Buying a brand-new, top-of-the-line RV should be a dream come true, not a leaky, moldy nightmare. Yet, for Brad and Gail, their $190,000 Riverstone fifth wheel quickly turned from a luxury home-on-wheels into a soggy headache.

Imagine settling in for a cozy night of TV, only to have water start dripping—then pouring—from your air conditioning vents. As their story unfolds, it becomes clear that the manufacturer, Forest River, was less than helpful, leaving Brad and Gail to deal with mold, mounting bills, and a whole lot of frustration.

In the video below from Liz’s channel, she interviews RV owners with defective units to hold manufacturers accountable.

1. The Drip That Became a Downpour

Brad and Gail’s troubles started innocently enough: “We were sitting in the recliners just sitting and watching television and all of a sudden it was a drip and I was like what was that and then it was another drip and then all of a sudden it just started pouring in and it hit the Ottoman and on the floor.”

What began as a minor nuisance escalated into a full-blown indoor rainstorm, soaking their mattress and bedding. If you ever wanted a water feature in your RV, this is not the way to do it—unless you were hoping for a mobile indoor pool!

2. The “Fix” That Made Things Worse

Forest River had actually issued a service bulletin for this exact problem, so Brad and Gail took their RV to a certified dealer for repairs. Unfortunately, “the fix made things worse—now instead of dripping, the water was just pouring in.” It’s like going to the doctor for a cough and coming home with the plague instead.

Sometimes, it seems the only thing manufacturers excel at is making problems…bigger.

3. Mold, Mold Everywhere

With all that water, it didn’t take long for mold to move in. Brad shared, “We had an independent mold test conducted and it came back positive for mold… we did it in two areas, the bedroom and the living room, and it just came back fully grown with mold.” If you’re looking for a science experiment, this is a great way to grow your own penicillin.

But as far as living conditions go, it’s a hard pass.

4. Manufacturer’s Solution: Hurry Up and Wait

Forest River’s response? They offered to have the RV shipped to Indiana for repairs and mold removal, promising it would only take two weeks. Brad wasn’t buying it: “When these manufacturers take these things back, they can sit on the lot for four, six, nine months to a year just waiting your turn.”

Nothing says “customer service” like making you homeless for the better part of a year. Maybe Brad and Gail can start a new trend: RV camping without the RV!

5. Health Hazards and Blame Games

As if the leaks and mold weren’t enough, Gail’s health began to suffer. “Her respiratory issues have gotten so bad she goes to work and it just clears up, comes back in and she sneezes or she has, you know, gets upper respiratory infection easily.”

Forest River’s response?

Blame the customer: “Forest River saying hey, you know, it’s not meant to be living fulltime.” Because, obviously, RVs are only meant for people who don’t breathe. Maybe next time, Brad and Gail should have checked the “mold-resistant lungs” option on the order form.

6. The Waiting Game and Ghosted Emails

Despite repeated emails and requests for a buyback, Forest River remained silent. “The last email I sent out was the 26th and I still have no answer from them—they’ve ghosted us.”

Apparently, Forest River is pioneering a new kind of customer service: the invisible kind. Maybe they think if they ignore the problem long enough, it’ll just evaporate—unlike the water in Brad and Gail’s RV.

7. The Risks Keep Piling Up

Beyond the mold and health risks, there’s a real danger of electrical fires: “If this starts leaking water and it starts slinging the water on the ceiling fan and the ceiling fan starts slinging it around… there could be an electrical fire.” Nothing like living on the edge—who needs a campfire when your whole RV could go up in flames?

Maybe Forest River should market this as an “extreme camping experience.”

8. What Now? Legal Battles and Social Media Pressure

Brad and Gail are now considering their options: “The next step for us is give them one more shot and give them another week and if not then we’re going to have to either contact a consumer lawyer or go through the insurance route.” With Forest River ghosting their emails, it’s up to the power of social media to turn up the heat. So, if you’re reading this, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—because apparently, that’s the only language some manufacturers understand.

Don’t miss the full story—watch the entire video at the bottom of this article for all the details and updates!