Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum - View Single Post

sreigle · 02-24-2006, 07:01 AM

The Excel, in my opinion, is an excellent choice other than the weight. My aunt and uncle fulltimed in an Excel Noble Esquire (now the Limited) for six years and had no serious problems, just the usual small things all of them have. The Excel is a true four-season rig very highly rated for that purpose by RVCG.

The Montana is not advertised as a four season rig. However, many of us here are fulltiming in Montanas and are very satisified with the performance and, especially, with the way the manufacturer stands behind the product. They do not own nor participate in this forum but they do read it. Some of us have had emails from them about our comments. They have incorporated quite a number of features suggested in this forum. Montana is the number one seller in North America and has been for five years in a row. You know they are doing something right or they could not continue that string.

Our Montana was purchased new in July 2002 (delivery date - we ordered this one, our second Montana). Numerous members bought another Montana when they traded. That says a lot. In addition, this forum has been a blessing for us, both for all the help we have received and for the many good friends we have made through the forum.

There are a number of good choices in the marketplace. We're very pleased with Montana and would likely go with a Montana for the third time should we someday decide to trade. At this point we've put about 40,000 miles on this Montana and are very happy with it. We see no need for us to trade.

Good luck. I'm glad to see you are researching before making your decision. That's a wise move. Please let us know of any and all questions. Nobody here will ever tell you that your question is dumb. If someone does that they will be immediately censured by our excellent forum administrators.

One last thing. What impressed me most about the Montana is the quality of the structure and small things like attic vents to vent out the moisture of everyday living. The all aluminum frame (walls, ceiling and roof) make this a very solid rig without the excessive weight of a wood-framed rig. The wood frame is why the Excel is so heavy. As I said before, the Excel is an excellent choice. However, when you look at "bang for the buck" I feel the Montana can't be beat.

Well, one more thing. Our 2003 model was not intended to be used in the rather severe winter weather we use it in, temperatures down to five below (F). Keystone listened to us and have done a number of things to make it more habitable for that purpose. For one, they moved the low point drains into the basement storage area (the water connection area) where they not likely to freeze. They moved the water lines to just below the floor, in their own channel, where they will not lay on the frame and freeze in severe cold. We do Nov/Dec in the Kansas City area with our kids.

Next month we reach 3 years of fulltiming in our Montana. We feel strongly we made an excellent choice with the Montana.

02-24-2006, 07:01 AM	#7
sreigle Montana Master Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oceanside Posts: 20,028 M.O.C. #20	The Excel, in my opinion, is an excellent choice other than the weight. My aunt and uncle fulltimed in an Excel Noble Esquire (now the Limited) for six years and had no serious problems, just the usual small things all of them have. The Excel is a true four-season rig very highly rated for that purpose by RVCG. The Montana is not advertised as a four season rig. However, many of us here are fulltiming in Montanas and are very satisified with the performance and, especially, with the way the manufacturer stands behind the product. They do not own nor participate in this forum but they do read it. Some of us have had emails from them about our comments. They have incorporated quite a number of features suggested in this forum. Montana is the number one seller in North America and has been for five years in a row. You know they are doing something right or they could not continue that string. Our Montana was purchased new in July 2002 (delivery date - we ordered this one, our second Montana). Numerous members bought another Montana when they traded. That says a lot. In addition, this forum has been a blessing for us, both for all the help we have received and for the many good friends we have made through the forum. There are a number of good choices in the marketplace. We're very pleased with Montana and would likely go with a Montana for the third time should we someday decide to trade. At this point we've put about 40,000 miles on this Montana and are very happy with it. We see no need for us to trade. Good luck. I'm glad to see you are researching before making your decision. That's a wise move. Please let us know of any and all questions. Nobody here will ever tell you that your question is dumb. If someone does that they will be immediately censured by our excellent forum administrators. One last thing. What impressed me most about the Montana is the quality of the structure and small things like attic vents to vent out the moisture of everyday living. The all aluminum frame (walls, ceiling and roof) make this a very solid rig without the excessive weight of a wood-framed rig. The wood frame is why the Excel is so heavy. As I said before, the Excel is an excellent choice. However, when you look at "bang for the buck" I feel the Montana can't be beat. Well, one more thing. Our 2003 model was not intended to be used in the rather severe winter weather we use it in, temperatures down to five below (F). Keystone listened to us and have done a number of things to make it more habitable for that purpose. For one, they moved the low point drains into the basement storage area (the water connection area) where they not likely to freeze. They moved the water lines to just below the floor, in their own channel, where they will not lay on the frame and freeze in severe cold. We do Nov/Dec in the Kansas City area with our kids. Next month we reach 3 years of fulltiming in our Montana. We feel strongly we made an excellent choice with the Montana.