.

The only problem I've had is with the slideout mechanism, it wouldn't work when it got cold. I'm waiting for warmer weather to continue troubleshooting.

 

[Dar]

We had a Forest River Flagstaff that we were very happy with. We also considered the Grand Surveyor (I believe those are just larger than the Surveyor) but we were capable of ordering the Flagstaff from a local dealer and therefore it won over the Surveyor.

I actually have not seen too many Surveyors on the road but then again their dealers are not local to us.

The Rockwood which is a sister to our Flagstaff was and still is a popular TT model on the road.

 

[PancakeBill]

I sell the Surveyors.  That means either you should inore me, or you should listen to the training I have had.  Your choice. 

They are built very well, thicker walls, more insulation, solid units.  Sold a number of them, and when there are problems I will hear, but the Surveyors I have put out on the road have happy RV-ers.  The main competitor is the Keystone Outback as far as layout size, weight etc.  The Surveyor is much nicer. 

They have a good graphic showing a wall of the unit suspended between saw horses, with a weight.  No deflection, vs 'other brands' and a lot of deflection. 

What model are you looking at?  New Used?  If used, let me know the year, I might be able to get you a brochure.

 

[Jankees]

Dear Bill,

Thanks for your reply. I was thinking about the SV291. I love the layout, with the bunk beds. I am looking to spend about $10.000,--. From what I see on line, that should get me a 2004 to 2007? Do dealers have access to a database of available used units from dealers? Or should I just keep scanning the net?

As you know I need to ship the unit to Europe. The DMV here demands a mechanically operated parking brake. As far as I know, the Surveyor doesn't have a parking brake, let alone a mechanically operated one. Do you have any idea if a parking brake could be added to the unit?

J.K.

 

[PancakeBill]

I have never seen a mechanically operated parking brake on a travel trailer.  Most trailers with brakes have electric brakes.  Some have surge.  Let me check on that, one of my friends does a loot of trailer shipping to EU.

Surveyor was a new model in I think 07. 

 

[PancakeBill]

No, we do not have a database to check other delaers, at least not on used.  On a new unit the mfg can gt us something from another dealer. 

Without turning this into an ad or sales pitch, we have overseas specialists, if you needhelp with that, we can.  Just contact me off the board, I'll hook you up with the right guy.  I don't do overseas stuff. 

 

[Jankees]

You have a message. 

 

[Jankees]

Earth calling Bill, come in Bill..

 

[PancakeBill]

I passed your message to my guy, but he was off the past couple days.I did speak with him, and he knew that some of the countries up yoour way have many different requirements and that the specific ones need to be taken care of by you after inmport, before going on road. 

 

[Jankees]

Thanks for talking to him. Did he mention that they ship quite a few units to the E.U.? That would suggest that there is a way to get them road legal over here. There is no point to shipping them over here, if you can't get them licensed without rebuilding them completely.

 

[PancakeBill]

They do ship quite a few, but the modifications aren't necessary all over the EU.  Mainly width, lighting and electric systems.