I agree it's scary and it sounds like they've been seeing it on other coaches if they have instituded a design change on new coaches to eliminate the use of laminated wood in that application. I'm pretty sure that (when I get it back to the dealer in April) they will take a look at the fireplace and say it is working fine and they will just replace the discolored piece of wood trim and call it fixed. However, before I start using it again, I plan to do some design modifications of my own by remounting the fireplace on some sort of heat proof wall base which will both insulate the wood from the heat and at the same time move the Fireplace two or three inches toward the center of the coach so the rising heat will be well in front of the TV mounted right above it. I may also need to add some sort of a small heat deflector to help route the hot air a bit more horizontally into the room rather than letting it rise straight up.
I'll let everyone know what happens with the dealer and post pictures of mods I eventually perform.
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Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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