PDI Mistake, Shake Down Trip-Problems Identified

[Campntwins]

We purchased our new Montana HC 305RL the end of May and picked up on June 1st. I had to work the day we were to pick up the RV so my daughter went with my husband. I printed the PDI Checklist and off they went. The walk through went well and DH and daughter both thought this was the most detailed walk thru. We like to think we are experienced RVers, this is our 4th RV. Not so sure we are experienced as much as we've just been lucky! Many lessons learned.

Lesson 1 - Two days after purchase, we left on our first trip to Florida. First lesson learned. Shake down trips need to be close to dealership if possible.

Lesson 2 - Don't take a PDI Checklist if you aren't going to use it. Giving the PDI list to my DH didn't insure he would use it. Imagine our surprise when we unstrapped the recliners to find one with a completely broken back, cut in side and the other one with a broken arm. The recliners were strapped and prepared for travel during the PDI walk through so my DH and daughter didn't require or ask for chairs to be unstrapped and checked out. We had looked at two similar RVs and "tried out" the recliners in the other unit but not the ones in the RV we purchased.

Lesson 3 - Ask how long your RV has been on lot or in showroom. When we looked at our RV, it was down a very long row on the lot. When we purchased it, the salesman mentioned that our RV had been in the showroom for a while. We bet that may be why the recliners were broken. No proof but a possibility.

Lesson 4 - Keep detailed list of problems identified and take pictures. That helped when we returned the RV for repairs.

Lesson 5 - Read this forum. It was amazing that some of the problems we found were the same as discussed on this forum.

Problems identified - Broken recliners, frig not maintaining temperature on propane, shower leaking under shower slide, toilet leak, fresh water tank leak (not valve) and black water valve leak, satellite not working and one drawer not staying closed in travel.

The service department was very helpful, said all will be repaired and that the recliners will be replaced. There was no resistance or hesitancy. I'll be anxious to see how this all works out.

Even with these issues, we love the RV and enjoyed all the compliments we received on road. We had to cancel a trip due to campground still not open from flooding last month. Next trip will be later in July.

New to this forum and very grateful for our new Montana family of experts!

[DQDick]

Glad to hear the dealer is working with you, hopefully you'll have it all fixed soon.

[DarMar]

Every day we learn something new, don't we all? Glad to see you have a plan to correct the problems, none seem too serious, and after that hopefully you can enjoy the rest of the camping season.

[1retired06]

The downside to getting a new unit is all the stuff that needs to be fixed, regardless of brand. Dealer selection is very important.

[Campntwins]

So true all brands have issues. We camp/travel with four families. All of us have RVs from different manufacturers and have had issues. None of the issues have made any of us quit the RV life.

[Dam Worker]

Glad you got a new unit and will get to enjoy it for years to come. It is amazing all of the little thing that are not correct let alone some of the big things. Hopefully your dealer will get everything corrected. QC in the plants must be a little lax. If they could bring the quality of the units up a notch they would have a lot happier campers..

Tom Marty