U.S. Rpod Owners 2009-2010 models: PLEASE READ

The recreational trailer, Rpod, is clearly in non-compliance with the NHTSA regulations, as the manufacturer, Forest River concedes. The NHTSA creates these requirements so that vehicles may be operated safely upon the public roadways. The NHTSA should require the manufacturer to bring the trailers into compliance for this reason and the following:

1. Forest River admits the units in question do not have the safety lighting required by the NHTSA.

2. To operate these units upon the public roadways is unsafe for the owners and the general motoring public.

3. To exempt this manufacturer would set and undesired precedent for all manufacturers of trailers.

4. To exempt this unit would place an unreasonable burden on the owners, Law Enforcement Officials, and the Courts systems;

     A. It would be unreasonable to require every Law Enforcement Official in the United States to  have    knowledge of one exempt vehicle of a particular make/model/year and month of manufacture.

     B. It would be unreasonable to require every Court of jurisdiction in the

         United States to have knowledge of the aforementioned exemption.

       C. It would be unreasonable to expect the owners to be subject to citation, impounding of the              unit, and the legal defense of such, when found to be

operating these units on the public roadways.

5. To exempt this unit would call into the question the owner’s ability to re-sell the trailer,

knowing it to be in non-compliance and unsafe to operate.

6. The manufacturer is depriving the owners of the value of their purchase; as the units are in non-compliance and should not be operated upon the public roadway.

7. Forest River’s chief objection to bringing the units into compliance seems to be; “it would cost a lot of money”. This point is moot as the vehicles should have been manufactured in compliance with the NHSTA regulations from the beginning.

8. It is entirely reasonable to believe that the average consumer would rely on the manufacturer to provide a product that is in compliance with National regulations.

As such, the owners of these units should not have been expected to have

foreknowledge of the non-compliance, nor should they be expected to burden the cost

of bringing the units into compliance.

The NHTSA should reject the petition of Forest River in regards to these camping trailers, require Forest River to recall the units in question and require Forest River to bring the units into compliance with NHTSA regulations, at no cost to the owners.